The Ridiculously Good Virtual Assistant Show

When you're running a virtual assistant business, there are times when everything seems to be going along just fine. Your clients are happy, your schedule is reasonably full, and you're bringing in the income you expected or planned, anyway.

You have a good routine, you know what you're doing, and you feel pretty good about where your business is headed.

Then something changes.

A client cuts back on their hours. Someone decides to bring their work in-house. A contract comes to an end, or a client you've worked with for years suddenly tells you they no longer need your services.

Maybe you've had a couple of clients leave within a short period of time, and now you're looking at your calendar wondering where your next paycheque is going to come from.

It's a crappy feeling, especially when you depend on the money you earn in your VA business to contribute to your household income.

In this episode and the next one, we will be covering 10 things that you can do to find new clients fast - and how you can use these items to plan for future client changes too.

We can't predict the future, but we can guide it in a smart way when we have a plan – and when we take steps every day to move towards the goal we want.

That's what I'm here for. To help you get there. To help you become a ridiculously good virtual assistant.

If you need help finding clients (especially if you need them fast!), you need to reach out to me – you can find me on social media, or go to YourVAMentor.com/links to find out how to connect with me and work with me.

Developing relationships, maintaining visibility, creating a more balanced client roster, and establishing habits that help you find new opportunities before you desperately need them is the smart way to stay in business.

If you aren't there right now, that's okay. You can build it. Right now, there are lots of things you can do to find a new client if you need one.

Don't miss next week's episode when we do the second half of this list! I'll see you then!

When you hear the word networking, you might picture a business event where everyone is walking around with business cards, trying to figure out who might become a client.

You also might be thinking, "But what if nobody there needs a VA?"

That's actually the main point I want to talk about today.

Because networking isn't necessarily about finding someone who needs a VA right now.

In fact, one of the best networking conversations you can have might be with someone who never becomes your client.

It's simple – talk to people. Be genuinely interested in them.

And a sidenote – you will meet people at networking events that are not a good fit. Just end the conversation and move along to someone else. You don't have to stay in a conversation that is a waste of your time. I've also done that, maybe I'll do an episode on that soon – oh my gosh!

Anyway let people get to know you. Stay connected with them afterward if you think there was a good connection there. Be helpful, always. And don't expect every conversation to turn into business right away. Because sometimes the conversation that seems completely ordinary at the time becomes the conversation that leads to your next client.

It's a process, and it's a fun one when you do it the right way.

If you need help practicing your networking or getting better at it (you really need to master this in your VA business!), be sure to connect with me at YourVAMentor.com/links. Or reach out to me by DM on social media – I'd be happy to help!

It's the only reason I'm here at all, to help you become a ridiculously good virtual assistant – right?

That is all I've got for you this week – I'm Tracey D'Aviero, the Confidence Coach for Virtual Assistants, and I'm so grateful that you tuned in this week. I'll see you next time!

You probably know that you need to market your VA business, and you might even know that people need to know what you do before they can hire you, but actually talking about yourself and your services can feel uncomfortable.

Why is this? What is it that makes us back away from self-promotion?

Maybe you worry about sounding like you're bragging. Maybe you don't want to constantly be telling people to hire you. Or maybe you have posted about your services a few times, didn't get any response, and started wondering whether anyone is actually paying attention.

And then there is that phrase I hear all the time: "I don't want to be salesy."

I completely understand that. Most people don't start a virtual assistant business because they want to become a salesperson. You started because you have skills you want to use, you want more flexibility, you want to work from home, or you want to build a business that fits better into your life. Learning how to sell yourself probably wasn't the thing you were most excited about.

But you need to tell people about your business if you are ever going to get clients.

So I want to look at self-promotion a little differently today because the answer is not becoming better at selling yourself. It's about becoming more comfortable being visible.

You don't need to become someone who is constantly selling. You just need to be someone who tells those stories. Because I guarantee you there is someone out there who needs exactly what you offer. They just haven't heard your story yet.

If you want some help pulling your messaging and your stories together, I can help. It's the only reason I'm here at all, to help you become a ridiculously good virtual assistant.

Go to YourVAMentor.com/links to connect with me and let's have a chat about how I can help. No strings attached, No selling. Just a conversation.

That's all I've got for you this week, I'll see you next time!

Mindset isn't just some fluffy concept reserved for self-help books and vision boards. It's the foundation of your business. Your beliefs, your self-talk, your expectations. These are the things that shape your actions every single day. And the actions you take determine the results you get.

In this episode, I want to talk about the one mindset shift that I believe every VA needs to make in order to grow a truly successful business. Not just a side hustle. Not just a bit of extra income. But a sustainable, fulfilling, well-paying VA business that you're proud to run.

To make any changes in your business, you have to take steps forward.

You can do it yourself, or you can do it with help. One of my colleagues always says something like we pay to take the faster path. I'm butchering her very eloquent message, but you get the point. Investing in help means you get to where you want to go faster.

Often because the person you are working with has the strategy, but also because they are supporting you all the way.

Taking steps you have never taken before can be challenging, and your mindset can make you move forward at a snail's pace.

If you want some help, I'm here for you.

It's the only reason I'm here at all, to help you become a ridiculously good virtual assistant.

If this episode resonated with you, this is the exact kind of work we do in my coaching programs. I help VAs just like you shift into that confident business owner mindset, and combine that with practical strategies to attract clients, price your services, and grow sustainably. If that's something you know you need, reach out to me. I'd love to support you.

You can find me at YourVAMentor.com/links. You can book a complimentary Cut to the Chase call with me or we can get you into some private coaching to move quickly.

Remember, you don't have to wait until you feel confident to act like a business owner. Confidence comes from taking action. From showing up. From deciding that you're done playing small.

Let's circle back to today's quote: Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right. Love this one!

The shift starts with a choice. And you get to make that choice today.

That's all I've got for you this week. Thanks so much for tuning in. I'll see you next time!

If you are asking yourself, I am so busy with VA work, I feel like I'm running to catch up all the time? you are in the right place.

Mastering time management is far and away one of the best things you can learn to do as a VA. If you are struggling with it, grab a coffee and settle in.

The quote for today I think is especially relevant when we talk about time management: "Until we can manage time, we can manage nothing else."

And I think that is particularly true when you run a virtual assistant business.

Because when you work for yourself, there is no one standing over your shoulder telling you what needs to be done next. There is no manager handing you a schedule. There isn't necessarily a set time when your workday begins and ends.

That freedom is one of the best things about being a VA. It can also be one of the most challenging.

I always say that when you are a VA time is money – it is your time, and your client's money. So it really is kind of more important than just time management when you think about it, because it doesn't just affect you – it affects them.

As a VA, you suddenly have client work, emails, messages, meetings, bookkeeping, marketing, social media, proposals, networking, professional development, your own business administration, and probably a whole list of things you would like to get done soon, someday, or farther in the future.

Your time has to be split up between your family, your home, appointments, errands, dinner, maybe kids, maybe pets, maybe a million other things that have absolutely nothing to do with your VA business but still need your attention.

Today I want to talk about how to manage your time like a pro as a busy VA.

And when I say "like a pro," I don't mean that you need to become obsessed with productivity or squeeze every possible minute out of your day. That would probably make things worse, to be honest.

What I mean is knowing what deserves your time, protecting that time, and making intentional decisions about what you are not going to spend your time doing. It's a much different approach.

Master your time management and you will be managing your business, and your life better.

If you need help figuring that out, get in touch with me. You can find me at YourVAMentor.com/links.

I'd love to help you become a ridiculously good virtual assistant.

Time management is one of the BEST things you can get better at. Time IS money and when you master is, you will wonder how you ever did things any other way.

That's all I've got for you this week.

Thanks so much for tuning in – I will see you next time!

If you are a new virtual assistant and you are sitting there wondering, "Okay, but how do I actually get my first client?" this episode is for you. I'm so glad you found me!

Today I want to talk about how to get your first (or next!) VA client, even if you have no idea how.

Here is usually what happens.

You decide you want to become a VA. Maybe you take a course. Maybe you took my Getting Started as a VA course!

You start researching services. You set up your business. You create a website. You make a social media account. You spend a huge (probably embarassing) amount of time choosing fonts and colours.

And then eventually you look at your beautiful new business and think, "Okay... now what?"

How do I actually get somebody to pay me?

And that is where a lot of new VAs get stuck.

Not because they are incapable of getting clients. Not because there are no clients out there. And not because they need another six months of training.

They are stuck because nobody has really explained what getting your first client actually looks like.

There is no magical button that says "find me a client."

There is no secret website where all of the business owners who need a VA are waiting for you to arrive.

And you certainly do not need to have your entire business figured out before you start.

In fact, one of the biggest mistakes I see new VAs make is believing they need to know exactly what they are doing before they can start looking for that first client.

You don't.

You need to know enough to help someone with something they actually need help with.

That's a very different thing.

So today I want to walk you through how you can start looking for your first VA client, even if you feel like you have absolutely no idea what you are doing.

Trying to find a client, whether it's your first or next, is about taking action right now, with what you have and where you are.

You don't need to become someone else, you don't need to learn anything new, you just need to start those conversations.

Talk to people about what they need, and let them know if you can help.

If you need help figuring out how to begin those conversations, reach out to me.

You can find me at YourVAMentor.com/links.

That's all I've got for you this week, thank you so much for tuning in. I'll see you next time!

So we started with a quote from Peter Pan today but I thought it was just fitting for the topic.

No, Peter Pan wasn't talking about building a virtual assistant business when he said that, but I think sometimes the biggest thing standing between you and the next level in your business isn't a lack of skill. It isn't a lack of experience, or even a lack of clients.

Sometimes, it is just the story you're telling yourself about whether you are good enough to be there. I see this happening all the time with VAs.

And if you've ever thought things like, "Who am I to charge that much?" or "There are so many VAs who are better than me," or "I don't think I'm ready for that client," or "What if they hire me and then realize I don't actually know what I'm doing?", then today's episode is for you.

We're talking about imposter syndrome.

I know I talk about this often, but it's because I had yet another conversation with a VA just last week about this same topic. It comes up so often I need to make sure that I'm helping you through it.

More specifically, today I want to talk about how to recognize when imposter syndrome is showing up in your business, how to identify when it is actually a confidence problem (and when it's not), and most importantly, how to keep moving forward when your brain is telling you that you're not ready.

Feeling like an imposter doesn't mean you actually are one. It is very important to make that distinction.

Here's what I want to leave you with today:

You can not be the finished version of yourself where you are in your business. You can only be where you are.

You are allowed to learn, to make mistakes and to not know something. You are allowed to ask questions.

You are allowed to charge appropriately for your service offerings. You are allowed to call yourself an expert, a professional.

You are allowed to want more.

And you are definitely allowed to feel nervous doing all of this.

It doesn't mean you shouldn't do it. It doesn't mean you aren't capable.

Feeling like an imposter doesn't make you an imposter.

It just means you are moving outside of your comfort zone – which is where the growth happens!

All you need to do is to take the next step. Not the next 10, just the next 1!

Step by step, that's the way you walk forward.

If you need help telling your brain that you can fly, reach out to chat with me. I'm here to help.

It's the only reason I'm here at all is to help you become a ridiculously good virtual assistant.

Go to YourVAMentor.com/links to find out how to connect with me and work with me.

I look forward to chatting with you!

That's all I've got for you this week, I'll see you next time!

Today's episode is a little about me, and a little about you! We are talking about being authentically you in your business – and therefore in your marketing (so that people can get to know you!)

Last month I had coffee with two people who had a huge impact on my business many years ago.

They were Paige Stapleton and Brian Stark, my very first business coaches, and their brand when we worked together was Authentic Marketing.

I learned a lot about it – and it has stuck with me ever since.

Marketing is not about pretending to be someone you're not. It's about being you. And when I had coffee with them again after so many years, it drove home a reminder for me – that so many VAs are still making marketing so much harder than it needs to be.

Marketing doesn't have to feel fake. It doesn't have to feel salesy. It doesn't have to make you feel uncomfortable. The most powerful marketing you'll ever create is simply letting people get to know the real you.

Authentically you!

It's not about posting, it's not about marketing, it's about being noticed and remembered.

When you change your goal to that, everything works better.

If you need help with your marketing, your messaging, or getting clients, be sure to reach out to connect with me wherever you are online.

You can find me at YourVAMentor.com/links.

That's all I've got for you this week! I'll see you next time!

Today I want to talk about marketing.

VAs tell me, "I know I should be marketing my business... I just don't know what to post."

Business owners tell me that too!

If you've ever said that, it's not just you. It's a big reason that business owners - and definitely VAs - stay inconsistent and invisible on social media.

They sit down, open Facebook or LinkedIn, stare at the screen for a few minutes, can't think of anything brilliant to say... and close the app.

Or worse they sit there for an hour and waste their time, still not really posting anything that will work for them.

They promise themselves they'll do it tomorrow. Tomorrow becomes next week. Next week becomes next month. Before they know it, they've practically disappeared.

And then what happens? They panic because they don't have clients!

They know they have to do marketing, so they spend an entire Sunday trying to create content, update their profile, redesign their graphics, and suddenly become visible again.

Guess what? Marketing doesn't work well when it's something you only do when business is quiet.

It works when you make it a habit. When you take daily actions.

If you need help figuring out your daily actions, reach out to me.

Maybe you can jump in to our Get Your First (Or Next!) Great Client live workshop! It's taking place on August 19th and you can register at the early bird price of just $50 right now!

Check it out at https://YourVAMentor.com/first-or-next

Stop struggling, just learn what you need to do to start connecting with your best clients - and start signing them!

That's all I've got for you this week, I'll see you next time!

Today we are talking about package pricing.

Packages can completely change your VA business - your confidence, and even the type of clients you attract.

Now, if you've been following me for any length of time, you'll know I'm a huge believer in charging by the package instead of by the hour. It's one of those mindset shifts that can feel scary, but once you make the transition, it's very hard to imagine going back.

When most VAs think about package pricing, they only think about how it benefits them. They think about making more money, avoiding timesheets, or not feeling guilty when they work efficiently.

Those are all great reasons.

But today I want to flip the conversation around.

Let's talk about why your clients actually benefit from working with a VA who charges by the package.

Because when you understand the client's perspective, selling packages becomes a whole lot easier.

At the end of the day, package pricing isn't about charging more. It's about creating clarity for everyone. Clients just want their problems solved, their work completed, by someone they trust.

If you need help creating your packages, go to YourVAMentor.com/links to see how we can work together. I'd love to help you make this change to your VA business!

That's all I've got for you today - thanks so much for tuning in! I'll see you next time!