In April 1996 I began the southern hemisphere's first online network of its kind, originally as homebased secretaries and then we adopted the term 'Virtual Assistant' as we saw it take hold worldwide and recognised that what we were doing was exactly that - providing virtual assistance to clients all over the world. Being based in Australia meant we weren't originally visible to the northern hemisphere but that has changed over the years and today we have a membership that spreads to 15 … [Read more...]
Virtual Assistant Forums – great resources
Over the years I've watched the Virtual Assistant forums grow and evolve into really active, useful sources of information, resources, lists of all sorts of things, great communities for connection. Many hold folders of links where members can list sites that have been really useful to them in their businesses or with samples of brochures, contracts and all other sorts of materials that have helped them in business. The forums have become a hub of very useful information discussing all manner … [Read more...]
Protecting your Virtual Assistant business
Recently on a VA forum a member commented about her computer woes. There were some things that stood out to me as possible concerns and I responded as below. She's since been in contact with me and filled in with a bit more detail so not everything I wrote was relevant to her situation but I thought the information is important for all to see. So, here it is: First - were you not doing backups before? If you're running a computer based business then backups are absolutely essential - they are … [Read more...]
Should I be paying someone to get work?
This is a common question amongst VA forums and one that many new VAs ask. And somewhere along the line, the thought and responses have become slightly skewed with responses like 'you should never pay for getting work'. Whilst on first sight this appears to be a sound response, I believe you need to look at this much deeper before answering with a 'yes' or 'no'. For example, the site you've visited - is it a membership based site that offers many benefits to its members? If so, and the … [Read more...]
Make sure you have systems in place
Regular readers and many others know the family loss I've recently experienced. I want to highlight some things that I do and which you may need to think about as a Virtual Assistant/business operator for times when emergencies arise and you are unable to be present in your own business. Over three years ago, when my husband and I began taking overseas trips I started putting systems into place to ensure I could hand over the running of daily activities in my business. I set up a new … [Read more...]
My heartfelt thanks to the Virtual Assistant Community
It's kind of ironic that my previous post is about the support VA communities provide. Because only one day later our darling Miriam, aged 24, died whilst her father and I were away in the country. We rushed back home as soon as we heard. I'm not yet ready to resurface to all the forums. Her funeral will take place next Monday here in Melbourne, Australia. We have family with us from around the country and they'll stay on for a few more days thereafter. But I did want to let everyone know … [Read more...]
VA Communities provide support
Today, on our forum at 'Virtual Assistants International Group', a member shared some challenges she was having in getting her business off the ground. This wasn't a rare comment, we've had others say similar before; they've come to seek help. What was really special, and important, is the way the community rallied round to support and encourage this new VA during her time of feeling fragile and unsure. That's what I love about our industry. The way everyone gets together to encourage, … [Read more...]
VA Saves the Day!
I'm usually up early checking for messages that have come in overnight via email, whilst having my breakfast and first coffee for the day. However, it's rare I answer client emails early, preferring to keep them within business hours, so I can spend time networking with forums and friends during my reading time instead. However this morning proved an exception as I received a 'help' message from a client at 6.46am. He's a business coach and speaker and he'd left home without his memory … [Read more...]
Help, I’ve got the wrong VA!
I was attending a meeting one evening and it was brought to the attention of the audience from the stage that I run a VA network. I was thrilled and got a number of people asking for my business card afterward and wanting to know more about the services we (VAs) offer. Then one lady sought me out before I left the room to tell me she had three VAs but it wasn't working for her and she wondered if she just had the wrong VAs supporting her. Her concern was that all claim they can do everything … [Read more...]
