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...]
Blog Carnival of Virtual Assistants
Welcome to the 3rd edition of the Carnival of Virtual Assistants. This month we’ve had some great submissions. I am delighted to be your host for this particular session! Do you know your computer software? Just how much should a Virtual Assistant know and understand their computer and software? I believe it is really important that we make an effort to know and understand as much as possible about the care of our computers to keep them running at an optimum. If we were dependent on our … [Read more...]
Are You Real?
I had a young woman ring me the other day. She sounded a little nervous on the phone but the reason for that soon became obvious. You see, she'd signed up for a typing job at home on the web sometime back, paid out money and then nothing happened. She lost her money and felt 'burnt' and was nervous about trying again. However, she'd been researching the Virtual Assistant industry and was very keen to work at home with a genuine role, and anxious not to get caught by something bogus. So, she … [Read more...]
