It doesn't matter how long you've been doing something, technology is always bringing about change and new ways to do things. This means we must always be open to learning, experimenting and trying things out. Remaining locked into ways of doing things will soon mean we are outdated and that newer VAs and service providers will take up from where we left off. Fortunately I've always enjoyed learning new software and exploring how existing software works. And if a client asks me to investigate … [Read more...]
More on ‘cheap VA labour’
Google Alert brings some interesting snippets in from time to time. Today there was an advert placed at Craig's list for a Virtual Assistant (Php9k-Php15k) so I went to investigate. Have a look at what this American businessman wants - someone who will work his hours, 8-10 hours a day, six days a week. That's 192-240 hours a month. And for that he claims he will pay "good wages to highly qualified, hard-working individuals, including bonuses on any new business we develop together". I did the … [Read more...]
Challenges and Hindrances
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...]
$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...]
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...]
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...]
What Version Software?
When new software becomes available many new VAs are keen to upgrade as soon as possible, or buy the latest and greatest. But I want to encourage you to stop and think for a moment. Will this mean that you are no longer compatible with prospective clients? Will this cause some difficulty in clients being able to read files you send to them? Not always, but there are times when it will cause problems, and if the client is not very computer literate the challenge for them may prove too … [Read more...]
Is a job offer by email genuine?
If you're like me, you get lots of job offers by email. Let's face it, as soon as your email address is on display anywhere, it's going to get grabbed and used by others. Or even if you send an email to someone who has an infected machine, the address can then be picked up as well. A new member at one of the VA forums I belong to recently posted an email, asking about a particular group who had emailed her about a job. She wanted to know if anyone had heard of them and whether it was … [Read more...]
