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Personal and business success coaches can be ideal clients. Do you have a coach in your corner?

Coaches have been long-standing partners with the VA profession, the term Virtual Assistant being coined by one of the founders of the coaching profession, the late Thomas Leonard. Coaches not only have an increased awareness of the VA profession but also, generally, work virtually with their clients creating an ideal business structure for the client/VA relationship. Let’s explore this successful partnership.

What is a coach?

Coaching is a consistent on going relationship where the coach helps the client to implement new skills, changes and goals. Coaches work with clients to identify and better define specific goals, reach those goals faster and with greater ease. By creating the focus of coaching around what a client wants to achieve; coaches assist their clients to maintain focus on that which will make them most successful. The synergy between the coach and the client creates momentum to develop new skills, which translate to greater success. They support clients in reframing limiting beliefs and growing beyond them while remaining objective, the way a friend cannot. They can offer a different perspective of the truth because of the emotional distance the professional relationship offers.
What makes coaches ideal clients to work with?

Most coaches are sole proprietors who work from a home office and also work virtually with their clients. Coaching sessions are generally held over the phone while some do face-to-face sessions and even use chat rooms. They use the same communication tools – phone, email, fax etc. – as VA’s and often have international clientele, which makes them ideal clients to work with. This combined with their awareness of the VA profession offers opportunities not always present with other professions. In addition, because of what they do, they tend to have excellent listening skills, good communication skills, are compassionate and have a high level of integrity.
What things may a VA perform specific to coaches?

Most coaches generally use specific tools and strategies in their businesses. One is the complimentary session. These are free sessions offered to potential clients to experience what a coaching session is like. Quite often a questionnaire is sent prior to the session in order to bring focus to the session. VA’s frequently schedule and book the sessions, send out the questionnaires, provide follow up afterwards and track results.

Once a coach has signed on a client they will send out a welcome package containing a variety of documents that often include an assessment(s) of some sort. The VA will manage the contents of the package, forward to the new client, track returns and follow up where required. In addition they may process assessment results.
What are the benefits of working with coaches?

There are many benefits of working with coaches however the main ones are, as previously mentioned, the way they do business in addition to who they are as individuals. They are often open to setting up a barter with the VA where the VA supports them in their business while the coach coaches the VA in their business. Even if a barter is not in place once you have developed a relationship with the coach you will often find them coaching you anyway, an invaluable benefit! Coaches generally have a strong professional community and their practice is most often referral based setting a referral engine for your business.
How can I connect with the coaching profession?

The coaching profession has a regulating body known as the International Coach Federation (www.coachfederation.org) or ICF and in addition to providing a referral service for coaches they offer an annual conference with attendance of 1,000+ coaches. They also have local chapters around the globe that meet face to face and will bring in guest speakers.

CoachInc.com is the leading training organization for coaches and also offers a referral service for coaches at www.findacoach.com. There may also be opportunities to write articles for newsletters offered by coaches, which would provide additional exposure in the coaching community.

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Mary-Lou Ashon successfully launched her Virtual Assistant company in 1997 and holds expertise in organizing information, creation and implementation of administrative procedures and marketing. She has proven that dedication, communication, loyalty and a flare for marketing are keys to developing successful client relationships. Mary-Lou has a keen desire to promote awareness of VA\'s as a career option both internationally and at home in Canada and has developed a cost effective, convenient and high quality training program which you can locate at http://vatp.ca/.

As a Virtual Assistant (VA), you know about filling a niche because you are already doing it simply by being a VA. You cater to the administrative, technical, creative, and financial needs of your clients by assisting them virtually. This itself is a niche.

Niche (n)

a. A situation or activity specially suited to a person's interests, abilities, or nature.

b. A special area of demand for a product or service.

Niching (tr.v.)

To place in a niche.

Niching (tr.v.)

To place in a niche.

As a Virtual Assistant (VA), you know about filling a niche because you are already doing it simply by being a VA. You cater to the administrative, technical, creative, and financial needs of your clients by assisting them virtually. This itself is a niche.

If you’re like many entrepreneurs when first starting in business, you took every job that came along. You did it from a place of necessity. Even if you thought yours was the exception, no company can meet every need of every client throughout the life of a business. There is no doubt, however, that this approach serves us well in the beginning!

If you are an exceptional entrepreneur who has developed a reputation of excellence in everything you do, eventually you will need to make important decisions about the future of your company because you have more business than you are able to manage. What a dilemma! You are no longer in a place where you must accept work because it provides revenue. Your hard work has brought you to where you have the opportunity to pick-and-choose your clients from this point forward.

This is the perfect time not only to increase your fees, but also to decide on the specific industry or industries and type(s) of clients you most want to serve. This is known as niching.

By narrowing your focus, you:
• Have the opportunity to work with people in the industry of your choice.
• Have inside exposure to different aspects/news of the industry from the perspective/experience of your clients.
• Can position yourself as the VA expert within your industry and use this to market your services, e.g. “We cater to the ____ industry and are the first and only ones to do so. We are best equipped to meet your needs because we know the industry from the inside out!”
• Will have the passion and tenacity on those days when you question your sanity and wonder if you truly have what it takes to be a VA. You will be serving an industry you love and that will carry you to your next new client/task.
• Keep your focus on those clients/markets that most interest you and will continue to interest you over the life of your business.
• Are maintaining a concentrated marketing/advertising focus instead of diluting your efforts by trying to meet every need of every client in every field.
• Increase your ability to get an hourly rate that is higher than a VA business with no niche focus. If you have insider knowledge of a specific industry, your expertise is more valuable and therefore, you can charge more for your services.

Initially, you may think that you risk losing business because you are niching yourself too narrowly. However, if your focus is catering to a specific industry and all your marketing efforts are placed there, you will soon reap the rewards of clients who come only from your chosen industry. . .an industry you love and want to cater to anyway! You will have more business than you’ll be able to manage and can soon raise your rates again!

Okay, now that you’ve decided you want to niche tighter, you may be asking yourself how to go about choosing an industry.

A key factor in deciding on a specific industry is to spend a few hours assessing your own interests, work style, and personality characteristics. With at least an hour of uninterrupted time set aside for this specific task, use a blank sheet of paper and answer the following questions:

1. What are my hobbies?
2. What are other areas of interest that are not yet hobbies? What passions have I not had the time to explore?
3. Which existing clients bring me the most joy? Why? In which industries do they work?
4. What are the work and personality characteristics of my ideal client?

In answering these questions thoughtfully, you will begin to see patterns emerge. These patterns will offer clues about which industries to further investigate as possible options for your new focus.

Now that you are thinking more about focused niching, it is a perfect time to go through your list of services and cut out the ones that:

• you don’t love.

• aren’t lucrative.

• aren’t requested often enough to warrant keeping them on your list of services.

These points will move you closer to being in full alignment with providing the services that you most enjoy! You are creating a vacuum . . . an open space that will be filled with dream clients in your desired industry! How does that sound? Think about it. If your current circumstance is filled with an unfocused direction, clients coming in from fields that hold no interest for you, and old service offerings, it is your duty to yourself and the life of your business to draw in a situation that is a much better match.

Okay, so you have chosen your niche market, developed a new plan of how to market your VA services, cut out services that no longer play a part in your new direction, and it occurs to you to ask the question: What do I do with my existing clients who are not in the industry on which I have decided to focus?

Great question! By all means, keep them! They are one of the reasons you are in the place to be able to take this important step. And no doubt, they will continue to be excellent clients and make referrals based on your well-established relationship.

The primary focus is that NEW clients come from the industry you have decided is the best match for the person/business you are now.

In following these guidelines, you will find your work becoming more and more fulfilling because your efforts truly meet the needs of those who most interest you! Only with a narrowed market concentration, can you truly meet the specific needs of your clients.

Happy niching!

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Charlon Bobo, Southern California, USA, http://www.museworks.org
Charlon Bobo is the President of Muse works™, a dynamic Virtual Assistant company in Southern California that caters to the niche needs of entrepreneurs in the handmade beauty industry. To learn more about Muse works™, please visit http://www.museworks.org and http://museworks.blogspot.com. You may contact Charlon at 805.405.4944 and via e-mail at charlon@museworks.org.

One of the hardest things about building a business is getting clients. Agreed? Well unfortunately there is no magic answer, however, there are steps you can take to facilitate getting business.

Quite often when we are starting out we find ourselves taking on work that is not ideal or did not turn out the way we planned. Do not be discouraged by this! It is part of the learning curve and provides you with an opportunity to not only gain experience but also clarity on what it is you really do and do not want to do. That is not to say you take anything and everything but be open to stretching and experimenting with the "right fit".

Part of your obligation to both your clients and your business is to make sure your computer is operating at peak performance and safe from viruses. Make computer maintenance part of your routine.

Where do I start looking for clients?

I usually recommend you start locally and expand out from there. The reason being that you will more likely know people locally and it is where you can network most efficiently. Connect with your Chamber of Commerce or Board of Trade. However before joining attend at least two meetings to see if it is the right fit for you and that you will benefit from the membership. Also check to see what other networking groups are offered in your area.

Another good place to start is with other business owners that your clients may use their services, such as bookkeepers, accountants or print shops. It can be advantageous to develop relationships with these people in order to obtain referrals.

Remember that all the people you meet, while they may not be potential clients for you, have their own network of people who may be potential clients!

What about doing on-site work?

I personally did some on-site work in the beginning and I know of other VA's who have and/or are doing the same. I believe this decision is a matter of choice however there are a few issues that you should consider. You need to decide if this is the best use of your time depending on the travel involved and if you want to be known in your community for doing on-site work. Is it worth your while? Is it a temporary arrangement to get the client set up and organized or is it a more permanent arrangement? If it is temporary what are the time frames involved? What tasks are required to be done on-site and can they be done virtually? Consider if the client is resistant to technology and where the long-term relationship may take you. Will you gain experience that you might otherwise not have the opportunity to do? Is this the right thing for you??

How can I target my niche?

Get involved in their community! Find out what associations, conferences, conventions, newsletters, magazines or services cater to that industry. Become an expert in their field and a resource for them.

What computer maintenance is recommended?

Back up your data at least weekly and do a full system back up every six months. Archive your emails every six months and once a year go in and clean your files of any old documents. Clear your browser's cache of all temporary Internet files, empty recycle bins, and defrag your computer monthly. Run Windows update and update your Microsoft products monthly as well. Scan your computer for viruses and update your definitions at least weekly. It is also a good idea to go in on occasion and clean out your cookies if you have them turned on.

What is the best format to send email?

There are three options available for sending email, plain text, HTML and Rich Text format. I always recommend you use plain text for sending messages as it is the simplest form and lessens the chance of recipients having problems reading the content. Some people have their computers set so they can only receive plain text for this reason. Because HTML and RTF have additional formatting applied to them and with the wide variety of email programs, operating systems and computer settings there is a greater chance of corruption or misinterpretation. When using RTF this can also interfere with attachments, such as arriving as .dat files that cannot be opened. In some cases, such as newsletter HTML is required however try to keep it simple.

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Mary-Lou Ashon successfully launched her Virtual Assistant company in 1997 and holds expertise in organizing information, creation and implementation of administrative procedures and marketing. She has proven that dedication, communication, loyalty and a flare for marketing are keys to developing successful client relationships. Mary-Lou has a keen desire to promote awareness of VAs as a career option both internationally and at home in Canada and has developed a cost effective, convenient and high quality training program which you can locate at http://vatp.ca/.

Business leaders often say, “Our most important asset is our people” or “Our employees are our strength.” Think about it. If HR programs and processes were improved at your work place, would your business experience growth? Would morale be improved? Would you have less turnover and absenteeism?

If you suspect things could be better ─ yet, don’t know what to do or where to begin ─ the best place to start is by analyzing and improving the HR functions in your organization.

If you are a small business, you may not have an experienced HR manager on board to provide advice, guidance and support for your organization’s management of employee resources ─ yet alone handle the day-to-day personnel-related administrative work practices. Ask yourself this question, “If the process of completing an HR Audit can positively impact our business, what am I waiting for?”

To clarify terminology, The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) has developed this explanation, “An HR audit measures HR effectiveness and efficiency and demonstrates the value of HR in helping an organization meet its strategic goals. The main functions of an HR audit are to:

• Help organizational decision makers understand what is happening with various human resource activities.
• Allow HR managers to determine programs/positions to eliminate/enhance.”

Don’t do this alone! A qualified Virtual Assistant (VA), credentialed and specializing in HR Services, may lead your business through the steps in an HR Audit. The VA acts as an unbiased evaluator, using objective criteria and assessment instruments to measure and review the management and performance of your HR initiatives. A systematic study can focus on one part of your program, or it can include all of the following:

• Your organization’s overall design and structure
• How HR functions are handled in your organization (i.e., payroll, benefits, salary administration, performance review, recruitment and selection, training, labor relations, professional development, safety, etc.)
• Legal compliance and documentation
• Employee morale and job satisfaction

You may wonder, why choose a VA? The Alliance for Virtual Businesses provides this definition. “Virtual Assistants (VAs) are independent entrepreneurs providing professional administrative, creative, managerial, technical, business office and/or personal support services. VAs use the most advanced means of communication, and the newest and most efficient and time saving office products and work delivery, regardless of geographic boundaries. Virtual Assistants work from their own offices, on a contractual basis, and abide by an established Code of Ethics requiring integrity, honesty and due diligence.” Remember, Virtual Assistants establish long term associations with their clients and will remain invested in your organization’s success.

Discover if your HR program and initiatives really treat your employees as valued assets! The results of your HR Audit will indicate strengths and weaknesses in your employee policies, procedures, documentation, systems and practices. The findings will identify issues needing resolution or potential change. Your VA will work with you to develop a work plan, a strategy for handling follow-up and correction. Because you have an ongoing work relationship established, your VA can also provide the guidance and administrative support services needed during the transitional period or longer. DON'T WAIT! Begin reaping the rewards that come when employees know they are appreciated! Complete the audit, and move toward implementing HR initiatives that will add value to your organization!

Link’s Virtual Office provides virtual office administration and human resources services. Owner and Virtual Assistant, Sheila Link, holds a Masters in HR Management and has earned PHR credentials through the HR Certification Institute. Vist http://linksvirtualoffice.com to learn more about Sheila's education, experiences, and business support service offerings.

Link’s Virtual Office is a proud member of http://www.VAnetworking.com. Through this forum, VAs have access to current and cutting edge VA information, educational tools, plus a resource network of professional Virtual Assistants to share with/learn from!

You will benefit from Sheila’s hands on experience, customized services and professional approach to her work. Let Link’s Virtual Office become your LINK to future business success!

Who is your ideal client? Knowing who they are can lead you to where they are.

I remember when I first started in this business that I would take any client I could get and took them all. I ended up doing a lot of things I didn't want to do for people I didn't want to work with. I felt like I was back in the corporate world. Once I became clear on who my ideal client was based on who I was, I found and attracted them into my practice and was able to create the ideal business for me. Let's find your ideal client!

How do I determine who my ideal client is?

There are several things to look at when determining your ideal client and the first place to start with is you. First of all take a look at what you are passionate about. What do you really enjoy doing? Consider your background and previous experience. Is there a profession or industry that you are familiar with and you enjoy being a part of? If not is there a profession that you have always wanted to become involved in? What types of clients match the services you provide? What type of client relationship do you want to have? Long term? Short term?

What type of qualities do I want to consider?

Once again you need to determine what is important to you. Remember you are creating this business and you get to make it into exactly what you want. Only by knowing what's important to you will you be able to match that to clients or a profession.

A good way to look at this is by a rating scale of 1 to 5. Make a list of what is important such as integrity, honesty, delegating skills, communication, technical abilities, years in business, male, female, sole proprietor, number of hours required, approachable, looking for feedback, collaborative, gives recognition, ability to give up control, pays on time, etc. Now assign a number on the scale that corresponds to how important these qualities are to you. What are you willing to compromise on and what are you not.

What type of qualities do I want to consider?

There is no magic answer to this question however based on the work you have done so far try to match the profile of your ideal client to a profession or industry. For some this will come easily and for others you may have to do some research and gain additional clarity through trial and error. Talk to other VA's and people you know about who they are working for. Does it fit?

Look at professions where you know or think you will find your ideal clients and find out about conferences, conventions, newsletters, speaking opportunities, contact lists, other services they use, or connect with current contacts you have. Go where your potential clients are. Find a way to connect with them and make your presence known.

What things should I be aware of that may be red flags?

You want to be careful of clients who have an inability to give up control, tend to micromanage, do not show appreciation for your work, cannot see the value you bring, have to justify your actions with, have unreasonable expectations, don't respect boundaries, are constantly in fire fighting mode, are not able to delegate, don't have time to delegate, do not respect you, use you as a scapegoat, constantly question the work you do, are poor communicators, don’t pay you or not on time. All of these things should be red flags for you and you need to consider if this is someone you really want to work with.

What happens if they are not a good fit for me?

It is absolutely okay to let go of clients who are not a good fit for you. If clients are bringing stress or unhappiness into your life then you are not the right VA for them. Understand that there will be someone out there who is right for them and you are not doing them any favours by keeping them as a client. Before you have the conversation with them around finding another VA have some potential candidates available. Don't pass off someone to another VA who is abusive or not suited to working with a VA. Some people just aren't, just let them go.

There may be some fear around letting a client go however keep in mind that when you close one door it leaves room for another one to open. Unless you close that door there is no room for your ideal client to come into your practice. Try to come from a place of abundance rather than scarcity or need. Walk through your fears and you will grow as a person and a business owner.

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Mary-Lou Ashon successfully launched her Virtual Assistant company in 1997 and holds expertise in organizing information, creation and implementation of administrative procedures and marketing. She has proven that dedication, communication, loyalty and a flare for marketing are keys to developing successful client relationships. Mary-Lou has a keen desire to promote awareness of VAs as a career option both internationally and at home in Canada and has developed a cost effective, convenient and high quality training program which you can locate at http://vatp.ca/.

Sometimes it seems there just aren't enough hours in the day. Exhausted from the ever-increasing demands of the workplace and the daily commute, we drag ourselves home to give only sleepy-eyed attention to our families.

According to a recent study of the U.S. work force released by the Families and Work Institute, the average worker spends 44 hours per week on the job, and 36 percent of workers say they often feel completely used up at the end of the workday. And there is certainly no rest for the weary at home: Eighty-five percent of workers have daily family responsibilities to go home to, while 78 percent of married workers have spouses who are also employed. Weekends are consumed by errands and housekeeping; 70 percent of all parents feel they don't spend enough time with their children. Leisure time? Never heard of it.

This nationwide drought of spare time has a bright side for entrepreneurs, however. It has encouraged the emergence of concierge services, small businesses staffed by resourceful people who do anything and everything from getting clients the best seat in the house at a Broadway production to designing resumes - all for a price.

LENDING A HAND

"Time has become the commodity of the '90s," says Holly Stiel, owner of Holly Speaks, a Mill Valley, California, concierge consulting business, and author of Ultimate Service: The Complete Handbook to the World of the Concierge (Delta Collins). "The popularity of concierge services stems from the fact that people are stressed, overworked, and need help dealing with life. These are busy people who need to spend free time nurturing themselves instead of running errands."

Stiel, who served as a concierge at the Grand Hyatt hotel in San Francisco for 16 years, says that concierges first appeared in European luxury hotels in the 1930s. While many entrepreneurs who go into the concierge business today gained skills and contacts from working as hotel concierges, Stiel believes that anyone who has the desire can become a successful concierge.

"One of the great things about being a concierge is that you don't really need a background in it," says Stiel, 49. "People I know in the business have been engineers, biologists, geologists, homemakers and teachers. It's really more about heart and soul than it is about experience. You should want to take care of people and help them. You should be savvy, worldly and able to multitask. You should love to do many things at once."

A POTPOURRI OF SERVICES

For consumers, the main selling point of a concierge business is the convenience offered by its range of services. Entrepreneur Cynthia Adkins knows this well: After working for eight years as a concierge, the owner of Concierge@Large in San Diego has fulfilled her share of oddball requests. One client asked Adkins to find a used golf-green mower because he wanted to turn his backyard into a putting green. She did locate such a mower, but it wasn't easy. "It's not something you can just open up the phone book and find," says Adkins, 39.

"The key to being a good locator is being resourceful to begin with and then having resources to draw on."

Adkins also capitalizes on the tremendous growth in the number of telecommuters and home-based businesses by offering clients what she calls "a virtual assistant service," in which one of her employees performs the duties of a personal assistant or secretary. "There are so many people telecommuting and working at home, and they don't have staffs to call on," says Adkins. "What we offer is an executive assistant you talk to via the Internet or the phone. They do things such as set up meetings and make follow-up calls. As long as everyone is comfortable using the technology, it's something that can be easily arranged."

Another service Adkins offers is posing as a "mystery shopper." A client, usually a retail or service business, will arrange for Adkins or one of her employees to go to a store, act like an average customer and report back to the client on the quality of their treatment by employees.

BE OUR GUEST

A very popular niche for concierge services is entertainment and hospitality. Gary Stein, 38, founder of West Port, Connecticut, Your Personal Concierge, specializes in obtaining hot tickets to Broadway plays and reservations at popular New York City restaurants and hotels. "Our best clients are from out of town; they require concierge services far more than someone who lives in New York City," says Stein, who worked for the Shubert Theater for four years before opening his business in the late 1980s. "While a certain number of our clients are individuals who use us for their personal needs, a majority of the people we serve are business executives with busy schedules."

Stein says keeping up with New York City's thriving cultural life so he can make the appropriate recommendations to clients isn't as difficult as it sounds. "Once something becomes a hit, it's not much of a secret anymore," he says.

Many concierge businesses also offer event-planning services, which they market to corporate clients. The ongoing downsizing trend in large corporations seems to have much to do with the increasing popularity of this type of service, says Garrett Seaverns, 42, co-founder of Suburban Concierge in Essex, Massachusetts. "We noticed about four years ago when we were going into business that as companies were cutting their staffing levels back and making employees more productive, those employees had much less time to order flowers or make things happen for the holidays," he says.

Seaverns believes that reliability and dedication are important qualities in an event-planning team. "You have to be very attentive to details and know whom you can count on," says Seaverns, who runs the business with his wife, Lauren, 39, a former executive administration manager. "We use an extensive database of vendors who are really into good customer service. You've got to be able to deliver what you tell people you're going to, and you've got to care."

START ME UP

As a service-based business, starting a concierge service doesn't require a large capital investment. If you have access to information, you already have the business's most vital asset. "Start-up is not very expensive," says Stein. "[Costs] really depend on how elaborate you want to get. We have a computer network and a lot of information we've gathered over a number of years that would take time and money to build from scratch. For less than $20,000, you could set yourself up quite nicely."

Adkins agrees. "While you need to purchase the basics, such as a phone line, stationery and business cards, most of what you really need to run the business you get from established relationships," she says. "The key to being a good concierge is having contacts. I was developing my contact base for years before I started my business. It gives me a distinct advantage because I can call in a lot of favors."

Concierge services, both personal and corporate, have a strong potential for growth, particularly outside the big cities, says Stiel. "In smaller places, concierge [services] may still be an unfamiliar concept, but the need for these services is certainly not limited to big cities," she says.

Located 30 miles north of Boston, Seaverns' Suburban Concierge combines a big-city concept with small-town friendliness to distinguish itself. "What sets us apart from the other services is that we are outside the city," says Seaverns. "Unlike city. services, we offer a very personalized service."

Corporate concierge services also have plenty of room to grow. As good workers become harder to find, businesses are looking to concierge services as perks to keep valuable employees happy. "I see large corporations wanting to give that extra benefit to their executives and other employees, says Patty Dreiseszun, founder of three-year-old Phoenix-based World Class Concierge and a former concierge at the Phoenix Hyatt Regency Hotel. "They do this by either bringing a concierge into their lobby or offering access to an off-site concierge service via a toll-free number."

Driven by time constraints, a desire for prestige or just plain convenience, more and more consumers are using concierge services to improve the quality of their lives. Although no official estimates are available, an Internet search reveals only a handful of independent concierge services in business, leaving a profitable market wide open to anyone who can provide service with a smile.

NEXT STEP

The National Concierge Associations (NCA), which provides networking opportunities and information resources for members, will hold its annual conference this month. For more information, contact the NCA at P.O. Box 2860, Chicago, IL 60690-2860.

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COPYRIGHT 1998 Entrepreneur Media, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group

It is my experience that Retired / Senior Citizens and Virtual Assistants greatly benefit from each other. Many Retired / Senior Citizens continue to have some kind of business and need help with many tasks.

Senior Citizens that continue to have businesses after retirement need administrative or secretarial assistance from time to time, some may even need it on a regular basis. Many retired men and women continue to have businesses that they used to run when they were working full time and that now only run on a part time bases, others need administrative services to continue managing their financial affairs; Many others, after the death of their spouse, find themselves managing businesses not known to them with the additional stress of having to perform administrative tasks even more unknown and ever changing with modern technology. Most Retired/Senior Citizens don't need a full time assistant like they did when they were working full time, but they need assistance. Just a decade ago most business people had a full time assistant and that is how they are most comfortably working.

This is the perfect client for a Virtual Assistant. They need business assistance part time, just what Virtual Assistants provide. Most are very knowledgeable and only need help with typing while others need much more assistance, but at the end, if the Virtual Assistant provides good service; the relationship Virtual Assistant & Retired/Senior Citizen can be not only a perfect combination but also a powerful one.

I have many Retired / Senior Citizens as clients. Many of these clients started as local clients and with the proper guidance on my part and with a lot of enthusiasm on their part, they became virtual clients. Many fax or e-mail their letters to be typed, others have their business e-mails and faxes sent directly to me and I have specific instructions on how to redirect or process them. Many personally drop their work but others are glad to be able to send it online.

There are thousands and thousands of Retired/Senior Citizens requiring assistance that is why I call it THE HIDDEN NICHE; as potential clients they are many times overlooked but don't forget that people over 65 represent 7% of the world population and by the middle of this century they will be 15% of the world population.

My advise for all Virtual Assistants: Cater to the Retired / Senior Citizens
My advise for the Retired / Senior Citizens: Find yourselves a Virtual Assistant that can help you with administrative work on a part time bases.

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Carolina Barreneche, Virtual Assistant, http://www.whiterockofficeservices.com/.

As you move into building your virtual practice, choosing clients will be one of the most exciting and difficult things you'll have to do.

So we offer this list of things to think about as you move through the process.

1. Am I deeply moved and excited by the client's work and personality (do I like who the person seems to be)?

If you're not absolutely jazzed by both, the relationship isn't worth pursuing because it will end up being a huge energy drain for you later on.

2. Does the client clearly understand the concept and power of working with a Virtual Assistant?

Does the client think that "pay for the time you use," means "piecework," or "on a project basis, only," or does he really understand that this is an ongoing, talk and/or communicate in other ways almost daily, kind of thing? If he's thinking piecework/project work, refer him to a local office support services company.

They do that kind of work, all the time.

3. Can the client easily afford my fee?

The key word is "easily." You don't want the client struggling to pay you, and maybe having to choose between paying you or paying the mortgage.

4. Do I really want to barter for services?

When you start your practice, it may seem great to barter with a client. Bartering sometimes seems like a smart way to get what's needed when a business is new. Consider it only if the client has something to barter with that you want and cannot afford to pay for. That's the most important point. If it's something you could pay for, then you have no reason to barter. Don't accept a barter arrangement just to get a client. It will end up being a problem for you later on.

If you're considering a barter, make sure that the client is really terrific at what he offers. Not everyone is a great (or even good) marketer, or coach, or web designer, graphic artist, etc. Check them out before you commit your time and energy. You could end up with next to nothing gained.

And make sure that the barter is for a limited time, and for a specific thing. Don't ever barter unlimited time for, say, two months, in exchange for X. You'll probably end up on the losing end of the deal.

You want to build into your original agreement that the barter arrangement will end at a certain point, and the client will agree to continue to work with you paying your then current fee. If a client balks at that idea, it probably means the client doesn't really want the relationship to be long-term.

Remember that bartering doesn't "excuse" you from claiming the equivalent income for tax purposes. So whatever you barter for, make sure it's really worth it to you.

5. Does what the client says about himself make sense?

If someone claims to be very accomplished, sought after, etc., professionally, making it seem that he's really playing big professionally, yet isn't sure he can afford a VA, or wants to barter, something's not quite right.

Check the client out. Someone who's that accomplished should be jazzed to talk about his work with you.

Ask smart questions, such as:

1. Who's your publisher? Is this your first book? Why did you decide to self-publish?

2. Are you a member of a speaker's bureau?

3. Where did you receive your training as a coach?

4. Have you spoken at any conferences I might have heard of or attended?

5. How long have you been doing X?

6. What other web sites have you designed?

7. Could I see some of the graphics you've created?

The answers will give you more insight.

6. Does the client seem to want a partner for success, or a mother?

Some clients really want someone to come in and make decisions for them. Don't get sucked into this one. It's one thing if a client routinely asks for you input. It's another thing entirely if a client seems to want you to be responsible for business decisions he should be making.

If the client wants you so deeply enmeshed that your taking time off would be problematic, the client most definitely needs to consider something other than working with a VA.

7. Probe deeply, and read between the lines

It's probably not enough to gauge fit from one conversation with a client. You'll want to probe deeply about the client's feelings and attitudes, and share yours about things like values, time, control, trust, standards, work-styles, important v. urgent, give and take, collaboration, privacy, boundaries, confidentiality, giving/receiving praise and criticism, and a number of other vital issues. You want clients where there is congruence on these issues, or at least a basic compatibility.

Be sure to speak your truth, and listen deeply when the client speaks. You need to become skilled at seeing, or hearing both what's said and unsaid in order to understand things clearly.

8. Is the client flexible or rigid?

Flexibility, in terms of processes -- trying new things, trying new ways of accomplishing goals, is a definite plus. Clients who are more rigid will have great difficulty adapting to using a VA (which is all about doing things differently!), and will struggle to even really hear, much less truly consider your great ideas.

9. How many things does the client have going on at this time, and how organized and clear is he about each one?

The more a client wants to do, and the less clear or organized he is, the more grief and hassle it will be to work with him. He needs to be very clear about his path before you can help him, successfully, get to his goals.

10. Does the client fit my ideal client profile?

If so, go for it. If not, ask yourself how much of a fit there is. If it's 80 - 100%, terrific! If it's more like 30 - 40% , forget it.

Don't fill your practice with the wrong clients. You're in business for yourself for a reason --- conceivably one that has you wanting more for yourself than you had in the corporate workplace you left. Don't get sucked into believing that you have to work with every client who shows interest. When you fill your practice with the wrong clients, on the other hand, you won't have space for those who do fit, and it will be hard to get rid of the problem clients down the road.

By being committed to your standards, and by taking your time in assessing the fit of prospective clients, you'll build a virtual business that will truly be of your own creation, and will support you in living a life you love.

****

Reprinted with permission, Copyright 2000, Stacy Brice. All rights reserved, worldwide.

Stacy Brice changes work and changes lives. She is a nationally recognized expert on 'virtual officing' and virtual work, and President and Chief Visionary Officer of AssisU, the premier organization training, supporting, coaching, certifying and referring Virtual Assistants. She can be reached via e-mail at stacy@assistu.com, by phone 866/829-6757 or on the web: www.assistu.com. Article originally appeared in OfficePRO, the publication of the IAAP (www.iaap-hq.org).

Virtual Assistant jobs are out there, you just have to know how and where to find them. Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Your Current and Former Employers

The first place to start is your current and former employers. If you are currently working or have worked for someone, let them know about your company and what you are doing. A plus to "advertising" with them is that they already know you, your qualities, your personality, and the quality of work you provide. Draw up a proposal. Let them know how utilizing your services can benefit their company.

2. Job Boards and Search Engines

Careerbuilder.com, Monster.com, and HotJobs.com are examples of job boards. Google.com and Yahoo.com are examples of search engines. You can use both to find clients who are looking for help by using specific keywords. Keywords are what you type in when you are searching for something on the internet. The more specific your keyword is, the more relevant the results will be. For example, a generic keyword like "work at home" will more than likely return a lot of scams. Most legitimate companies don't post job leads using those phrases. Here is an example list of keywords you can use when searching for clients.

Example Keywords:

* "remote contractor"
* "must have home office"
* "independent contractor"
* "freelance"
* "freelance job/s"
* "1099 Contractor"
* "Virtual Assistant"
* "remote office"
* "1099 employee"
* "must have home computer"
* "virtual worker/employee"
* "online work"
* "telework"

You can also use these keywords with search engines like Google and Yahoo. Note: Make sure to put the "" marks before and after the phrase. Surrounding your keywords with quotations shows more specific results from the search engines. The search engines will only show the results with that exact phrase. If you don't use them, it will look for either/or.

3. Fee-Based Websites

Fee-based websites have already completed the hard work for you. These sites have searched the internet, job boards, etc., and found the legitimate jobs for you. All you have to do is apply. Buyers beware, however; not all fee-based job sites are legitimate. Make sure you do thorough research of the company.

4. Freelance Websites

You can also browse some freelance job sites like Guru and Elance. These sites allow freelancers to bid on projects posted by individuals or companies. If your bid is accepted you will be awarded the project. Most of these projects are short-term, but are a great way to build your clientele and your portfolio.

5. Work At Home Websites

There are also some free work-at-home websites that you can use to find clients. This has its pros and cons. Most of the time the job leads are unresearched, limited, and old. Also you can be sure that they have been applied to many times by others seeking work at home jobs. The upside is that someone has kindly searched for and posted these job leads for you. You will still need to research these job leads for legitimacy.

6. In Your Neighborhood

Well…not literally in your neighborhood, but you know what I mean. In other words, in the area you live. Why not have some flyers made and pass them out to local vendors? You can also have them posted in local grocery stores. Have some business cards made and leave them with local business owners and managers.

Have your business cards handy to pass out when you meet people. This is a good networking strategy as well. Be prepared to explain what you do when someone asks. I remember when I started my Virtual Assistant Business people would ask me what I do and I found it hard to explain. So be prepared and keep it simple.

7. Networking and Word of Mouth

Networking and word of mouth is an excellent way to get your name and company out there. Get to know fellow Virtual Assistants. Sometimes they will have an overflow of work and will subcontract or outsource the work to another Virtual Assistant (VA).

Joining associations and organizations is another way to network. There are several organizations out there just for VAs. Some VAs have found success in locating clients by joining their local Chamber of Commerce.

So now you know how and where to find the virtual assistant jobs and clients. Go get them.....

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If you're an aspiring Virtual Assistant, claim your free e-report "Virtual Assistant Business: A Basic Guide to Start Your Own" at http://www.virtualassistantbusiness.com. VirtualAssistantBusiness.com is a resource site for current and aspiring Virtual Assistants.

India Jordan is the owner and founder of VirtualAssistantBusiness.com. To learn more about other Virtual Assistant Training programs for aspiring and current Virtual Assistants, visit us today.