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I'm pretty happy with Audaciy but if I absolutely wanted to use a Mac product, it'd be Garageband which is a basic software packaged with their systems anyway.

I just wanted to introduce myself, my name is Maralee and I am very very new to the VA idea. Still going through the free resources available on the site and am getting a TON of information. My poor brain is a little overwhelmed but I am really really wanting to stay home and be able to make my own schedule while having fun and being able to help people. Getting started does anyone have any tips and tricks for free or cheap programs to start out with? As we don't have a ton of money to throw at this, and my hubby is not for sure convinced I will stick with it. Which is kind of fair as I keep getting ideas and run with it for a little bit and then stop So any advice would be so appreciated! Thank you so much!

Here are my answers to your questions: Your Name: Julie Smith Your Website URL (if applicable): https://juliesjoyfulsolutions.wordpress.com/ Years in Business: I started in 2014, haven't had any steady clients as of yet. I was on Upworks and decided it is time to change directions. Description of your Business, including any specialties: I create efficient systems for Realtors and Entrepreneurs to keep them on track with their deadlines while providing quality customer service so they can focus on what's important-- selling and growing! - Empower Realtors and Entrepreneurs by helping you achieve your goals - Assisting you with tasks to help you be more productive - Create solutions to overcome the obstacles you encounter to relieve the stress - Process information through well-honed research to meet timely deadlines I received training as a Transaction Coridonator from a Realtor. When you hire me for all your transactions I will: - Verify that all required signatures and initials are on the contract and addenda. - Verify that all required addenda are included with the contract. - Fill out commission disbursement forms. - Open the file with the escrow or title company…And much more! On a more personal note: What City/Town/State/Country are you from?: Angola, IN USA Are you married? How long?: Not married now, was for about a year. Any kids and how old? I have a son that is 18, 2 daughters a 15 and 9-year-old Hobbies & Interests: I love camping, fishing, and reading How did you hear about us? I found this group a few years ago, and I set business aside for a bit then, I re-discovery it through Kathy Goughenour-Expert VA training program.

Hey we have a great trend going here! Danielle is an Innovator that collaborates with the Maker (me), who collaborates with the Visionary (Tawnya). This is the start of a really creative team!

Hey there! Welcome to VAnetworking.com --> The Social Network for Virtual Assistants. I am so excited that you have decided to join the friendliest social network on earth for Virtual Assistants. Let me give you a quick intro of who I am. I am Juli and I have not been in the Virtual Industry that long, (3 years) but by being your moderator, I can relate to some of your challenges that you might possibly face that I might have gone through. I was unemployed looking for way to pay off my student loan debt and how to make money at the same time. I saw an AD on my local TV explaining how to make money online, that educated me a bit on how to make money online but through one of those freelancing sites. I was still not satisfied with only working from that platform so I went on Google and found ways how I could make money online, and this is how I found the forum and joined. Fast forward a year later I have a business in place and I have launched my website. So I have gone through the path that you now are on. Enough about me and more about you! One way to get to know you better on the forum is through your first introduction to us. I will outline some tips on how to get you started on the forum. First you can do a quick introduction about yourself and this can be done by clicking here http://www.vanetwork...al-Busi-f4.html If you are like me and don’t like to talk much about yourself here is a breakdown to use as a guide to ease those introductions jitters: Your Name: Your Website URL (if applicable): Years in Business: Description of your Business, including any specialties: On a more personal note: What City/Town/State/Country are you from?: Are you married? How long?: Any kids and how old? Hobbies & Interests: How did you hear about us? We love to know how you heard about us so please let us know! i.e. Google search (what keywords did you search?), article in magazine (name of mag?), word of mouth (who?), etc. Please feel free to browse around and get to know others. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to private message me or any of the other moderators here or contact us at our help desk Until then, can't wait to see your growth here and your accomplishments. Best wishes.

I'm new here too. Welcome.

Welcome to VAnetworking! I agree with Tawnya as to creating graphics to see how long they take you to create so you can build your pricing structure.

Wow! So glad you love horses!! I have owned horses for 19 yrs and counting. Part of my efforts as a VA would go to support the purchase of a farm as my original farm at to be sold when I divorced.

Good suggestion. I wanted to offer free designs to establish VA in exchange for testimonials and be able to build an interesting portfolio. On my 2 years reading... I saw many doing that. I would be glad to contribuate in this group too.

I just signed up my first client, very small retainer one hour per day, but i am a firm believer in starting at the bottom work your way up, Super excited........................

Hi Jason, welcome to VAnetworking! Looks like your FB cover photo appeared blurry because you posted the mobile link. I've updated your post for you. As Tawnya said, you'll want to post engaging content consistency on your Facebook Page.

I found this post online. I was the author 11 years ago. I have since changed the name of my company but I still primarily support churches and nonprofit organizations. I was blessed to see this post...It brings me joy.

Hello! I am very excited to introduce myself! My name is Casey,, I'm a first time Mum of a little baby girl and I'm venturing from my career to begin as a VA. I have over 10 years' experience in Administration, with my most recent experience being in Real Estate. As a Property Manager, I managed 180 properties in my portfolio. As a VA, I am offering data entry, letter writing and mailing service, debt collection, Condition Report writing and Account Management. I look forward to where this journey will take me, and hoping I can stay home with my bub and have the perfect work/life balance.

https://jbvirtualass.weebly.com/ Hi Everyone. My name is Jennifer, I am a brand new VA very exciting times for me. I have 15 years experience in Admin and senior management from catering to microlending. I love admin and pushing myself to grow and always be the best at what I do and just made the decision to put all that energy and loyalty into my own Business. Thank you for the opportunity to be part of this platform.

Welcome to the forum Hannah! I agree with the suggestions Tawnya gave. Awaiting on your response to see if their is anything that I can add. All the best.

Welcome to the forum! I understand that at first it can be daunting to find clients. You can visit this link on tips by Tawnya on how to find clients. All the best.

Finding out what motivates me will certainly help me in the long run Solution always exists but we need to find it

Hi Jacob, welcome to VAnetworking! I've been a VA for over 8 years and it's a great career!

Awesome you have Pinterest and Tailwind training. Did you do a training program or just learn under someone else as an apprentice?

Sorry I missed your comment. Where in Idaho are you? We are in the Sandpoint area.

So sorry I missed your comment. I currently offer services for account payables, receivables, customer service, data entry, collections and billing. I just finished training on Pinterest and Tailwind through working as an apprentice. Really excited to implement what I have learned. Hopefully, this will open some doors for me.

Hiya Raychelle and welcome to our network. Looking forward to getting to know you more through your participation here. Enjoy!

Hi Danielle, Thank you. That's awesome that you had a beauty blog. I would love to hear all about it. I am glad to be here, and look forward to learning and connecting with others. Jodie

I use Google Voice but it's only available for the US, although it works in other countries. I used to use Skype and was able to get a phone number and it was fairly affordable. If you have Microsoft Office you might even have a free Skype benefit so I'd check that out. https://www.skype.com/en/offers/office365/

Hello everyone, My name is Elizabeth and I'm brand new to the Virtual Assistant world. I am still soaking up all I can and taking the steps to launch my own business. I am hoping to learn as much as I can from all of you and soon have my own business up and running. Any beginner advice is greatly appreciated. Happy to be a part of such a supportive network!

Hi Alonda, welcome to VAnetworking! I've spent some time in Arkansas camping over at Lake Ouachita, beautiful area!

Welcome to the forum Alonda! Thats the drive that will you get you to be one of the biggest VA business there is. All the best.

I work for Fancy Hands and I made $18 on 3 tasks and got paid on time but it is annoying trying to get tasks done because you go to message the clients and The Fancy Hands Admins read all messages first and they will make you go back and fix errors or how you word something and it ends up pissing you off when your just trying to get something done quickly. It took hours to send a quick message to the client they are to up in your business. But they are quick easy tasks and you can make money.

I use the WD ones, I own about 5-6 or them. I actually have the 4TB one in my wishlist to order at some point as I want another one. This is the one I buy. I've had no issues with them (am on a Mac). I also own these cases to keep them in for traveling and even just at home so that they don't get damaged. I haven't tried the seagate ones, I'm sure they are fine though too.

Hello. My name is Laweesa McCray and I am seeking advice on becoming a virtual assistant.

Hi Everyone, Name: Bettina Website URL: No website yet; currently in the process. Years in Business: None; getting ready to start my VA Business Description of my business: My VA business will focus on services for chiropractors, since I have a background in the healthcare industry. My services will include: data entry, proofreading/editing, PowerPoint presentations, blog-related services, social media ad set-up/management, calendar management, and Facebook group management. What city/town/state/country am I from? I am originally from the Chicago area, but now reside in the Los Angeles area. Am I married? Not yet, but I am in the near future! Any kids? Not yet, but working on it! Hobbies and Interests: I love to read, go bike riding with my significant other, and I'm also a history buff! How did I hear about VA Networking? Through the Google search.

Hello everyone! I'm Chuck (Some call me Charles, that's okay too). I am just getting started in the virtual world of assisting as one of those rare males in this profession. I don't have a business URL yet, but I am working diligently to to get that up and going. I have spent the last 20 years helping businesses become better through leading up as an employee, informal business coaching, and advising on system/process implementation to improve different aspects of business. My business is general virtual assistance helping small, medium, and large businesses Maximize the BIG THREE Es of Business, Efficiency, Effectiveness , and Execution! My education is management information systems and psychology. This education coupled with my experience in the military and the business world helps me to assist others accomplish what needs to be done in a technological world where change is the number one crippling factor. I specialize in business systems, social media implementation, web design, and tech support. My wife and I currently live in Vero Beach, Florida. I am originally from Lenoir, North Carolina. We have been married for 26 years and have two kids away at university. Our daughter is studying veterinary medicine at the University of Louisville, and our son is in the masters program for classical vocals and composition at the Boston Conservatory. YES, we are extremely proud of them! Being the nerd that I am, I am actually turning my hobbies into a virtual assistant business. My hobbies are actually web design, social media profile initiation, and business coaching for friends, family, and associates. So, I figured since I do this stuff in my free time, why not go professional and get paid to do it! Like they say, "If you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life." This does lead me to a question though. Has anyone else experienced burn out, or other pitfalls, from the psychological shift in doing something as a hobby but now having the responsibility of getting paid for it? I would love to hear your thought or experiences around this. Please leave a response, because I really don't want to get headed the wrong direction! Thank you all for being here. We can all work together to make one another better! Chuck Kanupp

Yes, congrats on your first client! I remember when the doors shut down on the computer service company I was working for leaving all the customers hanging. What I did was contact them all and offered to finish their jobs for free for them. A couple of them ended up keeping me as their Virtual Assistant and that's how I got my first clients.

Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum and to the world of VA's. I have been working hard the last month to get everything up and running for my VA business. All that is missing is my Social Media set up and launch. And I can't for the life of me wrap my head around how to even start. This is harder than designing a website and creating content. I will be on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram but I have never even used Instagram or Twitter personally. What are some good resources on how to get started or what a good first post would be? Thank you in advance!

I want to start my VA business providing services to Chiropractors, since I have a background in the healthcare industry--I actually worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant. How would I market my services to chiropractors?

Pricing can always be a difficult question. In my practice, I charge at an hourly rate. I find the hourly rate model to be flexible enough to suit a diverse set of clients. Perhaps if I had an ongoing relationship with a client and could get a better sense for their specific needs week after week, only then do I think it would be beneficial to set a flat fee arrangement.

I am going to share with you some broadcasting software tools that I have come across that might help you or someone else in the group. Broadcasting Software Review Hi Mary, I like using a couple of tools. A. One is https://www.loom.com It allows you to create 100 videos for free and provides you tools to edit them. You can choose between the following: · Audio only · Video only · Or you can screen share and see a video of you on the corner. The paid version allows you to do unlimited videos and it has a low cost to it. B. Another tool you can use is: https://stageten.tv/ · You can easily create live shows with remote guests. Video feeds from phones, cams, screen share, and game streams. · Connect with your audience and live stream to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Twitch. · Stand out from the crowd with multi-cam shots, custom graphics, video clips, and unique stream formats. Not sure about the pricing. I think they do have a free version or a trial C. Here is another tool www.zoom.com I love using zoom too because it allows you to have a free version. The free version Meetings Online Meetings, Training & Technical Support Video Webinar Marketing Events & Town Hall Meetings Conference Rooms Build Collaboration-Enabled Conference Rooms Zoom Phone The next generation enterprise phone system Business IM Cross-Platform Messaging & File Sharing · You can connect with your calendar · You can schedule meetings onto zoom · You can also stream to YouTube and Facebook live · You can also do a whiteboard and draw or type a text and screen share it. D. Another great tool that has advanced features https://belive.tv Here are some great features for it. · You can do solo videos · Interviews or · Talk shows · Boost brand & Engagement using custom logos, frames, and colors · Stay organized · Screen share your presentation and bring photos from your Facebook album to your broadcast · You can also share it on Facebook live or Twitch · It has a free 30-day trial · The prices are reasonable · I think Tawnya has started using this one recently Hope this information will help you in selecting what tool works best for you. It depends on who your audience is. What social media platform they hang out in. And what tool will serve you best? Something to keep in mind. As your needs grow then you will want a tool that can grow with you.

Amber that was so so so helpful thank you so much. Amber do you have a link so i can see how your looks and Tawnya thank you so much im going to check hers out now :)

I highly recommend Lastpass and it's free

My all time favorite picks are: 1) Project Management - Asana 2) File Sharing - Google Docs 3) Messenger - Skype

I think keep the descriptions simple, don't give them too many options or things to think about. Provide a pay pal buy button under each service description and a call to action like 'download my FREE working with a VA ebook' or "You may also like my book editing services <<click here>>" the link would then lead to the next service description. Do this for all your service options on your home page. Which would have an icon or image for each with short description that opens to a new page with the service details, buy button, freebie ebook and call to action or upsell for another service. >image/ icon >title e.g. transcription services >short dot point description of service >PayPal buy button >link to download ebook >link to another service offering hope that helps amber

Thanks, This is helpful.

Sorry I missed this question... I've been using retainer pricing with my clients all along for the past 20 years and never have any issues with them not liking it. My clients don't have the same tasks each week so it's hard to do packages for some of them. Working on hourly retainers that they prepay upfront works for us both. They get a bit of a discount paying upfront and I don't have to race around the end of month. Here is an informative blog post I wrote on pricing your virtual assistant services.

Client onboarding is basically a phrase someone made up so they could sell you products surrounding that process. Onboarding a client is fairly simple and usually goes in this order: 1. Get them to pay your retainer upfront (usually online through Paypal). 2. Get them to sign your contract (I do this after I get their payment as once they pay it's easier to get them to sign as they want you to start working for them right away). 3. Talk to them on the phone to get pertinent contact information (contact info, passwords, etc.) to help you service them. 4. You can also send them a document stating your business protocols (hours you work, how you'll communicate with each other, how payments are made, holidays, sick-time, etc.) Each VA has different protocols. As you can see, there isn't much process to prepare to onboard a client. The hardest part is getting them to pay and sign that contract.

Hey Regina, don't fret, you've just taken the hardest step. Asking for help You are not the first to sit back and lurk so don't be too hard on yourself. Fact is though, the only way you can move forward in VAinsiders is by opening up and becoming accountable like you just did today Don't worry about getting the VAC as we can still help you in your steps to having a profitable VA business. There was no VAC when I started (nor #VAforum) or any startup programs and I did it. You can do this too, especially with all the support in this group. There is a checklist inside your VAinsiders area in the VAult to give you a blueprint to getting your business started up. Start checking things off and anything you have questions about, just ask us. That is what we are here for

It's been awhile since there has been a new post in this section, so let's get it going again! Whether you are new to graphic design or a veteran, what are your favorite programs and tools? There are SO many programs out there and some are specialized, so go ahead and choose your favorites. I'll go first! 1. Adobe Illustrator - This is by far my favorite program. I use this strictly for logos, icons and creating 2D graphics from scratch. Illustrator is great for creating vector graphics, which will let you retain their size without losing quality. There is still sooo much more I need to learn about it as it's ever changing. 2. Adobe Photoshop - My second favorite program for editing images and enhancing photographs. Auto batch editing in Photoshop is also a dream. You can create all kinds of things in photoshop! 3. Canva - Canva is an awesome alternative and great for businesses. I use canva to make tons of social media graphics, infographics, e-books and more. It's very user friendly and a great starting point if you are new to graphic design. Those are pretty much the only 3 that I use, because I can do everything I need to do in them. There's also InDesign, which is great for posters, e-books and various layouts. I haven't gotten into it much, but it's highly recommended. Let's hear your favorites!

I've done something similar with clients in the past. I bluntly asked them, how much could you afford monthly for a Virtual Assistant? Once they gave me the amount I wrote up the best services I'd offer them that would help their business the most that month (give them the best bang for their buck).

I recently started working with an author but I really am not sure what type of rates I should be billing and how to bill it? Per page/chapter etc? Thanks in advance for any advice you can give

LOL! I am a web designer and I will not even start thinking about touching anything from scratc, wordpress, whatever for less than $500! If you are going to offer this service you really need to look at design forums no offense but if you do know what you are doing that 200-300 is just shooting yourself in the foot

In the email I state: Attached please find your invoice for the month of XXX for virtual assistant services. To ensure you hold a spot as a client with us for the upcoming month (and don't go onto our waiting list), payment is appreciated by the 25th so we can schedule our clients accordingly.