That's the title in today's My Career page 3 article about the Virtual Assistant industry. I was called by the journalist about 3 weeks ago and interviewed about the industry here in Australia. We talked about various influences on the industry and how Tim Ferriss helped highlight the industry to the public at large, particularly those who wanted to travel and still maintain their businesses. It also covered the different type of virtual assistants globally and looked at forums here in … [Read more...]
Virtual Assistants – Plan Your Work For Them
As more business owners become aware of the world of Virtual Assistants and realise the potential for getting a wide range of things to be done, there is also the potential for getting confused about who a VA is and what they should be doing for a client. Many clients often realise at the last minute things that need to be done, or try to do something themselves and, in a panic, realising they can't, contact a virtual assistant for (urgent) help. They might even have a regular VA who is … [Read more...]
Virtual Assistant or Employee?
There are other adjectives I can think of but I won't use them here. I saw a post advertising for a Female Virtual Assistant/Content Writer that says, and I quote: You'll be writing about 3-4 250-350 articles per hour based on the keywords I will specify. I am going to expect you work full time (only for me and not anyone else) (my emphasis) You have to have experience in article writing. Amongst other things. The 'virtual assistant' had to be living in the Phillipines too. I left a comment … [Read more...]
Virtual Assistants and Twitter
There are quite a number of Virtual Assistants on Twitter now and with it growing groups. One of them focuses on FoVA 2009 and the group is listed as #FoVA09 if you're looking for it. If the link doesn't work try http://twitter.com/#search?q=%23FoVA09 It's amazing how a new networking tool can soon become addictive, if you let it! Where once I thought I only needed one blog and now own many (on different topics), it would seem the same applies to Twitter profiles, depending on the audience … [Read more...]
Email etiquette and autoresponders
As a Virtual Assistant I manage a number of autoresponders, both for my own business and that of my clients, mainly through shoppingcart services such as 1shoppingcart.com. What amazes me is the number of recipients of these emails who don't realise that they can update their email address or remove their addresses simply by clicking on one of the two links at the bottom of the emails they receive. I receive numerous requests, almost on a daily basis, for me to update this person's email … [Read more...]
The Virtual Assistant Industry is booming!
Those who participate in the VA forums will know that there's been a steady (and fast) increase of new VAs joining our ranks. I believe this is partly because our industry has well and truly come of age and is easily noticeable but also because of our current global economic situation. People need to find other sources of income and build up businesses to protect their homes and families should their existing jobs go belly up. For some they've already lost their jobs and are seeking to provide … [Read more...]
Countdown to FoVA
If you visit my blog you will have noticed the big yellow post it note on the right with the countdown information and link to the Forum on Virtual Assistance (FoVA) taking place 3-7 June in Canada this year. But if you read my blog via RSS you will have missed seeing that, so I thought I would share something of this event with all of my readers. I was delighted when asked last year to come over to FoVA and present a workshop (on social networking and blogging) and participate in the rest of … [Read more...]
Looking for a standard rate…
I often get phone calls from prospective clients or emails from new VAs asking what the 'standard rate' is for carrying out particular jobs. I do understand their question but they haven't really thought about what they're asking. When you're buying a product such as a book, software or other things then there are often 'recommended retail' prices for that particular item. However, when it comes to providing services, it doesn't work the same way. It's not like you're paying an employee that … [Read more...]
Number 6 Mistake VAs Make
Staying in our comfort zone. We need to be flexible and stretch and bend if we want our businesses to grow. Technology - where would this industry be without it? And yet we all get comfortable and set in out ways and get to a point where we feel we don't want to learn anything new. It's all happening too fast and we're comfortable where we are... for a time. I remember I felt like that before learning about blogging. I only investigated it because a client asked me too but I really did … [Read more...]