Each year I like to start off fresh with new ideas, new plans and often new looks. The website I'm thinking about changing but haven't yet fully decided on that. It's a big job. But I have updated my newsletter and had some great feedback on the new look. Why not pop in to see my latest issue and see for yourself? And if you're not subscribed, then feel free to do so - I'd love to see you on the list! http://www.vadirectory.net/acsnewsjan10.htm … [Read more...]
Update on Australian VA Conference
Update on AVAC - VA Conference As you know the inaugural Australian VA Conference (AVAC) will be held in Melbourne, Australia on Friday 12 and Saturday 13 March 2010. This conference is open to all VAs in any location. We hope you're planning to join us and meet your fellow VAs face-to-face at this great event. Have you visited our sponsors yet? They are listed on the website but let me introduce some of them to you here: Major sponsors: Anyone who's been in the VA industry for a period … [Read more...]
VAProject 52
Well, how is your project progressing? Would love to hear about it. The person I helped this week isn't in the VA industry but is a budding photographer. She was seeking advice on a photographer's forum about a business card she was designing and asked for input. I and others did just that but what surprised and pleased me was that one of the other members suggested she take my advice as I showed good business sense. She and I have since been corresponding and she's been very grateful for … [Read more...]
Email – it is an advert for your business
Email, for Virtual Assistants, is often our first point of contact with potential clients. It works like an amabassador for our businesses. Many experienced VAs, like myself, get a lot of emails from would-be VAs wanting to get work outsourced to them, or wanting to find out if they can work with us as a sub-contractor or similar. We are, in effect, a potential client for them. So it concerns me considerably when they don't take care to read their emails properly before hitting send, … [Read more...]
When should you stop?
I had a client of one of my VA team members contact me recently. He wanted to know how much contact I had with them and if I could check into something for him. A VA had been providing him with phone services and he said he'd emailed, SMS'd and left a phone message for her and she'd not responded. He was concerned as he'd had reports his phone calls weren't being answered - a job that she was doing for him. I immediately looked up her phone number and called her to find out what was … [Read more...]
VAProject 52
Well, the end of my first week and who have I helped this past week? This first is a member of the ACS team (A Clayton's Secretary which is the VA network I run). A member sent me this message after being told by a client she had gotten the job he posted: I also wanted to thank you for offering the ACS members such a great opportunity and service. I'm coming up to my first year with you and the income and knowledge you have provided me in 12 months is priceless! Have a great day :) Alicia … [Read more...]
Training for a Virtual Assistant
When should a Virtual Assistant get training to be a VA? This is a question often on the mind of those who are either looking at joining the industry or have been in it for awhile and perhaps are wondering how they can get up to speed with others. As with anything there are always a series of things to be considered as there is no clear yes or no answer. Think about these things: Do you have experience running any type of business? Are you good at finding things out and solving … [Read more...]
Start up costs for a Virtual Assistant
Periodically I see discussions at VA forums that are really good topics for this blog. In particular these questions are often asked: How much was your start-up cost? How long before you started with your 1st client? My answer is this: How long is a piece of string? Kind of depends on a number of things for both questions. Re start up costs, if you already have the computer and printer you need, and the software you want to use for providing services, then additional things would be … [Read more...]
VAProject 52
I belong to a photography forum in my 'spare' time ;-) and one of the members there started Project 365 where those who wish to participate are required to post a new photo every day of this year. So far there are 21 members participating and you can view their images here. This led me to thinking that perhaps as Virtual Assistants we could set our sights on a project of some sort to help aid our businesses. Doing something every day may be a big ask for most but I expect we could all do … [Read more...]
