Over the past two years we have gotten awesome feedback about our free ebook, 25 Ways to Revolutionize Your Virtual Assistant Business. I’m a little biased, but I think that it’s an awesome resource, as do others and judging by the emails that Dale, Heather and I get every month we remain quite pleased with it even after 2 years.
Yesterday we received this email:
I had expected to find real, concrete information about starting a VA business such as: how much HTML do I need to know to start doing websites, how much should I charge, what do I do about taxes, etc. All I’m getting is fluff!!!!!!!
Hey, I think I’ll start a blog and talk about this kind of stuff!
We responded to this person directly, but the more I think about the direction of new VAs, the more perturbed I become.
When did everyone start wanting everything for free? Did we forget the old adage “it takes money to make money?” I personally spend about $2000+ every year on continuing education for my business. If I’m not up to date on the latest and greatest for my target market, what good am I as a Virtual Assistant? It’s imperative that all VAs continue their education at every turn. Not only does it benefit you, but it benefits your clients, and in the end it makes you more marketable as a VA.
I was a Virtual Assistant before I realized what a VA was. Then when I first heard the term “Virtual Assistant”, I researched the heck out of it to double and triple check to make sure that it suited me and what I was doing in my business. If think you have the skills to be a VA, do a little research about the industry. Buy one of the VA industry surveys here or here.
I love this question:
how much HTML do I need to know to start doing websites
Uh, it depends. If you don’t know how to create a professional website, don’t do it. Spend the money to make money and hire a professional to do it. If you want to learn the upkeep of a website take a class, either online or through your local community college. If you think you have to do website design or coding to get clients you don’t. I know plenty of VAs out there who would never think of offering this service. You can’t be all things to all people, so if you don’t have the skills, don’t take on the task.
how much should I charge
Uh, it depends. What are your expenses? What kind of skills are you bringing to the table? What specialty skills do you possess? What is your cost of living? Do you live in New York City or in New Dheli India? Who are you targeting? If you target the work at home mom crowd, I’m going to have a totally different response than if you were asking me about top producing real estate agents. Rates vary across the board, across the country and across the sea. If you want a free rates calculation spreadsheet, let me know. Or again, buy one of the VA industry surveys here or here to learn more about what other VAs charge.
what do I do about taxes
Uh, it depends. (Do you notice a pattern here?!?!) What State do you live? If you reside in Canada, what Province do you live in? If outside of North America, what country do you live in? Are you a sole proprietor, LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp, etc.? Talk to a CPA or your country’s equivalent, because you will be hard pressed to find another VA who is going to give you financial advice like this.
As many of us know, it can be extremely difficult to provide concrete information that works for everyone because there are too many variables. Do your research, hire professionals to help you. Above all, take your business seriously. If you do, you will be richly rewarded.
One last thing, does the table of contents say that the book is going to delve into the above topics? No, it was designed as a “pump you up” ebook, with lots of motivation to propel you in the right direction.
After reading your blog post just now, Becki, all I can say is “wow!” Talk about looking a gift horse in the mouth!
I feel your frustration, and it hurts a little in my heart for you.
Of course, having been “new” at one time I can understand the desire to want to weigh the use of funds for “this” over “that!” — If you’re relatively sure you know what you’re doing first, that is. But I’m not so sure that happened here.
In fact, I find it hard to understand the comments made to you about the content of your incredible ebook. And just the fact that it was “given” as a gift ought to have made it more meaningful.
I’ve discovered that in the end the more one puts into achieving something the more they will get out of it. In this instance, there’s no question “it depends” on whether that person got the true message in your ebook.
And that’s a shame. Because it’s all right there.
It’s disheartening to hear people don’t appreciate the value of the free information you’ve given out. Do they expect to receive a detailed description of every little thing…at no cost?
I’ve noticed this trend on some of the VA forums…newbies jumping on the Virtual Assisting bandwagon because it sounds like “something they can do from home.” It makes me wonder what this will do to the industry.
I began providing secretarial services as an independent contractor back in the 1970s. I discovered the “virtual assistant” world 3 or 4 years ago and researched a lot before I “morphed” into the VA world. I attended Janet Jordan’s VA Boot Camp to bring myself up to speed on some of the things I needed to know. I’ve paid for podcasting classes and author assistant classes to increase my skills in areas that my clients are asking for. You have to put something in to your business if you expect to get something out of it.
Maybe it’s the newer generation expecting everything to be handed to them on a silver platter. Or maybe it’s just certain people expecting to get something for nothing. (There…now I’ve dated myself!)
Thanks for all you do for the VA industry, Becky. Keep up the good work!
Well, to quote the Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen character on “Full House”… how rude!
Not only does it seem like people want things for free, they also want it spoon-fed to them. I think a lot of people think that the VA industry is just another work-at-home scheme. Not even close. This isn’t one of those “you send us money, we hand you all of the tools to get rich” deals.
If they had done any research at all, they would realize that a lot of websites are charging money for ebooks that provide the same information you’ve provided for FREE.
And, honestly, if they expect things to come to them that easily, the VA business probably isn’t a good fit anyway.
Wow…Talk about lack of appreciation. I really do think we have seen a different caliber of individuals entering the VA industry. When I keep reading about quick ways to make cash …become a virtual assistant articles, it’s no wonder we are attracting the wrong types of people. Being a virtual assistant is far from easy and even further from being a quick way to make cash. It requires hard work and lots of it. Most of which you need to do on your own. If someone is looking for to have everything spelled out for them or just a book that give answers to all their questions about what they want to do. Well, that to me sounds like they are looking to be an employee rather than an entrepreneur and what they should be reading is an employee manual.
Um…
Here’s the thing. The book is about “Revolutionizing” your business, not starting your business.
Wow.
Didn’t anyone tell this person that if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all?!
[...] assistants continue to look into training even after they’ve been in business for a while: (source)When did everyone start wanting everything for free? Did we forget the old adage “it takes money [...]
@Karen McGreevey - Yes, I totally agree. When starting you do need to weigh the purchase of this over that. However you do need to “purchase” some people kid themselves that they can do it totally for free.
@Glenda Heinz - I miss Janet :(. I took her VAU class many years ago, not because I didn’t have the skills to be a VA, but I wanted to make sure that I was in “compliance” with the standards that were already set for the industry. Continuing education is the key to success as is apparent with your business as well.
@Yamisi - Being a Virtual Assistant definitely isn’t the way to “quick” cash and it takes alot of hard work along the way.
@Jaime - Eloquently put.
I attended the open house - was it last month now? Anyway, I was really surprised by the caliber of people at the revolution.
And one thing about me - I am the darndest bestest exec. assist. anyone could ever ask for - with 15 years of experience to prove it. HOWEVER, in attending and researching VA’s I realized that it isn’t a good fit because I don’t like the back-end work! I want to show up, do my thing, and go home! None of this responsibility, and risk-taking! lol So I do very much admire what you ladies(& men?) do here.
While I admire what you have, I also think that you need to realize the VA world is just becoming popular to the general masses. This means the industry will be inundated (I believe) with newcomers. And not all will be looking into VA businesses for the right reasons either!
I come from Heather(relocated yank)’s personal blog and I love that girl. And I wanted to encourage the Revolution ladies & men, to keep up the good work and quality that is this site.
Take care,
Cathy
Wow Becki!
I’m blown away by this type of attitude, and it worries me that this is what might be reflecting out there on the VA Industry as whole. There is really so much to consider to have a successful business, I expect to NEVER stop learning, and certainly not for free!
“25 Ways to Revolutionize Your VA Business” is one of those icing on the cake, get you excited about your business books that keeps you excited and looking forward to running your business…not creating it.