Any Virtual Assistants on here?

[flower2009]

I was just wondering if there are any other Virtual Assistants on here? I am started to get a bit frustrated, I seem to spend a lot of time trying to get new clients (which is time I am not getting paid) and am feeling a bit fed up to be honest, as it has worked out this month I have earned £2 per hour!!!!! Do other Virtual Assistants feel like they are constantly looking for work or is it just me??

I don't do this, but I've had a look at it in the past. Have you seen the Pay Per Hour website?

I'm not a vurtual assistant but I've recently been to some networking type meetings. Very good for meeting potential clients and for getting referrals.
i'm trying to see it as time invested, rather than time wasted!

Hi Maples - Yes I am a Virtual PA, if you ever need any help let me know!

Technoviking - I guess I should look at it as time invested rather than time wasted, I am just fed up only earning about £200 per month!!!!

Any other ideas on how to get new business? I currently use people per hour, twitter, linkedin and facebook. I have attended a couple of networking meetings but not many so far.

Hi, I am a VA. my website is www.virtual-pa-uk.com feel free to send me an email to discuss ideas

I'm going here www.bstartup.com/ to network like mad and am even considering getting a stand.

I'm not a VA but when I first started out my business was very similar. I have more work than I have time and now charge around £30 - £40 per hour because naturally not all hours in the week can be work.

In the beginning, I had one client. He loved my work so much he referred me to someone else. This other person had a lot of clients who he asked me to do work for and my business bloomed exponentially from there.

I have never attended a networking event and I know lots of small businesses who get nothing from it.

What works best for me, my clients and my comrades in business is

Word of mouth
Marketing (google!)
Word of mouth

In that order!

Maybe you could find a specialism within the VA business? Something uncommon but desirable? TBH I am aware of a lot of VA's in the market, nearly all mediocre former admin assistants. You need to stand out above them somehow. One of my fave VA businesses is Time etc. A larger, professional VA company.

Thanks for all the tips guys. Things have looked up a bit today, I got 2 enquiries both through word of mouth! So I think you are right, doing a good job and being recommended through word of mouth and having a presence on google is the best way. I have been to a few networking events but found them expensive and time consuming and never got much out of them.

Hello fellow VAs,

I have had the same problem unfortunately! I have tried networking, social media, invested money in setting up my website, etc and I am still not earning enough to make this worth my time. I know, patience... but when its your livelihood it is a little difficult :(

My question is; Has anybody here had any experience working for an actual virtual assistant company like this one? I know there are lots out there who hire VAs.. I think some work from an office and some may work from home. Could perhaps do this part time? I don't know, just looking for suggestions as currently this isn't working for me alone..

Mel

Mel, I'm a VA and work for a couple of larger companies, self employed, they outsource Audio Transcription to me, so far it's working well however I'd ideally l

Arrrgh on my phone sorry! I'd ideally like to grow my own client base but it's a good way to start.

MelArt What do you want to know about AllDayPA? I very briefly worked there. Its more of a call centre environment, their PAs arent home based - and the work was mostly call handling/message forwarding etc. Some secretarial stuff, but mostly call handling when I worked there, which was admittedly a few years ago. They mostly took on students (based in Manchester so big student population) and their hourly rate was pretty poor, but the work was pretty basic. PM me if you want any further info.

I've just looked at their website that says they dont use students - hmm, not sure if I believe that.

I just wanted to say things have started picking up for me the last week and a half and I am now quite busy with various work. So there is hope out there to all other freelancers in the same position, just keep working hard and things will fall into place eventually. I know there will still be quiet times in the future, but at least things have picked up at present.