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Several
Do's and Don'ts for Starting a Virtual Assisting Business
by
Diana Ennen
Virtual
Assistants (VAs) are highly skilled professionals who provide
administrative support and specialized services to businesses,
entrepreneurs, executives, and others who have more work
to do than time to do it.
Examples
of services a VA can do include web design and maintenance,
word processing, meeting and event planning, desktop publishing,
internet research, e-mail coordination, business start-up
consultations and so much more.
This
can be the perfect work-at-home opportunity for many with
good computer and Internet skills. Following are several
Do's and Don'ts to keep in mind for starting and operating
your Virtual Assisting business.
DO
-- Decide on a targeted market and initially focus your
marketing efforts in that area.
By developing
a "niche" in your field, your reputation spreads quickly
and soon you become a recognized expert. Several specialties
include: medical, legal or business transcription, resume
consulting, transaction coordination -- real estate industry,
desktop publishing, manuscript preparing, academic typing,
e-mail support, internet research, etc.
DO
-- Be creative about where you can find business.
The
Internet offers a large variety of potential for clients
just waiting for you to contact them. Actively network and
don 't limit your marketing to simply placing a few ads
in newspapers or the Yellow Pages. You want to find where
there might be a need&emdash;and go fill it!
DO
-- Write a complete business plan and marketing plan.
Too
many leave out this vital step and waste valuable time unorganized
and without a clear-cut goal and direction for their business.
When starting a business you will have tons of ideas floating
around. You need to materialize all these and put them into
a workable plan of action.
DO
-- Develop a website that looks sensational!
Your
website is often the first connection a potential client
has with your services. It must immediately let them know
that they are dealing with a professional. Your site must
then have the POWER to draw them to you and contact you.
Let them see that you value quality by the look and feel
of it. Additional tips include letting them know what services
you offer and why you are qualified to offer those services
by mentioning your experience and education. Be sure to
include points on why you stand out among the rest and are
the BEST! For example, if you have been featured in articles,
radio shows, etc., have them listed with the dates. (See
my example on www.virtualwordpublishing.com)
DO
-- Learn everything you can about starting a business.
Knowledge
is power and the more you know, the greater your chances
for success. Look to online services and message boards
and chats to talk with other Virtual Assistants operating
a business. Remember these are often run by pros who have
been in business for years and are willing to share their
experience. For example, I mentor and manage virtual assisting
boards on HBWM.com, Bizymoms.com, Momspreneursonline.com
and VAnetworking.com. With 20 year 's experience, I often
know what works and what doesn't in starting a business
and staying successful, so my experience can prove beneficial.
DO
-- Join associations that are targeted for our Industry.
A few
of the more popular ones are IAVOA.com and IVAA.com, but
there are many others. By connecting with these associations
and being active, you learn from them what works and what
doesn't and you are able to post your questions to associate
members via list serves often getting answers to your questions
within minutes.
DO
-- Read, read, read.
By frequently
continuing to increase your skills and your knowledge of
your profession, the end result is a more confident satisfied
you. Every tip you get from a book can be a new tool in
your business. I recommend highlighting areas from several
books and adding them to your library. Keep in mind that
you might not use that idea today, but it might apply to
specialties you might add down the road.
DO
-- Enjoy!!
There's
no greater feeling than landing that first client or finishing
your first big project. Plus, wait until you get the opportunity
to tell someone you own and operate your own virtual assisting
business. It sure beats I'm a secretary at .... Plus, when
you enjoy your business it shows. Your clients will sense
your positive attitude and want to be a part of your team.
DON'T
-- Underprice your services.
The
average virtual assistant today makes $25 to $70 an hour,
depending on their skills, services offered, location, and
years of experience. Don 't make the mistake of assuming
if you charge the lowest prices, you'll get the most work.
You won't. Instead, you'll end up working outrageous hours
for peanuts! Clients will pay more for professional services.
When a potential client discovers you 're charging a lower
rate than standard, they often feel they will receive a
quality of services that is also lower. You are a professional
service and you want to charge accordingly.
DON'T
-- Overextend yourself.
One
of the common mistakes many virtual assistants make is to
accept too much work and then not be able to accurately
complete it. Learn to say no or have a back-up helper who
can assist you with any overflow work. Remember one of the
most important ingredients for success is keeping your clients
satisfied. If you overextend yourself and make a lot of
errors, it will jeopardize your business.
DON'T
-- Get discouraged.
It
takes time to get a business going. Plan ahead and have
money saved in reserve. Don 't buy items until you have
found the best possible price and there is an absolute need.
This advance planning takes the pressure off of having to
make money NOW. If things are slow and the phone just isn't
ringing ... MAKE IT RING!! There 's plenty of work out there,
you just need to aggressively pursue it.
Finally,
the most important ingredient for success is your belief
in yourself. If you believe that with your skills and experience,
you can own your own business, then there 's nothing stopping
you. DREAMS DO COME TRUE. SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED TO MAKE
THEM HAPPEN.
Diana
Ennen, Author, Virtual Assistant: The Series, Become a Highly
Successful, Sought After VA, Words From Home, How to Start
& Operate a Successful Word Processing Business ,
www.virtualwordpublishing.com diana@virtualwordpublishing.com
| How
to Become a Virtual Assistant
|
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Virtual
Assistance is a rapidly growing industry.
A
Virtual Assistant provides administrative support
to local and long-distance clients via the Internet,
telephone, fax, and email.
This book will give you a roadmap to start your Virtual
Assistant Practice.
Click
here for details.
|
|
How
to Start a Secretarial Business |
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If
you have typing skills and want to type from home,
check out the Secretarial Business-In-A-Box, a start
up kit that makes it easy to start a secretarial business.
Click here for details.Click
here for details.
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