Before launching my own Virtual Assistant business myself, I made sure to work with other VAs and get educated on the industry.

Before jumping in with both feet into a new business, I tested the waters and realized this industry is growing at a rapid pace.

Before doing anything else, I watched many VAs stretch out on their own only to find it difficult to find, or keep, clients and give up within a year.

So I knew ahead of time, that I had to approach this whole VA business idea differently. I had to learn from everyone else’s mistakes and be extremely wise.

Number one mistake I saw over and over again was a poorly designed website. Unprofessional, sloppy design with HIRE ME written all over it. Now as I learn more and more about website design and how to word copy to attract your audience’s attention, I realize that it’s not something that comes naturally to most people. Yet, instead of hiring someone to do the job right, we VAs feel we have to do it all ourselves, manage every aspect or our business because that’s what we promote right?

WRONG!

We promote that by delegating, your business becomes a tad bit easier and in the long run, more successful.

So why aren’t VAs taking on their own advice? That’s mistake number 2!

But what really gets to me, are the VAs that simply offer general administrative services and complain about the lack of clients.

Calling all Virtual Assistants:

If you are in this industry, you must know and realize that technology is growing on a daily basis.

You must know and realize that people, especially entrepreneurs, are busy.

You must know and realize what entrepreneurs need today and tomorrow.

You must know and realize that it doesn’t matter if you can type 75wpm, if you know how to manage emails, or if you can do data-entry. What you need is to know what other entrepreneurs are looking for. And in order to do so, you have to be ready and willing to keep learning.

Mistake numéro trois! Limited knowledge without the urge to go out and learn more.

I realize there are many online courses that seem to ask for an enormous amount of money. As a VA who is just starting out, funds are normally limited and paying $700 for a 6-week course is simply impossible (been there, done that)

However it is crucial to your business survival! If you don’t have the skills people are looking for, if you’re not staying one step ahead of the game, you simply won’t survive in this industry!

After turning a client away because I couldn’t provide the services she needed, I knew there was only one thing to do. Learn and learn quick! However I didn’t beat myself over it because I’ve been busy learning so many other things. This new skill was added to my ever-growing list of things to learn. And that my friends, is the key to grow your VA business.

I can insert another common mistake made by several VAs here: not having, or keeping to, a certain niche but that’s a whole other story…