HI everyone! I am still very new to being a VA, i only started this past week!
From what I've read on this forums is that one of the best ways to become a VA is to become a VA to a VA.
I would LOVE to do that, but how do you go about getting clients who are already VA's? I would love to start part time assisting very busy and successful VA's before I become full time, but I am very confused about where to begin. Would anyone have suggestions? Also would anyone have suggestions about getting clients? I signed up for Elance, and I got one wonderful client, but for the long run, I don't think that would be best choice. Thanks so much for your time and I am so grateful for this forum!

Hi Virtual in MD!

Congratulations and welcome to the industry! I'm Pam! What's your name?

As I'm sure you've already seen...that is a wealth of information on the forum! The places to start would be to go to this link, which is at the bottom of the list of forums ...>Services Offered which is the VA to VA opportunity listing. AND Services Required. Also...for learning more about starting out as a VA...there is a great resource here somewhere, but I'm having trouble finding it! Yikes!! So...let me go do some more looking, or someone else may chime in by then, but I'll post it to you when I find it.

Meantime, best of luck on getting started! Go put in a signature line so we know you you are...:-) lol...

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Pam Blackman - The Process Coach
Get more done in less time by streamlining!

Ahhh...here is that link I mentioned above. How to get started as a VA

It's a sticky under the FAQ's section just under the VAF community terms of service.

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Pam Blackman - The Process Coach
Get more done in less time by streamlining!

I don't think being a VA to a VA is the best way to go, but you may want to try subcontracting instead. Let other VA's know what you do best, show them your work and start networking with people.

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April Sullivan
The REVA Academy

Hello,

As far as being a VAs VA, that is more commonly referred to as 'subcontracting' or becoming a 'team member' for another VA. You subcontract your services to another VA who already has their own clients and often it is a great way to get started when you're new to Virtual Assisting and haven't acquired your own clients.

The best person I know that comes to mind and who I was lucky enough to meet at the IVAA Summit in Phoenix has actually written an e-book on this exact subject and that is Patty Dost. Patty is part of a large number of VA teams and judging from all the comments I heard from the VAs who use her is she is extraordinarily successful and extremely capable at what she does.

This looks to be a great investment for anyone looking to become a VAs VA:

The VAs VA ebook

Good luck!

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Kate V. Kerans
Kerans Virtual Assistance

Thank you ladies! My name is Julie, sorry I did not get a chance to create a signature yet, whenever I get a chance to I've been just reading forums instead to get information!
I am so excited for this forum, I just found out that there was an option to be a virtual assistant couple months ago, and found this community of virtual assistance on this forum completely by accident!
Pam, I will definitely look into the links that you have given. Thank you so much!
I am assuming that subcontracting is a great way to start and learn, but most likely you won't be able to make as much money as if you were to have your own clients?
To gain your own list of clients seem so overwhelming for me sometimes.
I would love to make around $50,000 a year doing this someday, but is it achievable? Thanks again so much to whoever responds!

Julie

Julie -

I believe it is absolutely achievable, but in my humble opinion, plus my experience in doing this off and on over the last few years (mostly off), you have to have a solid business plan and you have to have a plan that goes beyond more than JUST having clients.

I'm only speaking from my own experience, where most of the reason there has been the mostly "off" scenario is because I didn't plan nor have a vision of how I would expand and also in planning to have mulitple streams of income.

I'm sure there are more experienced veteran VA's on here that may have better suggestions. I'm coming from the perspective of being one who did fail a couple of times...I was told what I needed to do before but I didn't give myself time to plan properly and to have a plan for more than just supporting clients. In other words, don't follow my example. I didn't listen to a lot of people who coached me, mentored me, and I even ignored a lot of the advice on this forum!

I'm coming from the perspective of learn from my mistakes so you won't be like I was. This time IS my last time around. I believe that I have grown, learned, and finally got a lot of sense knocked into me - and if my failures help someone else succeed, then that's a GOOOD thing.

As far as getting clients...or anything else...guard against letting yourself become overwhelmed. Becoming overwhelmed will only hold you back. The old saying about "slow and steady wins the race" is so true. Approach your business like any project. Start with the end goal in mind and then back into it, breaking up the steps to get there, refining them further and further, breaking them down into smaller and smaller parts, and then get your schedule and task lists together and then stick to that plan.

Don't let yourself get sidetracked. This has been my BIGGEST mistake! You can always refine your plan, expand, add more offerings, etc. - but when these wonderful people on this forum say determine your niche - determine your niche.

I for one am happy to help anyone in any way that I can. Lord knows that many, many have helped me and so it is an honor when I can help another. So feel free to get in touch anytime. I don't know as much as many - yet...but am happy to share what I do know.

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Pam Blackman - The Process Coach
Get more done in less time by streamlining!

Dear Pam, Thank you so much for your kind response!
I would love to learn from you, cuz it certainly sounds like you are a wealth of knowledge! Would you ever consider being a mentor and taking me on for some sessions?

I wish there was a list of things like "here is a list of niche, pick one" and Here are the next 12 steps of your starting up your business.
I wouldn't know where to begin on writing up a business proposal, having my own business plan etc.
I am definitely looking around in this forum whenever I can.
I had a problem with downloading the file that was instructions for the new VAs because of winzip- and haven't gotten around to retrying that again.
Pam, please let me know if you are willing to mentor. If you cannot for whatever reason, I am still very grateful for all the information that you gave me, and whenever I have another question I might look you up again.
Thank you!

Julie

Hi Julie -

I'll send you a private message in a little while. :-) We'll talk about what you would like specifically in a mentor - and I'd let you know what I need you to do as a mentee - and work out a time to talk.

Meantime...however...there is a forum here that specifically talks about niches. I looked at it the other day - and there are a ton of posts about other peoples ideas of their niches.

There was also a recorded chat that was under the Social Media section. Here's the link. How Social Media Can Help VAs Market & Differentiate Their Business - archived chat w/ Shama Kabani Although it said the topic was for Social Media it seemed that the conversation really started going toward talking about niches. It had information that I hadn't thought of. I suggest you read that and then look at the niches forum, determine your skill sets and strengths, combine that with what you love to do, and then make a choice.

Talk soon -Pam

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Pam Blackman - The Process Coach
Get more done in less time by streamlining!

HI Pam! I got to read your private message, but only after I had tried to submit asnwers to the questions that you had for me, it said that I needed more posts in order to send a PM.
I guess I better get started working on this forum huh? =D
Please let me know if there is another way I could send the response to you. If not, then I will try to post as much as I can on this forum so I coudl start sending private msgs. Thank you so much for your patience!