Originally Posted by BinAL

It's not possible to guarantee that someone else will have a successful business. You can guarantee they will have a business up and running if they follow all the steps, you can guarantee they will have a high possibility of success, but not that they will be successful. There are too many factors in success that a kit cannot control for.

The guarantee does not promise that you will have a successful business but rather that she will show you how to get your business up and running in 30 days.

__________________
Shari Sultana
Online Business Manager (marketing for retail ecommerce)

Originally Posted by shari VA

The guarantee does not promise that you will have a successful business but rather that she will show you how to get your business up and running in 30 days.

Quote:

Start Your Own PROFITABLE Home-based Virtual Assistant Business, Easily and Quickly ... 100% GUARANTEED" http://virtualbusinessstartups.com/

That says "profitable", and that is the first line on the page

Yes, further in the text she only asserts she guarantees you will have a business up and running. Legally she is covered.

The whole thing seems too "self proclaimed guru" for me, and raises alarms. Where is the evidence of her original success before she started marketing her kit and launched VANA? I urge anyone considering investing in any materials to employ their critical thinking skills.

Originally Posted by Leanna Kalka

I agree with everyone. Usually those of us who have started our own VA biz, have been doing office assistance (clerical) work for years and are very experienced at it already. Also, a lot of us already have a computer and printer, right? Basically, it's just learning how to make what we've already been doing forever virtual. So we set up a website which means we are virtual now. There are so many forums and other areas on the web that are free and extremely helpful with forms, legalese and the like. I would use your $500 for marketing or something your could benefit from a little more.

I agree Leanna, we have the admin experience and are good at what we do and the bottom line is that if we aren't no amount of money spent on kits or even books will help our businesses succeed. In the end, we have to be able to deliver the product.

To learn about business development and marketing, we shouldn't limit ourselves to just business information written by other VAs. We should be learning from all sources - whether it's real estate, ad agencies, even Pepsi or Starbuck's - every business is a source of learning for us.

Re marketing/advertising, I have found myself considering every ad that comes into the house, be it in the paper, magazine, on the radio (no TV, so can't watch that) or even junk mail. There are places to learn everywhere.

I received a compliment from a marketing person at the Chamber of Commerce breakfast last week for a marketing idea I had. I handed out packs of flower seeds with the phrase, "which would you rather catch up on, your admin work or your gardening" with my contact info and introduced them as my "spring business card".

If you do not have the marketing and business mindset, no kit, book or course will help.

__________________
Julia

I agree completely Julia.

Quote:

To learn about business development and marketing, we shouldn't limit ourselves to just business information written by other VAs. We should be learning from all sources - whether it's real estate, ad agencies, even Pepsi or Starbuck's - every business is a source of learning for us.

Yes! So much can be learned and incorporated by looking at successful businesses' marketing (Disney is the best at branding, in my opinion, for example). However, note that all of their marketing is to sell more product, not their business secrets (which is why I feel uncomfortable with "business kits" of all kinds).

I came up with my new company name, Your Office People, after noting the cleverness of the H&R Block "You've got people" campaign. My target market is those professionals that don't have an office or don't have a staff (tradesman and small businesses) so I thought it worked out perfectly.

Lots of different opinions here. I did see they include a website and hosting for that price, can't vouch for the quality of the type of sites, but may take up a good portion of the selling price.

I know that 24HourSecretary is a name that I have come across several times so she does seem to have marketing know how, same as BSETC, but this starting VA cannot afford either lady's expertise at the moment.

Originally Posted by BinAL

Well, I personally find it's way too much of an infomercial-like hard sell with all the odd bolding, repeated "download the sampler" links, guaranteeing a successful business, and "wait there's more". And I hate that's it's all one long page you have to scroll through to get to the "meat". Although many people might benefit from the product, I can't get past the ham-fisted marketing.

That is exactly what I thought when I looked at it!

I would love to purchase something that lays it all out for me... since I am new.

But the way that page is laid out, I wouldn't give them a cent much less 500!

I love the way you put it... ham-fisted marketing ! LOL

Hi Jula,

Thanks for the marketing tip, I just love the idea of a seasonal business card. Especially when you attending a local marketing event.

Monique, Newbie

Originally Posted by JuliaW

I agree Leanna, we have the admin experience and are good at what we do and the bottom line is that if we aren't no amount of money spent on kits or even books will help our businesses succeed. In the end, we have to be able to deliver the product. To learn about business development and marketing, we shouldn't limit ourselves to just business information written by other VAs. We should be learning from all sources - whether it's real estate, ad agencies, even Pepsi or Starbuck's - every business is a source of learning for us. Re marketing/advertising, I have found myself considering every ad that comes into the house, be it in the paper, magazine, on the radio (no TV, so can't watch that) or even junk mail. There are places to learn everywhere. I received a compliment from a marketing person at the Chamber of Commerce breakfast last week for a marketing idea I had. I handed out packs of flower seeds with the phrase, "which would you rather catch up on, your admin work or your gardening" with my contact info and introduced them as my "spring business card". If you do not have the marketing and business mindset, no kit, book or course will help.

Thank you to everyone who have contributed to this thread. I certainly appreciate the honest feedback I have received. It has been very helpful in making the decision to purchase or not purchase the kit. Again thank you. You all are great!

Wow! This is one of the most helpful threads I've seen in any forums.

I originally planned on getting a starter kit but the price ($500) held me back. Although there is a money-back guarantee as a personal rule I don't believe that. Do you think it's better if I just invest $500 on a professional to handhold me when I start rather than getting a starter kit? Thanks in advance!

Originally Posted by nanosoft

Do you think it's better if I just invest $500 on a professional to handhold me when I start rather than getting a starter kit? Thanks in advance!

IMHO: I think it's 'better' to invest your SELF (your time, energy, dedication, common sense, etc.) into learning and doing as much as you can in getting your business started on your own. Starting out with the very idea that you even need handholding at all assumes you can't do this on your own, which of course, you can (loads of us have).

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

Hmm. Haven't thought of it that way. Must be caused by first-time jitters. Even if I have all the resources in the world to start on my own I guess it really won't work unless I put my back into it.
Thanks, Tess! Your reply got me fired up!

Well good!
And remember, for those spots that feel sticky or you're uncertainty starts to creep in there's always a great community of VAs here who will help guide you through as best they can.

Don't shortchange yourself on this - your strength as a business owner is so crucial for the longevity of your practice...

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

I tend to always do my own research rather than pay for it. But I am having a hard time figuring out what sights are what!! I want to be a real estate assistant, that is my expertise because I have a license in Washington. But I get going looking for something and the next thing I know I have spent 4/5 hours trying to locate a job on places that end up not having them. Any advise?
I do agree with the others, every one is motivated differently. If spending the money and going by the goals set up is what gets you going and gives you some securtiy that you are doing right, then go for it.
Cathi

Cathi, I really think the best way you could spend those 4-5 hours is marketing your practice, rather than looking for 'jobs'. The reality is the VA market is fairly saturated so even if you do find a legit site with job and project listings you're going to be competing against hundreds of other qualified (or not ) VAs. Better to focus your energy on bringing the clients to you with a diverse and ongoing marketing campaign.

Imagine, if you tallied up all those 5 hour afternoons scouring the net for work, how much time you would have already devoted to getting your name and company out there!

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

I have to agree, when I go out to Guru.com I end up spending a couple of hours reviewing the projects that have come in and submitting my proposal. Those 2-3 hours could be better spent telling local businesses about my service and getting my name out there. Good advice Tess!

__________________
Laurie Brown
VAofSWFL