Blog – Page 7 – Virtual Assistant Success Strategies

Wil Hart on August 10, 2012

5 Fantastic Tips to Boost Your Tech Skills and Increase Your Profits At The Same Time

Learn & Earn I must admit that I am always on the dull side of technology. Being on the cutting edge has never truly been exciting for me. If there was ever a person who waited till the last minute to make a change with his technology, it was ME. Life changed drastically for me when I got my first iPhone. I am still astounded by the power of this magnificent device.

Just to give you an idea of how powerful it is, I attended an event one time and was able to sell more than $1,000 in products because of my iPhone and the tools that I used along with it. Guess who LOVES technology now. Yep it’s ME! I want to share with you 5 Fantastic Tips on how I went from a techno “dud” to acing everything that I want to know about anything tech-related. Here we go!

Invest Time: It takes time to learn anything new. When it comes to mastering tricks and tips on your new iDevice, time is needed. It will be time well spent when you figure out how to use tools that save you time, simplify the complex or save money. Of course there are many other aspects of your life that you desire to enhance or change. Put in the time and reap the benefits.

How To Develop Confidence As A Virtual Assistant

I often hear new VAs lamenting their struggle to get their first client because they are a newbie. But the fact of the matter is this: 99.9% of the time they are seasoned, savvy, well educated professionals who have worked in the corporate world for years. They are not new to doing the work, they are simply new to being an entrepreneur. There is a BIG difference between the two. If you aren’t careful, being a new VA can quickly overshadow your many years of experience and cause your confidence to take a hit.

Another challenge I see with VAs is that because of how administrative professionals typically interact with their colleagues, you may not feel comfortable being proactive. Schedule this! Copy that! The demands that you receive as an admin are endless. Sometimes you may feel that all you do is serve others according to their beck and call. That can be damaging to your confidence. Continue Reading>>

Wil Hart on July 13, 2012

2 Easy Ways to Promote Your Business and Get More Clients

The 21st century has dealt us a pretty cool hand with regards to business. More and more people are finding ways to build a virtual business. Money is exchanging hands for services and products at an unprecedented rate.

Just a few short years ago; you didn’t see so many work-at-home moms selling things on the Internet. Neither did you see so many successful professionals in the Virtual Assistance industry.

There is another aspect of business that is also cool and exciting. Technology and the evolution of business have afforded you, a Virtual Assistant, the opportunity to tout your skills without being ashamed or embarrassed. When you look at the Internet today, almost anyone with an idea has something to sell or promote. Today, I want to share with you 2 ways to promote your business without that gut wrenching embarrassment that you used to feel when you had to give an oral report in elementary school.

1. Attend Networking Events

When you go to a networking event it is nice to know that everyone is there for pretty much the same purpose. It is to get to know other business owners, make connections and start new relationships. Does it unnerve you to talk about whom you are and what you have to offer the world?

Rest assured, you need not feel nervous. Why? It is because everyone else is doing the exact same thing that you are doing!

Sure, there can be some apprehension about approaching people that you don’t know. That is understandable. I will guarantee you one thing. When you get one to two minutes into a conversation, the shyness melts away like ice cubes on a hot stove. When your nerves have calmed down, it becomes your time to shine! Your conversation partner will certainly want to learn more about who you are and what you do.

Now, you can shamelessly talk about how you as a Virtual Assistant solve the problems of your clients. You help them with their administrative clutter by creating documents, managing their websites or caring for their customer service matters. Whatever your gift is, you are given permission to shout those gifts from the rooftops when you attend networking events.

2. Create a Blog

Many of your prospective clients will go online to find the solutions that you provide. Keep in mind they want to be educated, not sold to. They will typically make a purchasing decision based on three things:

How well you educate them
How well you connect with them personally (and how well you understand their problem)
How well you demonstrate that you have helped others (via testimonials and social proof)

You can easily educate them and demonstrate your expertise by consistently publishing content on a blog. A blog post doesn’t have to be more than 200-400 words (which is only a few paragraphs). In each post you can highlight a particular problem, solution or resource that is relevant to your client.

If you optimize your posts, include a specific offer to help the reader with their needs and promote your posts where your ideal prospects are already hanging out online, you are guaranteed to attract interest in your work.

Implement these two strategies to promote your business easily and effectively. Your prospective clients who have yet to meet you are waiting for you to solve their problems. Your skills and talents are needed in the world. Do not allow shyness to hinder you from helping the people who need your solutions.

Wil Hart on June 15, 2012

Two Ways to Improve Your Skills and Increase Your Income

There are two kinds of Administrative Professionals. Those who just show up to work and collect a paycheck, and those who take pride in their craft and truly strive to support those they work with.

Last Friday, I spent the day with a wonderful group of women who belong to the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP). This organization teaches administrative professionals how to upgrade and maintain their skills, and how to reach their true potential. I had the privilege of training more than 100 members how to use systems and technology to decrease their stress, work more efficiently and make themselves indispensable.

What is special about the women that I spent time with is that they are progressive in their careers. They work hard at improving their skills and therefore have more opportunities to increase their income. How do they do this? More importantly, how can YOU do the same?

Constant Education

It is critical to your success that you never allow yourself to stop learning. I realize that your days are action packed and you have a lot on your plate.

However, you and you alone are responsible for your professional development. So this is an activity you have to make time for. To excel as a valuable employee or as an entrepreneur you must continually re-invent yourself through education. These areas in particular deserve your attention

What is happening in your industry
What new technology is available to help you be more effective in your job
What trends are taking place in your profession

Perhaps you work in financial services, in legal or with small business owners as a Virtual Assistant. Are you keeping up with what is happening in your industry and the interests of those you work with? Are you using old, antiquated systems in your day-to-day work-flow just because you are intimidated by new technology? What is really expected of Administrative Professionals and Virtual Assistants these days? How is your role evolving?

The more informed you are about what is taking place around you, the better able you will be to service the needs of your company and your clients. Things will continue to change rapidly as time progresses and you will find yourself further and further behind if you don’t put forth the effort to stay ahead in the game.

In addition, knowledge is what allows you to feel confident in your abilities. Confidence allows you to earn top dollar for your work and easily earn respect from those you work with it. Thus continuing education should be a high priority that you give ample attention to.

Personal Investment

The second way to increase your value and income is to invest in your personal growth and training. True, there is a lot of free information to which you can avail yourself.

However, in most cases, you get what you pay for. To progress in your career, you will need to make practical financial investments. That may include hiring a business coach or working with a mentor to help you achieve your goals. A coach or mentor can also assist with mental blocks that you may not see.

The women at the IAAP conference all invested in their personal and professional growth. Their event lasted from Friday through Sunday. Can you remember the last time you took time away from your work, family and friends to advance your career? It takes a significant investment from your finances, time and energy to rise above the crowd in any endeavor. But doing so is well worth the effort.

What steps are you taking in order to achieve your professional goals? If you want more out of your career than the status quo, which is working harder while receiving less reward, take steps to invest in yourself. Your pride and your pocketbook will thank you.

Wil Hart on June 1, 2012

3 Keys for Building a Successful Virtual Assistance Business While Still Employed

When I first started teaching administrative professionals how to create a successful virtual assistance practice of their own, most were ready to fire their boss, ditch their corporate job and dive right in to self-employment.

Times have changed! Most folks are happy to still have a job. While still very interested in virtual assistance, many are looking to setup their business part-time and grow into a full-time practice.

If that scenario would work well for you, here are 3 keys that will help you to accomplish this goal.

HUSTLE

In order to make a lasting impression at your place of employment, it is important that you stand out from the rest of your colleagues. How does a person excel? It is by constantly delivering high quality work.

When it comes to running your own business, those same principles apply. Being a virtual assistant is not for the faint of heart.

It takes a person who is willing to hustle and work hard in order to succeed. Not only do you have to stand out in the marketplace, but you must become astute at managing your business and acquiring clients. Doing those things WHILE maintaining your current employment will require a lot of hustle.

You’ll also need to show tenacity, patience and a proactive approach to your work to create the additional income you’re looking for.

BE A PROBLEM SOLVER

Simply put, businesses exist to solve problems. Restaurants feed hungry people. Clothing stores dress people. Virtual assistants relieve administrative overwhelm for their clients.

Which means you have to decide what problems you will solve. It is not advisable to start a business simply because you want to. Your skills must be marketable. Those skills need to be easily packaged as solutions for busy professionals.

Think about your skill set. What problems do you know how to solve? Do you excel at proof reading and typing, making travel arrangements, or creating spreadsheets? Are you great at managing accounting tasks, creating reports and developing presentations?

Take stock of your skills and list everything that you have to offer as a business owner. Answer this question for yourself: ‘Why should someone pay for my help?‘ The answer to this question is the beginning of a successful VA career. That will allow you to move on the 3rd Key…

GET YOUR FIRST CLIENT

After defining the problems that you solve and determining why someone would pay for your help; now you can look for the people who need you. Start close to home. If you look around at your personal network, you will likely see people who can help you to acquire your first few clients.

Notify everyone you know about your new business, what problems you solve and who you solve them for. If you know 50 people, keep in mind that all of those individuals know at least 50 people as well. You potentially have access to 2,500 people within your personal network.

This is exactly how I engaged one of my very first clients and a strategy I still utilize, with great success today.

These are a few basic steps to help you make progress with starting your business while still dealing with your current employment situation.

If you’d like to know the rest of the steps and receive mentoring directly from me on how to create a successful virtual assistance business, I warmly invite you to join me as a member of the Successful VA Mentoring program. CLICK HERE for details!

Wil Hart on May 22, 2012

5 Keys To Becoming A Successful Virtual Assistant

In 2009, there were 27.5 million businesses in the United States, according to Office of Advocacy estimates (per a report published in January 2011). What does that mean for you?

A) That number has only increased since 2009.
B) EVERY single one of those businesses needs some type of administrative support to function and be profitable.
C) There is more opportunity for you to be successful than ever before.

Since you have expressed an interest in becoming a Successful Virtual Assistant, I want to share with you all the tips, short cuts and resources that were not available to me when I first got started. I had to figure out on my own most of the things that I learned. I hope that you will utilize the tools that I give you so as to make your journey a LOT less stressful than mine turned out.

Fortunately, I kept track of every step I took, every mistake I made and everything that worked along the way. I didn’t have a real reason for doing so at the time, but I’m SO glad I did because now I can share them with you. When I look back I see that there are 5 critical keys you need to start and build a successful Virtual Assistance company:

1. Mindset: You may not realize it now, but to be successful as an entrepreneur, you have to THINK like an entrepreneur. As employees, we are conditioned to do what others tell us. Someone else typically decides our schedule, how much we get paid, who we work with and what projects we work on. When you become self-employed, YOU call all the shots. This is probably one of the things that is most attractive to you about the opportunity to be a Virtual Assistant. However, you must understand that you will have to go through some growing pains to make-over your mindset. You cannot operate your business they way you function as an employee. It simply won’t work. If you avoid working through this transition it could be the ONE thing that can make or break your business.

2. Infrastructure: What makes up the infrastructure of your company? Here are a few things to consider: 1) Insurances – health, life, disability, dental etc. 2) Technology – computers, phones, an online presence etc. 3) Operations – you must have operational systems in place such as accounting, tax filing, setting up new customers, processes for working with customers, etc. 4) Structure – will you set up an LLC or a Sole Proprietorship? 5) Finances – it takes money to make money. Considering these important matters and making well-informed decisions about which situations will work best for you, will enable you to start and manage a successful company.

3. Marketing: Marketing your services and getting clients boils down to one thing, ‘Offering solutions to people who are already looking for them.’ You don’t have to “hawk your wares”, you don’t have to convince people to hire you and you don’t have to take any opportunity that comes along. Marketing at it’s best is simple, focused and consistent. Those who do not market their company tend to find themselves out of business very soon. The best thing that you can do for your business is to know how to generate leads and enroll new clients. You do not want to wait to figure this out. You can develop a marketing plan even before you have made your first dollar, taking advantage of the resources, relationships and opportunities already within your reach.

4. Transition: Having a PLAN around your transition from Executive Assistant to Virtual Assistant will help you to make the leap from employee to entrepreneur smoothly. Please do not quit your job and then ‘hope for the best’. That is NOT a plan that leads to success. You want to make sure that you have not only your infrastructure in tact, but also a step by step plan that has dates attached to keep you focused. This plan gives you time and space to make the transition. In your mind you may think you can “wave a wand” and make the changes you need to make overnight. But that is an unrealistic view. Mapping out a realistic plan will help you to make steady progress, avoid unnecessary stress and minimize wasted time and wasted money.

5. Building Your Business: When you work for someone else, that company does all of the heavy lifting for you as an employee. The company is responsible for building the business so that you will have a place to work each day. Now, YOU are responsible for whether you win or lose. Success or failure is 100% in YOUR hands! You, therefore, have to perform all of the needed tasks to REMAIN in business. This includes constantly upgrading your skill set, setting up systems, marketing consistently and more.

If you would like help with each of these 5 Keys, I invite you to join me for a FREE training call on Thursday, May 31st, entitled “How to Use the Skills You Already Have to Add An Additional $500 – $5,000 to Your Monthly Income…Working From Home”. Click HERE to get the dial-in details!

Wil Hart on May 21, 2012

Do You Want to Become a Successful VA?

You have been searching for some time haven’t you? There are many questions about the Virtual Assistance industry that you have been trying to answer. Can I really make a living from being Virtual Assistant? Will I be able to pay my bills? How will I find clients? What tools do I need in order to work from home?

Since 2008, we have been answering these questions for our EAtoVA.com community. I’m here to assure you that If I can do it, you can do it too! (Become a member of the EAtoVA family and see how I conquered the journey of going from Executive Assistant to Virtual Assistant. Simply enter your name and email address in the boxes at the top of this page to get INSTANT access to my FREE special report “The Liberated Executive Assistant – How to Break Free From The Corporate Grind and Become Your Own Boss!“)

I know it is your goal to become a successful Virtual Assistant. That is how you found our website and introduced yourself to us. I really want to serve you first by inspiring you to set and accomplish this goal. Additionally, over the next several weeks, I am going to personally walk you through the process creating and succeeding in your very own business.

Just to keep you in the loop of what is happening here at EAtoVA.com, I want to know that I am creating a new club for people like you who want to have full support in your journey of starting your own business. Within the next couple of weeks, you will be the first to receive this exclusive information. Here is what I need you to do in order to get that information.

Click here to sign up for notification about my new club. The word will not go out to everyone. That is why I need you to raise your hand and say, “Yes Sydni, I want more info about the club”. Take a moment to sign up and you’ll be among the first to know when I unveil this new training center. And be sure to tell your friends, family members and colleagues about this exciting opportunity!

Wil Hart on May 18, 2012

3 Reasons Why Virtual Assistants Benefit From EAtoVA Insight

For five months, the EAtoVA.com email newsletter has been in hibernation. The hiatus was a good thing, because we have learned more about the community of Administrative Professionals who want to learn more about how to become Virtual Assistants.

Because many individuals have lost their source of employment, many are looking to create their own income by starting a business. Others are looking to supplement their income. So, we have found that many of the questions are being asked by newcomers who are learning about the VA industry for the first time. And of course there are the many established VAs who are interested in expanding their business and increasing their profits.

Our primary goal is to continually provide the resources you need to be successful and support the VA community worldwide. So by participating in our community:

I. You will learn how to start a Virtual Assistance business

It is an easy task to tell a person what they need to do. For instance, a person loses their income or employment, you easily tell them to “start your own business.” The first question may be, “How?”

At EAtoVA.com, we will teach you HOW to start your own Virtual Assistance practice and become your own boss. Is it an easy thing to do? Of course not! Yet, it isn’t that easy to commute 1.5 hours one way every single day of the week. Commuting is not the main reason why you seek to start your own company. Likely, it is the desire to have time and financial freedom. That means having the option to use your time in the way that you see fit. We will show you how to do that.

II. You will learn how to model our success

When I started my Virtual Assistance company, I had no idea that I would go on to create 2 additional business. Not only that, I’ve helped countless clients to start and grow their own companies. While that is exciting and wonderful, my goal is to show you exactly how I did it. If I can do it, so can YOU. There were no special gifts or talents that I possessed. Persistence and hard work were the keys to my success. I encourage you to model what I did.

The email newsletter will provide you with many tools that will help you to learn what to do and how to do it. I will show you exactly what I have done. I hope that you will replicate my steps and benefit yourself. When I first got started, I didn’t think that I would build a community of close to 10,000 people. I truly enjoy connecting with those who have taken the leap to (or desire to) start their own business. We are a special breed! So whatever I can do to assist you in being successful, I am at your disposal.

III. You will learn best practices on how to grow your company

I promise not to leave you in the lurch. Like I said earlier, you can tell a person what to do, but it is much more powerful to show them how. What is more, I will stick with you after you have created your business and help you to cultivate it, make it grow. After all, what good is having your own business if it is not progressive and sustainable?

There are so many things that I want to share with you, from having a healthy mindset to using technology to marketing to the right prospective clients. We are going to have some exciting times together and I truly hope that you will look forward to joining us on this journey.

Suffice it to say that I am very happy that EAtoVA Insights has awakened from hibernation. You will have plenty of opportunity to learn how to start your own company, model the success of those who have already built VA companies and learn best practices for building your business for years to come.

Do me a favor and leave a comment to let me know what specific questions you have that you’d like me to answer for you. I’ll be happy to do so in future issues!

Wil Hart on May 2, 2012

{Surprise Gift} Rebelations Magazine Visibility Boom Issue

I have a surprise for you that has me grinning from ear to ear…

If you’ve ever felt invisible in business, been deflated by lackluster marketing results or struggle to spark a 2-way conversation with your target market…

– take a look-see at this:

My biz girlfriend Gina Bell invited me to write an article for the newest issue of Rebelations Magazine!

The “Visibility Boom” issue is devoted to helping you get noticed, get clients and get your business growing!

Inside this top-notch resource for innovators, trendsetters and entrepreneurial go-getters you’ll enjoy 17 other rebelicious articles AND a special feature that will have you creating your own Visibility Boom in no time!

Imagine hearing your ideal clients say…“I see you everywhere!” and “I want to work with you!”

I’m biased for sure but I’m certain – this is a must-have resource for any aspiring woman in business!

And what I know about Gina Bell is she’s a “don’t just do it REALLY do it” kind of gal so fasten your seat belts and hold on tight – you’re going to looooove this magazine!

And the best part – it’s totally FREE!

Be among the first to join the Rebelution and jump inside the newest issue of the digital magazine at:

http://eatova.com/rebelations

You know I only share top-notch stuff, right? This is one of the most valuable resources I’ve seen recently so don’t miss out! Get your copy and post a comment below to let me know what you think!

Wil Hart on March 5, 2012

How To Accomplish Goals Faster

Accomplishing your goals is the driving force of your Virtual Assistance business. Goals are what keeps you in the game, keeps you focused and enables you to be successful. Therefore, I know that you are interested in accomplishing your goals much faster than you have in the past. Would you like that? Of course! But, first there are two words which you must become familiar with and utilize more often in the future.

Those two words are Commitment and Fulfillment. Why are these words so important? For starters, take a look at the definition of both. Commitment is the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause or activity. Fulfillment is defined as the achievement of something desired, promised, or predicted.

Now, we can get down to the nitty gritty of this matter and why it is imperative that YOU make commitments and fulfill them in order to reach the level of success that you want for your business. Are you still with me? Ok, let’s go!

First, I need you think think about this question. Have you ever set a goal but never felt the satisfaction of accomplishing it? For example, if you had a goal of enrolling 3 new clients between January 1, 2012 and March 2, 2012; have you met that goal? If you did not attain the goal, what caused you to fall short?

This is a prime example of NOT being committed to a goal. There is a huge chasm between setting a goal and being committed to one. When you are committed to a goal, you see it differently. It is so important to you that you can taste it and will not be satisfied until you have succeeded. Commitments carry a much stronger sense of accountability and worth. Just look at the difference between two couples who claim to be in love. Couple #1 enjoys a very happy marriage. Couple #2 has been dating for 12 years but have no significant attachment. Couple #1 has decided that their love is so strong that they will carry out the legal procedures to strengthen their. That is a true commitment.

Are your business goals so important to you that it feels like you are married to them and that you will devote all the time that is needed to reach their completion? Commitment is the emotional attachment to that which is important to you, but more is needed.

Fulfillment is how you will make your goal come to fruition. This is the take action phase of realizing what you are striving to achieve. All that you need to do is outline what is needed in order to accomplish your objective and then DO IT! As you work towards your aspirations, it will be impossible to forget about them or let the goal become dormant on your ‘to-do’ list. When you are committed to goals that are worthwhile, you become consumed by them because they are so important to you.

Now let’s take the goal of enrolling 3 new clients by May 30th. You are committed and working to fulfill that ambition. Chunk down the work that it takes to reach those new clients. You actually have a full month to acquire each client. What do you have to do on a weekly and daily basis in order to register your first client? The commitment and fulfillment activity will guide you through each step of the the goal accomplishing process. You will find that because you are driven to attain your goals, the speed at which you reach them will be astounding.

The best way to accomplish your goals faster is to become so committed that you won’t allow anything to deter you from your objective. Focusing on fulfilling your commitments will lead you to the success that you desire. What is the first goal to which you will apply these principles? Let me know by commenting below.

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