Regular readers know I belong to LinkedIn, which is a very large international professional business network. I have met so many people there and have been able to secure new clients for my team as well. It's been a great group. A new connection asked me some questions and I thought they were so good, I would add them here. I told him I was curious to know why he asked but I answered all the same. He's a professor of Finance and Economics so it's most likely professional curiosity and/or … [Read more...]
Archives for October 2007
Spring is in the air and that means…
... clearing out the clutter!  In the southern hemisphere we are in the middle of springtime, the flowers are beginning to bloom, birds are waking us earlier in the morning and I'm growing aware of the clutter around me. Perhaps in winter we feel it necessary to have 'stuff' around us, to close us in, keep us warm, but when Spring arrives I want to shed off the extra weight (so I'm watching my diet more and trying to exercise regularly), shed off the hot clothing and get rid of the clutter … [Read more...]
$5 an hour VA
Recently I became aware of a promotion for a chapter of a business networking group, promoting the 4 hour work week and using $5 an hour VAs. Whilst I know this book has held the interest of a lot of people who want to work less hours and still make the same or more amount of money, I really do get disturbed about the promotion of $5 an hour VAs. The reality is that a lot of the people doing these promotions know little if anything of the VA industry and they've picked up on something that … [Read more...]
Do you have a product or service for the VA Industry? Then read on…
Over the past few months I've had a number of approaches from people who have developed a product or service that they want to promote to the Virtual Assistant industry. Sometimes it's clear to me that they don't understand the VA industry at all and after discussing their product or service and our industry, they go away again - back to the drawing board. Other times they come at it with a focus from their country only - they forget our industry is global not nationally focused. If you're … [Read more...]
Brenner Research on VA Industry
Many of you will know that Brenner's have done industry reports on the VA industry. Their most recent one has left out vital information relating to a good portion of the VA industry - those located in Australia, New Zealand and other countries. If you've not previously participated in the survey this year then I encourage you to please take a few minutes and fill out this survey - there are a total of 10 questions, some with multiple choice answers. Click Here to take survey … [Read more...]
Speed and Efficiency = Cheaper Job!
Periodically I get requests from prospective clients who are seeking work to be done at a really low rate. Sometimes I have to turn them away - I wouldn't want to even ask my team to consider the job. Other times I take great pains to explain to the prospective client why our rates are above those of the high school student down the road, but should I really have to explain? After all - the high school student might know how to type, but they don't have the years of experience, knowledge and … [Read more...]
HBB TV
I recently appeared on a WebTV program recorded for HBB TV (home based business). This interview is about my new book and also my business - I thought you might like to see it. The recording is just over 8 mins long. … [Read more...]
Webinar or Teleseminar?
Recently a VA was asking whether she needed a long distance phone plan to attend a webinar. I responded explaining that there is a difference between a webinar and a teleseminar, i.e. sometimes a teleseminar will have a web based presentation but generally webinars don't have the phone involved (at least not those I've been involved with and I've attended quite a few!). A webinar is just that - it's on the web. So you don't need a long distance phone plan. Usually you are given a web address … [Read more...]
When You Don’t Meet the Criteria
I recently had a wannabe Virtual Assistant email me seeking advice and help. She very much wants to become a VA but doesn't have the 5 years minimum experience that many of the VA networks advise members should have and she wanted to know my thoughts. Below is my response to her. The criteria for 5 years is a guideline and owners of the VA networks use it to ensure that their members have the skills and abilities needed to operate a VA business, particularly if they're going to operate under … [Read more...]