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No. #5: Don’t undercharge for your services
I know what it’s like when you’re starting out. You just want clients and you want them now.
So what if you have to discount your services to get business? So what if you undercut your competitors to stand a better chance?
Did you go into business to sell yourself short and lose money? If you remember only one thing from this eBook, then remember this:
You must charge a reasonable hourly rate so that you can cover your overheads and earn a reasonable amount of money.
Even though you’re working from home and not paying office rental costs, you’ll have a myriad of ongoing and one-off costs for marketing, equipment, stationery and so on.
You’ll also need to fund your own retirement, and put money aside for holidays and sick leave.
Therefore, as a rule of thumb, you must charge roughly two and a half to three times the hourly rate you would earn as an employee.
Some VAs post their hourly rates on their websites, so do some research and get a feel for current market rates.
The other downside of charging too little is that clients may even be put off if your rates are too low. I know I certainly wouldn’t trust the cheapest VA or any other service provider for that matter. People really do believe that you get what you pay for.
Also, clients at the lower end of the market will tend to be penny pinchers, haggling over every penny.
However, by all means stay flexible. What if you sense that a client could turn into a long-term retainer, but you just need to get your foot in the door? Use your intuition and judgment. But don’t get into the mindset of discounting your services to get clients.
With my EBook ‘Freelance From Home! The Five Key Steps to Your Successful Virtual Assistant Business’, you get a detailed eWorkbook which calculates your average hourly rate, plus invaluable tips on persuading clients to pay you what you are worth!
No. #6: Make your website a priority
The Virtual Assistant works virtually, and therefore is expected to have an online presence.
I would say that setting up a website is something you should do in the early stages of your business.
It can be the first impression people get of your services, therefore a professional looking site is important.
You could learn the skills and design it yourself. However, only do this if you are confident that the result will look professional.
Alternatively, pay a web designer – it is quite cost effective nowadays to get one designed.
Give consideration to the look of the site. Keep it clear and clean.
It must be professional, easy to navigate, and fast to load.
Avoid heavy use of graphics and photos, because this slows down the load time. In today’s fast moving internet world, prospective clients will not wait long before they click on to another site.
Draw up a plan of the site. Here are some suggestions for pages:
Home
About Us
What is a VA?
Services
Rates
Testimonials
Contact Us
Regarding what to put on your site, always write with your target market in mind. Web copy must be easy to read. Use short sentences and get to the point quickly.
Setting up a website is only the first step. You have to promote it otherwise it will just languish there in cyberspace!
There are a multitude of ways to promote your website such as getting listed in search engines, participating in forums, using an email signature, getting listed in directories and writing articles.
No. #7: Get support from your family
Depending on your situation, you may have a spouse or partner, and/or children.
Running your own business is one of the most rewarding and challenging things you’ll ever do. Make sure your family is behind you every step of the way.
Is your spouse/partner the supportive type? How about your children? Will they understand when you need to ‘lock yourself away’ and get that project done? It’s easy to underestimate the impact that running a business from home can have on your relationships.
That’s why it’s crucial to get support and understanding from family members right from the start.