Good Evening, Everyone!

I am looking to launch my business at the beginning of the new year. I am still working out some details (like what to offer) and had some questions, if you wouldn't mind chipping in.

• INSURANCE. I don't know much about Errors and Omissions Insurance, but I am considering Event Planning, which is one of the services that is suggested being covered under E&O Insurance. Is there a list of services that should be under E&O? And (two-part question) Can anyone list a resource of how to find out more about E&O carriers?
• VA SITES ADVERTISING. I have noticed websites where VAs can list their services and clients can upload their RFPs. Has anyone had any luck with them?
• PAID ADVERTISING. I am considering (just considering) creating an ad on facebook and LinkedIn. Has anyone done this with any success?
• WEB & BLOG DESIGN/EVENT PLANNING FEES. I think that I should have a fee for these services in lieu of an hourly rate. I would like to hear from people who offer these services and how they bill(I'm not asking you to disclose your fee, just whether you bill hourly or as a "package" and how it's worked for you)

Thanks alot everyone!

Cheers,

Caroline

Caroline,

Hope this helps a little:

INSURANCE - I have gotten E&O from my regular insurance carrier. I found that after comparing rates, my own agent was able to get me a great price because I have my personal insurance with him too. Shop around with any insurance carrier but be sure to check out your own first.

VA SITES ADVERTISING - This is a personal decision and you need to choose wisely. There are some paid member sites out there that are wonderful but there are tons more that are simple money making ventures with no benefits. I belong to one that is fee driven but I continue with it because of the information and workshops that they provide not because of their RFP options. On most of the larger sites you are one of many who are listed in their directory and answering their RFP's so look carefully at the ROI in the member fees.

PAID ADVERTISING - With the exception of one local mailing I have never done paid advertising and clients seem to be finding me with no problem. I just signed on a client and when asked how he was driven to my site he told me he Googled "HR Virtual assistant" and up I popped (Thanks Tess for the web review and your great suggestions, they paid off!) in the organic search. So it is just a matter of having the right content on your page and using the other free sources out there.

Do you have a FB fan page and are you actively posting to it? How about Twitter, Linkedin and other forums and boards? Don't forget to include blog comments on your favorite posts. These are all areas to get you name out there for FREE!!!!

FEES - I am currently changing my fee structure to an all package deal. I have found that in this stage I am dealing with retainer and long-term clients so it will be easier from a billing standpoint to offer packages. I have started this with my newest clients and it is working well for me. Not that I won't offer hourly rates but it won't be easily advertised. However, this is again is a personal decision that only you can make.

__________________
Lee Drozak
My Office Assistant