I use Google Alert a lot to keep me informed of the industry and also about things relating to my clients' businesses. One thing I often see are blogs about where to find a Virtual Assistant or comments on blogs from new VAs who are keen to find work, clients and learn more about the industry they've joined. What amazes me is that a simple Google search will direct people to the Virtual Assistant Networks that are out there and yet so many seem to miss this fact. Virtual Assistant Networks or … [Read more...]
Affiliate programs do work!
Virtual Assistants work from home based offices, so it's natural that the industry would attract those who are keen to work from home, and be present for their family members. Family are the very reason why I work from home. I wanted to be here for my 5 daughters while they were in school. They're now grown up and have left home but I'm still here and at home. Probably just as well too as my husband had a serious accident just over 3 months ago and he's needed me to be here for him. Readers … [Read more...]
How to get your first client as a Virtual Assistant
One question that is often asked on VA forums is 'how do I get my first client?' and the answers are always forthcoming from those who have already been there. When the new VA gets the answers they nearly always balk at the prospect of having to go out and meet people and network. I believe most of them think that in working at and from home means they will never have to go out into that big wide world again - wrong! You might be operating as a Virtual Assistant but that doesn't you mean you … [Read more...]
Keep your VA for long-term
It disturbs me when I see people complaining that they'd just 'trained their VA' only to lose them because they'd been 'promoted' to another project or client. I have to question where they got their 'VA' from in the first place. Virtual Assistants are self-employed business owner/operators, so in general are not placed with clients by an employer or agency, nor moved onto another client or job by an agency or employer. Through job requests posted at Virtual Assistant Networks the VAs get to … [Read more...]
How many clients should you have?
Getting your first client is an exciting thing, but scary also, and can take quite sometime to achieve. However, it is not time to relax after gaining this client. You need to continue marketing and find other clients and as each one comes along it gets easier and easier. You gain more confidence in the way you deal with clients, talk to them or email them, and as you collect both written and verbal testimonials more clients come in your direction. It is important you work out how much work you … [Read more...]
What are you promoting?
A few weeks ago I had an interesting comment from someone who was looking for VA support. They said to me "I would have asked you but I know how busy you are and didn't think you had room for me". oops, is that how people really see me? It was too late to say I was interested in the role - they'd already engaged another VA. But it did make me realise that others may have this perception too. How are you promoting yourself? It's good to let people know you're busy but are you telling them … [Read more...]
Virtual Assistants – Mind Your Language!
I had a conversation recently with someone relating to internet merchant facilities. During the course of the conversation he kept using in-house terminology which didn't really mean much to me at all. I had to remind him, more than once, that he's speaking a language that his industry might understand but the client wouldn't, and I am a client. He apologised and made an effort to use language I would understand. We finally came to an understanding of what I need to do to get something working … [Read more...]
Do they know you exist?
I was just saying to someone I met last week that often if it's not online then they lose a sale from us. Example: Graham and I frequently go away and stay at B&Bs. I can't be bothered going to travel agencies or RACV to find out what listings they have. I simply Google B&Bs in the area we're looking for and book online. If they're not online we don't know they exist. Same for a lot of services and products we buy these days. My husband and I do a lot of our purchasing … [Read more...]
Virtual Assistant tools you use – Twitter
I am constantly refining the way I do things and researching new and better ways to do things. So I thought I'd open up for discussion here the various tools we use as Virtual Assistants. Today I want to discuss using Twitter on behalf of clients. Because I monitor multiple accounts on Twitter I've chosen to use Seesmic as it allows me to have several accounts open all at once and I can post/tweet to any one of them or multiples if I want to. However, the version I'm using seems to struck a … [Read more...]
