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virtual assistant

Favourite Tools for VAs: Zapier

Zapier is an automation service that allows you to connect two unrelated programs, so that they can work together. For instance, when someone signs up for a Go to Webinar event, you can have Zapier ‘talk to’ Aweber so that your registrant automatically gets added to a list in Aweber, and can then get your follow up sequences. There are a lot of different programs that you can integrate with Zapier. They have a free level as well as a premium levels depending on the programs you want to integrate. Some free ones include: Facebook, Twitter, Trello, Google Sheets, Paypal, Slack, Google Calendar, Mailchimp, Evernote, WordPress, Asana, Office 365,. Gmail, and so much more. Another few examples: – publish a… Read More »Favourite Tools for VAs: Zapier

Favourite Tools for VAs: Audacity

Audacity is a free audio editing software that I use a lot in my business. My clients record their training calls and Audacity makes it very simple to edit the audio to add new sections, take out what we don’t want, and even merge two audios together. It’s an invaluable tool for me, because it helps me provide an add-on service for my clients. I also use it to do all of my own audio work. I really enjoy it! It’s got a lot of other great features too, like a sound mixer and audio recording software. I use it very simply in my business. 🙂 It is very easy to use too. What more could you ask for? Check it… Read More »Favourite Tools for VAs: Audacity

Favourite Tools for VAs: Square

Square is such a handy payment tool.  If you want to take credit cards in your business, it’s a simple solution whether you are doing business in person or over the Internet. It’s a simple device & app for your smartphone that allows you to process orders and send receipts to your customers. The money you collect gets deposited to your bank account the following day, making it faster than Paypal. The fee is slightly higher – about 3% – but can be worth it if you are at a live event or in my case this week Paypal wouldn’t accept my client’s credit card. (Paypal makes up its own rules sometimes!) So I ran it through my Square without… Read More »Favourite Tools for VAs: Square

Favourite Tools for VAs: Office 365

Office 365 is one of the indispensable tools that I use in my business. Almost everyone uses a software package like this in our line of business, and when I discovered Office 365 I bought it and never looked back at an actual program install again! Office 365 Business costs only about $10 / month and you get desktop and web versions of all of the MS Office Suite of products for web and mobile. The versions are always kept up to date, and you can install on 5 devices for that price. It’s crazy! And you get 1 TB of storage space online too – so everything is in the cloud and you can access anything you need anywhere. So… Read More »Favourite Tools for VAs: Office 365

Favourite Tools for VAs: Timetrade

Timetrade is an online scheduling system that I have been using for many years. It’s a simple way for your clients (or anyone!) to book an appointment with you, without the back and forth emails that usually take place trying to find a time that suits both parties. Timetrade allows you to set up available appointments in your calendar, and it syncs with Google Calendar so you can block times easily if you have other appointments. I love the ability to enter recurring availability too, so I am not constantly updating my calendar. My time is valuable, and so is that of the people I do business with. Timetrade is a tool that I can’t do without in my business. And for… Read More »Favourite Tools for VAs: Timetrade

Favourite Tools for VAs: Roboform

Roboform is a password manager that I could not (easily) run my business without. It keeps all of my passwords and my clients’ passwords a click away, so I can jump from task to task easily, no matter which of my devices I am using. Visit Roboform here!

10 Reasons Why Many VAs Will Not Make It

What a sad title, huh? So negative, you’re probably thinking. Well it’s true. I pride myself in sending out positive messages for the most part, but when I saw this video on YouTube a few days ago, it spoke so loudly to me that I knew I just had to share it with you. It’s a six year old video from the Acting Career Start Up channel on YouTube but the list he provides is almost identical to the list I would prepare for Virtual Assistants. Check it out and ask yourself honestly if you need to put more focus on any of these 10 things (or more than one?) to make sure that your VA business is the success… Read More »10 Reasons Why Many VAs Will Not Make It

3 Common VA Roadblocks and How to Handle Them

In business, as in life, many things can jump into our path unexpectedly. It’s how we handle these things that will allow us to continue on the path to success, or derail us completely. Here are three common roadblocks that VAs face: 1) Unexpected loss of a client 2) Too much new business at once 3) Late payment by a client Unexpected Loss of a Client When a client decides to leave you (or if you fire them with little notice) it can be devastating to your income. The key is to keep your pipeline filled with prospects on a regular basis, so it’s as easy as contacting people in your audience and getting a new client. But this isn’t… Read More »3 Common VA Roadblocks and How to Handle Them