If you've been a Virtual Assistant for awhile, you're probably like me, and get many approaches from those who want to be a VA but have no idea where to start. Often they will ask if you have work you can pass on to them. I had someone recently contact me after seeing me on LinkedIn, to find out if I had a friend or someone who would like a Virtual Assistant. This was my response to her: I am a Virtual Assistant and if I’m going to refer any of my clients to a VA, it would have to be a VA I’m … [Read more...]
OH&S Tips for Virtual Assistants
I was putting the washing from the washing machine to the dryer and thinking about how often I've done this over the years. Not usually on weekends or evenings, as many in regular 9-5 jobs would do, but during the daytime, while taking a break from my business. Right from day 1 of my business I have tried to ensure that I am operating in a way that is best for my body and my health. Only six months before I began my business I had done an OH&S course with the corporation I worked for, and … [Read more...]
Building a VA business – takes more than a day…
I watch the VA forums online and love to participate and encourage all within the industry, particularly the newbies. But I do have a concern that there appears to be this misconception that they'll have a fully functional business within a month or two, and when they don't, they become very despondent and ready to give up. Where does this perception come from? Is it all the marketing online about overnight businesses, working just 4 hours a week or something else? Any business, no matter … [Read more...]
Too old to be a VA?
Don't you believe it! I had a lady email me via LinkedIn during the week. She was feeling despondent and depressed because she wanted to work, had been classed as 'disabled' in her country and had good administrative skills but unable to get work. She was just looking for something worthwhile to do and had been getting negatives from people around her and told me that being in the 50 plus age group had complicated things for her. This is my response to her. I'm so sorry all of this has … [Read more...]
Buying a Virtual Assistant
Odd term, I know. But that's what I saw recently in a forum. A guy wanted to buy a VA for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. He asked for the monthly rate. He was posting via a job forum because he wanted to get the VA direct rather than through an agency which doubles the charges (his words, not mine). That made me wonder if people think engaging a VA through a VA Network means they're paying higher rates and I want to let you all know that 'no, you're not'. When a Virtual Assistant registers … [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...]
How do I become a Virtual Assistant?
This is a question I get asked from time to time, via email, and I thought I'd answer it here. One of the very first things I notice when I get this request, is how the email is written. Some write the email well and professionally but others write to me like they might be writing to a family member or even similar to text speak on mobile phones. I can say that not writing the email professionally instils little confidence for me that the person writing is going to be able to manage a VA … [Read more...]
Working at home alone
With many joining our industry daily, I thought I'd touch on this topic once again. Working at home can be wonderful and it certainly has been for me, and many other Virtual Assistants. However, it's important to understand that you will be home alone, day after day, and you might not have much face-to-face interaction with others. We do have online forums for VAs to chat with each other, learn how to do things, seek assurance in what they're doing, perhaps even share ideas and resources. But … [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...]