I guess I shouldn't be really, but I still get amazed when I meet people, or hear from them via the phone or online, that they've just discovered our industry. They'd not heard of a Virtual Assistant before and didn't know what it was. Having been part of the industry since its birth many years ago, it's easy to forget that not everyone has had exposure to the internet as I have had, and indeed, if you have been in the corporate world or manufacturing industry, or elsewhere that really doesn't … [Read more...]
Sign off your emails!
This is a message for anyone in business - Virtual Assistants, their clients and others. Please sign off your emails properly. Even if you have an existing relationship with someone you're emailing, it still makes sense to use your signature. Why? Because not everyone remembers your phone number off by heart, or has it in their database, or knows what your website is (especially if your email address does not reflect your business website address), your fax number or whatever. Sometimes I … [Read more...]
Remember, you’re on duty 24/7
If you operate a business online and have a web presence, it's important to remember you're on duty 24/7. You might not be at the computer all of those hours, but your written words are. So always having your best on display is important, no matter where you venture on the web. Email, website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+ and other social media tools, chat forums, discussion groups. Doesn't matter really where, if it's online and potential clients or business associates can read it, then … [Read more...]
Are you on Google+ yet?
I am, however I'm as yet undecided about the usefulness of it. I know that there are over 20million people on it already even though it's in Beta form. I do understand how the circles work and find that could be a useful tool. But do I need another social media tool? Who am I reaching that I'm not already via Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter and do I have the time to really want to play around with it? How about you? Are you using Google+? Would you like to share your highlights (or … [Read more...]
Commitment – it’s a big word
I get really concerned when I hear about Virtual Assistants that let clients and their fellow VAs down. When you're in business the buck stops with you - there is no-one else. And so when you take on a commitment to support a client or fellow VA the onus is on you to get the work done. Recently I had a client contact me who was desperate to get some work finished. She had engaged a VA, paid for the project in advance and the job was only half done before a family emergency on behalf of the VA … [Read more...]
Setting goals for your VA business
When you first start out with your Virtual Assistant business it's easy to get caught up in the daily activities of finding clients, setting up systems, establishing what your service offerings are going to be, learning from other VAs and so on. There does come a point in time though when you could begin to feel like you're always working, always marketing, always doing something, but very little for yourself. Setting goals for yourself is a good way to help you get focus - providing … [Read more...]
Sick scam
I've been the victim of a very sick scam. I really don't understand why or what. But I wanted to share it with you so you can be wary, in case it happens to you. Middle of July a new affiliate signed up. Nothing unusual about that. I get affiliates signing up with my site regularly. However, this affiliate began generating a lot of sales quite quickly. The first I knew of it was when I suddenly started getting orders for my book "Worth More Than Rubies". I sell copies here and there, but … [Read more...]
I’m new in business and want to get started
This is a common question for those new to the Virtual Assistant business. How do they find clients? Should they be networking? Do they really have to go out and meet people? What about those sites where you have to pay to get work and so on. Networking is paramount, both online and offline. If people don't know you exist, then they're not going to think of you when looking for your type of service. Building relationships is still very important in business, probably moreso because people … [Read more...]
Virtual Assistant – are you going it alone?
Being in business is tough any time. You have to wear multiple hats, or be able to employ sufficient people to wear all those hats: CEO/Owner, marketer & promotions/PR, bookkeeper, database manager, worker, and so it goes on. I still hear from those who have been operating a Virtual Assistant business entirely on their own, unaware there is a whole industry out there, of peers whom they could be connecting with to learn from and share. It would seem that some are so busy inside their … [Read more...]
