Niche Help - Virtual Assistant Forums

cherylb · #1 (**permalink**) 10-02-2009

Okay, here we go. I like internet research and typing the best. I spent more than 20 years as a medical transcriptionist & supervisor. I can talk with doctors as a colleague. I have had clients in the past doing transcription of all sorts of medical and medico-legal reports. I am currently working as an administrative assistant for insurance adjusters. I am very good with typing, editing, proofreading, but am quite capable of doing many other things. I can also do localization/localisation due to my years in Australia and England. So, any suggestions as to a niche? I'm working on a list of what I can do and what I like to do, but would welcome any thoughts/suggestions. I don't want to narrow it too much and have no clients, yet I don't want to make it too broad.

Alicia~VA in the Making · #2 (**permalink**) 10-02-2009

Hi Cherylb,

It sounds like you have a lot to work with. Good for you!

I am in the start-up phase (no clients). I had this same question so I did a forum search. If you type in the search bar " Running niche list". It will give you an old thread that was started by Sundi Hayes-My Office Zilla. It is an old thread by it was very informative for me. I hope this helps some!

Best Wishes!

Action Jackson VA · #3 (**permalink**) 10-02-2009

Originally Posted by cherylb

Okay, here we go. I like internet research and typing the best. I spent more than 20 years as a medical transcriptionist & supervisor. I can talk with doctors as a colleague. I have had clients in the past doing transcription of all sorts of medical and medico-legal reports. I am currently working as an administrative assistant for insurance adjusters. I am very good with typing, editing, proofreading, but am quite capable of doing many other things. I can also do localization/localisation due to my years in Australia and England. So, any suggestions as to a niche? I'm working on a list of what I can do and what I like to do, but would welcome any thoughts/suggestions. I don't want to narrow it too much and have no clients, yet I don't want to make it too broad.

Is sounds like you are a generalist with a specialty in medical transcription.
I suggest, if you like doing the things you listed, then go for it. If you are burnt out on transcription, which happens, then go with generalist. Generalist are VA's who do more admin work rather than a specialty service such as REVA, VBA and or Bookkeeping.

Good luck!
Andrea

KC Virtual Solutions · #4 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009

Hi Cheryl

I was in the same situation as you when I started out as a VA. I had a wide range of skills and couldn't decide on a specific niche.

I marketed them all and eventually things fell into place, I have now adopted the role of Social Media Assistant (70% of my work is Twitter and building fan pages on Facebook), and also design, which is something that I never even marketed as a service, but fell into it by chance.

Things will come together, just concentrate on your strongest skills. The important thing is to deliver work to your clients to a high quality, and they'll come back for more.

Good luck! x