How to Add to Your Income

Is your wallet feeling a little lighter? Do you need to add to your income? It seems like everything is increasing in price these days except wages, creating an income gap for many households.

While we do not have direct control over the raises we are seeing from our bosses, or the economy for that matter, we do have some control as to how to increase the amount of money we are bringing in. For many people, the answer is adding an extra stream of income. Let’s look at some ideas on how to bring in extra income, where to find these opportunities, and how to figure out what’s best for you!

Check your current income or wages

Before we look at exploring other streams of income, it is important to double-check your current situation. Self-employed? Consider increasing your rates or prices. You want to stay competitive and in line with others, but it is important to be properly compensated for your goods and services.

Ask yourself—Are your rates too low? Have you built up your experience and expertise but kept your rates and prices the same? Do some market research. Be sure to check other similar companies or service providers and compare. You do not want to increase prices without merit. It is also important to know your worth though!

Employed by a company? Do your research, and check if you are being properly compensated for your work. If there is a disparity between your salary, the work you are doing, and what others are getting paid in similar positions, have a thoughtful conversation with your boss or the human resources department.

Bring in examples of the contributions you are making to the company and the impacts you have made (financial or otherwise). Do not expect to get a raise right there on the spot, but there is nothing wrong with having a conversation. You will convey that you are goal-oriented. My favorite question to ask is how to get there. For example, ask the question, “What do I need to do to see a ___ increase within the next _____(6 months, year, 3 years, etc)?”

Ideas to supplement income

Once you have established that your rates, prices, or salary are in line, it may be time to explore ways to add another stream of income. More than ever before, we are seeing people start side businesses. As people see success in these side gigs they often become their full-time business!

Interested in starting your own business, are looking for some additional income, or just want to explore what other options are out there? Let us take a quick look at some ideas on ways to bring in some additional income.

Find a part-time job. Look at the time you have available and see what type of part-time job might work for you. This could be remote work or in person.
Freelancing is a great way to use the skills you already have to make a side income. Ideas for freelancing include design, branding, photography, coding/programming, writing, marketing, and accounting.
Explore social selling opportunities. Also known as, direct sales. While this can be considered a love-it-or-hate-it category, it is a flexible way to bring in additional income. There are a lot of options out there and they are always hiring!
Find companies that offer home-based work opportunities in flexible time frames or hours if needed. More and more companies are offering work-from-home options.
Become a virtual assistant! If this sounds like an option you might be interested in, check out our FREE email course that will have your virtual assistant business started in 5 days!

Did this list get your wheels turning?

Where to find opportunities

Now that we have identified some areas of opportunity, the next question that may come to mind is where to find these opportunities. Here are two suggestions to help you get started.

Good old-fashioned networking is always my first recommendation. As someone who has found most of my jobs and career opportunities through people I have known and networked with, I highly recommend reaching out to people. Let your network know what you are looking for, and spread the word!

Check remote job boards, such as Upw ork, The Mom Project, and LinkedIn. In most cases, you can filter your search by what you are looking for, helping you to hone in on the right opportunity for you. For an inside look at Upwork, read our Freelance Site: Upwork review.

How to know what is best for you

Once you start out on this path, you might find a lot of options and job posts. A few things you want to consider to help you narrow down your focus are to think about what your passions are and what opportunities will give you the best ROI, or the best compensation for time spent.

In addition to income, you also want to consider other goals in looking for additional work. Do you want to build your resume? Are you trying to explore an industry further to know if you want to make a switch? Is a better work-life balance part of the equation? These should be additional factors in your search.

Are you starting to see all of the opportunities that are out there for you now? My biggest recommendation is to just get started. Start the search, have conversations, and be open to opportunities. You may be surprised at what you find. Action is the best step when you are feeling fear or helplessness, so jump right in and get started!

04/17/202304/28/2023

Time Management Strategies for Virtual Assistants

girl working at home office desk; desk is clean and free from distractions

Managing multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced digital environment can be challenging as a virtual assistant. Don’t worry – we’ve got some time-saving tips to help you make the most of your day!

First, we’ll break down the difference between urgent and essential tasks. Then we’ll show you how to use techniques like time blocking and the Pomodoro technique. Last we’ll talk about prioritizing tasks efficiently, and keeping distractions at bay!

Prioritizing Tasks

Knowing the difference between an urgent and essential task can be key to understanding how to manage your time effectively, and ultimately, it has a huge impact on the success of your day.

Understanding urgent vs. essential tasks

Urgent tasks require immediate attention and often have short-term consequences. This would be something that is due TODAY. Something with a specific deadline that is approaching quickly.

On the other hand, essential tasks contribute to long-term goals and objectives. This would be like checking emails or doing something on a weekly or monthly basis.

By recognizing which tasks are urgent and which are essential, you can better allocate your resources to ensure both types of tasks get the appropriate attention they need.

Creating daily and weekly to-do lists

Want to stay on top of your workload? To-do lists can be a great tool for staying organized and prioritizing tasks. Create daily or weekly to-do lists focusing on the most urgent and important items. Once you complete a task, cross it off the list – this will help you keep track of your progress and give you a sense of accomplishment.

Be sure to regularly review and update your list in case priorities need to change. I like to use a worksheet that I made. On the right-hand side, I make a list of all of the things I need to do for the week or month. On the left side, I make daily notes for things that are urgent, or that need to be done on or by a specific day.

Making your to-do list isn’t enough. You need to have a plan of attack – how you’ll work your way through the list. But first, allocate time for each task.

Allocating Time and Setting Deadlines

Allocating time and setting deadlines for specific tasks will help to keep you on track throughout your day and throughout the course of a project.

Estimating the time required for each task

Knowing how long a task will take is essential for effective time management. Estimate each task’s time, considering any potential obstacles that could slow you down. Once you have an estimate, you can plan accordingly and set realistic expectations for yourself.

I know how much time I have between taking my big kids to school and getting my little one on his bus. For example, I have two and a half hours. So I figure I can spend one hour on something, 3o minutes on something, and then I can also do one or two other “quick” things. It’s nice to know how long something will take so that I don’t expect too much from myself. With practice, you’ll become better at more accurately estimating the time needed for tasks and better equipped to manage your workload efficiently.

Breaking tasks into manageable subtasks

Facing a large or complex task? Breaking it down into smaller, more manageable subtasks will help you stay organized and make steady progress.

Start by listing all of the elements of the task, then prioritize each subtask based on urgency or importance. As you work through the list, you’ll get closer to completing the larger goal while also achieving a sense of accomplishment. With this approach, tackling even the most daunting tasks becomes possible!

Time Management Techniques

The time management technique you choose is basically the means by which you’ll work through your to-do list. There are numerous time management techniques out there, and each technique can be modified to fit your needs. It’s a good idea to try different techniques to see what works best for you.

Time blocking

Time blocking is an effective technique that involves scheduling specific blocks of time for each task on your to-do list. By assigning a dedicated time slot to each task, you can maintain focus, minimize distractions, and ensure you’re giving sufficient attention to your priorities. Time blocking also helps you visualize your day or week and avoid overloading your schedule.

Regularly review and adjust your schedule to make sure you’re making the most efficient use of your time. When setting up your time blocks, think about your energy levels throughout the day, the urgency and importance of tasks, and any external deadlines you need to meet. Consider taking breaks and adding buffer time to provide flexibility for unexpected interruptions or tasks that may take longer than expected.

Pomodoro technique for focused work sessions

The Pomodoro technique is a time management method that involves breaking your work into short, focused intervals (usually 25 minutes) called “Pomodoros,” followed by a brief break (typically 5 minutes). After completing four Pomodoros, take a longer break (15-30 minutes) to recharge. This technique helps maintain focus, reduce mental fatigue, and increase productivity by encouraging regular breaks and preventing burnout.

To implement the Pomodoro technique, choose a task, set a timer for 25 minutes, and work steadily until the timer goes off. Then, take a 5-minute break before starting the next Pomodoro. Adjust the duration of your work intervals and breaks as needed to suit your preferences and energy levels.

Task batching for increased efficiency

Task batching involves grouping similar tasks and completing them in a dedicated block of time. This strategy can help streamline your workflow, minimize context-switching, and increase productivity.

For example, you could batch tasks like responding to emails, making phone calls, or processing invoices. You probably already do this for personal tasks such as paying bills and folding laundry.

Balancing multiple tasks and projects

As a virtual assistant, you may manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously. Consider the following strategies to effectively balance your responsibilities:

Prioritize tasks based on their urgency and importance.
Create a clear and organized workspace to help you stay focused and reduce distractions.
Develop a daily and weekly plan that outlines your essential tasks and projects and allocate time for each using time blocking or another scheduling method.
Stay adaptable and be prepared to adjust your schedule as priorities or deadlines change.
Communicate regularly with clients and team members to manage expectations and ensure that you’re staying on track.

By implementing these techniques, you can effectively manage your time, juggle multiple tasks, and maintain your productivity as a virtual assistant.

Staying Focused and Avoiding Distractions

Being distracted while working from home is a common problem among virtual assistants. The ability to manage distractions will help you stay productive and provide the best service you can for your clients.

Identify common distractions

Distractions like social media, emails, phone calls, text messages, and external noise can interrupt your focus and productivity. It’s important to identify which ones most affect your work and develop strategies to minimize their impact.

Create a dedicated workspace

Setting up a dedicated workspace can help you stay focused during work hours. Find a quiet, comfortable space with minimal distractions and set up your work equipment, such as a computer, phone, and necessary supplies. Personalize the workspace with ergonomic furniture, good lighting, and any items that motivate or inspire you, like quotes or artwork.

Techniques for maintaining focus during work hours

Effective focus-enhancing techniques can help you stay on task and resist distractions. Consider the following strategies:

Set specific goals for each work session and break them into smaller, manageable tasks.
Use time management techniques like the Pomodoro technique or time blocking to allocate dedicated periods for focused work.
Limit your access to distracting websites or apps during work hours, using tools like website blockers or app timers.
Establish a routine that includes regular work hours, breaks, and designated times for checking email and social media.
Practice mindfulness techniques like deep breathing or meditation to help you refocus when distractions arise.

By staying focused and minimizing distractions, you can make the most of your time, boost your productivity, and deliver high-quality work to your clients.

Balancing Work and Personal Life

It’s essential to establish clear boundaries between your work and personal life to maintain a healthy balance, especially if you work from home. Setting boundaries can help you avoid burnout, reduce stress, and ensure that you can fully engage in both your professional and personal responsibilities

Consider the following strategies:

Set specific working hours and stick to them, taking regular breaks as needed. Make sure to communicate them to clients, colleagues, and family members.
Refrain from responding to emails or other work-related messages outside designated work hours.
Create a dedicated workspace that separates your work environment from your living space.
Give yourself adequate time each day or night for leisure activities or hobbies.

Prioritizing self-care and personal well-being

It’s essential to prioritize self-care to sustain a reasonable work-life balance. Some strategies for caring for your physical, mental, and emotional health include:

Eating nutritious meals and engaging in regular physical activity.
Practicing mindful or meditative techniques for stress reduction.
Setting aside time each week for leisure activities or hobbies that bring you joy.
Connecting with family and friends frequently through phone calls, video chats, or messages.
Taking regular breaks throughout the day and getting enough sleep at night.

Managing personal time effectively

Developing practical time management skills in your personal life will help you maintain a balanced lifestyle and improve your productivity and your overall well-being. Make sure to plan and schedule leisure activities like exercising, socializing with friends, or pursuing hobbies so you don’t overlook them due to work commitments.

When you understand and follow effective time-management techniques as we’ve discussed here, you will experience optimal productivity and success and you’ll be better prepared for long-term success in your business. With dedication and commitment to these strategies, you can make the most of your valuable time and be a first-rate virtual assistant for your clients.

08/03/2021

Is it OK to use a freelancer website?

When you decide you want to get started freelancing, you suddenly find there are sources online just for freelancers! It can become overwhelming with all of the options.

So I’m going to answer the question: is it OK to use a freelancer website?

Yes.

But please keep reading because, TLDR: you can get started on a freelancer site, but don’t hang out there forever!

In this article, I’m specifically going to talk about Upwork. I’ll even give you my experience with it!

About Upwork

Back in 2018, I wrote a review of Upwork for Full Time Job From Home. Even then, I already had experience getting jobs through the platform.

Upwork is a place where people (AKA businesses or entrepreneurs) can post jobs that they need to outsource. And you (the freelancer) can bid on the jobs that you think you’re qualified for. Pretty simple.

How to be successful on Upwork

From my experience, the way you will find the most success on Upwork is to fill out your profile. Make sure it’s 100% complete. This will help you stand out against the competition.

Back when I was a bigger user ( I haven’t had to log in for quite some time, but I’ll get into that in a bit) I was able to take tests to help demonstrate my abilities. The tests could be focused on English grammar, etc.

I looked around and only found 1 test for myself at this time. I found it under the heading Find Work. It’s called an Upwork Readiness Test which I am able to take.

“The Upwork Readiness Test has 10 questions. It covers the best practices and safety tips that top freelancers use to build successful businesses on Upwork.” It continues on to say that each question has a 2-minute time limit. And they give you links to study up!

My Upwork Readiness Test Score

Oops! I scored a 3.5 out of 5… and failed! 😳😥

Definitely read up using the links they provide! I wanted to speed through the test to see what it was about. Thankfully, it says you can retake it at any time. Phew!

When do I use Upwork?

I’ve been a virtual assistant for over 5 years. I have clients and I have other lead sources for jobs. (You have to check out the Horkey Handbook mini-course!) But once in a while, I like to see what kind of jobs people are posting on Upwork.

Clients come and go. In the past, as clients have left, I have logged into Upwork and started bidding on new jobs immediately.

I think that’s the beauty of a freelancing site like Upwork. If you feel like you need more money – get online and bid on some jobs!

How Upwork works

When you sign up (for free) you receive what they call connect credits. The connect credits allow you to connect with the owner of potential jobs. You get a certain number of connect credits per month, so there’s no reason to hoard them. When they run out, you can buy more.

DON’T BUY THEM!

Just bid on jobs that you want. And when the month rolls over you can get more credits.

Why I say don’t hang out there

I say don’t hang out there because you’ll be competing against some people who will low-ball the jobs to get them. On the other hand, not all jobs want the cheapest labor! Some people need a certain skill that they don’t have and they’re willing to pay more for someone to do a better-than-good job.

Also, Upwork takes a portion of your earnings. Twenty percent, to be exact. So if you bid $40, they’ll take 20% which is $8, and you’ll receive the balance, or $32.

The nice thing is, you can play with the number to get it where you want it. I adjusted the field for the amount I’ll receive after fees, to make sure I’m getting my rate, and it adjusted the hourly rate I will propose to the client so that I can receive my rate after the fees are taken out.

Interestingly, I was able to submit a proposal even though I just failed the readiness test! 🤷‍♀️

My experience with Upwork

I have gotten at least 2 good jobs through Upwork plus other small jobs. One of them I’m still working with! After our contract ended, she contacted me to work on a different project for her and I’m still working with her!

Another client I’m still in contact with and we’re actually connected on Facebook! Needless to say, I’ve had a pretty good experience with it. But as I said, I put the time in, completed my profile, and took the tests they offered.

What to do next

If you haven’t started your virtual assistant business yet, there are a couple of ways to get started.

If you’ve got $19 burning a hole in your pocket, you can take a mini-course from Horkey Handbook and find out if being a VA is something you really want to do.
If you want to dive right in (this is you if you already KNOW you want to be a VA) you can enroll in Horkey Handbook’s FullyBookedVA system. It’s basically full access to all of their courses for as long as you want to stay enrolled.
Or, you can take my FREE eCourse! You’ll receive 5 emails that will walk you through starting your VA business and you can literally start your business this week!

So is it OK to use a freelancer website? Have you tried Upwork? Are you ready to start your VA business? What questions do you have? I’m here to help!

05/20/2021

Most important resources for a new virtual assistant

Free resources for a new virtual assistant

Are you a new virtual assistant? Maybe you’re a virtual assistant wannabee? Good! You’re in the right place! I’ve been a virtual assistant for close to 6 years! I’ve tried many-a-tools over the years and I’m going to share my list of most important resources for a new virtual assistant!

Thankfully, there are sooooo many apps out there that are free! I have chosen to pay for a few along the way, but you don’t need to do that getting started.

How do you even begin to figure out what you need?

You’re going to figure out what you need as you go. You’ll start to work on something, you’ll Google it, and you’ll find new potential resources. Maybe that’s even how you found this article!

You’ll figure out what you need, literally based on your needs! If you’re trying to design an image for a Facebook post, you’ll Google something like this: best free image creation apps.

What’s first on the list? Canva. YESSSSSS!!!! I 100% agree! If you haven’t tried Canva, you have to! I used the free version for years. I enjoy the perks of using the paid version, but I promise you’ll be happy with the free version of Canva!

Most important resources for a new virtual assistant

Canva aside, my two favorite resources are Trello and Clockify. Let me tell you about them…

Trello

Trello is an amazing free app that you can use to keep track of your projects and your clients. I have this app open all day long and skip around to whatever I’m working on.

It’s broken down into Boards, Lists, and Cards.

A Board would be your client. Inside each board, you have lists. My lists are titled Credentials, Daily to-do, Ongoing tasks, Brainstorming, etc. Then for each list, you can add multiple cards to fill out the list. Within a card, you can add links to anything with a URL, you can add attachments, and you can chat with people who you’ve added to the board.

Trello also has a mobile app (I’m on android but I’m sure iPhones have it as well). It’s very handy to be able to look things up on the go!

Clockify

A way to track your hours is a must! I used a time clock app on my phone for the first 5+ years of my business!

A couple of years ago, a client suggested I start using Clockify. I looked at it, but I was so used to my time clock app that I couldn’t get into it.

I kept on using the app on my phone until just recently. I was having an issue with the app and my go-to solution when I have a problem with my phone is to uninstall the app and reinstall it.

I don’t recommend doing that!!🤦‍♀️

When I went to re-install it, the app was gone!! I understand that’s probably why I was having an issue, but, I was still quite disappointed that I lost my favorite app!

I tried several other time tracking apps that day, all on my phone. None of them were worthy!

Queue the solution! Clockify!

What I love about Clockify

What I love about Clockify is that it’s a Chrome extension. So I don’t even have to log into the site to start using it! But don’t worry, if you don’t like extensions, you can use the website.

I spend a lot of time on business activities that aren’t billable. Sometimes at the end of the day, I feel like I haven’t gotten anything done. That can be a very crushing, defeating feeling.

But I have this handy timeclock that I can click on and keep track of EVERYTHING! I set myself up as a client and I now know where my time goes. It might not be billable time, but I’m still being productive and it’s important to see that!

I hope you discovered something new and useful! Let me know what you think! Do you have a free resource that you swear by? I’d love to hear about it!

01/12/202101/17/2021

Quit calling yourself a freelancer

Should you call yourself a freelancer? There's probably a better term you could use!

I might be aging myself, but when I hear freelancer, I think hippie. Even now that I know I’m a freelancer, I still think it.🤷‍♀️

If you’re a freelancer, please don’t be mad! I’m a freelancer – it’s a stigma we need to get past!

Since people still think like I did (do?) we need to shift our mindset.

Bottom line: You need to quit calling yourself a freelancer!

What is a freelancer?

Let’s start here. What is a freelancer? A freelancer is someone who works for themself as an independent contractor.

Oftentimes, people go into freelance work for freedom and flexibility when it comes to the work they do. While that notion seems brilliant, sadly, one of the things commonly associated with “freelance” is inconsistent income, and presumably, a lack of business savvy. But that couldn’t be further from the truth!

My mindset story

I have always said that I became a virtual assistant when I SAID that I was a virtual assistant. It was my attitude. It was the perception that I conveyed when talking about my new endeavor.

Actually, I didn’t speak as though it was new. I spoke as though I was in the thick of it, when in fact I didn’t even have a client yet. But I had the experience, so I felt like I was doing it all along!

That was my mindset.

Change your mindset to change the perception

If the association with “freelance” is less than desirable, then don’t call yourself a freelancer.

A term I’ve recently been using is “independent contractor”. I feel like more people understand that means I work for myself. As in, I don’t have an employer. I like the connotation of that, and that’s just what I’ve found myself saying.

If I get into a discussion about what I actually do, that’s when I say that I’m a Virtual Assistant, which usually leads to describing what I do for my current clients.

So let’s find a better “name” for what I do. What do I do for my ideal client? Well, my favorite task is to respond to customer emails. I want to solve their problems!

What does that do for my clients? It provides a superior experience for their customers. Everyone wants to be heard – to receive a response. When customers are attended to, they feel important and that makes them happy.

And when customers are happy, they remain customers. And they refer their friends!

So what could I call this? A customer coordinator? Customer experience manager? In simple terms, I say that I manage their inboxes. 🤷‍♀️😂 While it’s true, if you were trying to find a better title, you might pick something like Customer Experience Manager.

Actually, I like that one!🤔 Oh! Customer Experience Expert! Yessss!!!

What other professionals have to say about mindset

Don’t take it just from me. I mean, anyone can write on the internet! 😂 Here is what some others have said about the topic…

I like how Borja Moya describes the freelancer mindset in this article. It basically says that you become a freelancer when you think about yourself and act as a professional. It’s your mindset that takes you to the next level.

Brennan Dunn of Double Your Freelancing advocates finding a better name to describe what you do. Brennan’s course, Double Your Freelancing Rate, revolves around a mindset shift that needs to take place so that you are properly valuing yourself and your services.

Go to his website and right off the bat you can get a FREE 9-day course tailored to you! Click the big blue button to get started!

Raelyn Tan is a list-building expert. On her website, she has online courses to help you build your email list. I love her List Building Incubator course, but scroll past that and you’ll find some free downloads! She calls herself a Profitable Visibility Specialist. Isn’t that a jazzy way to say, list-building expert?!

Does your degree or professional designation change anything?

Umm, I mean, sort of. And not necessarily. 🤷‍♀️

If you have some letters after your name, it’s a credibility that you earned and you should use that to tell people what you’ve accomplished! Realistically, they’ll figure it out if you’re legit or not.

Don’t be discouraged if you don’t have any letters! This is not to say that you need them to be a freelancer!

But definitely use your professional designations. People with letters after their name can usually command higher rates because of the perceived authority that comes with the education required to get those little letters!

Actually, I think this is a whole other conversation, so I’ll be circling back to it in the coming weeks: how to go from a professional employment career to a freelance/independent contractor gig.

Actionable activity

Grab a piece of paper, or open up a Google Doc. Describe what you do for your clients.

Don’t have any clients? What is it that you want to do for your ideal client? What have you done for clients or customers in the past (think past life, like employer situations)?

What outcome do they (or will they) experience as a result of working with you?

Try using short, bullet statements. Look through your bullet points and start combining words like I did above. “Customer Experience Manager”, “Customer Experience Expert”.

As you’re pulling together the different words, certain words will start to sound right. They’ll POP. Notice that I gravitated to Customer and Experience – these words were popping for me! But the 3rd word wasn’t exactly right.

Keep stringing the words together in a different order. Say them out loud. Hopefully, you have a big Ah-Ha moment like I did when you strike the right combination!

I would love to hear what you come up with!

I hope this article and the exercise help you to shift your mindset to a place of greater value and help you find a different way to describe yourself! Because what you do is surely valuable!

11/22/202005/20/2021

Should I start freelancing during the pandemic?

So you’re thinking about freelancing? In the midst of a pandemic, I’m not surprised! There are many reasons that people turn to freelancing. But should you start freelancing during the pandemic? The short answer (TLDR): yes!

Now I’ll explain.

But first, what is freelancing?

What is freelancing?

Freelancing is a non-traditional means of making money. It is non-traditional in the sense that it is not the typical means of employment. Freelancers are independent contractors. They are responsible for their own income reporting and taxes.

Why do people want to freelance?

So why would someone want to freelance? When you’re a freelancer, you’re your own boss. Who wouldn’t like that? Some people don’t work well without a boss telling them what to do. But if you’re a self-starter and don’t need someone micro-managing you, telling you when and how to do your job, then freelancing could be for you!

Freelancers set their own hours. They work from their own home office (or kitchen table). They can take time off as needed and don’t usually have to let anyone know about it.

Freelancers, like myself, are home and available to get the kids online for eLearning. I make sure my 4-year-old is paying attention to his teacher. When he’s done, I hop back online to work for my clients.

If you’re not convinced yet, here are some other pretty interesting statistics that might perk up your ears. According to this article on Websitebuilder.org, 25% of freelancers can find work within 1 day if needed. And in 2019, freelancing contributed $1 trillion to the US economy. WOW!

Should I start freelancing during the pandemic?

Should you start freelancing now, during the pandemic? Sure! It’s a sad fact that you may have to try. But let me tell you why that’s OK.

According to Market Watch, more than 22 million people lost their jobs in the first half of the year due to the Covid-19 pandemic that emerged in the US in March of 2020. I’m sorry if you or someone close to you is one of those statistics.

But it’s time to look forward! So…

How do you break into freelancing?

I think one of the hardest things about losing your job or getting into freelancing is explaining why you’ve come to the decision to start freelancing.

If you’re used to working in an office, you don’t realize how mainstream freelancing is in some circles. But I can see how someone might not want to tell their friends and former co-workers that they are now freelancing. It just sounds strange. Or does it?

Change your mindset. Now.

Say this out loud and take ownership of it: I decided to start (fill in the blank with your job or skill) as an independent contractor instead of an employee because (fill in the blank with your key reason for working for yourself).

Here’s what I would say: I decided to start doing marketing consulting as an independent contractor so I can be home and available for my kids when they’re little.

Now, you may have lost your job because of the pandemic and if you’re comfortable saying that, then by all means say that! But if you’re feeling down about it, like you didn’t have a choice, put a spin on it.

Find the reasons that freelancing is an advantage for you and say that you made this decision just in time. Or it was serendipity that you can now be a freelancer instead of an employee.

Say, “I had been thinking about going out on my own for some time. Now it’s a blessing to be home with my kids while they’re eLearning.”

I’m going out on my own

Undoubtedly, you’ve heard someone say, I’m going out on my own.

Anyone who says that is a freelancer! They may not consider themself a freelancer, but it’s essentially the same thing! They are an independent contractor.

True, that person going out on their own may eventually incorporate their business. But the beginning of the process is very similar.

If you’re not comfortable with the term freelancer, you can say it this way.

Examples of jobs you can do freelance

Let’s look at what you can do. Freelancers take a skill that they have and offer it “on the side”. If you find yourself without a job, you can take something that you did for your employer and offer it on a contractual basis to someone else similar to your former employer.

The examples are going to be endless, but I’ll start a list.

Bookkeeper
Content creator
Secretary
Scheduler
Calendar management
Appointment setter
Customer service
Designer
Developer
Programmer

I think you get the idea. Horkey Handbook has published a very long list to give you some ideas of things you can do as a virtual assistant. A virtual assistant is basically a freelancer.

How do you start getting jobs?

When you get in the groove and get comfortable with your new role as a freelancer, you’ll see opportunities. You’ll be prepared to talk about it – what you could do to solve someone’s problem. Or better yet, what you can do to increase their revenue.

But what about now? There are several job boards for freelancers. One that I’ve used with success is called Upwork. I don’t use it regularly now, but I probably have looked at it in the last year just to see what people are looking for.

If I suddenly lost all of my clients, I would look there to see if anything caught my attention. According to that article on Websitebuilder.org, freelancers earn over a billion dollars yearly on Upwork.

What’s next?

Well, I guess it depends on if you’re out of a job or if you’re just thinking about your options.

If you’re out of work, I would get signed up with Upwork immediately and start making offers! The site is pretty self-explanatory. Fill out everything as completely as possible. And start pitching!

If you’re looking at options for stay at homework, or to replace your day job, check out this list of services you can provide. You can get it in exchange for your email address. It’s totally worth it!

10/02/202012/13/2020

How to Start a Virtual Assistant Business

So you want to know how to start a virtual assistant business. My simple answer: SAY that you’re a virtual assistant. But follow this list and you can start TODAY!

Below is a list of the 5 key things you need to start a virtual assistant business.

You need a place to work

That’s easy! As an independent contractor, you can work anywhere! I have a small office in my house, but I’m sitting at the kitchen table as I write this post. Almost my entire last pregnancy was worked from the couch!

I have clients who regularly spend time at a coffee shop and another client who needs to go to the library when she wants a strong internet connection. So really – anywhere!

You need a computer to do the work

As an independent contractor, you are responsible for “outfitting” your own “office”. But if you already have a computer, you don’t need a new one! Just use what you have!

Honestly, though, with cloud access to so many things, you could work off of a computer at the library until you earn enough to get your own! Talk about bootstrapping!

You’ll need internet access

You have to be able to do the work and submit it virtually. I can’t think of any way to do this without access to the internet.

Does it need to be your own internet? Absolutely not! You can go to a library or coffee shop to access their internet.

Still in the days of COVID and you can’t sit in a coffee shop? Sit in your car in a parking lot where they have internet access – Starbucks, Mcdonald’s, etc.

Have you ever seen the Will Smith movie, The Pursuit of Happyness? Oh boy, I just cried watching the trailer! I think of that movie and I think that anyone can do anything if they really want to!

People can’t do something themselves, they wanna tell you you can’t do it. You want something, go get it. – Will Smith, The Pursuit of Happyness

You need clients

Tell everyone. Work it into conversations! The more you say it, the more you will believe it. And the more you believe it, the more it will be true!

I was recently interviewed in a podcast about becoming a VA and right around the 19:15 mark, I am asked about my first client. I go on in the interview to explain that my first client was my physical therapist and that it came about through simple conversation! You can listen to it via the link above or you can watch it on Youtube!

If you want more info about how to get clients, you might want to take a course. I suggest 30 Days or Less to VA Success. I’ll tell you more about it in a bit.

You’ll need a contract

Once you get your first client, what do you do next? You’ll need an Independent Contractor Service Agreement, or contract for short. I’m working on a template pack right now! At the time I’m writing this, you can actually pre-order it at a lower price!

So those are the 5 key things that I think you need to start a VA business.

Of course, there will be other things you’ll eventually need, but you don’t need them to get started. Someday you might want to make a website or make your business really legit by registering the name or creating an LLC.

You can learn more about these things and tactics for finding clients if you decide to take the 30 Days or Less to VA Success course.

I highly recommend taking any of Gina Horkey’s courses. Gina is the founder of Horkey Handbook. She’s an infinitely successful Virtual Assistant turned course developer who will help you set up your business to be a smashing success.

But don’t think for a minute that you have to take a course to get started! You can start your VA business for $12.99 – the cost of a contract template that you will use over and over!

08/21/202012/13/2020

Can you be a virtual assistant with kids?

Can you be a virtual assistant with kids at home? Absolutely! Even with small kiddos like mine! My kids are 6, 4, and less than 1 year. AND, we’ll be starting first grade and full-day pre-K next week from home! 🤣

I was choosing to keep the kids home this year. Thanks to Covid and the expectations to wear masks and social distance while in school, I just didn’t think that was realistic for our little ones. But after making my choice, our school district announced that we would ALL be e-Learning at least until mid-October.

Where did I learn to be a virtual assistant?

I guess I learned it over the years! My first job out of college was technical services – kind of like customer service but more technical in nature. I have taken several courses from Horkey Handbook, but what I really recommend is to get this list from them – it’s 150+ services you can offer as a VA. The list is free – just give your email in exchange for the list. Check it out and you’ll see that you already have services you could offer!

How do the kids affect my virtual assistant business?

I mean, it does affect my business a little bit. But it’s not going to be a huge burden. I am so blessed that I’m already working from home. And to top it off, I can set my own schedule. So my day will change a bit because of the e-Learning requirements, but honestly, I’m feeling pretty lucky!

What will our days look like?

The school day starts at 7:45 am and ends at 2:15 pm. Before I was pregnant with the baby, I would get up around 5:30 am when my husband leaves for work. I could get in a solid 2 hours of work before the kids even got up. It was awesome!

Now that we have the baby – who still doesn’t sleep through the night – I am sometimes up that early, but not consistently. But what I am hoping for is to get up early and get in even just 1 hour before the kids need to start school.

That one hour before school starts will be my bonus time! But I won’t bank on it. I will plan on starting my workday around 3 pm when the kids are done with school and I’m done feeding the baby. Because that still has to happen! 🍼

How do other virtual assistants fit their business into their day?

As many VA’s are getting started, many are still working full time while they slowly add clients to their roster. Many VA’s get up early and then work late at night after a full day of work and the family goes to bed.

Where will we all sit?

Sounds like a funny question, but I know you’re thinking it! I’ve been watching my friends post their school setups on Facebook for the past week. I don’t know if we have a good setup, but I’m giving it a shot!

We’re all going to sit at the kitchen table. Our kitchen and living room all blend into one space. I have a small office, but I’ve been at the kitchen table since the baby was born. I need to be right in the room with everyone so I can keep my eagle eye on the baby and the other kids!

We also have a playroom that I thought about setting up like a school, but decided against it since that would require a table or desks. Plus since they’re so young, they’ll need my help for almost the whole day, so I decided on the kitchen table.

Staying organized is key!

I’m adding a small cubbie shelving unit next to the table so I can keep our stuff off of the table while school is not in session!🤣 I got something to match the other shelving unit we already have in the living room. My husband makes fun of my shelves. I love my shelves!

I think being organized is a very big part of working from home and now schooling from home too! If you are organized, both physically and digitally, you will spend less time prepping and more time working.

One of the things that keeps me organized digitally is Trello. I’m a big fan. And Client Portal. In fact, I have a discount code you can use for Client Portal. Use CARRIESdiscount at checkout to get 10% off! You can see more about Client Portal in this article I wrote.

Summary

Yes, you can totally be a virtual assistant with kids at home!! Actually, I recommend it! Unlike another job that you have to work specific hours, you’ll be free to set your schedule and work the hours that are best for you and your family!

Thanks for checking out my blog and seeing what I have to say about being a virtual assistant! Join my email list to stay in the know about virtual assisting!

08/14/202012/13/2020

Can you work from home as a Virtual Assistant

Are you currently a stay at home mom? Well, you’re already in the right place! But joking aside… that’s basically what I am! In my article on my pet project mommy blog, I talked about my schedule in this short post.

But you’re here because you want to know: Can you work from home as a virtual assistant. The simple answer is yes. YES! Yes, you can!

Do you have to work from home to be a virtual assistant?

No, you can work from a coffee shop (if we were sitting in coffee shops these days, thanks COVID). I used to go to our local library to get some focused time.

It might depend on your reason for wanting to be a virtual assistant. I started out wanting to be a VA because I wanted to be home with my kids. So why would I leave the house to be a VA if I wanted to be at home?

Simple: I AM home with my kids. Sometimes, when my husband gets home from work, I need to put in some time, so I go somewhere quiet. But the point is that I AM HOME when my kids need me.

If my kids are sick, I’m home with them. If it’s a snow day, I’m home. Doctor’s appointments, no problem!

How do you start working as a virtual assistant?

Here’s how it might look:

You will meet a potential client online, possibly from an ad on LinkedIn. Or you’ll see an acquaintance post something on Facebook stating that they need help with something.
If you know how to do the thing they need help with, you reach out to them, electronically, through the same platform you heard of their need.
You’ll go back and forth with a discussion, possibly do a zoom meeting.
Together you will define your scope of services.
You write up the appropriate and necessary contract. (here are my contracts)
You’ll start working.

Is that simplified? Overly! But you should get the idea. You CAN work from home as a virtual assistant! Check out this list from Horkey Handbook. It’s 150+ services you can offer as a virtual assistant.

What do you need to be a virtual assistant?

There’s not much that you really need to be a VA. You’ll need a computer and internet access. Even a phone could be considered optional. Personally, I text with my clients for quick questions, but otherwise, everything is done by email. I do virtual “calls” as one of my tasks for a client and those “calls” are through the computer. So again, only my computer is needed.

You also need to have contracts with your clients. Any legit business person will want to have a contract and will understand that you want one too. I have a contract template as part of my Asset Pack.

Do I need to have a website to be a virtual assistant?

Do you need to have a website? Nope. I started one right away because I wanted to learn WordPress. But it’s not necessary to get started as a VA. A simple Facebook Page would suffice.

Do I need to take a course to be a virtual assistant?

IF you wanted to take a course to start your journey as a virtual assistant, this is the course I recommend – 30 Days or Less to VA Success, by Horkey Handbook. Is it necessary? Not at all!

Technically, I started as a virtual assistant before I even knew what it was! I was responding to emails for a friend. Then I saw an ad for the Horkey Handbook 30 Days or Less to VA Success course and I took the course to find out what else I could do as a VA and to walk me through setting up my business.

I mean, do I recommend it? Absolutely! But it’s NOT necessary. Find something on the 150+ list of VA services that you can do and just get started! When you start getting paid, you can set some money aside to use for development.

I hope this article helps you see that you CAN work from home as a virtual assistant! While you’re here, look around my website and remember to join my email list!

08/05/202012/13/2020

What does it take to be a virtual assistant

If you hadn’t thought about being a virtual assistant in the past, there’s a chance you’ve thought about that or another virtual job in the past few months. Covid-19 hit the US in March and according to this article published by Pew Research Center, unemployment rates have risen higher in three months than they did in the two years of the Great Depression.

Odds are, you’re looking for options that will allow you to work from home. And if you’re reading this, you wonder if you have what it takes to be a virtual assistant.

My guess is that you do! First I’m going to answer some common questions about Virtual Assisting. Then we’ll look at some of what it takes to be a VA.

How am I qualified to determine if you’ve got what it takes?

I’ve been a virtual assistant, or VA for short, for about 5 years now. I get confused about how long since I was working virtually before I called myself a VA. But I can estimate that it’s about one year less than my daughter’s age since I started after she was born.

I’ve taken several courses over the years to help me up my game as a VA. I love the courses from Horkey Handbook. This is actually the course that got me started. It’s just from experience, I have a pretty good idea of what it takes!

But it’s not up to me to “determine” if you’ve got what it takes. YOU need to make that determination. And really, a lot of it comes down to your belief in yourself, your skills, and your ability to learn and grow.

What is a Virtual Assistant?

A virtual assistant is an independent contractor who works independently for a small business owner. Usually, the business owner needs some sort of help with their business, but they don’t have the need for a full-time employee.

Sometimes, a Virtual Assistant knows how to do something that the small business owner doesn’t know how to do. So you would bring your expertise to the table. But not always, so don’t get hung up on knowing something special.

What do Virtual Assistants do?

VA’s do many different things for their clients. I have done the following things for clients.

Email management
Content creation
Website updates
Social media
CRM support
Customer service
Database creation

But what if you don’t know anything “special?” Don’t worry about it – you WILL learn new things as you go! I bet there are several things that you can do that you would never think of. Here’s a list of 150+ VA services you could offer.

What are the hours for a Virtual Assistant?

Your hours will vary depending on a lot of things. Your client may need work to be done at a specific time. For email management, it is common that you will log in twice a day to check emails. Maybe you will do this at a specific time, maybe not. It all depends on your client and the expectations that you set when you start working for them.

The nice thing about website updates and content creation is that you can usually do it at any time, day or night. So if you’re watching your kids during the day, maybe doing homeschooling or other “kid” activities, you can work in the evening and later after you put your kids to bed.

I talk about my schedule in this short post. I can tell you, one of my favorite things about being a VA is being in control of my schedule!

Do you have what it takes to be a Virtual Assistant?

What have you decided at this point? Do you think you have what it takes to be a VA?

I have a variety of resources I’d like to share with you. One is my Asset Pack. This is a pack of documents and such that you will need as you get started as a Virtual Assistant. This Asset Pack is starting off with 2 contracts. As I add more documents, you’ll get all the updates for free! You can check it out here!

I also have an application to be a VA – if you want to get started as a VA but don’t know where to begin, check out my application. I am always looking for the right people to work with!

Last, I’d love to hear if you think you have what it takes to be a VA!