International Virtual Assistance and what it means for one Aussie VA!
November 7, 2008 by Kylie Short · Leave a Comment
I first stumbled upon Virtual Assistance in August of 2006. I had just given birth to my third child, my daughter Matilda and started my business four weeks before she was born. Until I found the term Virtual Assistance, I had no idea there was this entire industry out there waiting for me, but as soon as I found it I became excited. So excited I wanted to learn more about it. How to get started? What technology do I need? Is it something I can even do
‘So people actually work from home huh’ was the response from my husband. And with his support I started my research.
Ask any newbie and they’ll tell you, ours is one of the most giving and nurturing industries out there in Internet land. Especially considering what normally happens when you have women working together (lots and lots of nastiness and/or competitiveness). I was so humbled to see veteran VAs sharing their knowledge and supporting the newbie’s in their quest to start their own businesses. For me, it was the deal clincher. I too wanted to be a Virtual Assistant when I grew up.
So with two young children and a newborn, my plan was to grow and market my business slowly but Internet land had other ideas for me. I soon became so busy that I decided to become a Multi-VA, started to build my team and I won the Janet Jordan Achievement Award for 2008. So why am I telling you all this? Well as a Virtual Assistant who lives in Australia and has no plans on moving countries, I had to interpret the information my poor brain had to assimilate. I had to ‘Aussiefy’ it. (Sorry to all the writers reading this – I made up my own word there)
Kylie’s tips for International VAs:
- Be aware that the rules and regulations are different between countries, states and local government areas. A lot of the advice on starting a business, registering a domain name didn’t apply to me because of where I lived. I still had to go out and research where to start on my own.
- Join forums in your own country as well as overseas. Who knows, maybe there is a get-together in your area that you are missing out on.
- Be aware of the differences in spelling, grammar and the meaning of words. For a long time there I was really careful about how and what I said in the webinars I attended. I wanted the communication channel to be as clear as possible so that there couldn’t be any miscommunication. I don’t anymore and even teach those who want to learn, how to speak ‘Aussie’. Crikey!
- Work your time-zone to your advantage. I have a Project Manager who is quite literally my right arm. She is able to log remotely into my server and is administrator on most of my accounts. We usually have a Skype chat (can’t really call it a meeting because of the other things we talk about) each day around 10pm my time to do a recap of anything that came up and what I absolutely need her to do or delegate that day for me. I wake up and the work is in my inbox for quality checking and sending to the client.
- Don’t just glance over your Professional Indemnity insurance policy (Errors and Omissions Insurance). Read it thoroughly. My policy doesn’t cover me for clients located in the United States but it does for all other countries. To increase my cover I need to pay an additional $3,000 AUD. As I don’t have clients in the US, this currently isn’t a problem for me and so I haven’t paid the additional fee.
With all the information I have assimilated in the last two and a half years, my business has grown beyond my wildest expectations. Part of my business plan is to now give back to my industry so the upcoming newbie’s receive the support and knowledge that I did. And it never surprises me to find newbie VAs from Australia, unaware of the VA industry in their country.
The Internet has truly made our industry a global one where teams are made across continents; clients are served by VAs in different time zones and the industry continues to grow day by day.
First published in IVAACast - the official VA Newsletter of the International Virtual Assistants Association!
I’ve been a busy VA!
November 7, 2008 by Kylie Short · Leave a Comment
I have to confess I’ve been really busy with both client work and some exciting new projects for Tilda Virtual Services. I’m in the midst of creating my first info product as a joint venture with Angela den Hollander at communic8 design and I have been working hard at rebranding my e-newsletter.
The newsletter is now called Techno Update - and it will be a monthly cheat sheet on the latest technology for online businesses trying to market their services or products. Topics will include VoIP, Content Management Systems, Customer Relationship Management Software, Setting up and promoting Teleseminars and much more.
Techno Update will give you all the information you’ll need to decide if using particular software or technology is going to help you to achieve your goals.
I kind of can’t help myself and read a LOT of ’stuff’ on the Internet and I thought what better way to market my business and my services than to share this knowledge with the rest of the world.
To subscribe you can click on the home page and subscribe in the form there on the right or you can send a blank email to kylie-349256@autocontactor.com
Why not drop me a line and tell me what it is you are looking for, but don’t know what you need?
Five Misconceptions about the Virtual Assistance Industry
October 15, 2008 by Kylie Short · 3 Comments
Anyone with a computer, Internet connection and a typing speed can become a Virtual Assistant.
All the Virtual Assistants I know are experienced Personal Assistants, Executive Assistants, Office Managers, Bookkeepers and Web developers with at least 5 years experience. It takes considerably more than just a computer, Internet connection and the ability to type to become a Virtual Assistant. And yet there are still some people who see the Virtual Assistance industry as something they can do until something better comes along. This in turn reflects on the industry as a whole.
The International Virtual Assistant Association (IVAA) defines a Virtual Assistant as, “an independent entrepreneur providing administrative, creative and/or technical services. Utilizing advanced technological modes of communication and data delivery, a professional VA assists clients in his/her area of expertise from his/her own office on a contractual basis.” and I agree wholeheartedly with this definition.
To become a Virtual Assistant you need a solid background in providing administrative, creative or technical support. I believe that you can learn online how to provide these services on a virtual basis but you need to have the background, knowledge and experience before you begin.
All Virtual Assistants are created equal
Just as there is a difference between in-house assistants and what they do for you, there too is a difference between Virtual Assistants. Some only provide bookkeeping support, some provide graphical and web design support. Other’s provide technical support. When selecting your Virtual Assistant you need to carefully look at the tasks you wish to delegate. Then select a Virtual Assistant with the skills you require to enable the project to be completed. You’ll be sorely disappointed if you ask a Bookkeeper to design graphics for you when they should be maintaining your books instead.
Virtual Assistants are just like employees right?
Virtual Assistants are independent business consultants who specialise in providing administrative, creative and/or technical support. We are registered as a business in our home countries and what this means is that you don’t have to pay for benefits and insurance like you would with an employee. It also means that you can’t micro-manage a Virtual Assistant as they usually have more than one client at a time. If you need to micro-manage then you need a telecommuter or an in-house employee, not a Virtual Assistant.
My Virtual Assistant is available 24/7
When starting with a Virtual Assistant it is extremely important to set general expectations and then stick to them. If your expectations are not the same as those of your Virtual Assistant then it’s highly likely that they’ll never be met.
You need to give your Virtual Assistant enough time to complete your tasks and understand that you’re probably not the only client they have. You also need to take into account his/her time-zone, their requirements for lead time and allow for this in your own schedule. Just because your Virtual Assistant seems to be there 24/7 doesn’t actually mean they are there. Unless of course they have a team of Virtual Assistants in all time-zones and literally are available 24/7.
Virtual Assistants only provide Administrative support
As we move away from the industrial age and into the information age, we as workers are no longer just selling our time for money. We are also selling our knowledge. Part of the Information age is the process of using the Internet as the sole or secondary means of marketing your product or service to a target market, of finding information and learning about the world.
Virtual Assistance is a relatively new industry that has been born in the Information Age. Virtual Assistance simply describes how service providers, provide their services. Thanks to technology Virtual Assistants are no longer restricted to working with a client onsite but can also work with clients outside their own time-zone. Technology allows Virtual Assistants to work from their own office be it in the home or an office space, on their own or as part of a team. It means as a service provider, Virtual Assistants are no longer limited by geographics.
To work virtually, Virtual Assistants research and absorb information almost like osmosis and then share the information and knowledge they have gained about working online freely amongst themselves. Skills are learnt, new knowledge is gained and in retaining the services of a Virtual Assistant it’s highly likely that they have more than simple administrative support to offer you. Why not ask and find out?
How to find the perfect VA for you.
October 3, 2008 by Kylie Short · Leave a Comment
Alice Seba wrote a great blog post on her Internet Marketing Sweetie blog about how to find the right VA for you. So here are some of my tips:
- Always ask for references, then once you have them, call them.
- Make sure you communicate fully what your needs and expectations are.
- Go with your instincts. If they tell you the business relationship isn’t working, then talk to your VA to see what solution you can come to.
- VAs who know what they are talking about are worth their rate.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Often your VA has knowledge and skills you don’t know about.
- A quality VA shouldn’t have to ‘learn on the job’.
Thanks Melissa from Business Mums Network for emailing me the link to Alice’s blog!
Tilda Virtual Services is moving - again :)
September 24, 2008 by Kylie Short · 2 Comments
Well it’s been 5 months, nearly 6 since our first move out of the home office into some office space downtown and while it didn’t make me any less of a Virtual Assistant, it did help me to set strict boundaries between home and work. Working into the wee hours just didn’t happen any more and the boundaries for my family were great too.
Here’s the thing. I missed being at home. This is our dream house that took us 6 months to build. We picked out each colour, tile and brick to pull it all together and turn it into our dream home. My husband demanded that we have a dedicated home office for me that is fully networked to the rest of the house and I miss it all.
I also miss having a little bit more flexibility. I’m not the sort of person that copes well when I am dictated to and when you have an external office, you are dictated to by social norms. People expect that if you have office space, that they can drop by any time between 9am and 5pm. This just didn’t work for me.
Beckie has moved on and so for me, there is no real reason why I should keep the space. I have a team of 7 subcontractors supporting my clients one of which is my fabulous Project Manager Deirdre Shockley, so I don’t need to replace my employee.
So… I’m going home.
And I’m happy! If I didn’t, I would have wondered if moving out was the right thing to do and I wouldn’t have developed my good habits so I don’t regret it at all. Life is a series of learning experiences and this was another one of those.