• VAs: Virtual Assistants are a valuable resource for startups and small business AND big corporations too
• Tawnya is relatively new to the StartupNation community but she created a Virtual Assistant online community, and she has jumped right in to offer answers to the StartupNation community.

It was so fun talking with you Joel, you are so full of energy and you really made it relaxing to talk to you. 

Thanks for the opportunity to bring more awareness to the virtual assistance industry through your podcast community.  We are a growing group of professional entrepreneurs with top notch skillsets to offer to our clients to help see their businesses succeed. From basic administration services to internet marketing strategies or whatever areas you need help in, you can be guaranteed a VA will be a step in the right direction for your business.

I look forward to getting to know everyone here and networking with you!  Feel free to add me to your buddylist.

Any questions you may have about virtual assistance, do ask here at the forum or contact me directly at Tawnya@VAnetworking.com

Joel - thanks for bringing the VA industry front and center at the SuN forum.

Tawnya - Thanks for bringing Joel (and the rest of us) up to speed with your knowledge, experience and insight.

I've been watching this industry grow from afar for many years. Although I haven't needed the services of a VA, I have recommended them to many clients and they have used them in years past to present. So many professionals could get soooooo much more work done and make more money and have more time to work on their businesses if they would just learn to work with a good VA.

It appears we have a growing group of VAs as members of SuN and I hope all of them continue to share their knowledge and experience with the new and budding VAs who will continue to visit and look to learn and grow, too. I know the podcast covered a lot but I'm sure that all of the SuN VAs have much more to share in the coming days, months, and years on this forum.

Best wishes to all the established VAs and those who will follow in their footsteps, too.

R@

Joel,

Thank you for such a strong response to the VA industry!  It's very gratifying to know the word about VAs is spreading. 

I'd like to personally second your comment about the value that VAs bring to small and large businesses.  My company, Taylor-Made Virtual Assistance, is focused on providing administrative support to emerging businesses and corporate executives as well as small businesses.  The biggest challenge I'm facing is educating corporations about how VAs can augment their existing staffs through our specialized offerings.

Again, thanks... and take care

Danielle

Danielle,

I actually spoke at an Executive Administrative conference a few years ago, educating Executive Assistants on how they could ease their workloads by sourcing some work to VAs.  Maybe this would be a route to look into, the secretaries at the corporations.  Market to them directly and let them take it to their board meeting for you ;)

Its difficult to get through to the corporations how valuable VAs can be to them.  I work for 3 corporations right now and two were referrals.  The other one I didn't have to educate since he was already my client before he went into the corporate world, taking me with him ;)

The future is getting brighter for VAs and with harsh economic recessions hitting the corporate world it has made a huge shift in the workplace.  Companies are now seeking ways to stay afloat and cut costs to survive the downturn.  Outsourcing is becoming the norm. 

As a mom and an Admin for about 5 years, I think that becoming a VA is a good thing for me. My biz is a start-up and I am hashing out some fears, but I am on my way...

check me out:

www.ellaywestconcepts.com

I was a single mother of 3 when I became a VA too and it is not easy but very possible.

My 3 P's for success in starting up any business are: Persistence, Passion and Populace.

A persistence to never give up and keep honking through your business plan no matter what obstacles stand in your way. A passion and solid desire to reach your vision of what you see for you and your business. Populace (networking) with likeminded people in your industry ie) If you are a virtual assistant then networking at VAnetworking.com.  

Hello All,

As I see the postings about Virtual assistants, I thought it might be helpful to give you my website of our company www.mysmartstaff.com where you will find allot of information on virtual receptionist and virtual assistants and allot of other virtual business solutions, feel free to contact me for more info.

Thanks

Meny