This is something I've written about in the past but it's a good topic and it's raised its head again, this time via Melbourne's Newspaper The Age. Working at home alone isn't for everyone. It's not just the 'running a business' and keeping track of your finances, but more the day-to-day aloneness inside the four walls of your home, without others to keep you company during the day. We all tackle it in different ways - well, not all. Some return to work simply because they crave the daily … [Read more...]
Keep your VA for long-term
It disturbs me when I see people complaining that they'd just 'trained their VA' only to lose them because they'd been 'promoted' to another project or client. I have to question where they got their 'VA' from in the first place. Virtual Assistants are self-employed business owner/operators, so in general are not placed with clients by an employer or agency, nor moved onto another client or job by an agency or employer. Through job requests posted at Virtual Assistant Networks the VAs get to … [Read more...]
How many clients should you have?
Getting your first client is an exciting thing, but scary also, and can take quite sometime to achieve. However, it is not time to relax after gaining this client. You need to continue marketing and find other clients and as each one comes along it gets easier and easier. You gain more confidence in the way you deal with clients, talk to them or email them, and as you collect both written and verbal testimonials more clients come in your direction. It is important you work out how much work you … [Read more...]
How is your mindset?
Periodically I feel the need to touch on this subject. I see business coaches talking to other business people about this also. The importance of your mindset when running a business. As with any industry, it's not just about how well you do a particular thing, or how much you know about it, it is also about your ability to run a business, deal with people, and not quit when the going gets tough. Because it does get tough from time to time. I can't say it's ever been easy, but I can … [Read more...]
The Etiquette of Approaches
Recently I've had approaches from a couple of people asking me to participate in a survey. Now, there's nothing really strange about that, except that neither of these people identified who they are, what the survey actually is about, or why they were asking me. Simply, they sent a message asking me (almost demanding) to fill in a survey. Why should I? I know the internet makes people 'bolder' and they feel they can do or say anything they want because of the anonymity they've been given, … [Read more...]
Do they walk their talk?
If you're looking to become a Virtual Assistant, or perhaps you are already one, but looking to advance yourself further in the industry, then there will come a time when you seek further training, or a mentor, or even a network or two or more to join. Who you align yourself with, and learn from, is important. I encourage you to research the networks you choose to join, the training you decide to take, the person or people you wish to have as mentors. Do the leaders, owners, trainers, mentors … [Read more...]
Using a Virtual Assistant
Even though the Virtual Assistant industry is in its teens, there are still many business owner/operators out there who don't know how to use a VA or what a VA might be. Because there has been much written about it both online and in printed material, some of the information has been misconstrued or people get the information third party and it's not always accurate. Often it may be written by someone who doesn't work in the industry, but rather has shared their thoughts and ideas on what they … [Read more...]
Using a database
I was chatting to one of the members of my BNI chapter last week and during that conversation, I came to a realisation that not everyone understands what a database might consist of and how it can be used. In particular we'd been talking about his database and using Send Out Cards. He is interested in using the cards for his business but didn't know how he could use it in relation to the database program he is using. It was a program I'd not come across before. We'd also been talking about … [Read more...]
Be specific
This is probably a post directed more at clients, rather than VAs, but it is important for all to note. When responding to someone via email, make sure you address which parts of the email you are responding to. Just to explain. Someone emailed me asking to change something I was doing for them next Wednesday. So I emailed back asking did they mean Wednesday 15th or the following Wednesday 22nd? And then I added another question. The answer I got was 'yes'. huh? What part were they … [Read more...]
