I'm another one who is reminded of "virtual reality" and, oddly, Max Headroom! I am just getting started, but plan to use my own name with the tag line "Writing and Marketing Support," and introduce myself as a freelance marketing assistant. Most of my marketing will be face-to-face networking, so "virtual" wouldn't be appropriate anyway.

Hi June,

I've asked myself the same question lately: how important IS it to include the term "virtual" in describing what you do. I have embraced the term "Virtual Assistant" up until about two months ago. To me, it sounded so limiting. I started to entertain other titles: Internet Marketing Specialist, Small Business Strategist, Consultant--you name it, I considered it.

Ultimately, I decided to stick with "Virtual Assistant" and I'll tell you why. The essence of what I do is support independent business owners with a wide range of admin services. When you start to specialize in one particular field, you are no longer considered a VA (this seems to be a heated debate within our industry).

Momentum is really starting to pick up speed within the VA industry and I've worked so hard to establish myself within the business. Why on earth would I want to go and disregard all of the branding work I've done over the past two years?

I'm here to elevate the term "Virtual Assistant" and help educate small business owners at large about the benefits of working with a VA.

Best of luck!

A bit late coming in with this - only just joined and read your thread - you may have already sorted your company name out.

As mentioned earlier, many people in the UK don't quite 'get' what a VA is so I use the term remote secretary which most people can understand.

I don't think it much maters whether you have the term 'virtual' in you company name - it can always be found elswhere in your literature - but a name that is snappy and memorable is more important.

I started by looking at what domain names were available and then checking by Googling/our Companies House (businesses need to register with this organisation if limited or parnership businesses) and also checking the Business Register. Many of the original titles I came up with were already gone (domain names) and then had a 'light bulb' moment and thought of Yoru Office Online - tells my clients that their office is not in their office but at the end of the pjone or internet.

It works - I very rarely meet my clients even though they are all within a 20 mile radius of me.

Dawn

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Dawn Lane, Cornwall
www.your-office-online.co.uk

Kim, I hope I'm not too late to add my 2 cents here.

Whether you pick up/drop off in person or the work is transmitted to you, keep in mind that you are doing the work virtually...not in their offices. I tend to work for local businesses, so they see me frequently, but I do all my work from my office at home. I've derived my business name from what I do...virtually everything...and have found ways to roll it into all sorts of catchy phrases for my business. The first name I used for my business was Barbara Rowen and Company. That didn't say anything about my business except who I was. When several commented about how I do "virtually everything" a business owner needed (except for bookkeeping...which I dislike immensly), I took that as a sign and paid attention to it. 6 years ago I changed my name to Virtually Everything. It fits me and my business. There is a disadvantage to having a name that starts with a low letter, however. Usually, I'm the last one listed alphabetically. Keep that in mind when you are deciding on your name.

Good luck and keep us posted.

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Barbara Rowen, Owner/Virtual Assistant | Virtually Everything
8209 E. Sun River St., Nampa, ID 83687 | (208) 318-5582

I did decide to go with "Virtual" in my name because I want to reflect that the majority (if not all) of the work I do is not done in someone else's office. I do love the creativity so many have shown in choosing their company name!

Please keep up apprised of the name you decide.

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Barbara Rowen, Owner/Virtual Assistant | Virtually Everything
8209 E. Sun River St., Nampa, ID 83687 | (208) 318-5582

I have incorporated my VA business into my professional organizing business (B Organized by Bridget). Did not want to spend the extra money for a website, domain etc. Have had the organizing business since 2004 and people know my name. Now the trick is to get everyone introduced to my new service. Will let you know how it works out!

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Bridget Janiak
www.OrganizedVirtualAssistance.com

I believe that putting anything in a name that NARROWS your scope is never a good idea. What if you decide you want to have a bulk of your clients be local to you where you pop in once a week? You are no longer completely virtual.

Think of some big names out there: Target, Costco -- they are household names now. Had they picked something limiting? it would have hurt them, IMO.

I vote....do not put virtual in the name.

Lesley

I'm in the middle on this one. I haven't put ' virtual' in my name, but did use VA. Although alot of people are not aware of what a VA is at the moment, I definetly think in the years to come it will be a well known term.
Plus it's always interesting explaining to people what it is. It opens up their minds to non-traditional methods of support which you can use as a great selling point if you explain it with passion and enthousiasm.

I also have wondered if using ' assistant' is limiting, if you do consulting work etc, but in the end, you are providing 'virtual support' regardless, so for now I'm sticking with it and embracing it.


Susan

This is something I am going through. I've had an idea of a business name for several months now. I've received different responses also. For searching purposes, I think as long as you have Virtual in either your name or tagline, that would be ok.

Thanks for all the input on such an interesting subject; I have to admit that the last post made an excellent point - having 'virtual' in the tagline at least is a good point, I will remember that.

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Michele Flynn

I had a hard time deciding on a name as well. Since I picked my name I have come to realize that I maybe should have include Virtual Assistant instead of VA. I have had several enquires as to what I did for VA's (Veterans was the first thought they have). Thanks to Bev at Red Deer College during the "Wear you Bathrobe to Work" campaign this year I used her ideas to create a press release for the local paper that helped the readers know more about what a VA is.
So, yes, using Virtual is a good idea but as people become familiar with the term VA it will be less necessary.

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Helen
H & L Bookkeeping & VA Services

Being new to this, I am faced with the same issue as to whether or not use the word "virtual" in my business name. But after reading the other post and it would be a good idea to use "virtual" in business name or tagline.

I struggled with adding Virtual in my business name. I thought about Prestige Business Solutions or Business Services, but I wanted my clients to realize that my business would be virtual and not strictly in their office, so that's why I finally decided to use Prestige Virtual Services, but on my business cards I did add under my business name, Business Support and Concierge Services. That will allow me to offer other services that are not so virtual.


Tina

I think it's nothing wrong to putting "Virtual" in your biz name, but if you are serious about including non-virtual services, leave the name out. Normally, they say that your biz name should say what it is you do.