I have limited funds but I definitely need to sign up for a class or program because I have been working at getting my business off the ground for almost a year and it's slow going for me. So if you had $200 to spend on training or certification as a virtual assistant where would you go and why? Thank you for your input, I really need to make a choice and get moving with this but there are too many options!

My suggestion: Take a look at the programs offered by VAClassroom (affiliate link). I find their course offerings very well priced and relevant to the industry.

Hope that helps, and good luck!

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Crystal Coleman, The Northern Edge

Originally Posted by bl prince

I have limited funds but I definitely need to sign up for a class or program because I have been working at getting my business off the ground for almost a year and it's slow going for me. So if you had $200 to spend on training or certification as a virtual assistant where would you go and why? Thank you for your input, I really need to make a choice and get moving with this but there are too many options!

Look at VA Certified - it costs $95USD and is a global certification which takes into account your admin/secretarial qualifications, skills and experience already held, what your business idea is about etc.

Personally I would then spend the remainder on getting out and doing face to face networking so that your local business community can get to know you - people buy from people and with services such as ours, businesses still tend to work with people they know and trust.

The VACertified award is the only 'VA' qualification/training I have paid for. The rest of my skills are general secretarial skills - the majority of your potential clients won't know what VA training involves or means to them.

The only other training you may want to pay for, is anything that you don't have now but would like to offer clients eg web designing (probably costs more than $200 for that training and software).

Also, try your local colleges and see what training they are offering in skills/quals you don't currently have. My local business college (in the UK) is offering a number of business/management courses which won't actually cost me anything other than petrol (gas) to get me there.

Dawn

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

bl prince,

First you should ask yourself what improvements you are looking to make based the services that you are offering or plan to offer. Then check out the many threads here based on what others have taken and got benefit from.

My thoughts on certification are if you are doing it to add a title, don't. Clients will likely choose you based on your knowledge and while there are many industry specific certifications (QuickBooks Pro Adviser, Microsoft Certification) this many not be their sole criteria.

I have taken courses at VAClassrooms and Ed2Go as well as attended many workshops on business building. These are all affordable options and I have enhanced my skill set with each one.

If you are on a limited budget I would certainly check out Ed2Go. The offer a multitude of professional development classes and many are offered through a local community college in which the fee is even less.

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Lee Drozak
My Office Assistant

Originally Posted by dawnjlane

Look at VA Certified - it costs $95USD and is a global certification which takes into account your admin/secretarial qualifications, skills and experience already held, what your business idea is about etc. Dawn

I try not to post negative responses to things like this, but have to respectfully point out that this 'certifcation' is nothing more than an invented badge that you pay for. Your clients and potential clients will hardly know what it means, much less care that you have it.

I could just as easily create a paid certification next week, offer a badge and create some kind of process around it to get it and call it 'important' and a way to set yourself apart.

Sure, it sets you apart - it shows you've paid for a badge.

The best way to show clients what your level of "admin/secretarial qualifications, skills and experience already held, what your business idea is about etc." is to create good marketing materials, including a website, and practice an excellent elevator speech, craft careful communications with potential clients so they can see that you know what you're talking about, etc.
Does anyone really believe a PC is going to select you as a provider based on this badge??


My recommendation always has been and always will be to invest the money in something that will actually make a tangible difference in your practice - related to skills or services you can offer.

I have heard great things about VA Classroom - sure you get a 'badge' when you're done with their courses, but you also get real skills and knowledge you can apply to make more money for both you and your clients. THAT is worth paying for, in my opinion.

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I agree with Tess - a certification is just a badge for which you paid money that could have been spent elsewhere. If funds are limited, they are best spent on either learning new skills or brushing up on 'old' skills that enhance your practice; clients pay for skills, not education levels.

There are quite a few educational listings on VAF for various learning opportunities: Ed2go, VA Classroom, and AOVE just being a few of them. There are also many 'free' training sites listed in various posts on VAF where you can brush up your current skills without spending big bucks.

I recommend you do a 'personal inventory' of what skills you currently have, which ones are 'rusty', what you would like to learn, and what skills you may need to run your business better that you don't currently have in place. Next, list them in order of 'education importance.' I have an extensive personal list of skills I would like to learn, polish, or add to my repertoire and, as time and money permit, I cross items off my list as 'done.'

By making a list of priorities first, you can then research where your money will stretch furthest and make the most impact on your educational budget and business value.

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Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
Author "How to Do Your Own Small Business Bookkeeping"

I have to agree with Tess and Lily. I also want to put in, that you should also be thinking about what you are doing and what your ultimate goals are.

Ask yourself these questions:
1.) What have I done to help my business grow?
2.) Did I call 5 potential clients this week?
3.) Did I email 5 potential clients this week?
4.) Did I fax 5 potential clients this week?
5.) Did I hand out flyers and business cards to small businesses around my town this week?

If you feel you already have a niche or a marketable skill, then start with what you know and add on to your services as you grow in this industry.

Ask yourself everyday, what am I doing to help my business grow.

Andrea~

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Action Jackson Virtual Assistant|

In reading the replies to this thread, I agree with the ideas that most certifications are just badges. When I first started thinking about starting a VA business I was pretty hung up about getting "certified" by something or someone, but I see that it really doesn't matter that much to the client.

I like your approach, Andrea, about asking yourself how to grow your business and I have this question:

For those of you seasoned VA's, do you find you have many clients with small projects so you have to constantly "look" for new clients, or are you mostly working with just a few clients in long-term relationships?

Originally Posted by vballiances

For those of you seasoned VA's, do you find you have many clients with small projects so you have to constantly "look" for new clients, or are you mostly working with just a few clients in long-term relationships?

I think this varies from VA to VA. Although I have several 'long term' clients, I also do a fair amount of project work. I continually market, even when I don't need new clients, because keeping my name/image out there is important. I have no problem telling a potential client that I am not available to work with them at the moment and then sending them here to VAF to put up a RFP or referring them to another VA. This maintains 'good wil' with the potential client because, even though I can't work with them personally, I am still helping them to find a good VA; this approach has even caused referrals from people I never worked with because I was so friendly and helpful!

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Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
Author "How to Do Your Own Small Business Bookkeeping"

Some great responses here! I now feel guilty for such a short answer originally!

When looking for training (I admit, I am a junkie and really work my budget to get as much as I can), it's the content that I am after - not the certification or title. I know my weak spots, or areas of interest that I really want to expand and I look for training specifically that targets these areas.

Unless you have business acumen and a background in whatever services that you're planning on providing, I do not think that any kind of additional short-term training (classes, seminars, webinars) is going to make you an expert. Extra training, I think, simply enables you to hone your skills and broaden your knowledge in those areas.

That being said, I think a benefit to training sometimes, is also in finding out what you don't know so you can see where you need to be heading.

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Crystal Coleman, The Northern Edge