Many 'trades' set their own rates, although some might be guided by industry requirements and expectations. Solicitors, bookkeepers, accountants, business coaches, plumbers, painters, mechanics, and so the list goes on. So, why then, do many of the public feel they can tell Virtual Assistants how much they should be charging? I've heard many VAs talk about this - they get contacted by a potential client who wants a lot of stuff done, often things that require someone with a great deal of … [Read more...]
Being a Virtual Assistant means you are a business owner
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...]
Do you need a VA or an employee?
Important to understand the difference. I saw a post recently, on a business Facebook group, where a member posted a request for what she needed and outlined that the role would be 20-30 hours a week and needing to be available during particular hours EST plus that it would be a competitive 'wage'. Immediately, I didn't see this as a VA role at all, although that's what had been indicated. I queried the role and they later amended it to being a 'sub contractor' role that wouldn't stop the … [Read more...]
Anniversary Giveaways 6 & 7
Wow! It's been wonderful to see so many people registering for these daily giveaways! Make sure you read the comments in past posts to see who the lucky winners are for each day. Only a few more days to go. For the next two days, there will be a draw coming from VANetworking.com. So grateful for Tawnya's input to my own VA journey and she's been a great friend, also, over several years. On her page link you'll see a photo of the two of us together 9 years ago! Where did that time go? So … [Read more...]
Anniversary Giveaway 2
Today is the second day for the business anniversary giveaway. Today, if you are aspiring to become a Virtual Assistant and would like to benefit from being a member of my VAD network, all you need to do is subscribe as a free member at the link below. One of you will be drawn to be gifted a full 12 month Premium membership valued at $150.00. This is a renewable membership and you can elect to renew in 12 months' time. Click now and choose the 'free option' to be eligible for this draw. … [Read more...]
Is being a work at home mum what you thought?
This is a question that was asked at a forum I belong to recently. The asker wanted to know what was the biggest adjustment members had to make? I thought back to when my own children were at home and shared with them, the same that I'm sharing with you now. My girls are now grown and all work at home, three are mums themselves. However when they were home, I valued that I could be home for them when they left for school (or taking them there when they were younger) and being home when they … [Read more...]
How do I find my niche?
This is a question I see from time to time in VA forums from new VAs struggling to work out what they should be offering and how to attract clients. Personally, sometimes I think the focus on 'niches' gets in the way of people starting up their businesses and here are my thoughts. Can I tell you I never had a niche when I started over 23 years ago? I just did whatever was needed, typing, data entry, minutes of meetings, bookkeeping, phone answering. Whatever I could do. It was three years … [Read more...]
Virtual Assistant Industry 21 years old
Did you know that the Virtual Assistant industry, here in Australia, is now 21 years old? It would be safe to say that it's probably the same worldwide too. For my own part, I started my business in 1994 and then began a network in 1996 - originally known as The International Home-based Secretaries Network, we changed to use the term 'virtual assistant' when it became obvious that was how the industry was being viewed as more work was being handled via email and the Internet. We've … [Read more...]
5 Good Reasons Why Your Business Needs a VA
At some stage business owners start to weigh up what kind of support they need in their businesses. Should they be hiring an assistant or should they look at getting virtual support? I'd like to share with you 5 reasons why Virtual Assistants should be the answer to that question. During the course of operating a business there comes a time when the business owner must consider whether it's more efficient for them to engage support in order for their business to move forward. Whether … [Read more...]