Happy End of Financial Year or EOFY (well in Australia anyway!) It's that time of the year yet again! TAX TIME! Disclaimer - I'm no Bookkeeper or Accountant, so for all of the info below, please speak to your Accountant first to make sure you are able to claim these expenses. I did, however collect this information from reputable sources, including the ATO.😄 So, What Can I Claim? Your Home Office Office furniture Software subscriptions (Microsoft word, Adobe, Photoshop etc) … [Read more...]
Finding Clients
Not long ago we had a discussion in the VA Directory Facebook Group about how we go about finding clients. It was a lively discussion and I see this question being asked in many groups, mainly by VAs but also by all other business owners. Overwhelmingly the consensus was word of mouth or referrals. This is awesome and becomes easier down the track when you’ve been a VA or a business owner for a while and you have established your business with a number of clients ... ... but what about when … [Read more...]
Outsource Your Way to Happiness
If your business is sucking your happiness dry, it’s time to make some changes to alleviate your stress. One way to free up some of your time is to hire a virtual assistant to take over some of the daily or weekly administrative tasks needed to run your business. Hiring a VA can certainly be stressful, especially if you’re a first timer who has never been through the hiring process before. However, set up an interview process complete with interview questions and decide what skills you need … [Read more...]
Connect Her Podcast with VA Directory
During August, I had the pleasure of being interviewed on the Connect Her Podcast with Lee Cummins, where I spoke about the VA industry, how I got into it and all about VA Directory. Grab a cuppa and get comfy on your favourite chair and have a giggle with us (I'm so not an expert podcaster and forget the questions LOL). Watch it here Listen to it here. Let me know what you think and please feel free to share this around to your socials too. The more people who know about VA Directory, … [Read more...]
Virtual Assistants and COVID-19
I had the privilege of being asked to participate in a panel discussion with 4 other industry leaders, Ingrid Bayer, Liz Parker, Rosie Shilo and Susan Wilkin, here in Australia, being run by AAVIP. It was a great discussion, with all sorts of ideas on what VAs can do to help their existing clients, and potential clients during this global time of crisis, as well as keeping their own businesses operating and looking after themselves mentally and physically. I thought I would share my own … [Read more...]
Anniversary Giveaway 4
Day 4 of our business anniversary giveaway! Have you always wanted to write a book but wasn't sure how to start or what to do? Natasa Denman runs workshops showing you just how to do that and I have a copy of this book to give to the lucky prizedraw winner for today. If you are already subscribed to this list, then you'll go in the draw, but if not, please click subscribe below to go in the draw for today. I will contact you for your postal address to send it out to you. … [Read more...]
Motivation to get the work done
I saw a VA post on a forum that she's struggling to get motivated because it was such a lovely day outside and she wanted to know how others coped. She'd mentioned the word 'job' too, so I thought I'd give her my thoughts and what I do. The answer follows. Please note - this would equally apply to anyone running a business, not just VAs. First things first, this is not a 'job'. It's a business. And you need to treat it that way :-) You also need to give yourself some flexibility. Unless the … [Read more...]
Getting a job or getting clients
I see the word 'job' mentioned at so many VA forums and also blog posts about the VA industry. And also those who have used VAs to support their businesses the talk is very similar. There seems to be confusion about the role of where the Virtual Assistant sits. And often the new VAs are looking for work in the wrong places. My thoughts are: You want to be registered with a VA network - something that specialises in VA work only. Not only do you get introduced to clients, you'll learn about … [Read more...]
I want to be a VA but…
Saw a post over the weekend of a lady who wanted to become a VA but had very little skills and didn't know what she should specialise in. I don't know about you, but for me that rang warning bells. Here is someone with very little skillset and yet she wants to become a VA. Virtual Assistants should be well versed in the skills they wish to provide services in because, after all, they become advisor/consultants for their clients in these particular skills and no-one should be offering services … [Read more...]
