I have a very diverse background so there are lots of things I can work on but I worry that listing too many types of services would make me look unfocused. How did you decide what services to offer? Did you start with just a few things and then increase as your business grew or vice versa or ...?

I'm thinking of focusing on 3 major areas (that I have the most experience with and get the most enjoyment from) and breaking them down like this (they'll be separate tabs on my website):

1 - Administrative Support

- Document Layout and Formatting
- Spreadsheet Development and Maintenance
- Database Development and Maintenance
- PowerPoint Presentation Design
- Mass Mailing Coordination
- Travel Expense Reporting
- Research and Report Writing

2 - Project Coordination

- Project Schedule Development and Maintenance
- Define Project Scope, Deliverables and Time Line
- Risk Assessment and Planning
- Resource Allocation Planning
- Centralized Communication
- Project Update Reporting
- Coordinate Billable Hours Tracking

3 - Event/Travel Management

- Contract Negotiation (Venue, Caterer, Entertainment, etc.)
- Day-of Event Coordination
- Invitation Process (Design, Printing, Sending)
- Guest List Management
- Business and Leisure Travel Planning (focus on complicated International Itineraries)

Thanks for your thoughts.

VVA

Hi there, this is a great question
I would sugges that you offer services that you are both skilled at and enjoy - with that formula you really can't go wrong!
As a business owner you have the luxury of being able to turn down projects that don't appeal to you or are out of your range of skills and you can always outsource to or partner with other VAs who do offer that particular service.

Alot of times I find myself doing things for clients that I'd never have thought of before...they'll email and ask 'Can you.....?' which provides a nice variety and the chance to learn something new once in a while.

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Thanks. I'm all about partnerships. I'm a big believer that when a person likes what they're doing they'll do a much better job and that people have specialties they should focus on. I know what my weaknesses are and won't offer those services directly, but I'll definitely build relationships with other VAs who do so I can float work their way or hire them as a sub. No one is good at everything.

That's great that you were able to sit down and really define what it is you like and want to do! There are several things that I left off my service offerings as well. The idea of a multi-level VA practice has really gained momentum and I think it's a great way to be able to manage a business along with having the right team members in place.

The nice thing about being the boss is that you can change your offerings or tweak them as you move forward. I have done that twice so far!

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Doreen R. Patrick, MVA, ACS, CIVA
www.virtualbusinesspartners.net

I offer a variety of services. I have the most common listed on my website, but the "real list" is ever changing. Sometimes it changes because I will remove things that I decide I no longer want to do or I might add something that I find I like doing. I have gotten request for services, like office organization that I do for local clients, although I don't advertise it.

I made a list of my skills and then dropped off what I don't enjoy doing. Hmmm... ended up doing bookkeeping exclusively

I would suggest a bullet pointed list of all the task that you are capable of doing an try to condense this list to make it feasible enough for you to pin point the services that you are definitely proficient in doing. Also you can consider developing a subcontracting relationship with another VA to handle projects that you might not feel so comfortable doing by yourself.

Best of Luck,
Nikkii

I think your list looks good, and putting each section under a different tab will be just right.
What occurs to me is, if you put yourself in the client's shoes, s/he's coming to you because of your branding and/or because you are offering just one (or a very few) specific skill. You get clients through what you are known for. And you can't be known for a long list of related things, right? Like you're known for your hairstyling skill, maybe even for your African-American hairstyling skill, but you're not so much known for your African-American straightening, braiding, dyeing, treating and setting hairstyling skills. Which is a convoluted way of saying, a VA offers many different-but-related skills and these should definitely be featured in your website and marketing, but it really is not going to matter much to someone who thinks they may need your services. They're going to contact you based on your brand, and then you just answer their questions.

Having typed all this, I sure am hoping it makes some sense ....

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Mary H. Ruth/Virtual Writing & Communications
http://www.writingVA.com

Hello Mary,

I totally agree with the piece of advice that your are conveying in your response.

Nakiba Jones

Mary,

I agree as well. I think there's such a thing as too much info. What I think I'll do is on my services section show my 3 main categories with a short paragraph about each. At the end of the paragraph I'll have an "examples" link which will take them to a bullet-list of the different services. This way it'll cover both the big picture people and the detail folks.

Thanks!