If you visit my blog you will have noticed the big yellow post it note on the right with the countdown information and link to the Forum on Virtual Assistance (FoVA) taking place 3-7 June in Canada this year. But if you read my blog via RSS you will have missed seeing that, so I thought I would share something of this event with all of my readers. I was delighted when asked last year to come over to FoVA and present a workshop (on social networking and blogging) and participate in the rest of … [Read more...]
Client Communication Styles
Over the years as my business has developed I find myself leaning more and more towards email communication and less towards phone communication. Why? Because I find that written communication helps define what needs to be done and what a client's plans are. It helps create a task list for me and I can keep referring back to it instead of wondering 'what did they say again?' However, some clients prefer spoken communication, rather than email. This may because they don't feel confident in … [Read more...]
I’m a new Virtual Assistant, do I need a website?
This was a question posted at a VA forum very recently and it is something often asked by those entering our industry. She wanted to know if creating a flyer for now would do as she didn't want to spend money on a website till she had work coming in. What did I advise them? If you're not going to have a website then I encourage you to join one or more of the VA networks that provide an online listing for you so you have a presence online and you can use that as your web page address for … [Read more...]
Everyone wants to be a transcriptionist!
Over the past few months we've seen an increasing number of new virtual assistants coming to join our chat forum and many of them start asking about transcription work - they want to know about the software to use, how much to charge, and how can they get experience? I wonder what the fascination is for doing transcription? Perhaps they enjoy typing and see it as an easy way to get work - just sitting in their home office, headphones on their head and typing merrily away. Unfortunately it … [Read more...]
Looking for a standard rate…
I often get phone calls from prospective clients or emails from new VAs asking what the 'standard rate' is for carrying out particular jobs. I do understand their question but they haven't really thought about what they're asking. When you're buying a product such as a book, software or other things then there are often 'recommended retail' prices for that particular item. However, when it comes to providing services, it doesn't work the same way. It's not like you're paying an employee that … [Read more...]
The trouble with not being…
The trouble with not being at full capacity for awhile means eventually you have to catch up! 44 minutes ago ...at full capacity for awhile means eventually you have to catch up. It's been a long almost 5 months. 5 months of coping after losing a family member. 5 months of wondering why, thinking 'if only' and back tracking through our minds wondering if we could have changed what was to be. Life for my family will never be the same - it's now got a different feeling to it. You know, it's … [Read more...]
No. 8 Mistake VAs Make
Continuing on in our recent series... Using free accounts such as hotmail, yahoo, etc for their email address. Domains are very cheap to purchase and even if you don't yet have your own website, there is no reason why you can't have your own domain (to reflect your name or your business name) for your email. This assists with branding and people are more likely to remember your business or business name if you use a domain address to reflect that when corresponding with them. Show people you … [Read more...]
Victorian Bush Fires and the Need for Tourism
Last year I wrote about two different situations where the VA community grouped together to help one of its own. One was when a VA shared on her challenges and others rallied round to help her. The other was when I, myself, was going through a family tragedy and so many once again, rallied round to support me and let me know they were there in my time of need. Well, another need has been highlighted by one of my team today and it relates to the Victorian bushfires that most of the world now … [Read more...]
Has the spammer done me a favour?
I noticed this afternoon that someone has chosen to use my old email address to spam people. I got the first hint when a bounce back came to me saying it was stuck in a loop - it was addressed to my old address. Checking my spam filter shows there are heaps of returned messages there. Such a pain because it wasn't me sending them and I hate people thinking I'm responsible for them. I was checking my stats for the day and noticed a big spike in hits today - I wondered what brought that on? I … [Read more...]
