Really interesting thread, thanks so much.
My niche is the television production industry, and offer the following services:

• TX Forms
• Billings
• PasC (Programme as Completed)
• Music timings
• Music Cue Sheets
• Compliance
• Schedule of Residuals
• Post Production Scripts
• Episode transcription

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www.HereWhenYouNeedMe.com

Originally Posted by tildavirtual

Diane, I would hate to think that you are re-thinking your business because of this thread. To figure out what services you'd like to provide to your clients, start with a list of all the things you can do. Delete the ones that you detest and delete the ones you just don't like. What is left is what you can start providing. As your business grows and you gain more virtual experience, you'll start to find your business niche being pulled in a particular area. For me it was website design. Up until this year, I'd been self taught and then I decided to go to the local TAFE (Technical College - Australia) this year and learn everything I could about website design. This will make me a better VA but considering that I started my business providing bookkeeping services and general typing, I am a long way from where I first started 2 years ago. If you've made it this far, then you are definitely not incompetent!!

tildavirtual,

I know you wrote this a while ago directed towards Diane, but I just wanted to say that this comment was really helpful for me. I'm still very much in the early phase of the VA thing, and I was reading this thread to see what everyone does. Like Diane, I was feeling a bit incompetent. I could pretty much figure out what a lot of the things people were listing are, but I either don't know how, or don't have experience with a lot of them. So reading that you started of with very slim and basic offerings and have moved on to the things that you love doing in such a short time (and being self taught), is really encouraging!

Lol, I'm starting to get the feeling that this is all just a self-esteem game, and everyone here seems so ready to boost everyone else up. I think this is one of the friendliest places I've seen on the net!

lol - I just had this self esteem problem yesterday. Now after sending out around 150 emails within the last 2 months, to potential customers (and only hearing back from about 10% of them with either "no thank you" or "not right now, but maybe later") I finally had two contacts ask me for a proposal and I'm starting to get scared and not sure if I can really pull this off. Thank goodness for my hubby. He keeps encouraging and reassuring me that I'm great at what I do and that he wishes he had the passion for something, like I do for my own business. So I'm down for a moment but he brings me back up and helped me with my first proposal last night. It frustrates me that I can't quit my full time job just yet and that I get more of my own business marketing done at my 9 - 5, then the work I get paid to do. But my own thing is so much more fun - please don't you guys tell on me !! :-)

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Tanja
http://www.englishgermanvs.com

I am so thankful for this thread, but like others have said, it is making me a little apprehensive and I'm re-thinking about my services, etc. The problem I have is that I'm a "Jill of all trades" so to speak. I've worked in the medical and IT fields and can do just about anything you put in front of me. I have NO idea how to find a niche.

After reading the replies on this thread, targeting the construction industry sounds really interesting. The only construction experience I have though is in building my own house! LOL However, I am a very quick study and would love to learn more. One of my good friends runs a branch office for a construction company and I plan on quizzing her.

I've also been investigating manuscript & screenplay prep. I love books and just think it would be so neat to type, proofread & edit manuscripts. My son is a writer/filmmaker and I could get him involved with the screenplay prep. I have extensive proofreading & editing experience due to 10 years of doing the same with government proposals. However, I can't seem to find how to target authors or the publishing industry.

If y'all think that I'm totally off my rocker, my experience is in proposal prep, marketing assistance, desktop publishing, website maintenance (and a little design), software help tools, bookkeeping, and medical staff coordinating. So, if anybody has any suggestions, please jump right in. I really appreciate it!

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Sheila
www.snappyadmin.com

I provide language support to Arab executives for whom English is a second language. I take care of everything from email to company brochures and editing websites.

I act as a liaison between the executive and 'Western' associates in both organization and correspondence.

It has been a slow start, and marketing is very difficult here, but hope to get the ball rolling soon!

Sheila, your reply could have been mine, lol.
I have had trouble focusing on a niche - I have held a number of administrative roles, mainly in local government, a 2 year stint with a not-for-profit group, and a few shorter term roles in private enterprise. I feel like I'm a jill of all trades, and I know I'm quick to pick up the details of any job I'm given, but how to transfer that into a marketing tool and create a niche..... I'm still not sure.

I love the construction field and after reading these posts, I'm considering marketing in that field, as well as to small local business and trade operators.

Oh boy, the mind is ticking over

Hi, i'm sorry i didnt see your comment sooner. But its vaclassroom.com. great courses.

Thanks for sharing every one. As a new VA I've found this post very helpful.

Although I'm promoting myself as a letter writing business, including newsletters and such, I still want to market myself as a versatile Business Assistant. I'm not sure how I will get this across without sounding vague or confusing.

Wow. Just had to say this is a great thread!!!!!! It's really helping me find skills I didn't think to add to my list!