I am frequently asked why it is important to have a Virtual Assistant niche?

I believe it is essential to select a niche for your Virtual Assistant business. Don’t confuse a niche with a target market. They are two distinctly different things. I define a niche as the skills you offer and a target market as the person who contracts your services.

There are many reasons why you should pick a VA niche, and probably the most interesting is that it increases your earning power!

Picking a niche is vital to a Virtual Assistant’s success. When you specialize in one particular service, it benefits you in 5 different ways.

Earning Power 

Does that mean you can charge higher rates? Yes, it does. I train women (and a few men) to specialize in a niche. They become the experts in their field. They know their area of expertise through and through, and they become the “go-to” expert. If you are the expert, of course, you can charge more than someone who will TRY to...

Does this sound familiar? You hit the snooze button and roll back over for just 9 more minutes. 

The next thing you know, it is 30 minutes later. You are rushing around to get everyone out the door with lunches and backpacks, only to close the door and see that one of your children left their homework on the breakfast table. You run out to the bus stop in your bathrobe and slippers just in time. Now you can sit and have a cup of coffee and somehow get lost in social media on your phone for over an hour.

If you can relate to this or some other frantic start to your morning, you should consider implementing a morning routine.

A morning routine will set the tone for your day. So many of us have busy lives that can quickly get out of control. Practicing a morning routine can help you be more productive throughout your day.

Because Virtual Assistants don’t have to punch a time clock, it is easy for them to get distracted. 

This is why a morning routine is...

A question that I'm frequently asked, “What Virtual Assistant Services should I offer?"

Well, that answer is easy, whatever services a Virtual Assistant LOVES to do.

It is true!

Many people have the impression that a Virtual Assistant does only general administrative work. That may have been true when the Virtual Assistant industry first emerged, but it is no longer valid.

That is why I train and coach Virtual Experts.® I believe the industry has been elevated. I believe it so much, I started the Virtual Expert® movement.

In this video, I want to show you the types of work that a Virtual Assistant or Virtual Expert® can specialize in and how the industry is developing.

Hi, I'm Kathy Goughenour, business coach and trainer exclusively for Virtual Experts.®

Years before the Covid-19 pandemic, I began promoting the incredible benefits of working with professional, problem-solving, pro-active Virtual Assistants. I call them profit-generating VAs. Many high-level...

Henry Ford said it best, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” 

That sums up mindset pretty simply. 

We hear a lot about mindset and know that we should have a positive one. 

Did you know there are two types of mindset? I’m not talking about positive and negative. I’m talking about a growth mindset versus a fixed mindset.

Let’s discuss the importance of a growth mindset for Virtual Assistants and some tips to developing a growth mindset.

Carol Dweck is a professor of psychology at Stanford University. She is a researcher and has authored several books, including Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. 

She found that some individuals believe their talents can be developed through hard work, good strategies, and input from others. This is a growth mindset.

On the other hand, someone with a fixed mindset believes that their qualities are fixed and can not be changed. 

No surprise, she found...

Does this sound familiar? 

You sit down at your desk and have no idea where to start. Your inbox is full. You have several client projects started but nothing complete. You have work to do for your own business too. Overwhelm creeps in, and you don’t know what to do.

That’s when you decide to check your social media quickly, and the next thing you know, you have wasted an hour watching cat videos and finding out where the Bernie Sanders’ meme has him sitting today!

I don’t have to tell you that isn’t the most productive use of your working hours. You know that.

To be productive you need to plan and time block your calendar.

Let’s discuss how to implement time blocking to create a stress-free productive office environment.

Wouldn’t it be great if you sat down at your desk every day and knew exactly what you needed to accomplish? What if you sat down and could get right to work? And if you don’t waste time throughout the day, you...

You can feel it in your bones! You want to create your own Virtual Assistant business.

 You want the freedom of owning your own business and the flexibility to create your own schedule. 

 You know this is right for you.

 But, you are having trouble moving forward. 

 What is holding you back?

First, I want you to know you are not alone. Many women who take the journey of entrepreneurship find themselves dragging their feet at some point. Whether it is starting your business or growing your business, some common fears can hold you back.

Let’s take a look at a few:

1. Fear of failure - As Arianna Huffington said, “Failure isn’t the opposite of success; it’s part of success.” Playing it safe won’t move you forward. You need to take the risk. You need to push outside of your comfort zone to create and grow a business. Success is on the other side of fear. When you make a choice not to take the risk, you will remain...

You have successfully signed a contract with a new client … now what?

The excitement of obtaining a new client wanes pretty quickly when you start to realize all the things you need to do to get their project up and running.

You need to figure out what you need from them and what they need from you. This is called client onboarding, and it is a significant component to working successfully with your client.

Client onboarding is one of the most important systems you should have for your Virtual Assistant business. Creating a smooth process of gathering the information you need from your client and setting expectations will reduce stress for both you and the client. 

You are setting the stage for their experience of working with you.

It is best to hold a separate meeting for onboarding. Emphasize the importance of this step with your client.

 What should you cover during that meeting?

Project details. Outline the scope of work for the project as you understand it....

 As a Virtual Assistant, you need to attract leads to your business to help you grow your client base.

 Email marketing is an easy format to nurture your clients and keep your name top of mind. After you have set up the email campaigns, you can concentrate on other areas of your business.

 How do you get people to sign up for your email list? A lead magnet is a great way to build your email list.

 If you have ever visited a website as a consumer, you have come across an offer to sign up and get a free report, free list, or free something. When you sign up for the offer, you are granting approval to be added to the business’s email list - Now they can stay in touch with you through email.

Do you have a freebie or lead magnet for your Virtual Assistant business?

Let’s take a look at what makes a good lead magnet:

 1. Solves a problem - think of a common problem your target market frequently discusses with you. Is there something you can offer...

You have finally stepped outside your comfort zone and attended a networking meeting only to find out you have less than one minute to introduce yourself and explain whom you serve and how you help them. 

This can cause anxiety for a lot of people. Preparing your “elevator pitch” and memorizing it will come in handy, not only for networking but in many other ways in your virtual assistant business.

Can you explain your Virtual Assistant business to someone in less than one minute?

In this video, let’s take a look at how to create an elevator pitch for your Virtual Assistant business that briefly explains what you do and whom you serve. 

Hi, I'm Kathy Goughenour, business coach and trainer exclusively for Virtual Experts®. I've helped hundreds of women just like you achieve their dreams of working from home as well-paid Virtual Experts®. 

It is called an “elevator pitch” because you should be able to convey your message in...