This post is a bit of a rant, but I see so many misnomers on discussion groups about people wanting to become a VA but not put in the commitment it requires. Below is a recent post I made. I want to clear something up. There's a fallacy that it costs nothing to become a Virtual Assistant. But I need to tell you there are costs. Being a Virtual Assistant means you are running a business. It's not something you do on the side to earn a bit of pocket money. It's a business. Some do it part-time, … [Read more...]
The History of the Internet and the VA Industry
Discussions I saw recently revolved around how old the VA Industry is and how long the internet has been around. While the internet was 'invented' in 1983, it didn't actually become available for world wide use till 1991 and the VA industry was birthed just 4-5 years later. Here's some info about the Internet: On 6 August 1991 (that is 27 years ago next month), the World Wide Web became publicly available. Its creator, the now internationally known Tim Berners-Lee, posted a short … [Read more...]
The things that VAs do
Recently I asked many VAs (hundreds) via some VA forums, what did they used to do before becoming a VA? And then a day or two later, I asked the same VAs, what do they do now. Amazingly, or perhaps not really that amazing, many were providing services that related to their past roles before becoming VAs. What does this mean to you, as a reader? Well, if you're a potential VA, it means there is hope for you, as there is more than likely other VAs who used to do what you're doing now. And … [Read more...]
VA Certified – or Certificate?
There's a discussion going on amongst the 'senior' VA members of our industry currently. We're concerned about the number of new VA courses popping up claiming to be 'certified'. It's important for you all to know that there is no industry standard (as yet) and therefore there is no industry certification. Some of the VA Associations in different countries have talked about it from time to time, and I believe the time is coming when these associations will do something about 'industry … [Read more...]
Is self dialogue holding you back?
Chatting with a new VA on a forum this week she expressed the need to find a mentor to help her with her business. When I asked her why she felt this need, she said she needed to get over her self-dialogue - presumably this dialogue was undermining her self-esteem. I suggested that there might be other things that could help her also. And this will also help you, if you're new to the industry too. Such as reading books and listening to podcasts. We all have self dialogue - it's about … [Read more...]
Are you making things too difficult for yourself?
Reading different posts in VA forums I often find that new VAs are thinking too much and making things difficult for themselves. What do I mean by this? Their online presence, for example. You definitely need an online presence. In the early days people won't be able to Google and find you, but they will want to look you up once they've met you, either online or in person. Make it simple for them and for you, while you build up your presence online. Doing these simple things below will … [Read more...]
Is your VA business a hobby or a true business?
Today, I want you to think about whether your VA business is a hobby or a true business? By that I mean, are you just dabbling on the side, or are you taking what you're doing very seriously? The reason why I ask this is I see so many VAs in different forums doing things that make me think they're not taking this VA thing very seriously. It's the latest fad, it's something to fill in time, something they'll just 'try' for awhile to see if it works, and so on. As a result, their experience of … [Read more...]
One client is never enough
If you're in business, and not in a job, then having only one client is never enough. A recent post on a VA forum showed that a VA lost a client she had and was desperate to replace them as her income was gone. Here is my response to her. Unfortunately this is a lesson in NEVER being dependent on one client only. Ever. It's a lesson we all learn at some point in our businesses, some sooner than others (Yes, I've been there too). So important to work at getting multiple clients and spread the … [Read more...]
Working out rates right for you
This is a topic that is discussed often, at every single VA forum/group that I belong to. But it's not confined just to the VA industry, but also other industries. A business group I belong to has a member with a fairly new business and they had the same quandary - working out rates that are right for them, fair to the client, and not under-pricing or pricing themselves out of the market. This is such an important topic and one that ALL new business owners should be sorting out before they … [Read more...]
