Where is the virtual assistant industry trending right now, and what are the most popular niches to pursue? Today I’m joined by Tawnya Sutherland, a thought leader and pioneer in the VA industry. She shares valuable insights and practical tips to help you build a VA business from scratch and find your first clients. With remote work becoming more of a norm, now is the perfect time to begin a fulfilling career in this thriving industry!
Podcast Outline:
[0:48] Introduction to Tawnya Sutherland and how the VA industry has grown in the last 20 years
[3:45] How Tawnya broke into the VA field and positioned herself as a thought leader in this space
[5:02] “The Epidemic of Loneliness” - how our culture is more lonely than ever before and how it’s led communities like VA Networking to thrive
[6:32] Where Tawnya sees the VA industry trending now and how working remotely is becoming more of a norm
[9:27] The most popular VA niches right now - how many types of online marketing are now in demand because of COVID
[12:07] Being a generalist vs being a specialist - how there’s still a demand for generalists who provide virtual administration and online business management
How to Start a VA Business from Scratch
[15:27] #1 Do some research - how to make sure virtual assistance is something you want to do.
[15:42] #2 Write down the services you could do - how to create a list to find a target market.
[16:11] #3 Develop your business structure and marketing plan - the importance of a website and a list.
[17:14] Where VAs are finding their first clients right now - some good ways and good places to go
[22:29] Final words of wisdom from Tawnya - the importance of finding community
[23:49] How to get to know Tawnya and what she’s doing to help VAs get started and retain clients
Resources and tools discussed in this episode: