If you intend to operate as a sole trader, applying for an ABN is free and straightforward through the Australian Business Register. You don't need a trading name or a complete business setup to do this. You can apply under your own name. Not sure which business structure is right for you (sole trader, company, trust)? Check out this webinar, and seek personal advice from a qualified ... Read on
All-in-One Website Builder
Squarespace is an excellent option for building websites for clients, or for yourself. It's beautiful straight out of the box, easy to use, and is an all in one solution in that unlike WordPress you don't require hosting, or third-party themes and other than the purchase of a domain name (which you can do within Squarespace if you like) it's simply sign up and get going. How does it ... Read on
Customisable Website Content Management System
When it comes to working on or building a website these days, as a VA you need to have a good understanding of WordPress! WordPress has become the most popular and widely used content management system (CMS). It's amazingly flexible - you can build any kind of site you could dream of with it and make it look any way you wish. That being said, there is a more techy feel to it, and it can be ... Read on
Mission: Find a Copywriter
Nice one! We asked a brilliant copywriter we know, Rachel Smith, to help us answer this one. Rachel can be found at RS Copy + Content, and she’s also the founder of Rachel’s List, a leading jobs board that connects job-posters with copywriters, content producers, journalists and other creatives. AND she is also a co-host of one of our favourite podcasts, The Content Byte. Here's ... Read on
Rome wasn’t built in a day
Oh, we feel this. Starting a virtual assistant business while juggling work, family and, well, life—is no small feat. Even though you’re aiming to run a one-person show, getting your business off the ground can feel like a full production. Here’s the truth: you don’t need to do everything at once. Building your business doesn’t have to mean late nights, big leaps, or quitting your ... Read on
What’s in a name?
Many very successful VAs use their own names and sole trader ABNs with no trading name. Others simply use their first name, full name, or nickname with "Virtual Assistant" tacked on at the end as their trading name (e.g., "Fi Campbell - Executive Virtual Assistant")... and this has not stopped them from becoming fully booked either! In saying this, starting your own business is an ... Read on
It’s nice to be niche – but is it?
Let’s talk about this whole “niching up” thing. On one hand, specialising can be a fast track to success... IF you’ve got experience in a particular industry, a clear understanding of a specific type of client, or you are a gun at providing a particular type of service. It allows you to skip the learning curve, speak your clients’ language, and deliver value quickly (and ... Read on
Collaborative Virtual Whiteboard
A graphic speaks a thousand words, and scribbling what's in your head can help you make sense of your thoughts or deliver the message you're trying to convey. Miro is a visual collaboration tool and it has been a "gold nugget find" for the Thought Penny team. We use it to map websites, display organisation charts, plan client journeys before we automate them, and brainstorm during marketing ... Read on
CRM with Automation, Appointments, EDMs, Sales Pipeline and More
Keap Pro is an all-in-one sales, marketing and customer relationship management platform, and seriously, your new best friend. The key word we want you to keap, uh, keep in mind here is automation... because Keap Pro is the master of it! So, while you can choose how hands-on you want it to be, when used to its full potential, it’s a platform designed to take the hard yards out of everything ... Read on