The Evolution of a Virtual Assistant

The Evolution of a Virtual Assistant entreprenuer

By Betsy Nixon

www.myonlinesecretary.net



When I got laid off (again), I decided that I would take my income into my own hands and started up a virtual assistant company. I had the expertise to provide a wide array of services. I figured I would contact previous employers, family members, friends and local businesses. In my mind, it made sense for all of these people to use my services as needed. What I discovered is that most people do not know what a virtual assistant is. When I tell people what I do, the most common response is, "I’ve heard of virtual reality, but virtual assistant? What is that?" I realized I had to realign my marketing campaign.



A couple of months later I saw an ad on craigslist for an executive assistant. The company specialized in purchasing foreclosed properties. I met with the company president and explained that, being a business owner myself, he did not need to "hire" me, thereby cutting down on his overhead costs. He was skeptical at first about the virtual setting and insisted that we meet in person once a week. The weekly meetings lasted 6 weeks. He could see that the quality of my work was exceptional, I was organized and dependable, and provided the requested work within required timeframes. Over a year later and we’re still working together.



I hoped the company president would refer me to his business cohorts and increase my client base quickly. He did send a few emails, but to no avail. During this time I thought of a marketing tactic I hadn’t tried. I created a series of newsletters and sent them out to all the Chamber of Commerce members in the area. Unfortunately, that resulted in zero new clients. Not giving into frustration, I contacted old employers again. After hearing that I had been in business for almost a year, two of them asked for my assistance. One needed a couple of business and operations plans written, the other needed database management and newsletters. All together I had created 20 – 25 hours per week of work. I would like to say that I can comfortably live on a part time income, but that is not the case. Time for another marketing tactic.



I heard of an opportunity to work with a media company on a new website. I figured I could add to my existing skills and have something in the end to add to my portfolio. The experience was amazing and I was even able to bill out for my time. Unfortunately, the client never paid me. He had his website up and was not concerned about the invoices I sent him. For awhile I was very frustrated with the refusal to pay. Now I view it as an internship of sorts. The knowledge I gained is instrumental in the future of my business, so the loss of the money is minimized. That experience did, however, make me realize that I need a contract for the client to sign. I studied many different contracts online and crafted my own. The contract is posted on my website www.myonlinesecretary.net for all future clients.



One of my current marketing tactics is to respond to job postings on sites like elance.com. These are people who understand the idea of a "virtual assistant". The one drawback is that the sites I have found are worldwide and a virtual assistant from Bangladesh can charge significantly less than I can due to the lower cost of living. Nevertheless, I scan the sites everyday for opportunities.



As every business owner must, I will continue to revise my marketing campaigns and expand my knowledge base. Working for myself does require dedication, long hours and a bit of stress, but in the end I believe it will be perfect. Perhaps one day I can purchase a building in my small town and put a sign on top that reads "My Online Secretary"



*Betsy Nixon is the sole proprietor of My Online Secretary, created in 2010. She lives in a small town in the Northwest.