On a VA forum a new VA has been asking questions of those who have been a Virtual Assistant for more than 12 months. She wanted to know how they have found it and whether it would work for her. Other VAs have joined in the conversation, particularly other newbies planning to take the same path. One commented she was worried that she might miss the boat, even though she was really scared to take that course of action. My response to her was this: The only way to miss the boat, is to not get … [Read more...]
Affiliate programs do work!
Virtual Assistants work from home based offices, so it's natural that the industry would attract those who are keen to work from home, and be present for their family members. Family are the very reason why I work from home. I wanted to be here for my 5 daughters while they were in school. They're now grown up and have left home but I'm still here and at home. Probably just as well too as my husband had a serious accident just over 3 months ago and he's needed me to be here for him. Readers … [Read more...]
Making your clients work
What? Your clients need to work? But aren't you, their VA, doing it all for them? Up to a point. I often smile to myself when having phone meetings with clients. We have an action list of items for me to attend to, but at the end of the discussion, the client often has their own action list too. Because, after all, if they want me to complete my duties, there are some things they need to do. What kind of things do you ask? Well, business cards. How often have you come across clients with … [Read more...]
Do you remember your first client?
Some great topics are discussed at the VA forums. This was one of them and it was interesting to see how each VA got started on their journey in business. For me, it was through my church - even before my business had been started. A man knew I was a secretary at work and asked me if I could do some work for him at home. He also knew I had a computer at home (which was rare back in 1994). It made me realise that others may have need of my services and I had been contemplating starting up a … [Read more...]
How to get your first client as a Virtual Assistant
One question that is often asked on VA forums is 'how do I get my first client?' and the answers are always forthcoming from those who have already been there. When the new VA gets the answers they nearly always balk at the prospect of having to go out and meet people and network. I believe most of them think that in working at and from home means they will never have to go out into that big wide world again - wrong! You might be operating as a Virtual Assistant but that doesn't you mean you … [Read more...]
When is the right time?
A new virtual assistant recently posted at the VA forum that she was giving up her regular temp work so she could concentrate on developing her new VA business and get it running. Many of the VAs on the list congratulated her and encouraged her. It's a big step and a scary one. I remember it well. I took that same step over 15 years ago. I'd been doing temp work and also going out to client offices as I built my new business - at that time as a homebased secretary. But I was getting more … [Read more...]
Avoiding the Office Blues
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...]
