Virtual Assistant Moms - Tips for being a VA and a Mom

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You need skills not experience to work as a VA

June 7, 2013

Some people think that since they’ve never worked specifically as a virtual assistant that they can’t do it. They think they need to work practically free, if not free, to gain experience. Well, it depends on what you mean by no experience. If you’ve been an office administrator for any length of time, you have experience. If you’ve been a secretary for any time at all, you have experience. Just because it was not in the virtual environment doesn’t mean you don’t have experience. Consider the fact that you probably received most of your assignments at your job via email, or via a project management system of some kind. Maybe you got your assignments via telephone. Most of the time your supervisor did not come to your desk to tell you what to do. More than likely you were on auto pilot day in and day out with things appearing for you to do either via your computer, the phone, or perhaps items winding up in an inbox of some kind. Working from home as a Virtual Assistant is not much different. You will set up a project management system of some sort that works for you, in which your

7 Dollar Sale: Solo Masterminds 10 Day May Madness Sale is Back!

May 5, 2013

By Stephanie Watson

Every year the ladies, and now men, over at Solo Masterminds offer crazy deals. This year they’re offering super deals for only 7 dollars each. If you ever wanted to try these products, now is a great time to do it. This sale is only for 10 days. It starts Monday May 6th and goes for 10 days. You don’t want to miss out, so without further wait here is the link. 10 Day May Madness Sale You have to sign up to get to the deals page, but I promise you that it is more than worth it. Currently there are over 35 deals on the page. There will be more deals to come about during the 10 days and you’ll be notified when something new has been added. It’s a fun sale to be part of so please come join us. See you there!

Don’t know how to do something? Learn!

May 3, 2013

By Stephanie Watson

Everyday I meet someone who could change their lives completely by working from home. Usually it’s a mom with several children, or a newly single mom who is afraid of having to leave her child while she gets a job outside the home. But, she thinks she doesn’t have any skills to offer. My answer is always the same: Then Learn. If you want to learn something today you don’t have to go to college (heck you can go to college from home now too) you can instead seek out the lessons which you want to learn on the net. There are many places you can learn things related to being a Virtual Assistant online. My favorite place right now is VA Classroom, they have very professional courses that really help you with truly getting started on the right foot. At VA Classroom you can learn: How to become a product support specialist How to be an Internet Marketing Specialist How to start a VA business from the beginning How to be a Virtual Event Specialist and MUCH MORE I hope you’ll check out what they have to offer. Whether you’re new to being a Virtual Assistant or have been

Family and Your Health is Everything

April 27, 2013

By Stephanie Watson

It’s been a trying year or so around here. Lots of good and lots of sad. Most of it is just all part of life but it can be very difficult sometimes to get through. I’m so very thankful that I am able to work from home so that I can get through things. I’m thankful I can take the time I need to deal with pretty much any issue that comes up. Sometimes, in the heat of things I forget how good I have it. Like most people, sometimes I feel sorry for myself. I let stress get to me and forget what’s important. I stop eating right, stop taking breaks from the computer to move around, and forget to take time for myself. But, like normal, the universe has a way to put me in my place and remind me about the important things of life. First, some of you know that I have a bad back. It flared up recently and was super bad, due to working 7 days a week and not taking time for myself. I was also not eating right, and well, I was in a lot of pain. My back was still bad

I have a bad back, but as a VA I can still be a bread winner

April 10, 2013

By Stephanie Watson

Recently I took a foray into working at a J.O.B. It was misguided and not done for any other reason than it was offered and I have a hard time saying no. I kept doing my VA and Content Writing work while I had the job for about six weeks. During week three my back started hurting worse than normal, by week six I had to resign. I already know I have a bad back and have had a bad back for many years, since 1994. It’s one of the reasons I started working from home. It’s hard to keep a normal job if you might wake up and not be able to even move. And it did happen, I had to call in sick, and as you know for a J.O.B. calling in sick that early in the game is a real no-no. I explained to them about my back, and that I could do most of the work they needed right from my home office but they weren’t interested in that so I resigned. It’s three days later and I still cannot walk, but I have to say that even though I wasted their time, I learned tons

Keep Leads Coming to Make Money Long Term

April 8, 2013

By Stephanie Watson

If you’re a Virtual Assistant, you know that the one thing that is your lifeblood, the one thing that keeps your income steady, is a finding clients.Even if you have a full client load today, that could change so it’s good to keep marketing continuously. Even if you have to turn someone down, you can save that lead and contact them anytime you have an opening. Luckily, there are several ways to keep a steady stream of leads coming in through your door. Here are just a few: 1. Advertise in Ezines. There are online newsletters everywhere that accept advertising. The key here is to purchase advertising in publications that reach your target market and to create your ad to showcase your expertise. Don’t try to be everything to everyone or you won’t attract clients. Ad Example of what Not to Do: “Hire me to lighten your workload. I can do everything that you don’t want to do. Let’s talk!” Ad Example of what works: Are you ready to get more leads to your business? I will handle your ezine advertising campaign for you. No more searching for targeted ezines, no more writing and tracking your ads. I’ll handle it

Time flies when you’re busy

March 4, 2013

By Stephanie Watson

I’m like a mechanic with five nonworking cars in my drive way, though my clients’ cars are working just fine. I wanted you all to know that I am still here. I am just super busy and focused on my clients and sometimes that takes away from the blog. I have been looking for some regular bloggers who want to share their virtual assistant mom life with our audience, but so far no one has fully taken me up on doing it. I would, ideally love five to 7 bloggers to blog as much as they want right here on VA Moms. If you are interested let me know via the contact form and I’ll get you started. You MUST have a gravatar account. You must blog as yourself. You must be a Virtual Assistant. The gig does not pay a dime, but, you can put your bio under each post and maybe you’ll get a client. Maybe you’ll get known. I know that my business has gone through the roof since I started blogging so it can’t hurt. I am going to try to start blogging at least once a week. We’ll see how that goes. Last week I

Happy Holidays

December 24, 2012

By Stephanie Watson

Just a really quick post to wish you all a very happy holiday. No matter what holidays you celebrate it’s important to take time off to really enjoy your family and friends. They are what’s important all year long. It’s hard sometimes to take time off, but it’s important for your health, and the happiness of your family. Please ensure that you do take regular time off, and most of all, when you do, enjoy it! I know I will. Happy Holidays Stephanie

Creating Systems Creates Success for your Home Business

December 7, 2012

By Stephanie Watson

Creating Systems Creates Success for your Home Business

If you’ve started your virtual assistant business, or are contemplating starting one, it’s very important that you crate business systems. Sometimes people call this a standard operating procedures manual. (SOP) But, it’s really just systems. Every successful business has systems set up for functions such as accounting, marketing, operations, technology and human resources. Your business is no exception. While your systems may not be as complicated as a huge corporations, and you can run your solo business lean and mean, you still need a road map to follow each day in order to be successful.

Basket of Accomplishment

December 5, 2012

By Sarah Stasik

In my early 20s, I worked as a legal secretary for a short time. It definitely wasn’t my all-time favorite job. The work was incredibly tedious and I moved on after a year. There was one part of the job I loved, though. At the end of the day, I had to bring all the mail I’d created to the Pitney Bowes machine. It wasn’t that I liked running the mail through the sometimes contrary machine, but that I felt so accomplished when I reviewed the stack of correspondence and pleadings for the day. Sometimes reaching over two feet high, it was proof that I’d gotten a lot done. As someone who now works virtually, it is hard to come by that physical evidence of accomplishment. In days gone by, most freelance writing work would involve the creation of hard copies. Crisp envelops and bright-white typed pages would add up over the course of the day, proving that you did something. Today, everything I handle is electronic. As a freelance writer and virtual assistant, I spend hours Skyping with clients, answering emails, crafting articles, completing presentations, and more. Even though my tasks add up and money comes in, I sometimes