Working virtually presents LOTS of problems. Those of us who have worked in corporate life before moving virtual have perhaps the steepest learning curve. To mis use a common phrase “Nobody ever got fired for asking for clarification of something” Working over time zones and using different communication methods adds some complexity to the problem. [...]

Now here at intelligentVA we love to save you money, where we can we share free tools with you, but sometimes we recommend you spend a little bit of money to make the right impression.

Our chat this evening was all about the mistakes we make when setting up as a Virtual Assistant. The transcript of the chat is shown below.  Please do feel free to add your comments at the bottom of the post.  

What have you been doing since we last spoke? I have been extremely busy since our last catch-up.  I don’t feel like I have stopped. I started the month with a meeting with a member of the Leeds Chamber of Commerce, after requesting contact details from my local jobcentre.  They are hoping to be able [...]

We’re holding the next of our regular monthly coffee mornings in York on Monday 14th May, 2012.

It’s also Global VA week and we’ll be celebrating that as well as holding our regular discussion on how we can help each other out in terms of support or just brainstorming ideas to improve our businesses.

In this 40 minute webinar, Helen Stothard, author of ’30 Day Setting up as a Virtual Assistant Challenge’ talks you through some of the steps you need to consider when setting up your business

‘ve often said that perception is an important part of setting up your Virtual Assistant business and refer to it frequently in the 30 Day Setting up as a Virtual Assistant Challenge.

I was prompted to write this post after seeing the latest advert from Vistaprint. Now if any of you have ever fallen into the trap of ordering these business cards in their pure form (without any of the available add ons) can you honestly say that they portray a professional image of a business?

My first impression of these cards, now I have been in business for several years and seen what professional business cards offer, is they shout out back bedroom business. They are thin, they have stock images and they look cheap. I’ve actually printed better looking business cards from my own printer in the past for employers when we needed something to tide us over till new stock arrived. It should be noted that there are various cost add ons that you can select with Vistaprint that will reduce this impression but by the time you have paid for all of them and the postage you may well find a local printer offers a better deal.

We’re absolutely delighted to announce the launch of Helen Stothard’s second Virtual Assistant book –

30 Day Getting Started as a Virtual Assistant Challenge (without breaking the bank).

Written as part of Nikki Pilkington’s hugely successful 30 Day Challenge series this book is aimed at those trying to decide whether they want to become a Virtual Assistant or who are in the very early stages of setting up their business.

Why is it that in business, we’re constantly questing for relevance? In our weekend guide it’s effortless – as instinctive as hanging over your party fence wagering for bragging rights with your neighbour on the afternoon’s game.

Relevance in the social, recreational context is something that comes naturally to us. We know what we like, and we’re not afraid to go all out and get it.

Yet when it comes to inspiring our customers with relevant, absorbing information that takes us from a mere provider to becoming outright indispensible, us as a majority fall flat on our faces.

Jonathan and his team from our training partner Sharp End Training are putting together a brand new series of FREE training webinars. They need YOU, the virtual assistant community to help. Who would you want to see online? Who would make you show up? In the best traditions of reality – you can “vote” for [...]