One of the great things about VA Directories that are international is the ability to seek a VA in your own country or region. Recent posts I've written have been about sourcing a VA in Australia (because that's where I live) but what about in your own country, if you are elsewhere? While it is true that a lot of work can be done by a VA anywhere in the world, there are also some good reasons why you might want to consider a VA in your own region. And they include the following: Being aware … [Read more...]
Where do you get your VA from?
There's been interesting discussions in Australia and the US via the various VA forums, about businesses outsourcing offshore versus inside their own shores. We feel that it is often important to do business with people who know how business is done in one's own country, and all that entails with respect to legalities, taxes, IP, and so on for many of the services provided. Not all, but many. A VA colleague recently came across an article in the US that discusses those same things and the … [Read more...]
Word confusion
I own and run Australia's oldest Virtual Assistant Network. My own business "A Clayton's Secretary" was started in 1994, pre-internet, so I could be home for our 5 daughters, and then the internet began just 18months later. Not long after I placed my first webpage online I had women contacting me to ask how they could be doing what I was doing. Australia's first VA network was started and we were on our way. There are now other VA networks in the country, and it's good to see the industry … [Read more...]
Where have the secretaries gone?
They've become Virtual Assistants. There is an article recently published by BloombergBusinessWeek exploring where secretaries have gone. Corporate recruiter, Pat Cook, says that far fewer people have secretaries or assistants now and the article said it's largely due to changes in technology and cost-cutting exercises. However, she also goes on to say that everyone agrees they would be far more effective if they had an assistant. Enter the Virtual Assistant. Many Virtual Assistants have … [Read more...]
WSJ got it all wrong
It's amazing how wrong people can be about the Virtual Assistant industry. Quote from their video page: Virtual assistants are being called on to unsnarl people's lives. WSJ's Sue Shellenbarger has the pros and cons of a virtual assistant, and Profitably.com CEO Adam Neary shares how a virtual assistant helped him get his life back. The interview started off right. Yes, Virtual Assistants began as administrative support. But from there the interview went downhill. No, we don't organise … [Read more...]
Support services for Virtual Assistants
As new VAs establish their businesses they become aware of different services they need to gain access to. Some of the more obvious ones are Accountants, Solicitors, office suppliers, printer suppliers, etc. But what about merchant facilities and insurances? As your business grows and develops, and therefore your need to be able to provide protection to your equipment and business, and also your clients, then it soon becomes obvious that these other services area also needed. But who do you go … [Read more...]
Research and Surveys
There seems to be a rush of surveys and research being done by individuals in our industry (Virtual Assistants) via various forums and groups recently. Perhaps it's happening in other industries too but because I'm not in them, I don't see it happening. Most of the time it appears to be from those who haven't been in the industry for many years and in their excitement about whatever their project is, they forget to tell those they are asking to participate, what the survey or research is … [Read more...]
A Clayton’s Secretary – what does it mean?
The name has been with me for such a long time I forget that others might not know what it means. There is an explanation on the About page of this site but I thought I'd share the information here as recently at a VA forum one of the VAs mentioned she'd often wondered what it meant. It does not mean that I live in Clayton, or that my business was established in a place called Clayton as others have thought in the past. For those who were in Australia in the mid 80s, they may well remember … [Read more...]
Forums or Networks and how many should I join?
This is a question I see asked on many VA forums. The reality is that it's important for you to share and learn from your peers, but also make sure you're getting exposure for your business too. I belong to several forums and participate at each one from time to time, but not every day for all. However, I do believe it's important to belong to VA Networks as well as forums and I am a member of 4 currently. These have both forums and job postings from clients so I get both sides covered there … [Read more...]