One of the great things about our industry is there there is a wealth of information out there - within and outside our industry, that we can all benefit from. There are four such events coming up in the next two weeks that would be of benefit to every VA out there. Of course, you have to guard your time (and your money if there is a cost involved) however you do need to weigh up whether the new knowledge or skill you gain will be of great benefit to your business and that of your clients. So, … [Read more...]
Getting the right support for your business
I mentioned the IVAA Oz Coffee Chat we had the other night and the discussion about a number of VAs losing a major client. One of the other things discussed that night was finding a suitable Accountant for our businesses. I'm amazed at the number of VAs who don't have an Accountant. When you're new in business chances are the only thing you know to do well is the service you are offering, be it word-processing, transcriptions, social media support, and so on. Few of us are across the … [Read more...]
The Challenges of being a VA
We had our weekly IVAA Oz Coffee Chat last night. A new event now happening Monday evenings, Melbourne time @5.30pm. All VAs are welcome - you don't have to be an IVAA member to participate. The discussion last night was really good. One of the VAs spoke of a major client who had gone bust and not only had she lost their business, but so had the 30 other VAs who were providing support to this client too. A red flag shot up in my mind's eye and I started to ask questions. The VA speaking is … [Read more...]
When you start a business
There seems to be a wave of new Virtual Assistants entering the industry that have an inaccurate understanding of what a VA is and what they're supposed to be doing as a VA. Which is a shame as this just adds more confusion to clients as well. Let's get it straight. A Virtual Assistant IS a business owner/operator. They are NOT employees. As such they are responsible for their own taxes, insurances, software, hardware and other expenditure relating to running a business. Oh, and that means … [Read more...]
Why does it cost to join a VA network?
At a VA discussion group a question similar to this was asked. The new VA said it was a problem that every network costs to join and she wanted to find a free one or if she could have her dues deducted later once she got paying clients. This was my response to her - and I've added more for the benefit of the readers here. Those sites are run by people who spend their time, their energies and their own money running them. Charging a fee helps to recover those costs. Believe me there's a lot … [Read more...]
Where do your clients hang out?
When you're a new Virtual Assistant, it can sometimes be difficult to determine where to find your potential clients. All the obvious things come to mind: newspapers, flyers, Yellow Pages, noticeboards. Some of these things cost money and some don't - just a bit of time and effort. But there are other things you can do or use to help you find your potential client base. The important thing first may be simply working out what your client might look like. Not physically but more with respect … [Read more...]
My birthday but you get the gift!
It's my birthday this week so I thought I'd give away a gift to those seeking to get some Virtual Assistant training. For one week only! Sign up this week and get the course at 33% discount! You want to become a Virtual Assistant but don’t know where to start? Then this program is a good choice. Read below for details. Why choose this program? Learn from an experienced Master Virtual Assistant (MVA) who has over 15 years’ knowledge of the industry Work out what skills you can use and … [Read more...]
Twitter for Virtual Assistants webinar
If you've been wondering whether or not to provide social media services for your clients and where to begin, then this webinar will be very timely for you. I met Keith Keller at a recent Networking World event and we found a perfect synergy with what he does and what I do. I've been assisting clients with Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter for sometime and am well aware of the challenges clients have with respect to not just understanding how social media can help their businesses, but also how … [Read more...]
Call me a snob, but…
If someone sends me an email (unsolicited) promoting their products and expecting some interest and hopefully a sale, wouldn't it be in their business interests to sign off their name properly, add their business name (if they have one), include contact details (other than a generic email) and perhaps even a website? I mean, if they're in business, promoting to people online, wouldn't it make sense to make the best possible use of their time with their email to encourage people to do business … [Read more...]
