Posts Tagged ‘ VA ’

5 Great Books for a VA to Read

January 3, 2011

There are several good reads for virtual assistants on the market. Below are the top five according to online reviews and recommendations. 1. Virtual Assistant, The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA This book, written by Diana Ennen and Kelly Poelker, is a must have for anyone wishing to begin a virtual assistant business at home. The comprehensive guide covers every aspect of starting you own company. Sections include billing clients, setting rates, creating a website, and beginning your own VA business while still having a full time job outside the home. 2. The Virtual Assistant’s Guide to Marketing Written by Michelle Jamison, college professor teaching marketing and office management, this book will assist anyone trying to develop efficient marketing strategies. No matter your level of experience, Jamison can help you move your VA business forward by utilizing innovative ways to secure more clients. Topics included in the guide are the importance of establishing business relationships, marketing your services without it costing an arm and a leg, and locating ideal clients for your business. 3. The 2-Second Commute: Join the Exploding Ranks of Freelance Virtual Assistants Christine Durst and Michael Haaren present a wealth of information in

Where to get VA education

December 27, 2010

When it comes to educating yourself on becoming a virtual assistant, there are many routes you can take. The option you choose may be based on the time and money you are able to invest in training at the moment. With so many choices, you are bound to find something that will work to teach you more about being a virtual assistant. There are many online and offline colleges that offer courses to train you to become a virtual assistant. The Internet also offers a variety of certifications you can get related to becoming a virtual assistant. Taking classes related to office skills will further you education and allow you to offer several different sources. If you prefer to go a more affordable route, there are a number of websites online that offer free information on how to become a virtual assistant. You can read many articles on starting your own business, what services to offer, and how to gain clients. Having a certification is not necessary if you have the proper training from other materials. Joining a virtual assistant network can also beneficial in educating yourself on performing this job. Many other VA’s are located in these places,

How PayPal Works

December 20, 2010

PayPal is the largest provider for services related to sending and receiving money on the Internet. Well over 95% of Internet users utilize PayPal’s benefits to pay for their purchases online, and it is also the most common way for virtual assistants and others offering services online to receive their payments. It is free to sign up for a PayPal account. All that is needed is a valid email address. When you first sign up, you will have a personal account that offers the basic features of the service. You will be able to send and receive money, but you will be restricted to only receiving $500 each month. To receive more, you will need to upgrade your account to a Premier or Business account, which are the two options most used by business owners. The only difference between Premier and Business accounts is the name in which they are registered. You must have a business name in order to receive a business account, but you can upgrade to a Premier account using your own name. Having one of these two accounts means more customer service as well as access to a toll-free number if you need help with

What you should include on your business card

December 13, 2010

Your business name should be the first thing you place on your business card. You may want to add your own name as well, just so prospective clients will be familiar with who they will be dealing with. This is also helpful if you run the business with a partner or decide to hire employees to help manage your business. This should be prominently placed on the card so that it is the first thing people see when they scan the card. If you have a logo for your business, be sure to include it near the name. This logo should be used on all printed documents that pertain to the business. You made the investment to have an image designed for your business, so you want to be sure you use it everywhere you can! This will also help clients remember your brand, especially when they search for your website online. Seeing your on the card as well as your site will let them know they have reached the right place. If you plan to offer your services locally, you should include the physical address where you can be located. Some clients will want to set up meetings

Why you need a Standard Operating Procedures Manual (SOP)

November 22, 2010

A Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Manual should be something for you to consider when creating your virtual assistant business. This is nothing more that sets of instructions that outline the various ways in which you plan to manage your business. It will include a variety of areas, which are all considerations you should be making anyways. A SOP manual can help you create a uniform system for the policies and procedures that take place within your business. It can cover standard office practices, as well as how you accept payments, how you deal with late work, and how to let go of a client. It is beneficial to think about and decide upon this information in the beginning, so that you will know what to do with a certain situation occurs. Having a SOP manual will also let your customers know what is to be expected of your business. For example, one area of the manual can discuss payments. This will include the types of payment methods accepted, how long the client has to pay for work that has been completed, and how you plan to deal with customers who do not pay. There should be a step-by-step model