Subject: What is a VA?
Tags: Virtual Assistant, workfrom home, VA, Dawson Documents
Blog Entry: I want to be a VA! According to articles on msn.com, a Virtual Assistant (VA) business is one of the hottest home-based businesses going around. A Virtual Assistant can be something every business needs, the costs are low to start, and although some businesses need to be educated on how a Virtual Assistant works, and why they benefit their company, once they know how to use a VA- they would most likely never go back to hiring a Staff Member. There are many things to consider if you do decide to start your own Virtual Assistant business. This series of 5 Articles will help you understand just what it takes to be a VA. I will tell you what you need to get started, give you the resources that you need, what to do once you have started, how to get those clients, how to market and brand your Business and how to keep your business going. First of all, what is a Virtual Assistant? A Virtual Assistant is much like your office employee, though can be more beneficial to your company. The services provided by a Virtual Assistant are done so from their own office. Hiring a Virtual Assistant is an asset to any company. They can save time, stress and help build your company to where you want it to be. Virtual: pertaining to a conceptual, rather than physical presence. Assistant: a person who contributes to the fulfilment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose. I have been running my business as a Virtual Assistant (VA) for just under 2 years now. I have received many emails from ladies from all walks of life. Some are working and want a change but most are Mums who are at home with their Children, wanting something more than to just be at home looking after the children. The emails I have received all follow in the same direction- to one Question- ‘How do I become a VA?' Is it as simple as me saying 'you go- you can do it.' My answer is: Yes you can, BUT, do you have the skills, passion, patience and support to do so? First off, having the experience and knowledge of Administration is something you must have. My past employment included working in Administration and Human Resources, so I had the skills to be a VA. I also have completed several Certificates at TAFE including a Diploma in Business, which also teaches the relevant skills needed for on the job. If you have not completed courses this may be an option and you may like to visit: www. tafe .wa.edu.au , www. tafe .sa.edu.au , www. tafe .vic.gov.au , www. tafe .qld.gov.au , www. tafe nsw.edu.au , www.cdu.edu.au (NT). If you have the communication skills, experience and knowledge, then you are half way there. You then will have to decide if you just want to subcontract out to other Virtual Assistants or go with the option of starting your own business. Links to Sub Contract VA Work: www.asecretary.com.au , www.indeed.com.au To start your own business you will need to consider: Business Plan: www. business .gov Business Name: Something that relates to your Business and You. I chose Dawson Documents as Dawson is my Surname and Documents covers a very wide range of services I can provide. I also added ‘Virtual Assistant’ to the name so it really defines what I do. Website: There are many website builders and options out there. Finding the right one for you can take some time, but once you do, you will be grateful for the time spent looking for it. Of course you can always hire a VA to complete your website and of course there are many Web Designers out there. If you need some options, please let me know and I can assist with this though I will cover this Article ‘What You Need- Getting Started'. Email and Contact Number: It is so important to brand your business. A Business email shows professionalism and people are generally more trustworthy of a business email. For example dawsondocuments@bigpond.com is less professional than erin@dawsondocuments.com.au. Again, there are many options out there; you really can’t afford not to have your own business email. What services will you provide? You need to decide who your target market will be and what you can offer them. Be firm about what you offer. If you find you want to offer more to your clients, there are many courses out in the www that you can take-up. Many Virtual Assistants have a Niche: Real Estate, Legal. Accounting etc ABN: You can go here www.abr.business.gov.au and Register your Business Name and get an ABN for Free. Lastly there are some great VA Forums out there you can join to gain knowledge and get started if that is what you wish to do. So that is ‘Getting Started’. In this 5 Part Series I will go over what else you need to get started in your VA Business and Answer any questions that you may have which I will also incorporate into the Series. Remember, by 2015 people will be asking not ‘What is a Virtual Assistant’ but ‘Who is your Virtual Assistant.’ Erin Dawson runs Dawson Documents- Virtual Assistant as a home based Business. She has 2 children that take priority over her work 9and a husband to look after as well), though her Clients are always not far behind. She assists Businesses with their Administration needs and works until the Client's tasks are fulfilled. To have a look at what Erin offers her clients, feel free to check out the links below. Erin Dawson Dawson Documents- Virtual Assistant www.dawsondocuments.com.au erin@dawsondocuments.com www.facebook.com/dawsondocumentsva
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