If you're a regular reader of my blog and visitor to my site, you'll know that I run a Virtual Assistant Network and also provide VA Training via a 10 week course delivered by email. Many may think I don't do much else, other than participate on forums and social media, but I thought I'd give you some insight to what I do. I still service my own clients. Why? Because it's part of my income stream but also because I enjoy the work I do. I currently provide Secretariat services for an NFP … [Read more...]
6th annual Australian VA Conference
Have you heard the news yet? The 6th annual Australian VA Conference is being held 20-21 March 2015 at Melbourne Docklands. Most of the speakers have now been confirmed, the venue is booked and the conference committee are working behind the scenes to get everything else in place. Full details can be seen at the conference website and bookings are now open - with the early bird rate being available till 9th January 2015. But why not get it organised now before Christmas creeps up and the New … [Read more...]
Are you planning to become a VA?
It's the time of year when people begin to plan what will take place in the new year, change of job, change of pace, start a new business, etc. If you are thinking of becoming a Virtual Assistant, or perhaps have already begun but not sure exactly what you should be doing, then perhaps the VA Trainer course is for you. Some of the things that will be covered in this 10 week course will: Guide you in setting up your business Get you started on your own website and using social media … [Read more...]
Getting testimonials as a new VA
When you're brand new in business being able to build up a list of things to show prospective clients can be a challenge. If the line of work you're doing requires you to have a portfolio (things to show, e.g. graphic design), or you need a set of testimonials, it's sometimes hard to think outside the box and organise to get these in place. You may have picked up some work here and there while you were still in your full time job but you might not be able to showcase what you'd been doing for … [Read more...]
How is your terminology?
Two recent conversations have led to this particular post. One is a web client who had a need for a single web page to be set up for her business. She kept using terminology that made me think she wanted something else, i.e. a landing page, which is usually a call to action, with the same link or form several times, collecting people's contact information before leading them to the rest of the site. But what she wanted was quite different, although some aspects were the same. She was using … [Read more...]
Choosing to become a VA at the right time.
I had a lady ring me yesterday about becoming a Virtual Assistant. She wanted to know if she could join my network. We talked about what office-based experience she might have and it turned out she had very little and was studying at college currently. She also had a health problem which is why she was looking to work at home. I explained to her that VAs are business owners and, as such, are responsible for making decisions about how things are done for their clients. The buck stops with them. … [Read more...]
I want to be a VA but…
Saw a post over the weekend of a lady who wanted to become a VA but had very little skills and didn't know what she should specialise in. I don't know about you, but for me that rang warning bells. Here is someone with very little skillset and yet she wants to become a VA. Virtual Assistants should be well versed in the skills they wish to provide services in because, after all, they become advisor/consultants for their clients in these particular skills and no-one should be offering services … [Read more...]
When is a VA not a VA?
That depends on your definition of what a VA is. The Virtual Assistant industry was birthed in the mid 1990s and consisted of women mainly (at that time) who had been working from home offices as home-based secretaries or administrators or personal assistants for a select number of clients. When technology made it easier for them to be able to support clients without face-to-face connection they became known as Virtual Assistants. A Virtual Assistant is someone who provides office-based … [Read more...]
Home alone
Sounds like a movie title, doesn't it? :-) When you're working as a Virtual Assistant the reality is that you are working home alone, day in and day out. If you've been in a corporate office for some years you will be used to the social interaction of chatting to others, or just knowing that there are other people nearby. But when you're working for yourself, the reality is, there isn't usually anyone else around, unless you have children in the house or others you might be caring for. I've … [Read more...]
