Just recently, on a couple of different VA forums, I've come across Virtual Assistants who have worked without charging the client. They had good intentions, wanting the client to become familiar with their work abilities and with the promise of ongoing work, but for different reasons (or perhaps it was really the same reason), the work was not ongoing and the VAs were down hours and no pay. This is my advice to all of you. NEVER work for free. The industry belongs to all of us and you'll … [Read more...]
How difficult is it to find a job or gig as a virtual assistant?
A question I've recently been asked and here is my answer. Hello Lori and welcome to the world of Virtual Assistance. First thing you need to learn is it’s not a ‘job’. It’s a career and your role as a Virtual Assistant is as a business owner. So you’re looking for clients, not jobs. Important you understand this difference as it is crucial. Next thing you can do is research Virtual Assistant Networks and Directories. Depending on the country you’re in, probably best to first join one or … [Read more...]
What is the most effective way to hire and manage virtual assistants?
This is another question asked at Quora and here is the answer I shared there. The most important thing for you to be aware of is that each and every Virtual Assistant (in the western world) are self-employed business owners. Therefore, they have your business at heart because without helping you to become successful it’s hard for them to be successful. Consider it more a partnership than an employer/employee type role. As already mentioned there are many (thousands) of stand-alone VAs and … [Read more...]
New VA seeking business
On Google+ recently a new VA introduced herself and her business and outlined the services she was providing. She'd only been in business 6 months and was struggling to find clients and connect with people on LinkedIn. She had a very clever business name which I remarked on. Here is my answer to her which is suitable for all new VAs. Very clever name, love it and welcome Claire. Joining discussion groups is the best way for people to get to know you, whether it's here, at LinkedIn or … [Read more...]
How do you set a realistic budget for engaging a VA?
I was asked this very question at Quora recently and thought I'd share my answer here. A ‘realistic’ budget can be different for every business owner. But let me put it this way. Have you assessed what it is you’re doing that isn’t earning you money, that you could outsource to a VA? The reality is that a VA will, most likely, do it in a much more timely and efficient manner than you. Example: If you have 100 business cards that need to be entered into your database and then imported to your … [Read more...]
Client Beware
Over the past few weeks I've heard directly from two VAs who are owed a few thousand $$ from clients, and I have heard about other VAs owed by the same clients. This is a very disturbing thing to hear. While we are often on the watch for potential scams, sometimes real clients can be a concern too - a major one. Clients who want a lot of your hours very quickly in the working relationship is something to be wary of. What do you do when a client wants to use lots of hours of your services … [Read more...]
Are you keeping your business a secret?
I hear from so many who are starting their businesses and at a loss how to find clients. But the formula isn't a hard one and the secret is, you should not be keeping your business a secret! What do I mean by that? I mean 'tell everyone!' Not everyone is going to become a client but some you tell will tell others and, as a result, you'll start to get enquiries. However, it doesn't stop there. Do you have any social media profiles? What about a Facebook account? Their terms of use is that … [Read more...]
Quora – most viewed writer
Many readers, but not all, will know that I'm passionate about our Virtual Assistant industry and have been a part of it for a long time, over 20 years, in fact. Some months ago I came across a site called Quora and I've been answering questions there about being a VA and how VAs can help their clients. This month I've passed over 12,000 views in total, with 2,000 being just this month - and am currently listed as the most viewed writer for that category. It has been an excellent way to further … [Read more...]
Using Hashtags in social media
If you're like me, you spend time exploring different social media tools. Of late, I've been using Instagram so I can understand it, and I must admit, I've gotten quite hooked. However, I've not been using it for my VA business, but rather photography that I do on the side. I’ve seen posts about how to use hashtags but it’s not always clear why. Hashtags are used for search purposes. They’re effectively a search tool. Instagram is big on them and you can use up to 30 different hashtags (30 … [Read more...]
