Questions and Answers: A New Blog Series for Virtual Assistants
December 30th, 2011 by Sue L Canfield
Many virtual assistants are starting the new year with questions about their business. I've decided to start a new blog series here for those virtual assistants who want answers to their questions. This Questions and Answers series is your opportunity to ask any questions about your virtual assistant business. I'll then compose a reply via my blog so that all can benefit.
Use the contact form to send me your questions. I'll post one each Friday and send you the link. Your feedback is very much appreciated.
Read the first in the series about how to raise an existing client's rate here.
January 1st, 2012 at 1:39 pm
I ran a VA business from 2007-2009. As much as I loved it, I found that I was having to spend a large percentage of my time marketing my business. I would like to start up again, but what alternatives should I consider besides doing my own marketing?
January 2nd, 2012 at 10:06 am
Thank you for that great question Lynne. I'll be emailing you with some additional questions so I can best answer yours. Sue
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:49 pm
I am working full-time and trying to get clients for my business. The hardest part is marketing and writing a blog.I've started a blog but what topics can I write about? What about marketing?
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:51 pm
Thank you Beth for your question. I'll write a post about it and send you the link.
January 3rd, 2012 at 7:32 am
I am in the same position as Beth Frank in trying to work full-time and start a VA business. How do you do this and still maintain a full-time job until your transition into full-time VA?
January 3rd, 2012 at 7:54 am
Howdy, Beth and Carmen!
There are certainly challenges; starting a new business can be like leaping from an airplane. But just think: you have a parachute! About half a dozen times, I've been shoved from the plane with nothing but a silk worm, and more than once had weights around my ankles.
Starting a business while you're still working is A Good Thing.
I'll be sending you both an email with my answer, which Sue will expand in a future post.
January 3rd, 2012 at 4:56 pm
Hello Sue. Thanks for this opportunity to ask you questions. My VA business has been around for years now but at the moment I feel that I have plateaued. I wish to add more clients aside from referrals. Is it possible for me to promote and get clients online? If so, how can I do that?
January 4th, 2012 at 4:46 pm
How do you make the initial approach to a new client?
January 5th, 2012 at 5:59 am
Thank you for your questions Aldous and Valen. I'll work up an answer and send you an email and prepare a blog post. Sue
January 5th, 2012 at 8:11 am
Like several of the VAs here, I feel that I'm spending a lot of time networking but not getting a good return from my time investment. I've been reading a lot about other online businesses who don't network at all. Would this work for a VA business?
January 5th, 2012 at 9:44 am
@Janet I think we need more clarification on what is meant by networking in order to best answer that question. I'll email you. Sue
January 6th, 2012 at 11:37 am
Networking is going to local groups that are organized and prompted as a networking event. Where I live, there are many groups - Rainmakers, GoldStar, PowerCircleNetwork, BNI, etc. I have joined and attended several of these groups for about 15 months.
January 9th, 2012 at 9:50 am
Thank you Janet for your definition of networking. I'll keep that in mind as I write up the post to answer your question.