I was highly disappointed when I received Become a Virtual Assistant NOW! You can easily start your own virtual assistant business at home. The average chapter is a mere three paragraphs long, and the rest of the book is padded with pictures that are cute but don’t have any real relevance to the material at hand. It seems that the pictures only serve to pad the pages of the book so that it appears to contain more information.

The basic information that is on the pages of this book can be found online for free, on forums such as this one or through Internet searches. I fully support the idea of pulling information together into a book to save others the time and hassle of doing their own research, but I just don’t feel that this book presents enough detailed information to justify the steep price tag. While this title does give a general overview of what you need to get started in the Virtual Assistance industry, it should be packaged as such. In other words, the price should reflect the amount of information people receive.

This book contains 56 pages and costs $12.95 as an eBook or $19.95 as a paperback.


Do you have any thoughts, queries, or feedback on Become a Virtual Assistant NOW! You can easily start your own virtual assistant business at home? Share your comments or questions by replying directly to this thread!

Click here to buy the book in electronic or paperback form!

__________________
Tammi Metzler ~ The Write Associate
Free call: "How to Write Email Subject Lines That Grab Attention!"

It's not often I'll negatively review something top to bottom. There are usually at least some redeeming qualities to point to but I was truly amazed at just how little information was contained in this "book", especially considering the $20 price tag.
It seems more like an example of what a VA coach might give away as a freebie to potential clients...not what it's marketed as.

Save your money.

__________________
Stuck in startup? Stop dreaming. Start DOING!
Get the Become a Virtual Assistant eBook for just $29

This kind of thing really irks me. I have seen a lot of this stuff going around. Everyone is trying to make a buck off of "sharing their knowledge", when in fact they really don't have any to share.

I have seen people on other forums post one day about how they can't seem to get clients and then two days later they are posting their E-books for sale (or linking to their new blog) on how to respond to rfp's or how to gain clients. WTF? I know all the marketing guru's tell you to write an E-book or maintain a blog to make money, but it should be on something you have some valid experience or success in.

*Stepping off soap box.

__________________
Rebecka Melson ~ Virtual Business Services

Thanks for posting this review.

Quote:

I know all the marketing guru's tell you to write an E-book or maintain a blog to make money, but it should be on something you have some valid experience or success in.

Very well put Rebecka.

__________________
Dawn Riley
A Virtual Assistant in Paradise
Our business is about making yours better

Thanks so much for posting this review. I'm in the research stage of starting my business and every little bit of info helps.

thanks for the review - i will most likely always check the recommendations here before buying anything

Thanks for the heads up! Now i won't waste my money

Very well put and thanks for the information. I am more and more thankful for this site everyday!

__________________
Smile cause you can-laugh because you want to! ~Cat

Originally Posted by Rebecka Melson

I know all the marketing guru's tell you to write an E-book or maintain a blog to make money, but it should be on something you have some valid experience or success in.[/I]

I totally agree with you, Rebeka.

I receive many phone calls and emails from aspiring and newly formed VAs asking me how to get their first client, how to set up their business, what equipment/experience they need etc. Many of my contemporaries in the Uk, who set up at the same time as me, are only giving this advice if they charge for it (and not chealy either).

Whilst I know that my time spent dealing with these enquiries means that I am not earning money from client work, I believe that what goes around comes around and am happy to spend my time, for free, advising.

I don't feel that I have enough 'experience/knowledge' after 2 years' in the industry to start charging but many people would probably tell me that I am missing a trick and should be charging for it.

However, if someone is selling a book/workshop/seminar on how to set up as a VA etc, they should be imparting enough information for someone to be able to set up the business.

The best book I have so far found (and was given to me by another VA friend for free) is by Diana Ennen and Kelly Poelker - Virtual Assistant The Series, ISBN 0-9742790-5-6

Dawn

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

Thanks for posting the review. It saved me some money. It helps to have these opinions from people already working VA and starting up. You wouldn't hear the real reviews form the websites selling these books. I'm glad I found this forum.
VirtualRachel

Im soooo glad I read this review! I almost ordered this book and would have been very dissapointed.

Thanks, Dawn. I will locate that book! And, I agree with you about not charging for advice.
Jolene

Ladies,

Thank you for the information, I will make sure not to buy it!
I recently purchased the "2 second commute" by Durst, it's ok.
I find more information on this forum than I did in the book, except for the reference to the average rates of other VA's.

__________________
Your Virtual Assistant--Bilingual
www.AssistantOffice.com

Thanks for posting. It is such a nice feeling that we all have each others back in this venture.