Mena

Some stuff about me:

I'm new to the VA scene (May 2013), but not to business. I've been working for myself since late 2010, initially as a freelancer (recruitment) before discovering this cool thing called Internet marketing a year or so later. I taught myself how to build WordPress websites, started dabbling in affiliate marketing and creating PLR products while I continued to freelance. The more I got involved with IM the more I realised I didn't enjoy being a freelance recruiter any more, but that was essentially my 'day job' so I had to find an alternative income stream.

Fast forward to today and I'm providing VA support to two fabulous clients (a web design firm and an SEO agency). I really haven't been doing it long; just a month or so but I'm really enjoying the work. I'm the sort of person who likes a lot of variety (as well as having eggs in several baskets).

The thing is though, I know I can maximise my income and time by getting off the freelance sites and doing my own thing. Having my own VA business isn't something I had thought about until a few days ago, but it makes sense you know, especially as I'm already offering those services. Plus, it meshes well with my other online activities; I can already see ways to cross promote my services' business with product creation and affiliate marketing in the future.

Specialities - I've got these down pat (for now at least): WordPress, email marketing and social media, although I want to build up more of a social presence before offering the latter so I'll start with the other two first. I also have SEO skills but as I much prefer doing onsite SEO I'm going to package that up with the WordPress services. Link building for clients on a regular is not something I want to be doing - I barely like doing it for my own sites lol.

Clients - My focus is going to be small businesses/start-ups who either already have or want to have an online presence. I'm so shocked at how many small business owners outsource things like web design and get totally ripped off. My vision is to help, educate and develop in my clients a level of confidence in certain business processes.

Internet marketers could be another client focus of mine, although I'm envisaging a lot of resistance to fees within the IM community. Not so much from the big guys, but there's definitely is a hardcore element who have been schooled in only hiring cheap labour. Having said that, I'm seeing this with my Internet marketing hat on and not as a VA. I would love to get the views of an experienced Internet marketing VA on this.

I don't have a VA website yet as I'm still in research mode, but I'll be building one as soon as I figure out a plan.

The personal me:

• I have two degrees in Psychology (one is a Masters) and a counselling qualification (hmm I could also consider counselling/coaching clients too - but I'm figuring they'd need a lot of speaker/conference/event planning which isn't really my thing ... need to do more research so I won't rule this out just yet).

• I have a background in sales, recruitment and headhunting.

• There is no husband... yet. Nor do I have any kiddos... yet. But I love kids, I've worked voluntarily with children since I was a kid myself and have lots of little munchkins (nieces, nephews, god kids) that keep me on my toes.

• I'm from the UK (just outside of London), but spend most of my online life writing in US English (note I've purposely refrained from doing so here )

• I'm really down to earth and chatty (can you tell yet? lol) and in my downtime you'll find me either dropping some backing vocals for my brother 'the musician' or working out (street dance, Zumba, Pilates), amongst other things.

• And, yep I do consider myself to be a geek haha. I just love the Internet, learning new software/tools and tinkering with HTML/CSS.

If you've read this far all I can say is bless your cotton socks! Thank you for providing a space for me to ramble. I'm so excited at being here and I'm really looking forward to getting to know y'all.

And please, please, please lavish me with your knowledge and advice. I have so much to learn and just between you and I, I'm a little nervous about getting this all off the ground.

Oh and if there is anything I can help you with (feedback, opinions e.t.c), just ask.