I've been invited to be a guest blogger at The Small Business Blog by Stefan Töpfer of Winweb. Stefan and I began conversing just before Christmas 2005 and have met twice since then - once in London and then again in Melbourne a few weeks later. We both just happened to be travelling in the right area for meetings to take place in our own home cities. Winweb has a natural synergy with what Virtual Assistants can achieve for their clients online and so it is worth checking out. So is The … [Read more...]
When a VA is seeking work
I periodically get emails from new VAs who are seeking work as a VA. Most of the time they are from countries in which English is not their native language, and they offer to take on my work and do it at a much cheaper rate so that I am still getting paid by my client at my normal rate but they're doing it for me at a cheaper rate. Whilst, in theory, this might seem like a good idea to the new VA who is keen to get established, there are a number of problems with this approach: 1. Virtual … [Read more...]
Client Case Study #3
This particular client type came via one of my team members in 1997. She'd been offered a role but was unable to take it on and forwarded the details to me. I looked at the job spec and realised that this was something I would love to do and I'd been doing it already in managing a team of VAs. So I applied for the role, was interviewed (don't often get interviewed for looking after clients but in this case, was necessary) and accepted. The role? Association Management. Managing a membership … [Read more...]
Attention New VAs!
I belong to a number of VA chat forums and the common request from new VAs on all the lists, is 'how do I get started?' I encourage you to read through the archives on those forums - it will help give you a foundation to build upon and start putting you on the same level playing field as those who have already begun. There's a steep learning curve in front of you. You'll find a lot of answers at http://vadirectory.blogspot.com/2006/01/advice-for-new-vas.html and other posts on this blog. If … [Read more...]
Until Next Year
Well, OIVAC was a success and we had a lot of people in attendance - and I've heard from many who really enjoyed themselves. Congratulations to Sharon Williams and Heather Jacobson on their award wins. This was a difficult process as the Steering Committee wanted to distance themselves from the selection process (especially since many of us were also nominated) so a coaching group were engaged to assist with the process - a learning process for all as we needed to ensure they understood what … [Read more...]
OIVAC – Over until next year!
Well the first Online International Virtual Assistants Convention has finished. The booths for the Trade Expo will be open till end June I believe. The seminars, if you registered for them, are available to log into and listen to still - if you didn't get to the presentation at the time it was running. But basically it is over until next year. Mark it in your computer calendar - 3rd Friday in May is now officially International Virtual Assistants Day and hopefully we'll start seeing this … [Read more...]
Have You Been Yet?
To the Online International Virtual Assistants Convention. There are paid sessions and free sessions so you would be most welcome to come along and visit! Readers of this blog will know by now that I was nominated for an award - I didn't win it but I was given the wonderful honour of being the Master of Ceremonies for that event after it became evident (to the steering committee) that the winner was the lady who was originally planned to be the MC. So the reigns were handed to me and I spent … [Read more...]
Less Than 24 Hours Away….
The Online International Virtual Assistants Convention is almost here - the inaugural, the first event! And it's shaping up to be quite an event. Anyone who gets involved on a voluntary basis to help set up a major event, and still run their business (not to mention family) at the same time must surely be eligible for the insanity award. The past couple of weeks have been frantic - meetings, hundreds of emails (it's felt like that), discussions, setting up timetables for speakers, sponsors, … [Read more...]
Award Nominee!
I've been nominated for International Virtual Assistant of Distinction Award through the Online International Virtual Assistant Convention. This is an inaugural award and I know that there will be many leaders, and movers and shakers of the VA industry nominated, so I'll be up against some pretty stiff competition. However, just to be nominated is an honour in itself. The ceremony will take place on May 19th during the VA Day Event which begins at 5:30 pm. EST (NY time). Why not come along to … [Read more...]
