There is good value in learning as much as you can about the industry/ies your clients work in. If your niche is a particular industry this is even more important. Each industry will have a number of things to help educate people in that industry: newsletters, magazines, trade shows, industry association events and the list goes on. It makes sense, that if you want to provide the best value you can to your client/s in a particular industry, then why not subscribe to their online newsletter? Or … [Read more...]
A day in the life of a senior VA
If you're a regular reader of my blog and visitor to my site, you'll know that I run a Virtual Assistant Network and also provide VA Training via a 10 week course delivered by email. Many may think I don't do much else, other than participate on forums and social media, but I thought I'd give you some insight to what I do. I still service my own clients. Why? Because it's part of my income stream but also because I enjoy the work I do. I currently provide Secretariat services for an NFP … [Read more...]
Reasons for joining a VA Network
There are many reasons why people become Virtual Assistants. I've often shared the importance of joining a VA Network. Why is that? There are a number of reasons: Most VA Networks have their own discussion forums. Community. This industry is very much built on community and when you're working home alone all day, being able to connect with others online is a saving grace. Being able to learn from others without necessarily paying for that learning. Joining in and sharing your knowledge … [Read more...]
Too old to be a VA?
Don't you believe it! I had a lady email me via LinkedIn during the week. She was feeling despondent and depressed because she wanted to work, had been classed as 'disabled' in her country and had good administrative skills but unable to get work. She was just looking for something worthwhile to do and had been getting negatives from people around her and told me that being in the 50 plus age group had complicated things for her. This is my response to her. I'm so sorry all of this has … [Read more...]
Should we drop the “Virtual Assistant” title?
This question, or variations of it, I've seen on many VA forums. It gets hashed over and over again and in the end, there is no foregone conclusion. Personally I don't know why it keeps getting raised. I could understand it being raised back in the mid 90s when we first began to use it. I was really against the term at that time. It had come hot on the heels of 'virtual reality' and I wanted people to know that I was very real and not make believe. However, over time, the industry has grown … [Read more...]