In my last post I mentioned I get a regular enewsletter for the professional speaking industry. I provide virtual assistant support to a number of professional speakers, both here in Australia and in the US. I believe it's really important, as a service provider, to keep abreast of my clients' industries and what is happening for them. So when I can, I register for ezines and newsletters, join their discussion forums or even register for events. Sometimes the clients ask me to subscribe so I … [Read more...]
Practical Advice for Social Networking
I get a regular enewsletter called Speakernet News. As a Virtual Assistant for Professional Speakers I like to keep abreast of what's happening in their industry. The following came from their most recent newsletter and I sought permission from the author to republish it here. The article makes really good valid points about using Social Networks and setting up profiles. Social network tips - RJ Garis There is no point in having a MySpace, Facebook or any other profile unless you are going … [Read more...]
Do you produce a newsletter?
I do. I have been since the second year of my business. That means I've been producing a newsletter for around 14 years now on a monthly basis. I missed a few months here and there in the early days but it has been monthly for quite some time now. In the early days, it was printed and posted and I would periodically hear from people who had a copy passed on to them from the recipient. That was always nice to hear. I would sometimes use a guest writer for the main article but mostly I've … [Read more...]
There’s still time!
Are you a new VA and wanting to get your virtual assistant practice up and running in the new year? Have you thought about doing some training to get you moving in the right direction? There is still time before Christmas to sign up with my VA Trainer course. I have been with the industry since its birth and have watched it grow over the years. But don't let me be the one to tell you, why not see what others have had to say about my course? "I would like to say a big thank you for offering … [Read more...]
AVAC advancing
The early bird bookings will close mid November for the Australian Virtual Assistant Conference being held in Melbourne in March 2010. We are now starting to release information on speakers engaged for the event and will be adding more very soon. Make sure you don't miss out and get your bookings in now. We'd love to see you there next March! … [Read more...]
Be specific
I love the work I do as a Virtual Assistant but often find that client instructions leave a lot to the imagination. As VAs we need to help our clients and educate them in the best way of conveying instructions so that the work we carry out for them is done quickly and efficiently and correctly. There are times when I have to email back the client asking them to be more specific. If I get an email saying that something isn't working on their site I need to know specifically which page and what … [Read more...]
To test or not to test?
That is the question. A discussion at one of the VA forums I belong to raised a query about being 'tested' by doing small jobs for free at a site before being accepted as a VA for potential clients. I find that sometimes clients come via my jobleads request form and attempt to do the same thing. Give 4 or 5 (or more) VAs a small portion of the task to be done just to 'try them out' and before you know it, they've gotten the whole job done free and not paid anyone. That's not on! As was … [Read more...]
Do you have problems with delegation?
Marcia Hoeck writes a blog called "Breakthrough Business" and she has a lot of really good common sense articles and information. Her latest post "Are You a Victim of the “Entrepreneurial Curse”?" rang bells for me. It gives several good reasons why Entrepreneurs need to let go and delegate. In other words, outsource the things that can be outsourced so you can use your 'boundless energy' to be more creative in your business. If you'd like to know what the Entrepreneurial Curse is, then make … [Read more...]
Dates – write them in full
When dealing with people from other countries via email, make sure you spell dates out in full. Instead of putting 1/21 or 12/5 why not put 21st January or 5th December? Or in the case of the second one it could be 12th May, depending on who wrote it and where they live. In some countries the day is written first and the month second, and in others the month first and then the day. If dates are important in the communication don't assume that the recipient is on the same page as you with … [Read more...]
