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Itâs a cold hard fact that people do business with people, and this couldnât be any more true than inside the virtual assistant industry.
The quicker you can build the know, like and trust factor online the quicker youâll become fully booked with a steady stream of leads knocking at your door.
And the best strategy to achieve this fast is being the face of your business.
The worst strategy to achieve this is hiding behind your business name and logo.
But we get that this is easier said than done for a lot of virtual assistants more comfortable in behind the scenes roles.
This episode is for all the aspiring and established virtual assistants who'd rather make a thousand cold calls than show their face online.
Youâll learn:
The most common reasons youâre reluctant to be the face of your business.Why your lack of confidence on camera is holding your business back.The reframe you need to make in order to feel the fear and do it anyway!Sub-Contractor, Freelancer or Agency Owner?
Your perfect virtual assistant pathway is just minutes away! Take the quiz here.
Sam + Jo xo
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Last year we released the Whatâs Your VA Pathway Quiz to help guide aspiring virtual assistants to find their perfect pathway to success.
Those that take the quiz get one of four results: Sub-contractor, Freelancer, Agency Owner, and âŠ. Not Ready.
Every time someone receives the ânot readyâ result a little part of us dies.
We know seeing these two words pop up on the screen is disappointing for some who receive it, and for others it reinforces what they already know.
But just because you may not be ready right NOW, doesnât mean your journey is over!
In this episode youâll learn:
The 3 reasons you will have received this result.Why this result doesnât mean you should give up.What you can do now to prepare for success in the VA space.Sub-Contractor, Freelancer or Agency Owner?
Your perfect virtual assistant pathway is just minutes away! Take the quiz here.
Sam + Jo xo
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Manglende episoder?
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The knock-on effect of the introduction of AI is HUGE. No one is immune â least of all virtual assistants.
We may not have a crystal ball that will predict the future (wouldnât that be nice!), but we do have a decade plus of industry knowledge and hundreds of hours of research, testing and speaking with other experts in our greater network under our belt.
All of which has culminated in us being able to confidently predict how the VA space will look in the future âthanksâ to AI.
Look, itâs not all doom and gloom! In fact, we believe there are some incredible opportunities for virtual assistants ready to embrace AI in order to stay relevant!
Being the first coaches in the industry to talk about the future of VAs in an AI world is a responsibility we donât take lightly. And finding the balance between sharing our knowledge so you can start prepping without freaking you out can be challenging.
But when have you ever known us to shy away from speaking out and telling it like it is? đ
In this episode youâll learn:
Our predictions of how AI will change the VA industry.What VAs need to do in order to stay relevant and future proof their businesses.Why AI doesn't have to be the 'villain' in our story.Register for the next FREE 'Future-Proof Your VA Business in An AI World' Webinar here.
Get The AI Survival Kit here.
Sam + Jo xo
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Do you pay your friends to hang out with you?
Do you expect your friends sign contracts before hanging out with you?
No?
Then why are you treating your clients like friends?
It's only natural you'll get close to certain clients, especially the long-term ones who you feel comfortable having a laugh, coffee or a cheeky wine with.
But when the lines start blurring between professional and personal, when you start questioning whether or not you should put your timer on, and when you can no longer decided whether to introduce this person as a client or a friend ⊠well thatâs when things can get tricky.
You may assume that this type of close-knit VA/client relationship is one to celebrate. Weâre here to tell you that in most cases itâs one to avoid and that having defined, professional boundaries will protect you BOTH.
In this episode youâll learn:
The VAs most at risk for allowing/encouraging the lines to blur.The unexpected consequences of treating your clients like friends.How to be friendly but not friends with clients.Sub-Contractor, Freelancer or Agency Owner?
Your perfect virtual assistant pathway is just minutes away! Take the quiz here.
Sam + Jo xo
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Shouldering the responsibility of running a business, wearing all the hats and knowing the buck is always going to stop at you can feel heavy.
So heavy that it often puts aspiring VAs off from moving from lurker to launcher.
Too heavy some days that even well-established virtual assistants feel the temptation of bringing on a partner to lessen the load.
On paper, who wouldnât want to go into business with a ride-or-die biz bestie who will always have your back?
Imagine having someone at your side to bounce around ideas, keep you motivated & inspired, do all the things you aren't great at, and who is as excited and committed to the business as you are!
Sounds like a bloody dream ... right?
For anyone considering entering a business partnership, we urge you to listen to this episode first.
Youâll learn:
The conversations you must have before going into business with someone.The alternatives that will provide you with what you are seeking.The parts of Joâs failed business partnership youâve never heard.Sub-Contractor, Freelancer or Agency Owner?
Your perfect virtual assistant pathway is just minutes away! Take the quiz here.
Sam + Jo xo
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Itâs real talk time!
Yessiree, itâs time to share some of our biggest biz âicksâ as virtual assistant coaches, mentors and business owners.
Some of these icks are instant turn-offs; our personal deal breakers. Others however arenât as black and white as we initially thought they'd be prior to hitting record.
But whether you agree with our Ick List or not, thereâs no shying away from the fact that if they are on our ick radar, then some will also be your potential clientsâ icks too.
In this episode youâll learn:
The icks that have some potential clients running for the hills.The two icks that will offend you.Joâs unexpected ick that had Sam SHOOK!Sub-Contractor, Freelancer or Agency Owner?
Your perfect virtual assistant pathway is just minutes away! Take the quiz here.
Sam + Jo xo
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Some days social media seems like one massive highlight reel of gorgeous influencer-esq biz owners, working part-time hours from their spotless all-white WFH offices, who in their spare time enjoy baking with their well behaved cute AF children and make money while sleeping soundly in their super king sized beds alongside their super king sized partners đ
And you know what they say about highlight reels?
Theyâre a bunch of baloney, that's what! They only showcase one side of a much bigger, more complex story.
We reckon itâs time for us all to get comfortable sharing the lows as much as the highs. âCos this is real life and real life is not always sunshine and rainbows.
So itâs time to share some not so bright and shiny things about us.
In this episode youâll learn:
The online content that makes us feel like shit.How to not get sucked in by big numbers and big results.Our most recent failures and facepalms đ€Šââïžđ€ŠSub-Contractor, Freelancer or Agency Owner?
Your perfect virtual assistant pathway is just minutes away! Take the quiz here.
Sam + Jo xo
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We want to preface this episode by apologising to our American listenersđ
Itâs time to talk all things ⊠stock photos. In particular:
Why we hate them.Why your leads are being put off by them.The only time you can get away with using them.What you can use instead of them.The things to look out for if you have no other choice but to use them.It may seem like a funny thing for us to get our knickers in a knot about, but if you only knew how many leads youâre losing cos youâre hiding behind cheesy, off brand, boring, unauthentic stock photos đ
Sub-Contractor, Freelancer or Agency Owner?
Your perfect virtual assistant pathway is just minutes away! Take the quiz here.
Sam + Jo xo
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Dude! There is no âeasierâ.
Thereâs also no âquickerâ, âfasterâ or âbetterâ (in case you were wondering that too).
Every aspiring virtual assistant is different.
You have different skills, experience, personality types, available working hours and financial responsibilities.
So instead of asking us which pathway is easier, ask yourself which are you better suited to?
And if you donât know, then weâve made it SUPER easy for you to find out!
In this episode youâll learn:
The differences between being a sub-contractor and being a freelancer.The pros and cons of both sub-contractor and freelancer pathways.Why you may assume the sub-contractor route is easier and quicker.How to find out which pathway youâre best suited to.Sub-Contractor, Freelancer or Agency Owner?
Your perfect virtual assistant pathway is just minutes away! Take the quiz here.
Sam + Jo xo
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On paper your business looks great! Youâre fully booked (or close to it), your bank balance isnât looking too shabby and you may even be growing a team âŠ
Itâs easy from the outside looking in for other virtual assistants to assume youâre successful, on top of things and freaking loving life!
But the reality couldnât be further from the truth.
The reality is that you really want to love your business, but youâve found yourself working ALL the hours, your mental and physical health is suffering, youâre finding it difficult to maintain boundaries and you may have even started to resent some of your more âdifficultâ clients.
It's a situation we're all too familiar with, so weâre here to tell you how you got yourself in this situation (cos yeah, this one's on you) and the exact steps you need to take to turn things around.
In this episode youâll learn:
What to look at in your business in order to fall back in love with it.Why itâs the people-pleasing VAs amongst us that find themselves in this situation.Why gold plating is costing you money.The boundaries to hold and courageous conversations needed to maintain your health.Sub-Contractor, Freelancer or Agency Owner?
Your perfect virtual assistant pathway is just minutes away! Take the quiz here.
Sam + Jo xo
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Hey there VA Agency ownersđ
Have you ever considered incentivising your team members with fixed fees instead of hourly rates?
There are so many benefits to both you and your team member that it Just. Makes. Sense!
But there are some clear dos and do nots to making it work well so that everyone involved is as happy as Ken hanging out in his Mojo Dojo Casa House.
In this episode youâll learn:
The benefits of fixed fees for you AND your sub-contractor.How fixed fees can work for client facing AND non-client facing sub-contractors.When fixed fees DONâT work.Sub-Contractor, Freelancer or Agency Owner?
Your perfect virtual assistant pathway is just minutes away! Take the quiz here.
Sam + Jo xo
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There are a few pathway options aspiring virtual assistants can take, one of which is very uncommon.
Why?
Because skipping straight to âAgency Ownerâ is not for the faint hearted, and youâll need a very particular set of skills, skills that you will have acquired over time in your corporate 9-5.
In this episode youâll learn:
Who can skip straight to âAgency Ownerâ.What your role would look like as an âAgency Ownerâ.What you need in place if youâre thinking about skipping straight to âAgency Ownerâ.What can go wrong when skipping straight to âAgency Ownerâ.Sub-Contractor, Freelancer or Agency Owner?
Your perfect virtual assistant pathway is just minutes away! Take the quiz here.
Sam + Jo xo
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We're officially dedicating this episode to all the admin superstars out there wondering whether their skills and experience are enough to move into the VA space.
Spoiler alert: WEâRE 99% SURE THEY ARE!
In this episode youâll learn:
Why downplaying your skills & experience as an admin support is doing you a disservice.The transferable skills that will make you a standout, in-demand VA.To celebrate your generalist VA status â cos niching isnât for everyone straight off the bat.How you can âsellâ your admin skills and experiences to potential clients.Sub-Contractor, Freelancer or Agency Owner?
Your perfect virtual assistant pathway is just minutes away! Take the quiz here.
Sam + Jo xo
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What are you putting up with?
Is your chair as wonky as Samâs? Is the copy on your website not converting leads to clients? Maybe youâve got an underperforming team member youâve been avoiding having to deal with?
It's time to say goodbye to not only those niggly little daily annoyances, but also the elephant in the room issues that can no longer be avoided.
'Cos the start of a new year is a great time to identify where youâre going to put your energy in to make substantial changes in your business!
In this episode youâll learn:
The reason youâve been putting up with shitty equipment, tools, clients and team members.How to plan for upgrades in your business.Why avoiding tough conversations is harming your business.Sub-Contractor, Freelancer or Agency Owner?
Your perfect virtual assistant pathway is just minutes away! Take the quiz here.
Sam + Jo xo
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âBut itâs just so hard for VAs right now!â
âMan, itâs really tough finding clients â no one is hiring!â
âItâs a slow time of year for sureâ.
NOPE! Stop it!
Itâs cold hard truth time lovelies.
Itâs NOT slow. Clients ARE hiring. We know first-hand this to be true. Weâve got evidence to back this up.
So enough of the excuses.
If youâre finding it hard right now, itâs certainly not due to the lack of clients looking to outsource.
In this episode youâll learn:
Why itâs easy to use all the reasons under the sun as to why you arenât fully booked.What you can do to turn things around.Why this time of year is often the BUSIEST for successful virtual assistants.Be your own boss, replace your 9-5 income and get the freedom and flexibility youâve been searching for.
Launch in 30 Days is the step-by-step course thatâll see you launch your dream VA business and land your first-ever *well paying* client in just 30 days.
Join the next intake of Launch in 30 Days!
Are you ready for the next iteration of your business?
The one where you work less hours, make more money, have a clear vision of where youâre going and can safely say youâve kicked overwhelm and burnout to the curb?
Consider the Scale It! Mastermind your shortcut to efficiently, painlessly and sustainably scaling your VA business to align with your version of success.
Join the exclusive mastermind for established virtual assistants today!
Get a 2024 VA Business Planner - an invaluable resource in your business toolkit, disguised as a yearly planner
PS: If you're unsure as to which pathway you're more suited to right now, then we'd recommend you do our What's Your Virtual Assistant Pathway Quiz
Sam + Jo xo
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Weâve coached some of the most successful virtual assistant business owners across New Zealand and Australia but Bri McDonaldâs fast-track journey is one for the books!
A fortnight after completing Launch in 30 Days Bri had onboarded 4 clients. Days later she resigned from her 9-5, and within a month she was fully booked and had replaced to her 9-5 income.
But the icing on the cake âŠ. 3 months after launching her brand spanking new VA business, Bri was announced as a finalist for Top Performing Newcomer at the 2023 NZ Virtual Assistant Awards!
See what we mean?! The action taking required to reach this type of success, this quickly, is next level and to say weâre proud mumma hens is an understatement.
In this episode youâll learn:
How Bri was able to quit her 9-5 just two weeks after launching her VA biz.The course Bri invested in that led to her replacing her 9-5 income in just 3 months.What Bri would do differently ⊠cos it hasnât been all rainbows and unicorns!Why having a supportive partner in your corner makes ALL the difference.Connect with Bri here to find out more about The Admin Placeâs top class virtual assistant services.
LinkedIn
Instagram
Facebook
Just starting out on your VA journey? Join us in Februaryâs intake of Launch in 30 Days! Places are limited, so get on the waitlist and grab yourself a wee discount while youâre at it.
Sam + Jo xo
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Are you at risk of losing it all by having all your eggs in one basket?
Do you have any back up eggs if the worst was to happen and you lost the majority of your revenue in one big ugly hit?
You might be riding high right now, fully booked with one or two great-fit, chunky clients, but we want you to be fully aware of the risks around putting your all your client eggs in just one or two baskets.
We want you to have a Plan B so when the unexpected happens (cos trust us - it can happen!), youâre not thrown into panic mode, desperate to find clients.
In this episode youâll learn:
The risk involved in having a client providing you with 50% or more of your total revenue.The ideal client hour/revenue split to ensure you donât lose it all.What to do if your client eggs are currently all in one risky AF basket.Just starting out on your VA journey?
Launch your very own virtual assistant business in just 30 days with our step-by-step playbook! We'll guide you every step of the way, from setting up your business to securing (and onboarding) your first client.
Are you an established VA looking to scale?
Join the Scale It! Mastermind for established virtual assistants looking to level up their business. Make more money, get more clients and grow your team today!
Sam + Jo xo
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Weâre wrapping up 2023 with this look back at the episodes from the past 12 months that made meaningful impact and changed the way virtual assistants do business.
In this episode, weâre sharing stories sent in by our awesome listeners on which episodes packed the biggest punch and why.
Just starting out on your VA journey?
Launch your very own virtual assistant business in just 30 days with our step-by-step playbook! We'll guide you every step of the way, from setting up your business to securing (and onboarding) your first client.
Are you an established VA looking to scale?
Join the Scale It! Mastermind for established virtual assistants looking to level up their business. Make more money, get more clients and grow your team today!
Sam + Jo xo
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Youâve probably heard a lot about the importance of having an authentic and genuine personal brand as a virtual assistant in order to attract clients.
But what happens if you donât like the thought of sharing everything with everyone on social media in order to be truly âauthenticâ?
Or what if youâve never given any thought to creating a unique brand voice for your business and donât know where to start?
And for those VAs with teams - you may be wondering if you need to show up differently now youâve grown your team? Is it time to switch your personal brand to an impersonal one?
Communications Consultant and Brand Designer Courtney Haines joins us on the podcast to talk about how to navigate showing up authentically in order to build trust, whilst still maintaining energy and protecting boundaries.
âCos showing up âauthenticallyâ may not mean what you think it means.
In this episode youâll learn:
Why personal branding and a finding your brand voice is important for virtual assistants.How to use AI to create content without losing your brand voice.How to transition your brand voice from freelancer to agency owner.Whether or not you really need to be active on social media to find clients.To find out more about how you can get personalised communication and branding support, connect with Courtney here:
Website
LinkedIn
Instagram
Courtneyâs Personality Trifecta Template here!
Access Courtney's Personal Brand Photoshoot Strategy and Checklist to help you prepare for a brand shoot with a photographer. Use the code VANZ1 to get it for FREE!
Just starting out on your VA journey?
Launch your very own virtual assistant business in just 30 days with our step-by-step playbook! We'll guide you every step of the way, from setting up your business to securing (and onboarding) your first client.
Are you an established VA looking to scale?
Join the Scale It! Mastermind for established virtual assistants looking to level up their business. Make more money, get more clients and grow your team today!
Sam + Jo xo
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Are you cruising into the Christmas/New Year break assuming no one is hiring virtual assistants this time of year?
Sure, there are industries (especially in this part of the world) that shut their doors for an extended summer break. But that doesnât mean business owners aren't scrolling through social media, pondering the year ahead, dreaming about what they want to outsource and stalking who theyâre going to put feelers out to.
And if youâre thinking virtual assistants arenât signing up and onboarding new clients right up to the Xmas break â youâd be wrong.
Donât get caught up in someone elseâs holiday slump. Thereâs work for the taking in December and January, so if youâve got spaces to fill now is NOT the time to disappear!
In this episode youâll learn:
The holiday myth we donât want you to buy into!How to protect your holiday leave by automating your discovery call bookings.How to ensure youâre keeping leads warm during the holiday season.Just starting out on your VA journey?
Launch your very own virtual assistant business in just 30 days with our step-by-step playbook! We'll guide you every step of the way, from setting up your business to securing (and onboarding) your first client.
Are you an established VA looking to scale?
Join the Scale It! Mastermind for established virtual assistants looking to level up their business. Make more money, get more clients and grow your team today!
Sam + Jo xo
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