Find More Tips and Tools For VAs

You can find newer and even more helpful information for VAs at www.vaconnection.wordpress.com!

Accurate Time Tracking- Easier Than You Think

Two of the most important tools for a Virtual Assistant is time and project tracking software. It helps keep you organized and makes invoicing a breeze. Having been in the business for awhile, I have run across some great programs that are available for free or very low cost. Some even combine both the timesheet and project management features. Here are a few to look into:

Timesheets Lite
Time Stamp
Atlas Timesheet Starter Edition

JS Portal
GanttProject
AceProject

What Do You Want to Know?

Another interactive Virtual Assistant teleseminar is right around the corner! We will be focusing on five of the biggest issues for new Virtual Assistants.

This is your chance to weigh in on the topic before the teleseminar even starts. What would you like to learn more about? What are your concerns as a Virtual Assistant? Speak up and let me know! We will be tackling the most common issues from your responses.

To suggest a topic, either post a comment here or send an email to Rosanna@officesupportnow.com.

Register for the FREE Virtual Assistant Startup Strategies Teleseminar

There is still time to register for the F-R-E-E "Virtual Assistant Startup Strategies" teleseminar to be held on Thursday, August 31, 2006 at 8:30 PM EST. Hear firsthand from four established Virtual Assistants strategies that you can use to become a Virtual Assistant yourself!

To register, please send an email to info@officesupportnow.com with "Teleseminar Registration" in the subject line. In the body of the email, please incude:

• Your full name
• Email address
  
• State that you will be calling in from

It's really that simple. What could be better than that? How about adding the chance to win one of four one-on-one Virtual Assistant mentoring sessions? That's right! We will be giving away a FREE 30-minute private mentoring session to four lucky participants- but you have to attend the free teleseminar to find out how to enter the drawing!

Again, there are no strings attached, no fine print, nothing that you must buy- just some valuable insight from four established Virtual Assistants who want to help you succeed!

Register today!

(Please note that regular long distances charges may apply if you don't have unlimited long distance to calls placed to the United States. However, if you want to listen in for FREE, you can visit www.skype.com and download their FREE software which will enable you call to anywhere in the United States for free through their software until the end of 2006- even to our teleseminar!)

Looking to Become a Virtual Assistant? FREE Teleseminar

Then you don't want to miss this opportunity! Join us on Thursday, August 31st, 2006 at 8:30 pm EST for a FREE 30 minute teleseminar about becoming a Virtual Assistant entitled "Virtual Assistant Startup Strategies".

"Virtual Assitant Startup Strategies" will be presented by four established Virtual Assistants, Sharon Trombly, Nancy Cunningham, Kandra Hamric, and myself.

We will be covering the following topics:

• What is a Virtual Assistant?
• Starting a Virtual Assistant business
• Choosing a niche
  
• Marketing your services
• And more!

There will be an opportunity for you to ask questions at the end of the teleseminar.

To register for the teleseminar, simply send an email to info@officesupportnow.com with "Teleseminar Registration" in the subject line. In the body of your email, please include:

• Your full name
• Email address (to receive instructions for accessing the teleseminar)
• Location (state) that you will be calling in from

So what is the catch? There is none. Just email your registration information and we will send you information on how to access the FREE teleseminar. Tell a friend who may be interested, too!

Please note that regular long distance charges may apply if you don't have unlimited long distance, but the teleseminar itself is FREE! (If you don't have unlimited long distance in the United States, see my previous post about SKYPE. It's FREE, too!)

If you have any questions, email me or use the comments section for this post.

Getting Clients

I hear the same question from aspiring VA's time and time again. "How do I find clients?" Fortunately, it isn't as difficult as it seems. However, it does take work and time. Here are a few strategies to help get you started:

• Set up a website. Make sure that it is easy to contact you through your website, too.
• Network, network, network. Tell everyone you meet about what you do.
• Start a pay per click advertising campaign.
• Try websites like www.guru.com, www.elance.com, www.genuinejobs.com, www.ifreelance.com, etc. to help get you started.
• Reduce the risk for prospects. Guarantee your work.
• Ask existing clients for referrals. Happy clients are the best type of advertising!

While building a clientele base doesn't happen overnight, you can grow your business effectively by being proactive. It's all about finding new ways to promote yourself.

Backup or Back Out

Does anyone really jump for joy at the thought of their next scheduled backup of their computer files? Virtual Assistants should. In fact, as a VA, you have a professional responsibility to yourself AND your clients to keep your electronic files intact and easily accessible. Hard drive failures and information loss (not to mention other unforseen computer catastrophies) are inherent risks in the Virtual Assistant profession. In fact, it is not a matter of if you will experience massive computer misfortune- it's a matter of when.

Really, when it happens (and I hope it never does, although logic and common sense seem to dictate otherwise), it will be a stressful enough time as you try to determine what on earth happened and how long it will take to fix. Don't add to that the terrifying realization that you haven't backed up your files in months!

Clients trust Virtual Assistants tremendously with many crucial aspects of their businesses, and losing information and assignments that we have worked on for them would harm them, too. Because it's entirely preventable, there is just no excuse for losing our clients' files. Simply backup regularly.

How often should one backup their files? The answer lies in how much work you would be willing to redo in the event of information loss or corruption. Obviously, monthly is better than never. Weekly would be a big improvement to monthly. But since we are truly dedicated to providing exceptional service, how about daily?

Oh the hassle of it all, you think. Not so! You'll be relieved to find that there are a number of free and reasonably-priced software products that can take virtually all of the inconvenience out of the backup process. In fact, after setting up your preferences and parameters for the backup, it becomes as simple as clicking a button to safely duplicate and store your important files to the destination of your choice. Some applications will also allow you to schedule automatic backups. No hassle there!

So backup often, and don't fear what may happen to that hard drive of yours down the road. You'll have all your files- and your clients' confidence- intact.