My dream a long time ago was to start my own typing business. I decided to follow that dream and try to achieve this. I left my job in the corporate world in 2001 to start up on my own. I had no idea if this could be done, how to do this, I thought I had no business knowledge. When I started up in 2001 the first thing I did was research, this is something I would advise anyone to do before they pack in your job in the corporate world I would also advise you to start up part time rather than do this the way i did it. I would spend days, months marketing and advertising, days upon days, I just kept going. In those days advertising was for free, so if you could advertise there, I was advertised, I cant tell you where, but I never stopped looking for places to advertise. My first website was with geocities, a free website. Then I met Joan Masterson, I asked Joan many questions, and build my structure/procedures and decided how I was going to run this business, I think my first client was someone wanting a CV typed up, I had advertised in some newspaper. The one thing I believe in and have always done is marketing and advertising and networking as much as possible, even now as I run a very successful full time business I still advertise to show that my business is current and to keep my company in the limelight and being seen in the corporate world. It was hard when I started out to get clients, first you had to get out there, as you do today and been seen and I was seen eventually, and slow but surely my business took off. My website has been my best advert and marketing tool.
One person that I have admired for years is Kathie M Thomas at http://www.vadirectory.net/. I was so impressed by what Kathie was doing at that time, Kathie was my inspiration to carry on. I have always had a very positive attitude within my business, I have always had confidence in what I am doing, I knew I could do this, somehow, no matter what, I just had to keep ploughing away. And today all that marketing, advertising and networking has paid off for me. So my word of advice is keep going no matter what, If I can do it you can. My dream has come true, I am working my dream.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
100 posts
Hi ive just realised I have reached 100 posts on my blog, what an achievement, I did not know I had 100 posts in me to write. Interesting, I hope you enjoy reading these posts and that sometimes you get something out of them. Here is to my next 100 posts, Ali
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Do you live in your Office
Yes I sometimes feel as though I live in my office, I am in it for long hours at a time, more so than any other part of my house. Does anyone else spend as much time in the office?
In the corporate world we work set hours, here working for yourself, its all hours and more. How to get round it, you can't as you need to build your business on a continual basis. I can only think to take regular breaks and walks, out of the office, even a wander around the garden is a break, stretch your body, your arms and legs, move your head around a few times. If you have a laptop you can at least go into another room and sit and type, or even sit in the garden in the summer. Go make tea take regular breaks. That is one of the reasons why its good to make your office comfortable as you spend that much time in it. Make sure you have a comfortable chair, I sit on my office chair much more then i sit in the lounge. I spend far too much time in this office of mine.
In the corporate world we work set hours, here working for yourself, its all hours and more. How to get round it, you can't as you need to build your business on a continual basis. I can only think to take regular breaks and walks, out of the office, even a wander around the garden is a break, stretch your body, your arms and legs, move your head around a few times. If you have a laptop you can at least go into another room and sit and type, or even sit in the garden in the summer. Go make tea take regular breaks. That is one of the reasons why its good to make your office comfortable as you spend that much time in it. Make sure you have a comfortable chair, I sit on my office chair much more then i sit in the lounge. I spend far too much time in this office of mine.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Nine to Five (9 to 5)
I have been thinking a lot lately on how can anyone in this type of business work 9 to 5.
If you feel you can, please let me know.
If you have a full time VA business with many clients, I think and feel you have to be there when your clients need you, if you are not available that client can move on elsewhere to another VA, who will give them the service they require. I believe in providing my clients with a quality service and that includes working the hours they need me.
Its hard, its tough and I have children 13 and 9 and a hubby.
As a VA you must meet your clients deadlines, you cant just say I will do it tomorrow, things do not work like that, you have to be available when you reasonably can be. My clients appreciate this and let me know they are appreciative of my working the hours to suit them. But with doing this I have now retained my clients for years.
I do get help and assistance from other VAs with my work, as I do, most of the time have overflow. My children and hubby are very understanding of my work and give me their full support and assistance as I need it. I think without this I probably would not manage. I work better under pressure so I thrive when I am hectic, its the way I like to run my business, somehow I manage it all, how, often I dont know, but things get done.
A lot of people think when you are working for yourself, you have it made, you can work when you like, relax when you like, be there when the kids come home, spend time with the kids, and go shopping when you like. YES WELL. That does not happen when you run your own business, you find, you work many more hours to grow that business and often you are the only person within that business who knows everything about it so you have to be available and with a VA/Transcription business you do the work as well as everything else, so there is no time. Being a VA is not the being at home and spending time with the kids this is not that type of job. Its about work and building a business. In today society where money is in short supply and salaries are low and a recession is hanging around, you have to work.
I am very interested in how other VAs work their hours, how they manage running a full time business with many clients. Drop me a comment and let me know or email me, I would love to hear from you.
If you feel you can, please let me know.
If you have a full time VA business with many clients, I think and feel you have to be there when your clients need you, if you are not available that client can move on elsewhere to another VA, who will give them the service they require. I believe in providing my clients with a quality service and that includes working the hours they need me.
Its hard, its tough and I have children 13 and 9 and a hubby.
As a VA you must meet your clients deadlines, you cant just say I will do it tomorrow, things do not work like that, you have to be available when you reasonably can be. My clients appreciate this and let me know they are appreciative of my working the hours to suit them. But with doing this I have now retained my clients for years.
I do get help and assistance from other VAs with my work, as I do, most of the time have overflow. My children and hubby are very understanding of my work and give me their full support and assistance as I need it. I think without this I probably would not manage. I work better under pressure so I thrive when I am hectic, its the way I like to run my business, somehow I manage it all, how, often I dont know, but things get done.
A lot of people think when you are working for yourself, you have it made, you can work when you like, relax when you like, be there when the kids come home, spend time with the kids, and go shopping when you like. YES WELL. That does not happen when you run your own business, you find, you work many more hours to grow that business and often you are the only person within that business who knows everything about it so you have to be available and with a VA/Transcription business you do the work as well as everything else, so there is no time. Being a VA is not the being at home and spending time with the kids this is not that type of job. Its about work and building a business. In today society where money is in short supply and salaries are low and a recession is hanging around, you have to work.
I am very interested in how other VAs work their hours, how they manage running a full time business with many clients. Drop me a comment and let me know or email me, I would love to hear from you.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
2010 Afrivan VAimpact Award Winners
African Virtual Assistants Network(Afrivan) VAimpact 2010 award is finally here, thanks to all those who took upon themselves to nominate deserving individuals for this year award. VAimpact yearly award is till in it infancy stage and we might not be able to provide all the perks and incentive of awards, but I believe it no excuse not to honor deserving Virtual Assistants in and around Africa for their hard work.
Afrivan hope is that as the yearly award progresses, we will have companies to sponsor the award, provide business incentive and business opportunity for award winners.
It’s my honor to present to you this year 2010 Afrivan VAimpact Award Winner, you all truly deserve it for all your hard work, dedication even in the faces business challenges and set-backs.
These award from Afrivan is to encourage you to keep on keeping on and to give more sense of feeling that you can achieve and attain whatever you set your mind and energy to accomplish in life. The sky is no longer the limit to what you achieve, the only limitation will be you and the people you surround yourself with if you allow that to happen. These award challenge you to do more for yourself and well as for others.
Visit their full bio to get to know them as both individual and business owners and leave words of encouragement on the comment page for them.
Full Name: Alison Mary Fourie
Business Name: AMF Typing Services cc
Years in Business: 9 Years
Business Website: http://www.amftyping.co.za
Location & Country: Johannesburg, South Africa
**************************************************************
Full Names: Francis van Wyk & Marietjie Steyn
Business Name: Be Virtual Assistant Wise
Years in Business: 15 months
Business Website: http://www.be-virtual-assistant-wise.com &
Blog: http://www.be-virtual-assistant-wise.co.za
Location & Country: Vanderbijlpark, South Africa
Continue Reading More of Francis van Wyk & Marietjie Steyn Bio
Afrivan hope is that as the yearly award progresses, we will have companies to sponsor the award, provide business incentive and business opportunity for award winners.
It’s my honor to present to you this year 2010 Afrivan VAimpact Award Winner, you all truly deserve it for all your hard work, dedication even in the faces business challenges and set-backs.
These award from Afrivan is to encourage you to keep on keeping on and to give more sense of feeling that you can achieve and attain whatever you set your mind and energy to accomplish in life. The sky is no longer the limit to what you achieve, the only limitation will be you and the people you surround yourself with if you allow that to happen. These award challenge you to do more for yourself and well as for others.
Visit their full bio to get to know them as both individual and business owners and leave words of encouragement on the comment page for them.
Full Name: Alison Mary Fourie
Business Name: AMF Typing Services cc
Years in Business: 9 Years
Business Website: http://www.amftyping.co.za
Location & Country: Johannesburg, South Africa
**************************************************************
Full Names: Francis van Wyk & Marietjie Steyn
Business Name: Be Virtual Assistant Wise
Years in Business: 15 months
Business Website: http://www.be-virtual-assistant-wise.com &
Blog: http://www.be-virtual-assistant-wise.co.za
Location & Country: Vanderbijlpark, South Africa
Continue Reading More of Francis van Wyk & Marietjie Steyn Bio
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Interview Archie de Lara (Transcription Services)
An Interview with Archie de Lara, Archie provides Transcription Services to clients, he is based in the Philippines.
Why did you choose this as a career, do you see this as a career choice?
I choose transcription because I like the nature of the work. I learn different things especially in doing medical transcription. In the Philippines, transcription is a very promising career for higher income opportunity. The fact that it can be done at home also is appealing to me.
Do you work from a home office?
I presently do home base transcription. I also plan to work office based while doing the home based transcription on my extra time.
What do you like about Transcription?
I like to hear voice recordings and be able to come up withe document over that.
What advice would you give to new prospective Transcriptionists out there?
Start transcription career right. Choose the best training and make the most over it. Let your eagerness to learn more about the career lead you to become successful in this field.
What type of transcription do you provide, General, Legal or Medical?
I provide general transcription this time.
What is the most important thing about being a Transcriptionist?
The most important thing about being a transcriptionist is the attitude towards work. Never return an audio file if it is not that discernible. Just notify your client and make the most out of it.
Do you have other plans or are you planning on staying in Transcription?
I plan to stay being a transcriptionist and i would like to become a provider for other transcriptionists.
What are the benefits of doing Transcription in the Philippines?
Transcription services in the Philippines is cheaper and is of high quality.
Do you work for companies overseas outside of the Philippines?
Yes, I work for transcription companies outside the Philippines.
Thank you, regards Ali
My pleasure.
Archie's Blog: http://archiedelara.com/category/about-transcription/
Why did you choose this as a career, do you see this as a career choice?
I choose transcription because I like the nature of the work. I learn different things especially in doing medical transcription. In the Philippines, transcription is a very promising career for higher income opportunity. The fact that it can be done at home also is appealing to me.
Do you work from a home office?
I presently do home base transcription. I also plan to work office based while doing the home based transcription on my extra time.
What do you like about Transcription?
I like to hear voice recordings and be able to come up withe document over that.
What advice would you give to new prospective Transcriptionists out there?
Start transcription career right. Choose the best training and make the most over it. Let your eagerness to learn more about the career lead you to become successful in this field.
What type of transcription do you provide, General, Legal or Medical?
I provide general transcription this time.
What is the most important thing about being a Transcriptionist?
The most important thing about being a transcriptionist is the attitude towards work. Never return an audio file if it is not that discernible. Just notify your client and make the most out of it.
Do you have other plans or are you planning on staying in Transcription?
I plan to stay being a transcriptionist and i would like to become a provider for other transcriptionists.
What are the benefits of doing Transcription in the Philippines?
Transcription services in the Philippines is cheaper and is of high quality.
Do you work for companies overseas outside of the Philippines?
Yes, I work for transcription companies outside the Philippines.
Thank you, regards Ali
My pleasure.
Archie's Blog: http://archiedelara.com/category/about-transcription/
Sunday, July 18, 2010
To be sick or not to be!
The one thing I find with working from home, no matter how sick I am, I work, as if I am not. If I was working in the corporate world and I did not feel well, I would ring in sick, with working for myself and working means money, I find I dont, take off sick time anymore. If I dont work, I dont get paid and the work does not get done, therefore clients can complain so its easier to work the sickness off and deal with it early morning and at night and get through the days work. When you run your own business there is no place for sickness and especially so if you are busy 24/7. How do you deal with sickness in your business when you are working solo?
Friday, June 25, 2010
Wees 'n Virtuele Assistent
NOU IN AFRIKAANS
Wees 'n Virtuele Assistent
‘n Riglyn vir professionele mense wat ‘n ambisie het om bo die res uit te styg
R90
33 Bladsye nuttige wenke Wat is ‘n virtuele assistent Hoe om een te word Wat om in oorweging te neem Watter beplanning moet gedoen word Slaggate Telefoniese en E-posondersteuning En nog baie meer
Deur: TANYA JOUBERT
Lid van TAVASA
E-pos Tanya by:
info@typingandtranscription.com
Of
Tel: 083 510 1181
Wees 'n Virtuele Assistent
‘n Riglyn vir professionele mense wat ‘n ambisie het om bo die res uit te styg
R90
33 Bladsye nuttige wenke Wat is ‘n virtuele assistent Hoe om een te word Wat om in oorweging te neem Watter beplanning moet gedoen word Slaggate Telefoniese en E-posondersteuning En nog baie meer
Deur: TANYA JOUBERT
Lid van TAVASA
E-pos Tanya by:
info@typingandtranscription.com
Of
Tel: 083 510 1181
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Virtual Office Assistance
Tanya Joubert
Virtual Office Assistance
Web: typingandtranscription.com
Email: info@typingandtranscription.com
Mobile: +27 (0) 83 510 1181
Fax: +27 (0) 86 655 4381
Administrative Services offered without employing additional full-time or part-time staff. We do your overload admin work from our own office.
Typing all correspondence, proposals, reports, etc.
Transcription of digitally recorded meetings/reports
Email management, database management, etc.
YOUR OFFICE AWAY FROM YOUR OFFICE
Virtual Office Assistance
Web: typingandtranscription.com
Email: info@typingandtranscription.com
Mobile: +27 (0) 83 510 1181
Fax: +27 (0) 86 655 4381
Administrative Services offered without employing additional full-time or part-time staff. We do your overload admin work from our own office.
Typing all correspondence, proposals, reports, etc.
Transcription of digitally recorded meetings/reports
Email management, database management, etc.
YOUR OFFICE AWAY FROM YOUR OFFICE
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Learn about your Clients
A lot of new VAs think its very daunting that they have to learn how to work with clients, deal with clients. When a prospective client contacts you, after that first initial contact, take the opportunity to then learn about your client, check out your clients website, get a feel for what the company is about, ask the client to let you have a company profile for your records. The more you get to know your client the better the relationship you will have. Ask your client questions about themselves and the company, ask about their interests and ask in which ways can you assist them further than just the work they need doing, your aim should be with each client to start a long term relationship and get regular work from that client. Aim to be there when the client needs you, treat that client as if they are your only client whether they are or not, make the client feel special and let them know you care, this is relevant in establishing a good working relationships with your client/s.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)