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Are you an aspiring or established virtual assistant agency owner wanting to grow a team while remaining ‘affordable’?
Are you struggling to scale, unhappily working all the hours, unable to fully switch off while taking time off and sick and tired of juggling client work alongside recruiting and managing your team?
Are you reluctant to put up your prices because you’re worried leads will balk at your rates?
If this sounds familiar - you aren't alone!
It’s cold hard truth time: For the majority of VA agency business owners, it's impossible to scale without premium pricing. And the longer you fight us on this, the longer you will continue to struggle.
In this episode you’ll learn:
The team, client and financial issues you’ll face as a VA agency owner if you don’t have premium pricing.The only agency model that works with pricing that isn’t considered ‘premium’.How to work out a profitable premium rate.How to access the exact steps required to scale your agency successfully.Download the FREE Pre-Scale Checklist for Virtual Assistants here.
Buy the Ultimate Pricing Calculator for Virtual Assistants here.
Join us inside the Scale It Mastermind here.
Sam + Jo xo
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It’s likely you became a VA ‘cos you were over the 9-5 grind.
You may have wanted to have more freedom and flexibility than a traditional corporate role allowed you.
Or perhaps your priorities changed since starting your family?
But let’s be honest, you also became a VA to earn a decent income from home!
Otherwise, why bother? 🤷♀️
So why are there so many virtual assistants out there having to work MORE hours than a 9 – 5 in order to pay the bills?
Why are there so many virtual assistants earning less than minimum wage?!
In this episode you’ll learn the 9 reasons why you aren’t earning a minimum wage and how to turn things around so that you aren't working all the hours with nothing to show in your bank account.
Sam + Jo xo
Buy the Ultimate Pricing Calculator for Virtual Assistants here.
Join us inside the Scale It Mastermind here.
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Manglende episoder?
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Are you really a fully-fledged virtual assistant unless you’ve received a “I’ve been ghosted 👻" badge?
If being ghosted by a lead, client (or yes, even team member!) hasn’t happened yet, in the words of Alexander Hamilton … “Just you wait” 🤪
Being ghosted can often trigger VAs into a spiral of self doubt. It’s common for the VA to take it personally, question everything and make some massive assumptions.
Having been there, done that, and got the 👻 badge more often than we'd like to admit, we can confidently tell you to stop second-guessing and blaming yourself, and start putting some very simple steps in place to prevent it from happening again.
Disclaimer: The ghost prevention strategies mentioned in this episode work 97% of the time. The remaining 3% can’t be helped ‘cos they're Dicks ghosting you whose dick-ness can't be helped😉.
You’ll learn:
The 5 most common reasons VAs get ghosted and the steps you can take to prevent it from happening.Why ‘Quick Wins’ and ‘Nice To Dos’ need to be part of your client onboarding process.What to say in your discovery call that makes following them up post-Proposal soooooo much easier.Join us inside the next intake of Launch in 30 Days here.
Join us inside the Scale It Mastermind here.
Sam + Jo xo
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It’s a cold hard fact that people do business with people, and this couldn’t be any more true than inside the virtual assistant industry.
The quicker you can build the know, like and trust factor online the quicker you’ll 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.
You’ll learn:
The most common reasons you’re 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 What’s 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 …. Not Ready.
Every time someone receives the ‘not ready’ 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, doesn’t mean your journey is over!
In this episode you’ll learn:
The 3 reasons you will have received this result.Why this result doesn’t 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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The knock-on effect of the introduction of AI is HUGE. No one is immune – least of all virtual assistants.
We may not have a crystal ball that will predict the future (wouldn’t 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 ‘thanks’ to AI.
Look, it’s 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 don’t 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? 😂
In this episode you’ll 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 that’s when things can get tricky.
You may assume that this type of close-knit VA/client relationship is one to celebrate. We’re here to tell you that in most cases it’s one to avoid and that having defined, professional boundaries will protect you BOTH.
In this episode you’ll 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 wouldn’t 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.
You’ll 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 Jo’s failed business partnership you’ve 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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It’s real talk time!
Yessiree, it’s time to share some of our biggest biz “icks” as virtual assistant coaches, mentors and business owners.
Some of these icks are instant turn-offs; our personal deal breakers. Others however aren’t 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, there’s no shying away from the fact that if they are on our ick radar, then some will also be your potential clients’ icks too.
In this episode you’ll learn:
The icks that have some potential clients running for the hills.The two icks that will offend you.Jo’s 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 😉
And you know what they say about highlight reels?
They’re a bunch of baloney, that's what! They only showcase one side of a much bigger, more complex story.
We reckon it’s time for us all to get comfortable sharing the lows as much as the highs. ‘Cos this is real life and real life is not always sunshine and rainbows.
So it’s time to share some not so bright and shiny things about us.
In this episode you’ll 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 🤦♀️🤦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 want to preface this episode by apologising to our American listeners😉
It’s 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 you’re losing cos you’re hiding behind cheesy, off brand, boring, unauthentic stock photos 😭
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 ‘easier’.
There’s also no ‘quicker’, ‘faster’ or ‘better’ (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 don’t know, then we’ve made it SUPER easy for you to find out!
In this episode you’ll 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 you’re 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! You’re fully booked (or close to it), your bank balance isn’t looking too shabby and you may even be growing a team …
It’s easy from the outside looking in for other virtual assistants to assume you’re successful, on top of things and freaking loving life!
But the reality couldn’t be further from the truth.
The reality is that you really want to love your business, but you’ve found yourself working ALL the hours, your mental and physical health is suffering, you’re finding it difficult to maintain boundaries and you may have even started to resent some of your more ‘difficult’ clients.
It's a situation we're all too familiar with, so we’re 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 you’ll learn:
What to look at in your business in order to fall back in love with it.Why it’s 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 owners👋
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 you’ll 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 DON’T 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 ‘Agency Owner’ is not for the faint hearted, and you’ll need a very particular set of skills, skills that you will have acquired over time in your corporate 9-5.
In this episode you’ll learn:
Who can skip straight to ‘Agency Owner’.What your role would look like as an ‘Agency Owner’.What you need in place if you’re thinking about skipping straight to ‘Agency Owner’.What can go wrong when skipping straight to ‘Agency Owner’.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: WE’RE 99% SURE THEY ARE!
In this episode you’ll 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 – cos niching isn’t for everyone straight off the bat.How you can ‘sell’ 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 Sam’s? Is the copy on your website not converting leads to clients? Maybe you’ve got an underperforming team member you’ve 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 you’re going to put your energy in to make substantial changes in your business!
In this episode you’ll learn:
The reason you’ve 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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“But it’s just so hard for VAs right now!”
“Man, it’s really tough finding clients – no one is hiring!”
“It’s a slow time of year for sure”.
NOPE! Stop it!
It’s cold hard truth time lovelies.
It’s NOT slow. Clients ARE hiring. We know first-hand this to be true. We’ve got evidence to back this up.
So enough of the excuses.
If you’re finding it hard right now, it’s certainly not due to the lack of clients looking to outsource.
In this episode you’ll learn:
Why it’s easy to use all the reasons under the sun as to why you aren’t 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 you’ve been searching for.
Launch in 30 Days is the step-by-step course that’ll 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 you’re going and can safely say you’ve 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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We’ve coached some of the most successful virtual assistant business owners across New Zealand and Australia but Bri McDonald’s 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 …. 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 we’re proud mumma hens is an understatement.
In this episode you’ll 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 hasn’t 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 Place’s top class virtual assistant services.
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Just starting out on your VA journey? Join us in February’s intake of Launch in 30 Days! Places are limited, so get on the waitlist and grab yourself a wee discount while you’re 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!), you’re not thrown into panic mode, desperate to find clients.
In this episode you’ll 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 don’t 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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