The Australian VA Conference (AVAC) is really only 3 months away. Did you realise that? It's just occurred to me. Early bird bookings are still available but not for too much longer. It's great to see we'll have VAs from different states in Australia attending but also from overseas. What a great event it's shaping up to be. We've even had an enquiry from a freelance journalist in Turkey who plans to attend! We also have a fantastic lineup of speakers and expressions of interest from … [Read more...]
Am I an employer of Virtual Assistants?
Interesting question and I do understand why I get asked that periodically. For the record, the answer is 'no'. I am not an employer. I am, however, the founder of the VA Network, "A Clayton's Secretary", and that network operates as an industry based group to help those who want to be Virtual Assistants develop their businesses and meet clients. There is a big difference. Members pay a subscription fee to belong to the team and have to meet our criteria to be eligible. They fill out the … [Read more...]
Getting Started as a Virtual Assistant
It is clear to me through the various VA forums that the industry is continuing to grow. That's a good thing. And we see continued requests for VA support as well. But it is also obvious to me that there's not enough information out there for budding VAs in how to set up their businesses - or perhaps they just don't know where to look. I see the same questions being asked constantly at the forums and also get individual emails with similar requests. And it's probably been awhile since I've … [Read more...]
New beginnings and all that
This time of year traditionally gets people thinking about what has transpired over the past almost 12 months and what they would like to do for the following year. Some look upon the year with sorrow and others filled with hope and promise. What about you? What has this year brought for you? Have you achieved? Did you struggle? January each year I have a prayer and planning day, thinking about what has transpired before and what my hopes are for the forthcoming year. I type them up as … [Read more...]
Message for those wanting to be a VA
I often get requests via email from people who want to become a Virtual Assistant. Sometimes via my VA forum, sometimes via my website contact form, sometimes by email and sometimes by phone. It's generally the written requests that concern me. Some write in ALL CAPS. This is not polite and considered yelling. It also makes me wonder if they really do know how to type or whether they're hiding the fact that they can't. Many do not proof read what they write before hitting send. Their written … [Read more...]
Kudos to Twitter… and @Telstra!
I had a problem with one of my Telstra accounts. I'd inadvertently made a payment on the wrong account and I didn't pick it up till after I'd made the same mistake the following month. I couldn't figure out why Telstra was saying I was in arrears when my bookkeeping program told me I was all paid up. I logged into my bank account and found the error. Do you think I could get Telstra to do something about it? I'd spoken to 3 different consultants over a period of a week and each time got told … [Read more...]
Book your VA coaching now!
The end of the year might not be far away but it's not too late to plan for the New Year. I have two options available for new and emerging VAs and you can sign up today! Option 1. The VATrainer.com course runs over a 10 week period and requires you to spend some time doing research and homework. You can send your homework to me weekly or at the end of the 10 weeks in one hit. Once completed I go through your work, add comment where needed and provide you with a certificate of completion and … [Read more...]
The importance of follow up
We read often the importance of follow up when networking and meeting people for the first time but what about when they've already begun using your service or product? How many of you follow up afterward to see how things are going? A couple of years ago I decided to set up an autoresponder series for follow up after clients fill out the job request form on my website. I hadn't realised how valuable this simple action would be. Over that time I've received really valuable feedback as well … [Read more...]
Email peeve
I wrote a little while ago why I prefer email and this post covers a pet peeve of mine relating to email. I know that not everyone who uses email is a 'professional' online and many don't understand the use of it. But it does concern me if a client consistently responds to my emails without including anything of the previous email sent to them. I find a few people do this and it's very frustrating. The reason why it's frustrating is that often their replies are several days later and their … [Read more...]
