I know it has been quiet here at VA Mommy, but the world of this Virtual Assistant Mom has been far from quiet! So what is new over here?  Lots of things!

I guess the biggest news is that I am almost 6 months pregnant with Baby #2! Yeah, I’ve been holding that one in on some of you for awhile, but it’s probably a big reason that the VA Mommy blog has been a bit neglected lately. I have really been busy trying to prepare for this new baby’s arrival buy setting up my business to run by itself, retool my team, and really concentrate on putting my family first for the next several months. I thought having one baby was hard, do you think I have any clue what TWO kids will do to me?

Second, today is my Gmail Anniversary!! That’s right, 1 year ago today, I completely ditched MS Outlook and moved completely over to Gmail and haven’t looked back.  I go into my story and the pluses behind it over on my Real Estate Virtual Assistant blog. Check it out!

Last but not least, I am so excited to announce a new training program I am developing (together with some VA friends) the REVA Academy! Being so busy trying to support my real estate clients, I am in definite need for some REVA team members. But my colleagues and I came to the realization that there are just not enough Virtual Assistants out there with real estate experience. So REVA Academy was born! The REVA Academy training program will cover this hot and in-demand skill of Real Estate Support. In January 2012 we will begin a 5 week, high-content, live training program designed to teach Virtual Assistants all that they need to support Real estate professionals.

Mark your calendars for December 13th, when we are hosting a FREE  call on highlighting the reasons the real estate niche is in demand, and a few details on our training program and what we will be covering.  I hope you will join us, so sign up right here and find our more about us at our website, www.REVAAdacemy.com!

I don’t know about you, but I want to go to camp this summer. It’s not just for the kids anymore! VAClassroom has just announced their first Summer Skill Camp – a way to learn 10 new skills in 10 weeks, skills such as article writing, Facebook marketing and WordPress development.

Many of my friends and readers know that I LOVE VAClassroom and all that Craig Cannings and the gang have to offer. They have quality training programs for our Virtual Assistant industry, a few of which I have taken myself. So I registered and I am really excited to attend the Summer Skill Camp 2010, which starts July 6th. I’m always looking to sharpen my skills and learn something new.

So what are we going to learn in this 10 week summer camp?

• Develop the right system to creating a profitable, in-demand Facebook Page Service.
• Receive an easy-to-follow blueprint for building an effective online newsletter or ezine.
• Discover proven techniques for designing a winning WordPress Blog.
• Uncover and implement the right kind of WordPress plugins to ignite traffic and results for you and your clients.
• Learn how to leverage a freebie offer or information product to attract and win new clients.
• Discover a simple formula for crafting and delivering top-notch social media presentations to your clients and community.
• Master a proven system for seamlessly organizing your many social networking activities.
• Learn how to effectively measure your client’s Internet Marketing results and success.
• Receive an easy formula for writing articles and press releases that produce results.
• Develop a winning squeeze page or landing page that converts for you or your clients.

So doesn’t that all sound great? Plus Craig is offering several bonuses as well with this fantastic program. And there’s an Early Bird discount if you sign up before June 3oth. Use the promo code SUMMER by 6/30 and get $100 off of your registration fee.

So join me there and lets go to camp together. Sign up at this link – http://tinyurl.com/282wkrp

See you there!

I made it home late on Friday night after returning from Phoenix, AZ and one of the best IVAA Live Summits ever! I came to Phoenix with some ideas in my head, and came back with so much more and plans to really shake things up in my business. I had an amazing time with several of my VA friends including the DVVAAs, and met many more for the first time.

Just a few things I learned:

• From our awesome keynote speaker, Marsha Petrie Sue,  When you run into issues and problems, you have 3 choices in life: Take it, Leave it, or Change it. So what’s your plan?
• Speaker, Karen Gridley really made me reflect on if my thoughts, feelings and actions are really aligned. How am I getting in my own way?
• Learned that I need to refine my processes, especially my lead follow up.
• I need to screen new team members carefully, or “Hire slow and fire fast” according to Donna Toothaker.
• That other VA Mommies of small children like me do not do it ALL. They get help now and then too.
• Never realized how I don’t talk very much while working at my home office. I spent the end of every day at the Summit hoarse from gabbing so much with my VA colleagues. (Sorry if I talked your ear off!)
• My friend, Dana Fortier is a total Rockstar.
• Some VAs have really awesome clients that send them really awesome cake for Administrative Professionals day.

As you can see, I had a fabulous time at the Live Summit and I came back with a motivational fire under me to set some great new things in motion. I also came back with so many new friends in the VA world. I feel so lucky to have met them and look forward to “seeing” and getting to know them in and around the social networks and forums I frequent.

One thing that made my year is that the 2011 Live Summit will be held in Portland, Oregon. I’m not sure if anyone was more excited than me, since I am originally from that area. My family will be thrilled that I have another excuse to come out and visit.

So have I convinced you yet?  Are you ready to invest in yourself and your business to take it to the next level? Then the 2011 Live Summit is one that you can not miss! And don’t use finances as an excuse, start saving! Starting now, put aside $25 per week in a “summit fund”. By the 1st of July you’ll have enough to cover your summit registration. By the 1st of November you’ll have enough saved to also buy your plane ticket. And by mid-January 2011 you should have enough to cover your hotel room too! So start saving, mark your calendars, and I will see you at next year’s Live Summit in Portland.

Recently, Entrepreneur.com posted a fantastic article titled, “Should You Outsource Your Online Presence?“.  The article highlighted the value of outsourcing your social media marketing to Virtual Professionals.

Check out this quote from the beginning of the article..

“Between blogging, tweeting, Facebooking and updating a LinkedIn profile, it’s a wonder how a business owner has any time to answer e-mails and phone calls, much less run a company. But the time invested in social networking is well spent in this age where maintaining a social media presence can be a necessary piece of a successful marketing strategy.

Trouble is, as the number of platforms grows, so does the time it takes to feed and groom each account. Not to mention the front-end investment of setting everything up.

For those caught up in a social media blitz–and those contemplating taking the plunge–why not consider outsourcing? A virtual assistant can tackle those time-consuming tasks.”

Entrepreneur.com, July 7, 2009

With articles like these being posted, and the growing social medial landscape, Social Marketing VAs and Specialists are starting to be in high demand. It is fast becoming a popular and profitable niche among the VA community. Almost daily, VAClassroom.com is receiving new requests for Social Media VAs. In the last few days, they have received requests for as many as 10 Social Media VAs – amazing!

So now is a great time to consider taking the Social Marketing Specialist Program (if you haven’t already) at the VAClassroom.com. I am a soon-to-be grad myself, and could not speak more highly of the program.

VAClassroom is still running a $100 summer discount special for the training program for just a short time longer. Check out the link below and the coupon code to access this popular program today:

http://www.vaclassroom.com/socialmarketing/cmd.asp?af=986934

Coupon code: SUMMER09

Since I have started the Social Media Marketing training class, I have become a raving fan of Craig Cannings and the VA Classroom. I really think is is a great place for new and veteran Virtual Assistants alike to get comprehensive training on important niches like Internet Marketing and Social Media Marketing. This has become one of my top VA training resources. So check them out!

VAClassroom presently offers a comprehensive ten-module, video-based program called the “Internet Marketing VA Training Certification”. With over 50 videos, a 70-page resource guide, practical quizzes and assignments, a class discussion forum, live coaching and job search resources, the skills developed through the IMVA training and certification program will help you win more ideal clients, increase your income opportunities and expand your services into a profitable and in-demand niche! In addition, this course will provide you with the Internet Marketing know-how to more effectively promote your own Virtual Assistance practice.

Take the right step in your Virtual Assistant career – Enrol today at VAClassroom.com!

I just wanted to share a brand new blog that is perfect for aspiring, new or veteran Virtual Assistants to get get great guidance and advice from a real veteran of our VA industry.

Candy Beauchamp, of OffAssist, has started up this great new blog, 2 Minutes with a VA. Candy takes to opportunity to answer many of the frequently asked questions that she receives, in little 2 minute videos. And since Candy has been a sucessful VA for many years now, she is definitely one that new and aspiring VA’s should listen to. Check it out!

Nice work Candy!

This  is first in a series that I want to do of Q&A interviews with experienced Virtual Assistants. The aim is to give new and aspiring VAs insight into how they started their businesses, how they run their businesses and how it fits into their lives. This will be the first in hopefully a long line of Q&A’s with inspiring VAs throughout the industry. And to kick it off, we’ll start with myself. So here’s my story.

Q&A with Megan Barber, Owner and CEO of Barber Virtual Assisting Solutions

How did you start your VA business?

Before I started my business, I worked in administrative positions in real estate offices, and as an in-house assistant for Realtors. When the agents I was working for couldn’t afford to use me full-time, I figured that I could do these things for many agents all at the same time. That is when my eyes were opened to Virtual Assistant industry. I found it to be a pretty natural transition from what I was already doing and was excited to be starting my very own business with much mentoring help from my business savvy father. I celebrated my 4 year anniversary in business this month.

How did you figure out what to charge for your services?

I did a lot of research and looking around at VA websites to see what other Virtual Assistants were charging. At first, because I didn’t have much experience, and I was afraid that people would think I was too expensive, I placed my fees on the low end of the spectrum. Even though I was low, I still thought my local prospects would balk at my rates. But I was surprised to find out that people were more than willing to hire me at my rates (especially since I emphasized the “no employee expenses”). I have raised my rates 3 times since  as my services became more in demand, and was confident in the value of my services.

How did you find your first clients?

I was lucky to draw my first clients from the people I already knew. My first 2 clients worked in the real estate office I used to manage and knew of my knowledge and my abilities. I was very fortunate to have signed them within the 1st month of being in business.

How long did it take you to build your clientele?

I must say that the first year in business was a little rough. I got my first to clients, and things stagnated for awhile. But then 6 months after I started, I finally got a website, started joining different networking groups and seriously upping my marketing efforts. Word of mouth from my own clients helped me gain new clients, and my online marketing efforts that reached my clients directly, helped me grow even more. Now I have 8-9 regular clients at a given time, and a few extra projects that come on occasionally.

How many hours per week do you usually work?

For straight client billable work, I have about 20-25 hours per week, sometimes more. But I do still seem to work 40+ hours a week when you add in my non-billable work. That includes my bookkeeping, marketing, blogging, networking, etc.

Do you find being a VA provides you flexibility when you need it, especially with family, hobbies, etc?

It does and it doesn’t. Even though I am running a business from home, it is still a business and I need to treat it as such. It is sometimes hard to keep the balance between business and home life, but I manage.

I am my own boss and I do get to set my own hours and work when I want to. But that also means I need to stay disciplined and make and stick to a regular schedule. I make sure my clients are clearly aware of my business hours so I am not getting calls at all hours of the night. But I also sometimes need to remind myself to turn off the business for the night and focus on my husband and house.  And now that I have a baby on the way, it is becoming more important than ever.

Do you have a specific niche or specialized target market you typically provide services for? If so, what is your niche and how did you choose it?

My particular niche is Real Estate and I only market to and work with those within the real estate industry. It was natural for me to choose this niche because of my past experience  doing admin work for real estate for many years previous. So I started my business and focused my marketing efforts that that target market.

What of your services do you find are most in demand?

In the real estate world, my services that seem to most in demand at the time is Listing Coordination or Listing Marketing. Right now that is probably due to the state of the economy and the real estate market, as some agents have a listing inventory that they need to get sold. But some of my services most in demand have varied over the years.

What do you like most about being a VA?

I love being my own boss and running my business the way I want to. I don’t think I will ever go back to a j-o-b. I like the flexibility that I have working from home, since those working in the corporate world aren’t so lucky. I also love the networking opportunities and the great connections I’ve made with other fabulous Virtual Assistants. Some have become close friends and tremendous resources for helping my business grow and change.

Do you have an advice for new VAs or those thinking about joining the VA world?

If you are thinking of starting a VA business, take it seriously. It is not a “get rich quick” type of thing, and takes some hard work to get started. So be prepared, make a business plan, and check out all the small business resources you can.

Make sure you also get a website started for your business quickly. I have witnessed other new VA’s and they really struggle to market their virtual business without a website. So make that a high priority if you can. And if you are not familiar or comfortable with web design yourself, hire someone to do it for you. It will save you loads of time and money in the long run.

And don’t get too discouraged if new clients and new business don’t start coming your way immediately. Just keep plugging along, marketing, networking, and demonstrating what you know. The opportunities will roll in.

Today, a brand new book for VAs was released from fellow VA Alyssa Gregory named, VA Secrets Revealed!. The book is an insiders guide to becoming a successful virtual assistant from one who knows.

What’s covered in the book includes:

• Common mistakes VAs make
• Whether the VA Business is right for you
• Finding & keeping clients
• Marketing on a budget
• Secrets to success

Plus, when you purchase the group she gives access to her Online VA Resource Toolkit.

Alyssa is an experienced home-based business owner since 2001 and a successful Virtual Assistant since 2003. From her experience in the VA industry, Alyssa has gone into public speaking, has become coach and mentor for aspiring VAs. Along with her great new book, she also is offering a coaching program for new and aspiring VAs.

Way to go Alyssa!

The second most frequent question I get asked by those thinking of becoming a Virtual Assistant: Are specific trainings or certifications required to become a VA?  Opinions from VA to VA may differ, but my answer to this is no. Formal training and certifications are not required for one to become a Virtual Assistant, but they do help.

In my own experience, I had no formal training or certifications to become a VA and start my business. I only had my past work experience, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a great mentor in my father who encouraged me to take the plunge. Over the past 3 years of being in business, I have taken a few trainings and certifications along the way to gain education and credibility, but I’ve done a lot of learning as I’ve gone along. The whole reason many current VAs started their business is because many had the drive to do something more and drew upon past jobs work experiences to develop their services, and then reinvent themselves as they gather more education and experience.

Embarking on a new career and starting a new business can be a daunting enough task as it is. Business start up itself is not easy, and you can read all the books & ebooks, take all the seminars & classes in the world and they never totally prepare you for all the situations you may experience along the way. Same goes with Virtual Assistance. Though many of those VA education resources are very helpful, it is hard to gauge until you actually work through it in the real world. 

Receiving training and certifications certainly do not hurt. They not only give you a little extra education and insight on being a VA and learning your craft, but they can give you more credibility to your clients and prospects. Plain and simple, it gives them an indication that you know what you are doing. And when you gain certifications that pertain to their type of business (Real Estate for example), then that only increases your credibility along with additional understanding of their business.

You don’t need to do it all at once. There are some great training programs out there, but many of them can be budget busting to a new VA. It is not necessary to try to take all certifications and trainings at once (unless your budget is limitless) or before you start your VA business. I always advise to do it one step at a time, as your budget allows. Take into account your current skill-set, then prioritize your education needs and decide to take the most important trainings first. As your business builds, increase your trainings, learn a new product and never stop learning.

And above all, do it for the right reasons. Never take a training or certification just to get the little logo, or to say you have it. Take them because the education has real value to you and your clients.

In my opinion, when you start out as a Virtual Assistant the real important things needed are: drive and perseverance, a skill-set that is valuable to SOMEONE out there, an idea of a niche, and a mentor to encourage and help you through. The rest will come later.

Information on VA education and training resources to come. 

All the Best!

Megan Barber
The Virtual Perception &
Barber Virtual Assisting Solutions