My name is Julie Auler, I'm a wife and mother, musician and fitness junkie, and virtual assistant.
I recently became a VA after blogging and freelance writing on a very part-time basis for 2 years, when my husband was laid off of his previous job in order to help make ends meet while he was searching for work.
Before my daughter was born, I was a wellness coordinator, but wound up diversifying my skills when my boss noticed I had a flair for social media management and design. I ultimately designed a t-shirt for a countywide event and wound up helping format their newsletter as well assist their website administrator. I began to dabble in the idea of becoming a VA before my daughter was born because I wanted to be able to spend time with her and knew that my family would need the extra income it would bring in order to stay home with her.
After she was born, I waited a couple of weeks and then got to work. Some days, I felt like I'd never be able to land those clients, but I've been really blessed. Because the clients I did land have referred more clients to me faithfully, and this is only 60 days into seriously starting a business! I'm now making more than I did at my old day job!
Here's some tips I would offer to anyone hoping to become a virtual assistant that I have learned on my journey thus far:
1) Keep trying! Chances are, you won't land the first job that you bid on or apply to. I know that it took lots of practice submitting proposals before I landed my first client.
2) Sell your unique strengths. As a VA, you basically are your brand, so showcase your unique skill set and style.
3) Don't be afraid to learn new skills or brush up on old ones.
4) Utilize an extra pair of eyes to scan your work from time to time. Your spouse or your family members or other colleagues are great for offering their honest advice, plus you never know what great suggestions they might offer. My hubby is my go to quality assurance.
5) Be friendly and show that you care! This really helps in retaining clients. Own up to your mistakes, and let your clients know the best times and means to reach you. Remember, they are people too.
Julie recently became a VA who specializes in content management, curation, and creation, and also dabbles in social media and branding.
- What Ever Your “Why” Is, Let That Shine Through - December 14, 2016
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