Be A Virtual Assistant

This can be a controversial topic. There are those that believe you need to have some sort of formal training before you can call yourself a virtual assistant (VA). And then there are those that believe no training is required.

While it isn't a requirement to go through an official training program in order to start a VA business, if you are interested you can. Do a Google search for Virtual Assistant training and you will find page after page of places that offer training.

It can be beneficial to go through a training program because you will be mentored / coached, be given learning material, etc. This is also all stuff that you can seek out on your own and don't necessarily need a VA training program to provide it to you.

The decision to go through VA training isn't one that someone can make for you, it's going to be personal preference and whether or not you feel a training program would benefit you and your business.

To be honest, a lot of the qualities you will need to be a successful VA are not things that can even be taught to you. You'll need to be determined and determination has to come from within, it's certainly not a skill that can be taught. Perseverance is another quality you'll need to be a successful VA and again that isn't something that can be taught to you.

If you opt to go the no training route, you will still need to make sure that you are setting aside a certain amount of time to be brushing up on your skills and learning all the new things that come up with the advances of technology on a regular basis. It's still always going to be a 'learning' industry whether you go through training or not. A training course can only teach you so many things. So you really need to think long and hard about whether or not you will benefit from a VA training program.

A Virtual Assistant business can be the perfect way for a mom to stay at home with her kids but feel like she is providing to the family finances. A VA business is often times the easiest way for a mom to become a work at home mom. And I don't mean easiest as in an easy way to make a buck because it's going to require a lot of patience, hard work, determination and perseverance. There's no such thing as a quick buck.

Chances are that if you have been working outside the home in Corporate America in an office setting of some sort, you probably have some skill(s) that you can offer virtually or at least a skill(s) that will be beneficial in starting your own Virtual Assistant business.

Confused by that statement? Let's look at it a little deeper, for example let's say you worked as a bookkeeper. Bookkeeping is a highly specialized skill that many people are willing to pay someone to do for them. Many small businesses or work at home moms are in need of bookkeepers and it's a skill they are willing to pay for to not have to deal with it themselves. This would be the perfect opportunity for you to offer your services as a Virtual Assistant.

Another example could be if you worked as a medical transcriptionist or legal transcriptionist. Again these are specialized skills that can provide you the foot in the door you need to start your own VA business.



What about the mom that hasn't been working in a long time but is interested in starting her own VA business? The old saying where there's a will there's a way comes to mind. There are some basic type skills you can start out offering such as customer service. More than likely you know how to check email, reply to emails, make phone calls, etc. That's pretty basic stuff and not surprisingly many small business owners outsource this stuff because it's so time consuming.

Another option would be to look for an internship opportunity so that you can have someone take you under their wing and train in an area of specialty so that you can offer that as a service to your customers.

You'll need to keep in mind that although a Virtual Assistant business is a great way for a mom to work from home, even possibly one of the easier ways; it's time consuming and will require a lot of sweat equity on your part. It's not something you can just throw up a website and expect the money to come rolling in tomorrow. It doesn't work that way.

Instantly access your virtual-assistant.html">your guide to starting a
VA business.

This is a very broad question with a simple answer. It's going to depend on what specialty services you plan on providing your customers. If you are just starting out you will need to think about what services you want to offer and go from there.

To give you a few ideas of what is meant by a broad topic with a simple answer; look at the different possibilities of software dependent on your specialty. Remember these are just examples and the software you need is going to vary depending on what you choose to offer as services.

One example could be a VA that wants to specialize in graphics. You will need an image editing software such as PhotoShop.

Another example is a VA that will be offering transcription services. You will need software that allows you to play digital audio (MP3 files) if you wish to transcribe these types of files. If you wish to transcribe other files such as audio recorded onto micro or macro cassette tapes, a machine with a foot pedal will be needed.

If you are a VA that would like to specialize in website updating using FrontPage then you will need to have Microsoft FrontPage installed on your computer. You can purchase the software from a place like Amazon.com.

Those are just a few examples of the broad range of different software that could possibly be needed. Again, it's simply going to depend on the services you choose to specialize in.

In this 65 page guide, you'll discover:

What a Virtual Assistant does and what kind of services clients are looking for. VAs provide all kinds of services that can range from filing to more specialized tasks like website design and programming. We'll show you that there is plenty of room for VAs with all different skill sets.

Demand for Virtual Assistants. Discover the benefits companies will realize by hiring you as their virtual assistant. There's also even more work available with the booming sector of home-based businesses.

Benefits of being a Virtual Assistant. Not only do you get to work from home, but you have plenty of flexibility, the ability to grow and great tax breaks. Find out more in this Mom's Talk Biz guide.

What skills you need to get started. There's good news. You don't need any special training to get your VA business off the ground, but our guide will show you how to build your skills to make you an even more valuable asset to your clients.

How much can you make as a virtual assistant. VAs are definitely in-demand and by providing great service to your clients, you can earn a very attractive living from home. Our guide will tell you more and help you determine your pricing.

Getting certified as a VA and is it necessary. There are a number of certification and training programs out there. Find out if you need them and make the right choice for your business.

Equipment & expenses needed to get started. Find out what you need to get your VA office set up and ready for business.

How to find clients and get a steady stream of referrals. Find out where to find business and how to set up a website to attract new clients.

Standing apart from the crowd. There is plenty of VA work out there, but if you want to run your business from the long-term, use our tips to help you stand out from the crowd and acquire even more clients.

Invoicing and charging your clients. Find out the common industry practices to ensure your clients are happy and you can stay organized in your business.

Tips and advice from moms already running a VA business. Get inside information to help you get ahead faster as a virtual assistant.

...plus more!!

Virtual assistants are on the rise. This is an excellent profession for the work-at-home mother. Here are some tips for managing your workload while the kids are home.

What is a virtual assistant? A virtual assistant is someone who provides businesses with services that aid them in the daily running of the business. They perform tasks like word processing, web design, corresponding with business clients, and database management.

Managing this business from home has advantages and disadvantages. For one, a mom can keep her kids under her watchful eye instead of in a daycare center. The family saves money on the cost of a sitter. She can also work in her pajamas until noon if she chooses.
Moms with home-based businesses can experience scheduling issues though. Children, especially small ones, don't understand that mom can't play because she has to work on the computer. Infants are even less forgiving. When they need something, there will be no relief for mom until she satisfies them.

With virtual assisting clients, the needs are varied and sometimes urgent. How can a mom work her business and take care of the kids? Planning is of the utmost importance. Patience is a must as well. If you have an infant, schedule phone calls and net meetings during nap times. Babies sleep several hours a day. Use that time wisely to get client deliverables finished and sent out. If you have a toddler who can walk and get into things, he or she will need to be in the office area with you.



Toddlers do not sleep for long periods of time, so phone calls can be handled then, but other work will have to be managed with them awake. Setting up a play area in the
corner of the office will keep your toddler occupied. Place a few of their favorite toys, a blanket, and a pillow in the play area. A small television with a VCR for tapes of favorite shows gains their attention while you work on the computer. When they get tired,
they can lie down and take a nap. If you have more than one child, you may consider hiring a nanny once or twice a week. On these days, schedule conference calls, onsite
meetings for local businesses, and other activities for which you need undisturbed quiet. Make the most of those days to lighten your load on the days when you are the caregiver for the kids.

Managing a virtual assisting business can be done with the kids at home. Setting a schedule and sticking to it will help you remain sane when the kids want and need your attention.