There are a couple of posts active right now questioning specific niches...both of these intrigued me because, well, who'd a thought?! So, now I'm curious! I thought about a poll but there may be too many and it would be difficult to include everyone. So, let's just start a running list...

When you reply change the title of the post to your niche. If its not exactly clear (like bookkeeping for example) what it is you do then in the body of your post give an explanation. Try to be specific to your dream niche and keep it to what will show on the title line...like maybe "bookkeeping for professional athletes"...talk about $! If you want, for simplicity, copy and paste the services you provide directly into the body or tell us what you won't do. For example you do bookkeeping but defer collections.

It will be interesting to see if when new people join/get up and running they post with something that isn't even on the original list!

I'm betting I learn a lot of new stuff with this one!

Make it a great day!

• workshop material proofing
• layout and design
• process structuring
• proposal and contract creation
• material production, compilation and shipping
• client interactions and voicemail retrieval
• event planning
• appointment scheduling and travel booking
• survey development and date compilation
• assessment adminstration
• "closed office coverage" - when my clients are on vacation or out for their client workshop, training, coaching events

My website isn't even up yet, but here is what I am working on as far as niches, but plan to offer more generalized support in other areas

Construction contractors support
Materials and services pricing and inventory analysis (aka shopping around )
Statute and regulation research
Document preparation including, but not limited to, bid proposals and lien claims
Subcontractor background checks
Project planning/time management support

Customer Relations consultant
Plan and establish CR procedures and policies for new businesses
Analyze and suggest improvements for existing CR systems
Analyze marketing and sales materials from a CR standpoint

Great thread Sundi! Here's mine:


General administrative assistance
Search Engine Optimization, (SEO), Directory submissions
Basic website maintenance: templates, FTP, basic html and css
Advertising assistance (offline and online)
E-mail newsletter marketing
Press releases/Article submissions
Internet research/secondary market research
Shopping cart set-up and maintenance
Video Conversions for upload to YouTube or video sharing site of your choice (take from DVD,VHS tape or digital format)

Sundi, I love this idea!

I just fine tuned my niche recently, so here it is:

Content Management
Database Management (not database specific, including data entry)
Database Creation utilizing MS Access
Web Site Updates (HTML/Minor Flash edits)
Word Processing & Desktop Publishing Updates/Creation
Digital Video & Audio Editing

Virtual Reception
Email Management
Phone Answering Services
Customer Service
Incoming/Outgoing Fax Services

Then I offer basic admin. services if needed.

__________________
Darlene Victoria - Digital Media Manager
http://www.darlenevictoria.com/

I'm currently working on this list for my website -- here are a few of the basics:

• Marketing Support
  • desktop publishing
  • marketing materials
  • logo design
  • business identity
  • marketing campaigns
  • email list management
  • email campaigns
  • assistance with obtaining and setting up booths at bridal shows
• Client Support Assistance
  • Correspondence
  • Responding to inquiries
  • Some client telephone assistance (limited)
  • Appointment setting
  • Gift idea/creation for their clients
  • Etc.
• Basic Web Design
• Web Content Management
  • Text updates
  • Graphic creation and/or optimization
  • SEO consulting
  • Directory listing
  • Blog creation/maintenance
  • Forums
• Office Administrative Services
  • Word processing
  • Spreadsheets
  • File set up
  • Database creation and/or maintenance
  • Form creation/design
• Product Photography
  • for use on website, printed materials, etc.

Down the road, I hope to grow my business enough to do the following:

• Virtual Office
  • Rent a commercial office space to provide my clients a place to meet with their own customers in a professional space -- most of my clients might be home businesses and might be tired of meeting their customers in a coffee shop, for example. I would schedule times that a conference area will be available.
  • Provide a physical place for them to receive mail in order to avoid using a PO Box.
  • Can also service a physical place to have their customers drop off payment for their services.
  • They can use the fax machine, printer, copier, etc.
• Wedding Professionals Network
  • Host networking events both online and local for Wedding Professionals

This list, of course, will be fine-tuned to better serve the Wedding Professionals market...but, this is the start.

Great idea for a thread!!

M.Y. Marketing & Design provides clients with all the expertise, benefits and services of a Marketing Director at a fraction of the cost of a full-time on-site Marketing Director.

Marketing & Advertising:
Creation of Marketing Plans & Marketing Campaigns
Public Relations Campaigns and Press Releases
Collateral Materials Creation (brochures, flyers, signs, menus, business cards and newsletters)
Branding - Create logos and identities
Direct Mail Campaigns
Print & Radio Advertisements (plus negotiation of advertising pricing and contracts with media outlets)

Web Design & E-Marketing
Design of New Websites
Updates to Existing Websites
Search Engine Submissions and SEO Services
Directory Submissions
Email Newsletters and Management of Marketing Databases

Event Planning
I can assist with all phases of event planning (including creating a theme, site selection, menu, guest list, invitations, decorations, entertainment, marketing/advertising/pr for event, and "day of" services, or I can assist with specific event planning needs (such as only marketing or advertising for your event, etc.).

Business Documents & Design:
* Article and Blog Post Writing
* Proofreading
* Document Templates
* Business & Software Manuals
* Procedure Manual Writing and Design
* Report Writing
* Meeting Documentation including Agenda, Minutes & support documents
* Internet Research Reports
* PowerPoint Presentations
* Complex Spreadsheets
* Printed Newsletter Design, Postcards & Direct Mail pieces
* Leaflets/Brochure
* General Typing of Manuscripts, Essays, Research and/or Documents

Website Design & Hosting:
* Website Design
* eZine Design and Coding
* Ecommerce Solutions (including 1shoppingcart.com)
* Website Maintenance
* Content Management Systems (Joomla)
* Hosting and Domain Name Registration

Lead & Customer Management:
* Database and Mailing Management
* Email and Correspondence
* Newsletter design and eZines
* Auto-responders
* Shopping Cart Set-up
* Direct Mailing, Mail Merge letters, labels and emails

My target market is home based professionals including: coaches, business consultants, WAHM (the ones with money LOL), auditors, graphic designers, SEO Optimisation firms, Online shops etc.

__________________
Kylie Short
Tilda Virtual Services - Making virtual personal

I just wanted to say what a great exercise this is. Often when I'm talking to people about their businesses, they have a hard time defining who they are, what they do, or who their target market is. This is something that everyone should do when they are considering starting a business. Typically it's part of the business plan or marketing plan, but at the very least, just to sit down and figure out what you do and who you do it for is invaluable.

Great idea Sundi!

• Lead Follow up
• Marketing
• Website Updates
• Feedback
• Mailings

__________________
Administrative Support Group
Jenifer D

This is a great thread. I've got several of those that were already mentioned but will add the following;

I also have a niche of Deaf and hard-of-hearing business owners, this service is concentrated on communication mostly. However offering the opportunity to have a VA that speaks their own language as well.

Another thing that came up this week... and I'm working on the finalization of services included with speaking engagements. I've recently had 2 requests to help with speaking engagements from two different people. I'm tweaking the duties involved with helping to complete or organize the speaking engagments. However, they have asked if I would do some "searching" for them to book them. Is this a VA thing?

Lisa

Absolutely! Research and helping to plan events are both things I do in my practice on a regular basis. Often these are very time consuming duties for a business owner so it's perfect for a VA (since we are all great on the computer, know where to find specific information and organized!). I would definitely add these to the services you offer. Alot of times business owners don't even realize how much of their time is taken up doing this type of work and if they see that you can do it, they'll realize they need your help that much more!

Hello

My background is Law Enforcement & Secretarial Sciene. I have merged the two together and have come up with my niche.

• Investigating of Businesses, Products & Marketing Ideas (Theme)
• Researching for Businesses, of Products & Marketing Ideas (Theme)
• Confidential Researcher
• Administrative/Clerical Support Service

Each service is very different and is performed differently. My clients specify which service they want perform and I comply.

Phyllis L

I'm still fine-tuning my niche, but my goal is to work primarily with authors offering the following support:

Editing services:
Books / eBooks
Articles
Web site content
Marketing materials
Etc.

General support:
Manuscript preparation / typing
Basic web site maintenance
E-newsletter maintenance
Etc.

__________________
Tammi Metzler ~ The Write Associate
Free call: "How to Write Email Subject Lines That Grab Attention!"

This is a very interesting thread, I love seeing what everyone's specialties are relative to the services they offer...

We do offer all the usual 'admin' relative services but our specialty revolves around helping clients make the most out of their web space. This includes but is not limited to:

-SEO (search engine optimization) consultation and implementation; both on site and off (from content to code and everything in between, plus utilization of off-site options both free and paid)

-SEM (search engine marketing) consultation and implementation; from basic niche research to full account management

-Custom software solutions (custom coded shopping carts, news aggregators, blogs, paid membership/subscription sites, various other website features - etc. etc.)

-Custom website design, development, and maintenance

-Custom newsletter design and support

-Specialized problem solving (the client explains their abstract idea or issue they're dealing with and we figure out how to solve it/make their life easier with code)

__________________

Lisa - I definitly think it qualifies! I think pretty much anything you can get paid for doing that someone else doesn't want to do themselves but needs done qualifies...as long as it is legal and you find joy in doing it! (If you don't see the joy then suggest another VA as a solution to getting it done!)

This list is great! I would have never thought that wedding planners would need an assistant planner! Phyllis - investigation and research has to take a huge chunk off of your clients plates. Of course we all knew that Tess is our specialized problem solver!

Thank you for participating!

My niche is dealing with insurance companies.

Data Entry Services
Customer Service Support
Administrative Support
General Correspondence
Email Management
Appointment Scheduling
Reminder Services
Research Services
General Property and Automobile Insurance Services
Insurance Broker Support

My niche is bookkeeping and QuickBooks set-up, training & support. I also offer property management services as well as general admin. I won't put the full list I have on my website, this is the gist of it.

I've also been doing office organization for my local clients. It wasn't something I intended to do but I have received a lot of requests for it. I could easily work full-time with this alone and I don't even advertise this as a service.

Originally Posted by Rebecka

My niche is bookkeeping and QuickBooks set-up, training & support.

Wow Rebecka, I bet you could spend most of your time doing QuickBooks set up and training, too. I worked for an accounting firm a few years ago and they had a woman on staff who just did QuickBooks for their clients. You might want to try to hook up with some accountants, specifically individual accountants who work alone and don't have a big staff. That kind of stuff is time consuming for them, but clients need the help, and the accountants don't usually have time to devote to it with all their cpa duties (especially at this time of year!).

Yvone

Below is the list of general services that I offer. I hadn't considered a niche until becoming a part of this forum. If I had the CHOICE, I would love to get paid for researching on the internet. I just have to look more into who I could target for work like that. I'm just entering the marketing phase. My first step is research, so here I am reading thread after thread, and article after article...lol.
I don't mind doing invoicing either just because I've done it before and I'm comfortable (and fairly quick) with it.


Administrative: E-mail Management, Typing, Word Processing, Data Entry, Document Preperation, Executive and Clerical Support, General Office Operation. Travel Arrangements.
Business Services: Internet Research, Mail Services, Bulk Mailing, Conference Planning, Schedule Management, Events Management, File Maintenance, Spreadsheets, Power Point Presentation, Charts and Graphs.
Writing and Editing Services: Resume, Cover Letter, Salary History, General Letters, Manuscript, Announcements, Invitations, Newsletters and Brochures.
Customer Support Services: Order Processing, Billing/Invoicing, Customer Email Processing, Sorting, Filing, Faxing, Copying, Follow Up Calls, Tech Support, Customer/Contact Management.
Human Resources: Background Checks, Job Announcements, Training/Employee Manuals.
Financial Services: Accounts Receivable & Payable, Budget Expense Reports, Bookkeeping, Spreadsheets, Personal and Business Account Management and Bill Pay.