Virtual Success Agency

Earning an Income While Being Home with the Kids

2012-03-23T07:05:00.001-04:00

Have you ever dreamed of a job where you could spend time with your family and earn money at the same time? Most traditional jobs don’t offer that. But, becoming a WAHM could be your ticket to your dream. But, before embarking on such a quest, here is some helpful information detailing what it’s all about.

WAHM?

Just what do these letters stand for? WAHM stands for Work At Home Mom (this information can also relate to Dads working from home as well). Over the past 20 years, more and more women have come out of the workplace and gone back into the home.

The decision hasn’t been an easy one. It became apparent a long time ago that men were the only ones being allowed to “have their cake and eat it too.” They could pursue a corporate career and still come home in the evenings to the family.

Women with careers had a different path to follow. Besides working longer hours to achieve the same pay and credibility as their male counterparts, they also had to contend with the housework and the kids. After a long day at the office and doing the household chores, the kids sadly got what was left over which was usually a very worn out mother.

That has since changed. WAHMs are proving everyday that women can contribute to the family financial situation and nurture their families. Both online and off, a network of support has been created for any woman who wants to consider an option that will help them meet their needs.

How to get started?

When you talk to your family about the possibility of working from home, you want to have an idea of the direction you will take. If your income has been a big part of the monthly family finances, then switching to a work at home enterprise will cause your finances to take a hit. Be sure there is enough financial cushion in your bank account to weather the first six months of your new career. It will take time to establish your business.

Opportunities

First, figure out your interests and skills. WAHMs can find business opportunities to work for someone else doing everything from audio transcription to writing articles to accounting. Be aware that there are scams about and that legitimate companies looking for professionals won’t ask for money upfront from you.

Some WAHMs carve out their own niche and begin an online business. If you are skilled with crafting, you can create a website to promote your crafts and sell products. A blog is also another idea. Blog about your area of expertise and develop a following. Combine that with affiliate or search engine marketing to generate revenue. You can find great training courses to quickly start your business and set up your blog at VirtualBusinessTrainingSchool.com.

Making it work

With new career comes the issue of balance between home and work. Just because you are home doesn’t mean you won’t need help around the house or time away from the kids in order to work.

Consider these tips for creating a balance:

• Develop a set schedule for work and play on a weekly basis

• Discuss dividing up household chores between you, your spouse, and older kids

• Do pre-work such as fixing lunches, prepping breakfast, choosing clothing the night before, etc.

• Hire a babysitter once or twice a week

• Create a separate home office space inside the house

There are advantages to being a WAHM. Plan carefully and be patient. Support from your family makes all the difference.

How to Find Jobs on Freelancer Websites

2012-02-04T00:21:00.002-05:00

With the state of the economy, more and more people are turning to the internet. Freelance work provides a great income with very low overhead.

Freelancing offers a win-win situation to most self-employed people who need extra income or who want to branch out on their own and begin a business. While the internet is full of these opportunities, where do you begin to find reputable ones? There are so many scams around and no one wants to lose money or property because of it.

The first place to look when you are getting started is freelancer websites. These are sites, or rather services, that enlist the subcontracted work of freelancers to meet their client’s needs. Different services specialize in writing, programming, graphic design and other services. If you have qualifications in these areas, you can apply to these sites to work for them.

Before you sign up with any site, be aware of what you are getting into. Here are a couple of things to check out:

Description of the job to be done – Make sure it is clear and concise

Price for the job – Does the price compare with competitive rates?

Project deadline – Is there enough time to finish the project?

Payment method – How will you be paid?

Fees – Some services ask for fees from you to become a part of their service.

Guaranteed work – Do they guarantee that they will hire you for a certain number of jobs?

Always research the company first. Ask other freelance associates where they get their jobs.

Some services charge fees and others do not. Be sure that you are getting paid fairly for the work that you do. Check out the sites and read the fine print before you begin your freelance career.

You may need some training before you enter the job market, if so we can assist you.

Good Luck!

Survival Tips for the New Mompreneur

2011-10-23T22:17:00.004-04:00

The challenges of starting a new business may be a bit overwhelming but give yourself a break with the learning curve. You have many more responsibilities than the single, childless entrepreneur down the block.

Here are a few tips to help you with your wonderful, new journey:

Give Yourself Enough Time to Learn

Take it slow. Don't pressure yourself to do everything, know everything, be everything, etc. Make a list of what classes you'd like to take and reading material you'd like to read then fit it into your schedule. Your calendar is your bestfriend! He will keep you productive and ultimately help you succeed. Use him wisely. Google Calendar is by far the best, in my opinion. Sync it with your phone for the ultimate business tool.

If you're brand new to the online business world, give yourself a month or two to just to study. Find webinars, YouTube videos, eBooks, success stories, etc. on your subject matter and soak it all in. Make notes of what you like and what you don't like. What you think needs improvement in that industry and what niche you'd like to focus on.

Find what appeals to you and learn everything you can about it. Take it easy in the beginning but be sure to follow your schedule.

Set Expectations for Your Kids

If your kids are like mine and grew up having my attention whenever they wanted then there will be a bit of an adjustment period. Things will have to change. You are now running a business and you must act accordingly, if you want to be successful.

Set the rules and then abide by them. They will follow your lead. If you treat your business as a hobby that you are able to come and go at the drop of a dime then that is how they will treat it as well. Yes you are doing this so that you can work, spend time with your family and be a mom but there are certain responsibilities that you will have as a mompreneur that will ultimately change life as you know it now.

Sit your children down, assuming they are at the age where they can understand you, and explain to them what is happening and what will happen in the near future. If they are not old enough to understand, your best bet would be to get a babysitter for a few hours a day so you can get your work done. Don't schedule your work during nap time that is not a reasonable amount of time to complete your daily tasks. Talk to your partner about stepping up and watching the kids for a few hours.

Let your children know when you must not be interrupted, are in a meeting, studying, etc. If you teach them to respect your time then and only then will they as well. If you run your business as... getting up and going whenever you please, not following a schedule, only working when the kids are asleep then how far do you honestly think your business will go?

They will follow your lead! Lead them well from the beginning and it will make it easier once your business gets busy.

Times that may work well for working on your business include early in the morning before the kids wake up, late at night after they're in bed or during the day when they're in school.

Do what is best for you and your family but make it consistent so everyone knows what to expect.

Networking with Other Mompreneurs

The best thing about the internet is that you are NEVER ALONE!

Find an organization, forum, Facebook group, etc. in your niche to join. Introduce yourself and ask questions, there is always someone eager to help.

There are many other moms who have "been there, done that" and can help you with whatever you are going through at the moment. If you can't find friends, then participate in online work at home mom (WAHM) communities.

Networking with other WAHMs not only provides emotional support, but can give you real world feedback on what's working and what's not for other moms. You'll learn little tips for juggling kids and work that you just won't find on other business-oriented websites.

Surviving the first few months in business and coming out profitable is going to be challenging. But there's nothing quite like the rush of being able to earn extra money, while still being there for your children.

Subscribe to our newsletter and to this blog for more online business success tips.

Best of Luck to you!

Start A Home Business – Top Ways To Earn From Home

2011-09-13T22:59:00.002-04:00

Home based businesses are on the rise. The internet makes it easy for people aspiring to transition from a traditional 9-5 or make some extra money from home. Here are some of the top ways to earn from home.

#1 Freelancing

Freelancing is simply selling a service without a long term contract. You can offer any number of services. Writing, graphic design, transcription, editing, audio creation, photography, and even voice over services can all be offered as a freelancer. Freelancing gives you the ability to pick and choose the projects you work on and whom you work with. It provides you with the freedom to set your rates and to choose when you work and when you don’t.

#2 Information Marketing

Information marketing is exactly what it sounds like, it’s making money by selling information. We’re an information hungry society and we often turn to the internet to help solve our problems. Whether you need to stop back pain, learn how to train your dog or learn how to be a parent to your teenager, we all have problems we want to solve.

Many times information marketers make their living writing books and reports. However, information marketers also create software products, or have them created for them. You can hold teleseminars or offer an online course. The key to being a successful information marketer is finding a topic you’re passionate about and researching supply and demand. There are tons of niches just waiting for a motivated entrepreneur.

#3 Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketers earn a commission on products or services they sell. Generally, affiliate marketers create a website around a niche topic. They use content to build an audience and drive traffic to their website. In their content they promote, review, and link to the sales pages of the products or services they represent.

For example, a person could create a website around pet health and be an affiliate for companies that provide products and services that support pet health. Affiliate marketing can be a very lucrative home based business. Like information marketing, the key is to find a niche you’re passionate about and to research supply and demand. You’ll also want to research affiliate products and services.

Other ways to start a home business include direct sales, selling a product, coaching and membership sites. There are a number of ways to make a living from home. Find the business model that’s right for you and enjoy!

How to Know If Being A VA Is Right for You

2011-07-16T11:11:00.002-04:00

If you’re considering starting your own business then being a VA is a good choice. It’s a service that is in demand. And the demand seems to be growing. More and more people are realizing the value of outsourcing their administrative needs. It’s a career choice that promises variety, daily challenges and the freedom of being your own boss. However, it’s not the right choice for everyone.

Here are a few questions to help you determine if being a VA is right for you.

Are You Good at Managing Your Time?

As a Virtual Assistant you’re going to have to balance a lot of tasks. You’ll balance client work. You’ll balance managing your business. You’ll also want to market and grow your business. And of course the day to day responsibilities like laundry don’t go away either. There will be a lot of demands on your time, energy, and attention.

If you’re good at managing your time, then great. If you can focus and be productive you have what it takes to be a VA. If time management isn’t your strength, there’s still hope. Start adopting habits right now to better manage your time. Learn to schedule and prioritize. Learn how to focus and be productive.

Are You Motivated and Enthusiastic?

Being a VA takes a lot of positive energy. You’ll want to be able to get up every morning and be able to focus on your business. Of course there will be low energy days. Everyone has them. However, in order to succeed as a VA, you’ll want to be brimming with energy and enthusiasm to start, grow, and manage your business.

Are You Organized?

In addition to organizing your own business needs, tasks and information you’ll need to organize your client’s. That’s part of your job. Your clients need your help getting and keeping them organized. And the more organized you are, the more productive you’ll be. Not organized? Start creating systems right now. You can still be successful. However, you’ll have to pay careful attention to your systems and practices. Make yourself be organized.

Are You Social?

Okay, so you don’t have to be a social butterfly to succeed as a VA. However, you will want to be easy to communicate with. Clients and prospects will communicate with you via email and the telephone. Make sure you’re comfortable talking with strangers. Also, the more social you are, the more clients you’re likely to meet online and off. It’s easier to build your business when you’re delighted to talk about it with others.

If you don’t have all of these skills or personality traits, it’s okay. Most of them can be learned. You can even learn to be motivated and enthusiastic. If you want to start a VA business that desire is the first step. The rest will fall into place with a little help from our training courses, webinars and tutorials.

Stay tuned to find out more information our webinar series on “How to get your site up and running in 24 hours”

Three VA Opportunities and Where to Find Them

2011-07-06T20:47:00.006-04:00

As a virtual assistant you have a choice. You can specialize in a particular task, for example transcription. Or you can provide a variety of services. There are pros and cons to each. Regardless of your approach, in order to make a living you need clients. Here are three potential virtual administrator opportunities and ideas on how to get them.

Transcription

Transcription is a specialty skill. It’s even more specialized if you have medical or legal transcription skills. If you have this specialty skill you might consider submitting a resume to ideal clients. For example, if you have medical transcription experience submit your resume to a health management company. They likely manage several hundred medical practices and could use your services.

Consider also searching virtual administration job boards. This type of freelance job board will list transcription opportunities. If you have excellent proofreading and editing skills then you offer an additional value.

Finally, don’t forget to network both online and off. Attend meet-up groups. Join your local Small Business Association. Consider looking specifically for people who speak or are active interviewers. They can turn their speeches into print content for their website and customers. You can help them by transcribing.

Blog/Website Management

Most blog or website management is pretty straight forward. The problem is that it can be time consuming. Often a business owner just doesn’t have the time they need to manage their blog or website. This is where your skills can be a valuable service. Membership websites and forums both require a good deal of time.

To find a blog or website management position consider participating on marketing forums. There you’ll find a number of internet marketers who may need your services. Again networking pays off. You can also search freelance job boards and virtual administration job boards specifically. When you’re searching make sure to check out the “technical” job postings. Many people place website management positions under the technical category.

Proofreading/Editing

If you have an eye for detail and a way with words then this VA opportunity is right for you. A proofreader generally looks for spelling and grammar errors. An editor may also offer content suggestions to polish a book, article, or report. If you’re interested in this type of opportunity networking helps as do job boards. However, you may also want to contact writers individually. Many writers and content providers use editors. If you can find a few writers to partner with, you can have a full schedule.

These are just three possibilities. As a virtual administrator you really do have an unlimited variety of opportunities to choose from.

A New Way to Work From Home

2011-03-06T08:33:00.001-05:00

A lot of people dream of working from home and these days modern technology has opened up all kinds of new opportunities…

We all know the stereo-typical depiction of the secretary. Now with the technological revolution it has new meaning. From sending flowers to paying expenses VA’s can do it all.

What is a Virtual Assistant? Virtual Assistant’s have clients all across the United States and overseas. They’re self employed professionals who usually work from home hired by small companies and individuals on an hourly basis. With a phone and the latest technology they can do just about anything.

For small companies it’s cost effective. There are no payroll taxes, no benefits, no office equipment to worry about, not even office space.

Reported by NBC’s Dawn Fratangelo

Check out the video: A new way to work from home

Tips on Hiring the Perfect VA for You

2011-03-03T20:46:00.005-05:00

When you can't tell your days from your nights because you've been working so hard all day, it's time to consider hiring some help. Outsourcing is the answer to your prayers. Contracting a VA to assist with all your administrative duties with relieve your stress and give you more time to focus on your business.

Looking for the "Perfect VA for You" can be a daunting task but if you know exactly what you are looking for it will make it that much easier. There are many qualified VA's out there who would be thrilled to work with you but they may not be the right one for "you".

A few simple things you can do to find your perfect VA are...

First take a few minutes to write down exactly what services you think you need.

Think of the qualifications that may be important to fulfill those needs - familiarity with specific software programs or websites.

Are you interested in long term or short term assistance?

Does your business require a fast turn around or can your assistant take a couple of days to complete tasks?

Calculate how much you can afford to pay and how many hours you may need.

Decide on what method of communication you would prefer to use, email, texting, phone, etc.

Will you need your VA to be available at certain times of the day and in which time zone?

The clearer you are in what you are searching for the better your chances of finding it. Take a look at our services, you might have just found what you are looking for.

If you have any questions please leave a comment or contact us at cathy@virtualsuccessagency.com

What is a Virtual Assistant?

2011-02-03T17:14:00.005-05:00

Virtual Assistants offer a wide range of services to clients from all over the world. Most VAs have a background in administrative assistance but there are a number of VAs with experience in other areas also, such as, web design and marketing.

They take care of your everyday tasks freeing up your time and allowing you to build your business. Being that VA's usually work from their home office, utilizing their own software and hardware, you don’t have to worry about expensive overhead such as, office space, office equipment, payroll taxes, employee benefits, sick days, etc. making them very cost effective.

For many small businesses and entrepreneurs, hiring a VA may be the perfect solution to managing a growing list of responsibilities that they don't have the time or inclination to do. VA's go above and beyond the normal duties to impact your productivity. When you hire a VA you only pay for the service when you use it. Some VAs work on an hourly rate and some work on a monthly rate depending on how many hours are needed. Every VA is a business owner, therefore, has different hours, rates, skills and ethics. Most VAs will allow you to use them on a trial basis to see if the VA and the client are a perfect match before making the relationship long-term.

The best part of hiring a VA is when you go on vacation your business is still running smoothly. Finally, take your family on that much needed trip, kick off your shoes and RELAX. We've got you covered.

If you have any questions on how a VA can benefit your business, feel free to leave a comment or you can email me at Cathy@virtualsuccessagency.com.

Looking For Legitimate Jobs From Your Own Home?

2011-01-24T13:06:00.005-05:00

Stop spending hours looking
through job boards and applying to jobs!

There are an endless amount of jobs on the internet so how can you tell which ones are legit and which are not? Well, luckily you don’t have to anymore, we will do it all for you. Join our oDesk team and we will search for jobs, apply to them and even teach you the skills you need to do the job. All for no out of pocket expense to you.

You should never, ever pay processing fees or any other type of fee upfront when applying to online jobs. As soon as you are asked to pay RUN the other way! We will guide you away from those scams and into careers.

Our detailed tutorials will teach you the skills you need in today’s workforce. Whether you decide to continue working online (which I hope you do) or go back to the brick and mortar world, your new skills will be an asset to your career.

So join our team today and reap the benefits of working online.

Introduction

2011-01-16T21:11:00.024-05:00

Experienced and Newbie's Welcome!

The internet is our future! If you would like to achieve "Virtual Success" we will hold your hand every step of the way and provide daily support, access to our tutorials, face-to-face virtual training, mentoring, skills assessment, resources, etc.

Virtual Success Agency provides businesses and entrepreneurs with quality services and training in areas such as, Administrative work, SEO, Social Media Management, Billing, Internet Research, Project Management, Time Management, Email Management, Internet Marketing, etc.

We are looking for freelancers who enjoy working on their computers doing the above-mentioned tasks and would like to make it a career. There is lots of money to be made and we can show you how!

Requirements for Online Success:
Read, Write and Speak English fluently
Standard Computer Software*
Good Internet Connection
Reliable Computer
Honor
Loyalty
Ambition
Determination
Reliability
Constant Communication
Willingness to Learn

When you succeed we succeed. Let's do it together!

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