Originally Posted by JuliaW

It doesn't make a difference as far as I'm concerned. I've found that 8 out of 10 people don't know what a VA is - the term is common to us, but not to most of the world. I don't have virtual in my company name.

I agree, not too many people actually know what a VA is, I dont think its essential to have in your business name.

I'm still trying to figure out where to go with all of this, but I think I agree you don't need the specific word. However, I am thinking as the term 'Virtual Assistant' becomes better known, it may be beneficial.

So I guess I'm leaning toward agreeing with this.....

Quote:

I think as the public becomes more educated on this title, it will become more accepted. And I don't want to be changing my business name in the future.

lol. Kind of why I chose Girl Friday Services. At my current job, that I hope to one day soon be able to walk away from (not totally unhappy just needing a change and new challenges), I wear many hats and everyone in the office comes to Marie for any given reason. People in our other branch offices call Marie for any given reason, because I can and do do it all.

No "virtual" in my busness name...primarily because I am not strictly virtual and I intend this business to be much bigger than the "virtual" piece.

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Cheryl Richey
Carte Blanche Assistance, LLC
Virtual Assistance...Creating Time for You!

I struggled with the same idea -- whether "virtual" needed to be in the name to convey what I'm offering to clients. However, I decided to do the "explaining" in the tagline and information on the pages.

I opted NOT to include Virtual in my business name, but like so many others decided it would be beneficial in the tag line...

Brandy

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Ferguson & Kurtz Professional Services
"where the virtual meets professional"

These are great comments. I was really quick in deciding my company name because initially I was going to do something else with it. Bought the domain name and decided that I would keep the name even though my business expanded to something else. In the end, I use "virtual" in my tag line. (I can always change that later if I decide!)

**Tiffany**

These comments were helpful and added a ton of advice to consider. Thank you

I chose something simple.... CJA (My initials) Consulting...which also gives me the flexibility to do other stuff with my business cards besides VAing

At the time I started my business, the search engine ranking on the word "virtual" was zero. Words like business solutions, business professionals, business 2 business services; anything "business" seamed to get a great review. So~ I took that and ran with it.

I have noticed over the last year a large number of freelance VA's are going for the "a virtual", "the virtual" and so on in their URL but I do agree that it limits you to just providing "virtual" assistance. I just landed my first 2 local clients, not counting what I did in the earlier years before becoming an official business, who had no idea what it meant to take your business "virtual" and found me because as I said on another thread my name ranks really high.

Hi,

When naming my business I used "Online" because I wanted prospective clients to know that I could service their needs virtually. I only didn't use "virtual" as I found that there were so many businesses with this in their business name that it made it harder for me to choose a name that I liked, made sense and passed on this message. I also figured that because I really do want to focus on working solely from home, I didn't want clients to get the impression that I would be available on-site all the time.

I guess it really does depend on what services you are offering and if you are solely 'virtual' or if you are on-site as well.

Then again, if you look at some business names (e.g. 'A Clayton's Secretary') this doesn't have any reference to being virtual and Kathie has had a successful business for 14+ years (look at the meaning of her business name on her website, its very interesting).

Anyway, hope this helped. Maybe look at the thread - how did you name your business and read how others came up with their business names.

Good luck.
Debra

For me, it wasn't that important. I tried to be a little more subtle and hoped people would catch it with Speed-E-Skills. It's a little play on words, I guess, but I like it.

Originally Posted by Speed-E-Skills

Speed-E-Skills. It's a little play on words, I guess, but I like it.

I like it too T! Very clever.

Deb

It was so great to read all of these thoughts. I am trying to get my business off the ground and one of my most difficult taks seems to be choosing a name.

I am so glad I read this post. I have been working all week worrying about the virtual word. Thanks to everyone and all the information