Focus On Your Strengths To Grow Your Virtual Assistant Business

Do you know what your strengths are?

Do you know what you’re REALLY good at, what makes you unique and how you can USE that to add more value to your own business as well as those of your clients?

Many of us are pretty good talking about our weaknesses, but what about our strengths?

How much do you really know about your strengths and how to make the most of them?

Well, I believe all of us have something special. Each one of us was given unique abilities, unique talents and unique strengths that nobody else has, and everything we do, we do in our own special way.

Another thing I believe is Read more »

Do you Operate Your Business With The Right Mindset?

When starting your VA business, evolving from a 9-5 employee (where you don’t make the decisions and merely react to orders from your boss), into an independent business owner (where you make the decisions and give the orders) is sometimes a difficult thing to do.

Successfully crossing this barrier often separates successful VAs from less successful VAs.

I believe it all boils down to how you think about yourself and your business. In other words, it all boils down to your mindset.

Do you operate your business with an employee mindset or a business mindset? Read more »

Skills Are The Most Valuable Asset In Your Virtual Assistant Business

Working in a virtual services environment, is extremely satisfying because you can create your own destiny and work your dream career.

Creating this dream career however, all starts with identifying what skills you already have or want to obtain. Then translating that skills into specific services you can offer to solve the problems and frustrations of your clients.

Your skills inventory (those things you can do and are good at) is therefore the most valuable asset you have in your business!

Because the better you Read more »

The best kept secret to more clients and having a growing business

Whether you are just starting out, or being in business for quite some time, one of the biggest problems we all run into at some point is …

….“running out of time”.

If you are a solo-preneur, working alone on your business, there are so many different things that needs to be taken care off on a daily basis and sometimes the most important things like building your business and getting clients just slip through the cracks.

Working with many VAs in the past few years, it is sad to hear when they tell me that they work so hard on client related work and keeping their clients happy, that they don’t have time to work on their own businesses. The reality however is that even when you are overloaded with client work, you cannot afford to lose sight of your own business. Read more »

Telephone Etiquette – Build or Break Your Business

OK, I want to tell you a story that actually happened and that inspired this post about telephone etiquette.

For a while now I am struggling with some technical integrations on my website and at last decided I need some help. So I phoned a lady who came highly recommended – i.e. a friend told me about her and explained in detail how brilliant this person is.

Because I received this highly positive, personal recommendation, I already formed a picture in my head of the “fantastic, professional individual” who can literally do any technical, web-related thing you require.

So, I picked up the phone, make the call and was ready for the (in my mind) professional / technical discussion to see if she will be able to help me.

The phone started ringing and eventually I started to count …. one, two, three, four … eight … and just before I put the phone down I heard:  “Jellooo!!”

Just  “Jelloooo!” – with the last syllable a long singing sound.  No name to introduce her.  No business name.  Nothing.

I kept my cool and after I eventually established that it is indeed the “highly recommended individual” on the other side of the phone line, I started to introduce myself and begin to state the reason for my call.

Huge was my surprise when she interrupted me to ask if I could please phone her back in ½ an hour since her neighbor is at the door!

Her neighbor!

Well, perhaps she didn’t need new business or it was a “life-or-death” situation with the neighbor.

It however goes without saying that I didn’t phone back and I found someone else to help me.

So, the question I want to reflect on today is:

Does the way you answer your phone build or break your business relationships?

Isn’t it funny (or actually very scary) that people sometimes drop all professionalism when they work from home?

In business, first impressions always count and we have to do everything in our power to make a good impression – even over the phone. “Hi” or “hallo” or worse “jellooo” is certainly not the correct way to do it – not if you are a Virtual Assistant or any other service professional for that matter.  And to ask a potential client to call back… well, I’m speechless about this one.

The telephone is not just a communication tool. In a virtual world it is also the image projector of your business.

We as service professionals rely on a telephone for business. We can therefor never let our guard down because the next caller can just as well be a potential client.

So, to build business relationships when answering your phone the professional way, here are some excellent tips and techniques on telephone etiquette.

PS: Have you ever experienced a similar situation? Why not share it with us in the comment box below

 

10 Practical Tools For Virtual Assistants

There are literally hundreds of different tools for Virtual Assistants to use in their business.

For me however, these tools should comply to one or both of the following criteria. It should allow VAs to

1. be more productive and
2. enable them to collaborate easily with clients.

So, here are some of my favourite tools – things that I cannot work without. Read more »

The Secret For Becoming A Successful Virtual Assistant

Becoming a successful Virtual Assistant entails a combination of many different factors

However, there are two secret elements that will enhance your chance of success – two “softer” elements that are mostly overlooked since they are not part of the normal implementation requirements of a Virtual Assistant business. They are …

• Knowledge
• Motivation

Knowledge

You probably know the statistic that many new businesses fail within the first few years of their existence.

Well,  I believe it is mainly because these new business owners don’t have the necessary knowledge to make the right decisions or the right motivation to keep them going.

For me,  knowledge is the backbone of any successful business and that’s why it is so important to embrace a mindset of constant learning – to try and acquire the necessary knowledge over time.

So, what kind of knowledge is important?

Certainly it is important to know all you can about conducting business as a Virtual Assistant – what it is, how it works and what is required to run your business on a daily basis.

It is also important to know yourself – what you’re good at, what are the things that make you unique, why clients would want to work with you.

It is also important to know your clients and target market – who are they, what do they need, what are those administrative things that keep them awake at night and how can you with your unique talents or services address those needs.

But, how do you acquire knowledge?

You obtain knowledge through experience, through trial and error, via training, reading books, searching the internet, via coaching, when talking and networking with people.

Knowledge is all around you – you just need to find it.

The 2^nd important element for a successful Virtual Assistant business is….

Motivation.

That “thing” that makes you really excited about your business. Motivation makes you jump out of bed in the morning, with a feeling that you just can’t wait to get moving – it’s the reason why you’ve chosen Virtual Assistance in the first place.

Everybody will have something different. It can be anything from

• Being available to your children;
• Spending more time with your family;
• Improving your quality of life;
• Being your own boss ;
• Becoming a professional business owner or
• Helping other businesses grow, etc.

The bottom line is: Whatever your motivation might be for becoming a Virtual Assistant – just find it.

Because your motivation is that one “thing” that will keep you going on those days when you feel like quitting.

If you are open to constant learning and have the right motivation when starting out, your VA journey will be much smoother.

Business Assignment for Today:

Find a quiet spot and think about your reasons for becoming a Virtual Assistant. Ask yourself some searching questions and find your no1 “why”. Then write it down, print it out, frame it and put it on your desk or wall. Use it as your personal motivator to carry you through the tough times and to spur you on when needed.

Make a list of the areas in your business where you need a deeper level of knowledge and understanding. It can be anything from a new service you want to explore to an improved way for handling your finances, marketing, clients, etc.  Make a list, choose the one that will make the biggest impact on your business and then put some action steps in place for addressing those knowledge gaps.

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Be Virtual Assistant Wise can help you get the right knowledge about starting and running a virtual assistant business. Learn step-by-step all the activities needed to keep your business on track. Effortlessly create strategic plans and processes for your business. Use our effective business guides and documentation to get started and grow your business from day 1.

Is December The Right Time To Do Business Planning?

Do you ever take time off to simply reflect and plan: to think about the past year and what you’ve achieved in your business;  to think about what you want to do in future?

In December, with the end of the year approaching, I often find myself operating at extremes – trying to finish outstanding tasks before the December holidays.

It is in these hectic days that there is often little time to reflect on the past year and to plan for the next year.

But, even though it is pretty hectic, I always choose December for this; to do some deep soul-searching; to reflect; to REALLY look at my business.

To look at:

• what objectives and plans I had for this past year and if I reached it or not;
• what opportunities were taken…or lost;
• what lessons I’ve learned.

Then I also choose December as the time to plan – especially if I’m going on holiday.

Because planning new challenges for the year to come (BEFORE I go on leave or wind down for the festive season), motivates and gives me something to look forward to.

January normally comes around soon enough; and I want to be refreshed when I return from holiday, focused and excited about the year ahead. I don’t want to be bogged down by some necessary business planning – I just want to start with all the things set out to do.

How about you?

Have you found some time in-between the year-end parties, the rush to get last minute tasks completed and planning of a December holiday break to:

1. Reflect on the past year and what has been achieved and
2. Plan the new challenges for the year ahead?

If not, why not make some time for reflection and planning this month.

To help you with it, I’ve written a post some time ago on 4 Easy Steps for Better Business Performance. It gives a step-by-step breakdown on how to reflect and how to plan. You can read it here.

Oh, and by the way…

If your VA business survived this past year, be proud of what you’ve achieved. Build on it and take it a few steps further in the next year. Remember, it takes small but consistent steps forward to reach your dreams.

Is Your Question on the List?

Do you have daily frustrations in your virtual assistant business that’s becoming the thorn in your flesh?

Or have you had moments where frustration sets in and you caught yourself yelling at the computer?  Pssst … the sad thing about yelling at the computer is that it has no ears and it couldn’t care less.

We are busy with a Q & A series to assist Virtual Assistants in times when they are “running on empty” and frustration clicks in.  While we are working through the results of our survey there is still time for you to tell us what your questions and frustrations are …

so, pop over and complete the survey here http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QFLVCND  to just get if off your chest.

And to show that you’re not alone, I am going to let the monkey out of the bag and mention a few questions already asked.

• I am new to this and am really interested but where do I start?
• What exactly will you do if you are a VA?
• What type of VA training is available?
• How do clients know about me?
• Where and how does one do advertising?
• What ways/channels can I use for overseas payments?
• Is SA business environment ready for VAs?
• How do I keep up with technology?
• Do I need to change my tax status at SARS when I become a VA?
• So many people don’t understand what virtual assistance is, how do I educate my clients?

If your question is not on the list, pop over to our 2 question survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QFLVCND

 and tell us what your biggest frustrations and questions are in running your virtual assistant business.

Oh, and by the way … if you’re not a virtual assistant but is also experiencing frustration in running a business, click the link http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QFLVCND and get rid of it by completing our survey.  The best cure for any frustration is to get it off your chest as soon as possible.

Looking forward to your response.

Do You Have The Nimbleness to Be Successful?

Starting your own virtual assistant business nowadays is actually easy.  Yeah it is!  With the help of the internet and all the free information available, all you have to do is Google “starting a virtual assistant business” and “wallah” you have 526 000 results in 0.26 seconds.

Or is it really that simple?

Well, maybe if you only want to start a business.  But if you want to run a successful VA business you have to dig a little bit deeper into the qualities and characteristics needed to help you put bread and butter on the table.

Now if you thought 526 000 results in 0.26 seconds was good, when you Google “characteristics of an entrepreneur” you’ll get 1 570 000 results in 0.12 seconds. Wow!

Ok, enough of the statistics.  In my eyes there are 5 essential qualities or characteristics that stand out above the rest and I am convinced that if you possess these qualities you have what it takes to make a success of your Virtual Assistant business and career.

1.    Self-motivation

As a Virtual Assistant and independent business owner, you are the boss and should be able to motivate yourself.  You determine your pace, motivate yourself and know that if you don’t work you don’t earn an income, and the “no money no honey” phrase is your motivation to be in the office on time, schedule your work in advance and make sure your mental strength is fed on a daily basis with a positive attitude.

2.    Confidence and the Ability to Organize

 Virtual Assistants normally work with several clients and need to keep their workspace and projects well organised and has to have confidence in what they are doing. Although this seems to go without saying, it does take a lot of effort and planning to stay on top of matters and procrastination, tardiness and delay can be fatal to your success.

3.    Initiative and Resourcefulness

Resourcefulness, initiative and pro-activeness are excellent qualities of top Virtual Assistants.  Various clients mean different tasks and sometimes you will have to put your ‘problem solver’s’ hat on and come up with the answer that is baffling your client.  You should be able to take initiative, dig around, do research and become their vast resource of information. 

4.    Intelligence and Good Communication Skills

 Intelligence does not mean you should be a Harvard Scholar but it means that you should be Virtual Assistant Wise.  You should be a quick thinker, know what you do and how to do it.  If you add to it the ability to communicate with clients in a positive, understanding, clear and to the point manner you will definitely set yourself apart from your competitors. 

5.    Professionalism

Professionalism is perhaps the most important quality of all and can best be described as a mixture of courtesy, integrity, class and excellence.  Professionalism is paramount and will distinct your business from just a ”work from home” job to a successful virtual assistant business.

Do you posses these qualities?  Excellent!! 

Our e-book “Jumpstart Your Virtual Assistant Business” is an excellent source and addresses the above and much, much more.  For more information about this fantastic business guideline, visit http://www.be-virtual-assistant-wise.com/jumpstart-virtual-assistant-business-ebook.html