Virtual Assistant Forums

#1 (**permalink**) 06-21-2012

I thought it might be useful to find out what type of businesses are using VA services. So I've come up with this poll.

Please put a mark against the sectiors that your clients fall into.

Looking forward to seeing the results for this one!

#2 (**permalink**) 06-21-2012

Are you asking which industries our clients are in or which industries use VA services? If it is the latter then all can be checked. However if it is clients, that is going to narrow down the list one or two.

#3 (**permalink**) 06-21-2012

To clarify, it's YOUR clients. The point is that if everyone ticks the boxes that apply to them we might be able to see if there is one sector that uses VAs more than others.

#4 (**permalink**) 06-21-2012

I service business coaches, professional speakers, authors and not-for-profit groups. There are others too but these are the main groups I've supported for the past 18 years.

#5 (**permalink**) 06-25-2012

Very interesting! So far Professional Services is way out in front, with Personal / Lifestyle Services and Training & Coaching in joint second.

I'm curious to know what kind of Personal / Lifestyle Service businesses people have as clients?

#6 (**permalink**) 06-29-2012

Come on peeps, is nobody else interested in this?

#7 (**permalink**) 07-12-2012

I am! I was a freelance personal assistant first and expanding to virtual services. I have actually had quite a few really small jobs in personal services. Mainly scheduling and appointment setting, research, travel arrangements. Sometimes people want you to do pretty fun things, like narrow down rental listings to what they like. That's actually the type of work I enjoy doing the most. I like how it is... well, personal! I love the people I've gotten to know doing personal services locally and everyone I've met trying to switch my business over to virtual-land. I would love to get clients that offer more advanced personal services. Since I don't have a huge client base, I would say that creative arts, coaching, charity & non-profit would be my dream client base to work with. Not sure if that counts for much :P

#8 (**permalink**) 07-13-2012

I used to do a lot of medical transcription and medical administrative work in my area. Sadly, our local hospital has decided to try to buy out all the practicing physicians and turn them into hospital employees, even using strongarm tactics in some cases. Apparently, having them as employees creates a much larger income stream for the hospital. I understand this is happening in a lot of areas. Newer doctor's are jumping at the chance because they cut out overhead, staffing, conversion to electronic medical records, etc., and actually get regular vacation time, insurance, and a steady paycheck. As a result, a lot of well-established doctors who had been in the area for years have left the area to practice in other towns. The hospital contracts with an out of country transcription and medical billing company as well. Ten years ago, I had all the business I could handle, I even had to turn clients away. Now, I have had to completely revamp my business in order to earn a living. I guess change has both advantages and disadvantages, but it is the only thing we can really count on.

#9 (**permalink**) 01-05-2013

Originally Posted by PTS Virtual Solutions

I used to do a lot of medical transcription and medical administrative work in my area. Sadly, our local hospital has decided to try to buy out all the practicing physicians and turn them into hospital employees, even using strongarm tactics in some cases. Apparently, having them as employees creates a much larger income stream for the hospital. I understand this is happening in a lot of areas. Newer doctor's are jumping at the chance because they cut out overhead, staffing, conversion to electronic medical records, etc., and actually get regular vacation time, insurance, and a steady paycheck. As a result, a lot of well-established doctors who had been in the area for years have left the area to practice in other towns. The hospital contracts with an out of country transcription and medical billing company as well. Ten years ago, I had all the business I could handle, I even had to turn clients away. Now, I have had to completely revamp my business in order to earn a living. I guess change has both advantages and disadvantages, but it is the only thing we can really count on.

Hi Paula
I got your name from your profile; many businesses take this strong-arm tactic, I am sad to hear that hospitals are stooping to that level.
When you said you are revamping your business, in what way? Are you going into a completely different niche?