SVA Forum

karen3w · Joined: 03 Jun 2010 Posts: 6

Hi,
I'm new here but not new as a Virtual Assistant.
I live just outside Selby, North Yorkshire - near York - and I've been working as a virtual assistant for approx. 2 years now. Unfortunately the work is drying up at the moment, as many small companies are struggling in the current climate.
I am 45 years old and have 25 years secretarial experience. I am also bilingual, having studied German at college and lived and worked in Germany for 13 years.
I juggle my home-working around home educating my youngest daughter who is 9 years old.
Nice to meet you all.

caroline · Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 10:14 am Post subject:

Hi Karen

Sorry for not saying hello sooner - just back from the VA conference so catching up!!!

Have you tried going back over all your old clients and simply calling them to say hello? Sometimes all it takes is reminding people of your presence in order to get some more work!

Caroline
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karen3w · Joined: 03 Jun 2010 Posts: 6

Hi Caroline,

Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately I've only had two clients plus the odd CV. Those clients supplied me with regular work and enough hours until one had to close last year. The other still sends work through but not a lot at the moment. That is only because she works freelance also and has not got a lot of work herself at the moment.

I'm finding it very difficult to find new clients and cannot afford to spend a lot on advertising - in fact I can't afford to spend anything at the moment.

I'm going to have a good look around the site and hope to find some tips on where to look for new work, where best to advertise etc.

Do you know if by joining this site I am automatically added to the list of VAs that clients can search?

Thanks for your help.

caroline · Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 10:22 am Post subject:

The Approved scheme got shelved a wee while ago after our webhosts withdrew support for the type of database it was in.

However by filling in your profile on the forum you get really good SEO incoming links to your website so it is good from that point of view.
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To support SVA please donate to: http://tinyurl.com/37urec

karen3w · Joined: 03 Jun 2010 Posts: 6

Thanks for letting me know.

ulsaba · Joined: 09 Jan 2010 Posts: 40

Hi Karen,

Where in Germany did you live? Just curious as I am originally from Frankfurt.

Ulsaba

karen3w · Joined: 03 Jun 2010 Posts: 6

[quote="ulsaba"]Hi Karen,

Where in Germany did you live? Just curious as I am originally from Frankfurt.

Ulsaba[/quote]

Hi Ulsaba,

I used to live in Hamburg and then on the outskirts of Hamburg in a village. I lived there for 13 years. What brought you to the UK?

ulsaba · Joined: 09 Jan 2010 Posts: 40

Wow, I love Hamburg, my favourite town in DE.

I did a language focussed degree (English, French and Spanish) with business administration and we spent the last year abroad in 3 countries. I always wanted to live abroad properly and when my employer closed down in 2004 decided that London is fairly close to home and just left.

karen3w · Joined: 03 Jun 2010 Posts: 6

Yes Hamburg is a beautiful city, I miss it a lot. Unfortunately I've never really been anywhere else in Germany apart from Celle, Hannover, Berlin ... but I loved living there.
How do you find it living here? Are your family all in Germany?

sara - Office Bird · Posted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 10:51 pm Post subject:

Hi Karen,

Don't get too down. you are 20 minutes on th etrain from me and I can assure you that although some businesses are failing some are thriving. Try goin to networking meetings, don't worry about advertising.

Can you get someone to look after your daughter whilst you cold call businesses in person? Walk around town going into businesses offering your services. Check out the websites for local businesses and see if you can come up with ideas to help their business then go and pitch to them. Scary thought I know but if you are just sitting at home customers aren't going to knock on your door for no reason. I know when I started up I spent hours walking around putting leaflets through doors, sending out letters, making phone calls etc.

Think positive and something will come up I'm sure Very Happy

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Sara
Office Bird
Your Perfect Business Partner

www.officebird.co.uk

karen3w · Joined: 03 Jun 2010 Posts: 6

Thanks Sara, I have been thinking about sending letters out to all local businesses. I will spend some time tomorrow afternoon calling around and drafting a letter to deliver.

Do you find mainly small businesses contact you? Am I wasting my time writing to big companies too?

sara - Office Bird · Posted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 11:34 pm Post subject:

I think the big companies are the best ones to catch as they have the money, but then again they also normally have the PAs that will stop you getting through to anyone important. ALL of my clients are small businesses but then I work on large numbers of low value contracts. Ither prefer fewer high value contracts. horses for courses really. sorry not to g=have been much more help. Maybe target those similar to the one you lost as you have experience in in that area?
_________________
Sara
Office Bird
Your Perfect Business Partner

www.officebird.co.uk