VA Survival Guide - Virtual Assistant Forums

#1 (**permalink**) 04-19-2010

I am sure you do not need me to tell you that the Virtual Assistant Industry is flooded with Virtual Assistant books. Many of them discuss the process in starting a Virtual Assistant business, but few concentrate on what it takes to maintain and expand the business. Tina Marie Hilton, author of VA Survival Guide tackles this problem by arming Virtual Assistants with the tools they need to operate a thriving Virtual Assistant company.

Hilton does a great job of providing practical advice to those seeking to enter the Virtual Assistant Industry. I thought it was a terrific idea for her to start the book off with reasons not to become a Virtual Assistant because those who do go into business for the reasons that she lists “…end up giving the virtual assistant industry as a whole a bad name.” Once readers have identified the reasons why they are seeking to become a Virtual Assistants, Hilton leads them through the process of successfully opening, maintaining and growing their business.

Each chapter is dedicated to the various phases one must take in becoming a Virtual Assistant. The book starts off similar to other Virtual Assistant books, the first couple of chapters focus on establishing business policies such as payment policies, hours, etc.
However, Hilton’s book not only discusses the “typical” information you expect to receive but also highlights factors I believe sometimes aspiring Virtual Assistants fail to take into consider such as paying their own taxes, the importance of determining a niche, etc.

Hilton stresses the importance of establishing an online presence by providing people with an interactive experience. I appreciated this reminder from Hilton because Virtual Assistants sometimes allow their websites to become static. Regardless of what the reason, Virtual Assistants must do everything they can to provide their readers with new content. One example, Hilton mentions is a blog because it “…is the perfect way to keep your visitors returning.”

You can then take the confidence that you have gained from blogging and transfer this energy into your networking skills. She shares a variety of ways you can increase your client base by perfecting your online and offline networking. However, all the networking in the world will not enable you to gain new clients until you determine whether you possess the characteristics that Hilton states, “…can be the difference between success and struggling.” She guides readers through the process of how to handle a variety of clients (i.e. demanding, lack of communication, etc.), budgeting your time, etc.

This is a great book for Virtual Assistants that are just starting out and seeking to learn more about the industry (it also includes a workbook that allows readers to keep track of their progress by completing a variety of exercises). There is plenty of advice and tools that will help your business survive well past the startup phase. I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.

This book was published in 2009 and contains 81 pages. The price of this book is $49.99 and can be purchased here .

What are your thoughts regarding VA Survival? We want to hear from you! Please share your thoughts, comments and questions by replying to this thread.

#2 (**permalink**) 06-23-2010

LaTosha . . . thanks for the information. I have been doing Contract Paralegal work for some time, but now I am trying to get more at home work and need all the help I can get on how to survive!

Have an awesome day!

Rey

#3 (**permalink**) 07-09-2010

It sounds like a great book but the price is really steep for a new VA, especially if it's only 81 pages. I wonder why it's $50?

#4 (**permalink**) 07-11-2010

Yes, I thought the price was steep as well, but in reading her site she combines several things into that price. I'm still debating on whether to buy it as this forum has so much great free info, I'm using this site as much as I can to get started.

Great review!

Susan

#5 (**permalink**) 07-13-2010

Originally Posted by Jenn B

It sounds like a great book but the price is really steep for a new VA, especially if it's only 81 pages. I wonder why it's $50?

I recently read a post on the author's blog that I think answers this question, thought I'd post it here as well.

#6 (**permalink**) 07-13-2010

Jenn,

You bring up a very good question because so many VA materials are offered at so many different price points that it is difficult to decipher. But I'll take a stab at answering...

I believe that if a well-though out VA Survival Guide will sell at $50, then it is priced 'right'. If Tina finds that she is not selling her book at this price point...she could go either way. Lowering the price might mean more sales but also raising the price could also mean more sales.

Pricing is based on what the market will bear. Pricing is based upon 'perceived value' as well. A new VA might perceive the Survival Guide as a good value and pay $60 for it...

I won't pay $2.50 for a bottled water because I perceive that price to be unreasonable. But I will pay $3.00 for a bottle of cold, green tea if I wanted this. This is because I perceive tea as a much more valuable and enjoyable beverage than plain bottled water.

From the review above, this book offers substantial value.

There are other considerations regarding pricing...yes, much of what was revealed in the book review is offered here on VAF but VAs need to consider what their own time is worth looking around and combining the info for their own needs.

You could pay $50 to have everything in one place...at your fingertips...with a workbook included or you can spend some time downloading forms or searching for terms and reading threads.

If you hourly fee is $50 an hour but it takes you 3 hours to get your contracts together and so on, then the book more than pays for itself. So value depends on how much of your own time you want to invest in starting your business.

Frankly, it is just great to have both free and paid options!

I am often reminded of a common thread that appears here on VAF about rates. What to charge? If the rate is too low, the VA's services could be undervalued; if priced too high then the VA's services could be too great of an expense (for clients' budgets).

So I feel that the answer to fair and reasonable pricing is somewhere in between. This number is controlled by the customer. And what I can afford is not the same as what another VA can afford.

Do I think the book is over-priced for a new VA's budget? Well, I cannot really answer that. It might be or it might not be. It is whatever the market...in this case...new VAs can budget. If Tina is selling her books, then she has found the best price point for her customer.

I certainly don't believe the book should be free, though (in response to the link Tess provided).

Janine

#7 (**permalink**) 07-13-2010

I hear everyone's point of view on this and all of you make great points!

If you feel the price is a bit high for you right now definitely look around for something you can afford. ALL the books I've seen in regards to Virtual Assistants are written by wonderful people so you know they will be good.

Then later when you have the money or are willing to pay the price you can always purchase no matter how long you've been in business. Just because they state it is for potential VA's doesn't mean you shouldn't purchase.