If you are, there are two sites you need to be aware of. Actually three. To keep informed of events, activities, meetups, and things that relate to our industry specifically to our country, then the following sites may be of interest to you. Make sure you subscribe, register or sign up to keep informed. Australian Virtual Assistants Association (AVAA). Has a blog, a board, preferred partners and is the parent organisation for our annual conference. Australian Virtual Assistants Conference … [Read more...]
Strange happenings at LinkedIn
Invitations I never sent. Are you getting acceptances from people for invitations you haven't sent at LinkedIn? I've had the same thing happen. These are for people I do not know personally and would not be in any address contact list that I own. They are genuine in that I can go to LinkedIn and see the acceptance message, but I don't know the people and have never conversed with them via a forum or other means. LinkedIn does have a discussion forum and there have been many people complaining … [Read more...]
Should a new VA get training?
This is a question asked at a VA forum recently. I feel it really depends on the individual. You may be well experienced at providing the service you wish to provide (transcription, data entry, word-processing, etc) but what about actually being a business operator? It may well depend on what the course has to offer. I do believe that most VA courses are about being a VA, setting up a business, setting rates that are right for you, developing an online presence, finding clients, etc. They're … [Read more...]
Virtual Assistants and Digital Transcription
Digital transcription is a popular choice of service provision for many Virtual Assistants and when new VAs join the industry they often see many of these jobs being promoted via the various VA networks. They're quick to jump on board to offer this as a service too. However, fast and accurate typing isn't the only skill that's required for providing transcription support. You also need to have the ability to spell accurately, know where to put in items such as commas, fullstops, semi-colons, … [Read more...]
How to get started as a Virtual Assistant
If you've been a Virtual Assistant for awhile, you're probably like me, and get many approaches from those who want to be a VA but have no idea where to start. Often they will ask if you have work you can pass on to them. I had someone recently contact me after seeing me on LinkedIn, to find out if I had a friend or someone who would like a Virtual Assistant. This was my response to her: I am a Virtual Assistant and if I’m going to refer any of my clients to a VA, it would have to be a VA I’m … [Read more...]
Reasons for using a Virtual Assistant
In this series I've been covering why someone would want to become a Virtual Assistant, why a VA might want to join a VA Network and now why a client would use a VA, or VAs. Generally most business owners start up a business because they're good at doing something and they want to run the show themselves, instead of answering to a boss. That's all well and good, but with business ownership, comes all those other things that also need to be done, to keep the business running smoothly, the … [Read more...]
Reasons for joining a VA Network
There are many reasons why people become Virtual Assistants. I've often shared the importance of joining a VA Network. Why is that? There are a number of reasons: Most VA Networks have their own discussion forums. Community. This industry is very much built on community and when you're working home alone all day, being able to connect with others online is a saving grace. Being able to learn from others without necessarily paying for that learning. Joining in and sharing your knowledge … [Read more...]
Reasons for becoming a Virtual Assistant
I've come across so many stories as to why people have chosen to become a Virtual Assistant. For me it was about family and has always been that. I began before the internet and in those days we were known as home-based secretaries. But the reasons why were the same. Fed up with corporate life and the rat race. Fed up with driving into the city and back every day, or being stuck because a train has broken down. Fed up with office politics and all that went with it. Fed up with being blocked … [Read more...]
OH&S Tips for Virtual Assistants
I was putting the washing from the washing machine to the dryer and thinking about how often I've done this over the years. Not usually on weekends or evenings, as many in regular 9-5 jobs would do, but during the daytime, while taking a break from my business. Right from day 1 of my business I have tried to ensure that I am operating in a way that is best for my body and my health. Only six months before I began my business I had done an OH&S course with the corporation I worked for, and … [Read more...]
