Interesting discussion arose recently on one of the VA forums and I thought I'd bring the topic here. How do you handle things if you're not well and have client work to be done? I guess the answer really depends on the timing for that work and the relationship you have with your clients. Also, just how sick you might be? If I've had a day where I've felt a bit 'off' but not needing to be in bed, I will work at half capacity, completing anything that might have had a deadline for that day and … [Read more...]
15 years in business!
I was looking at my calendar and realised that the 15th anniversary of my business is just over a week away. 24th March marks the day I registered my business in 1994 - 15 years ago. I can't believe how fast that time has flown. I know that many are still learning that our industry exists but there are thousands out there who have joined our industry to utilise their skills and change their lifestyles over the years. It has been my pleasure and good fortune to have watched our industry grow … [Read more...]
Spend your govt bonus on an Aussie VA!
Watching the news on TV there was an article about the Australian Govt bonus that will be soon made available to those eligible in Australia. They were recommending that in order to help boost the Australian economy the bonus should be spent on services in Australia, rather than pay existing bills or purchase goods where a percentage of the monies will go to businesses outside of our country. That includes whitegoods. As soon as they mentioned 'services' my ears pricked up. They did mention … [Read more...]
Countdown to FoVA
If you visit my blog you will have noticed the big yellow post it note on the right with the countdown information and link to the Forum on Virtual Assistance (FoVA) taking place 3-7 June in Canada this year. But if you read my blog via RSS you will have missed seeing that, so I thought I would share something of this event with all of my readers. I was delighted when asked last year to come over to FoVA and present a workshop (on social networking and blogging) and participate in the rest of … [Read more...]
Client Communication Styles
Over the years as my business has developed I find myself leaning more and more towards email communication and less towards phone communication. Why? Because I find that written communication helps define what needs to be done and what a client's plans are. It helps create a task list for me and I can keep referring back to it instead of wondering 'what did they say again?' However, some clients prefer spoken communication, rather than email. This may because they don't feel confident in … [Read more...]
I’m a new Virtual Assistant, do I need a website?
This was a question posted at a VA forum very recently and it is something often asked by those entering our industry. She wanted to know if creating a flyer for now would do as she didn't want to spend money on a website till she had work coming in. What did I advise them? If you're not going to have a website then I encourage you to join one or more of the VA networks that provide an online listing for you so you have a presence online and you can use that as your web page address for … [Read more...]
Everyone wants to be a transcriptionist!
Over the past few months we've seen an increasing number of new virtual assistants coming to join our chat forum and many of them start asking about transcription work - they want to know about the software to use, how much to charge, and how can they get experience? I wonder what the fascination is for doing transcription? Perhaps they enjoy typing and see it as an easy way to get work - just sitting in their home office, headphones on their head and typing merrily away. Unfortunately it … [Read more...]
Looking for a standard rate…
I often get phone calls from prospective clients or emails from new VAs asking what the 'standard rate' is for carrying out particular jobs. I do understand their question but they haven't really thought about what they're asking. When you're buying a product such as a book, software or other things then there are often 'recommended retail' prices for that particular item. However, when it comes to providing services, it doesn't work the same way. It's not like you're paying an employee that … [Read more...]
The trouble with not being…
The trouble with not being at full capacity for awhile means eventually you have to catch up! 44 minutes ago ...at full capacity for awhile means eventually you have to catch up. It's been a long almost 5 months. 5 months of coping after losing a family member. 5 months of wondering why, thinking 'if only' and back tracking through our minds wondering if we could have changed what was to be. Life for my family will never be the same - it's now got a different feeling to it. You know, it's … [Read more...]
