I've seen it on blogs, in newsletters and on forums. Well meaning people giving advice that is ok for some people but not for all. Be careful that when giving advice to others that you're not steering them in the wrong direction. Particularly if that advice relates to your region and not others. The web IS world wide - it's not just in your state or your country, it goes beyond your shores. So, if you're giving out advice relating to how something should or shouldn't be done, clarify that … [Read more...]
Working at home has other benefits
I don't wish anything bad upon you at all, but I do wish to share my own experience with you, and the reason why my posts suddenly stopped their usual 2-3 times a week. I had preposted when my husband and I were away on holiday with intentions to write more once I was back in my office. However, my husband had a serious accident at the end of Easter and ended up in hospital and I was in somewhat a stressed state - understandably. The past week has been a blur of visits in and out of a … [Read more...]
Always moving onto the next thing…
Have you found that? It's only April and so far this year I've organised and run a Conference for the VA industry (with help of course). The lead up and the wrap of the event, not to mention attending it, tended to take away time from working with clients. I did let them know in advance and organised help for them in my 'absence'. I hosted a US delegate for the conference in my home and took her to see some Australian countryside and wildlife the day before the conference started. Only a … [Read more...]
Work your database and it will work for you
Virtual Assistants! And small business owner operators! Do you have a database? You do? Do you use it? I'm a keen advocate for networking, both online and offline, as it's important to keep meeting people and to keep letting them know you exist. You need to be visible - not invisible. What amazes me is that people go out and network, and most of them admit to wanting new work, but then you rarely hear from them afterwards. What are they doing with my business card, and the cards of others … [Read more...]
Tools Virtual Assistants love to use – Dropbox
File storage and backup is an important part of the life of a Virtual Assistant. It's something we discuss regularly at the VA forums and a question that is frequently asked by those new to the industry. Enter Dropbox. I first discovered Dropbox when looking at online facilities for photosharing and storage. I wanted to be able to showcase photos I'd taken at mountain bike (MTB) races so that the participants could view their images and choose which ones to buy. The photogallery system is … [Read more...]
Tools Virtual Assistants love to use – Gmail
I began using gmail in 2009 when I knew I was going overseas for a Virtual Assistant conference. I wanted to manage my email in a web based facility and because I have several email addresses and domains, I didn't want to be logging in and out of several sites. Research indicated that Gmail could do what I wanted - pull all the emails from several locations and store it in the one place for me to review, read and respond to, and still making it available to download on my computer back at home … [Read more...]
Invite your clients
As many of you know we recently had the Australian VA Conference take place in Melbourne. We had a wonderful array of speakers and also sponsors. One of those sponsors was so fired up by the conference that she has begun spruiking the benefits of using a Virtual Assistant and what takes place in our industry to her own clients and contacts and the client requests for work to be done have begun flowing in. When you think about it, a VA conference is really suitable for anyone at all who runs a … [Read more...]
Can you follow instructions?
May I encourage all new and prospective VAs out there, to carefully read web pages before filling out forms and pressing submit. Just recently I got told by a prospective VA that I was rude and she wouldn't want to work for my company anyway. Why did she say this to me (via email)? Because I told her that she'd filled out the wrong form and as a result we could not help her. She was looking for VA work and had filled out a form for clients seeking support from Virtual Assistants. The page is … [Read more...]
Virtual Assistant NFP group opens in Australia
At long last, we have an NFP setting up here in Australia for the Virtual Assistant Industry. And I am delighted that IVAA has taken this direction. This announcement was published shortly before AVAC but I was rather busy to post it at that time. Details below: IVAA-Australia - in our ongoing efforts to expand our International reach, IVAA will have a division in Australia allowing our members down under to have their own EOM's, Peer Discussions, Online and Live Summits, and Preferred … [Read more...]
