If you're a regular reader of my blog you would have seen last week the post about a VA who had infringed upon two of my trademarks (my business name and my catch phrase) on her website. Her response had been she didn't know and had engaged someone else to do her site for her. Unfortunately ignorance is not bliss in this situation, as in many situations. The reality is she owns her website and is responsible for what is put on the site and even the business name she elects to use. In her … [Read more...]
The importance of reading and comprehension
I'm amazed at how many people apply to join my Virtual Assistant network and then can't follow simple written guidelines to ensure they get the most out of their membership. As with joining any forum or network, there are some guidelines and rules - it's important to read them and then work your membership accordingly. It's easy to get into hot water otherwise, or go away disillusioned. I know I've had my knuckles rapped on a couple of occasions at online forums if I've posted a link or done … [Read more...]
Ethics or New Trend?
Taking a leaf out of Sharon Williams' book, or should I say her latest blog post on a similar topic, I have to add my own concerns to this new 'trend' happening. Over the years it's not been uncommon to have Uni students ask to engage a member of our VA team to do things for them. They're often not upfront in the original request but once they've engaged a VA they'll tell them what they really want. And often it means logging in under their own name and password to a Uni website to download … [Read more...]
Need a VA who can really do what they say?
I sometimes hear from disgruntled clients who secure a Virtual Assistant through various means only to find they can't do what they say they can. This is not only frustrating for the client but is bad for our industry too. As much as possible I try to encourage all I speak to, to look for Virtual Assistants through the VA Networks that have been established to help build up the industry, educate its members, and provide quality services to clients. Generally the VA members have had to meet … [Read more...]
Whatever happened to ethics?
On some of the business forums I belong to (not just VA forums) I see discussions amongst members who sub-contract work out to other service providers. One of the big turn-offs for some in using a sub-contractor is that some of the sub-contractors overstep their boundary and show no respect for the original relationship between the client and the person sub-contracting the work out. They make direct contact with the client seeking continued work. In the corporate world contractors or staff, … [Read more...]
When The Service Isn’t There part 2
Readers will remember my post in May about an unfortunate experience I had with a courier company that lost me a client and money in the process. Their lack of service was apalling and I have complained to their manager, and to the trade service that I got them through. I may take it further yet, especially after what I found out today. One of my clients contacted me this morning to advise she was couriering a box to me (yes, oh oh!) and that it should get to me soon. I didn't give it … [Read more...]
When The Service Just Isn’t There…
I had the most frustrating day this week. It happened on Tuesday. I prepared 70 nametags for an event for a community bank about 40 mins drive away from me. I elected to book a courier to save me time and money in driving up there and back again. My mistake... Those nametags were ready that morning by 9.30am for pick up. I booked a courier at 9.15am - a service I have used other times - and was told that the pickup and delivery would be between 3-4 hours. When the courier hadn't arrived by … [Read more...]