The Virtual Assistant Handbook: Insider Secrets or starting and running your own profitable VA business [Paperback]

Nadine Hill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2, 2009

WANTED: well organised, computer savvy home-workers to help busy professionals and entrepreneurs get more done. Work where you want, when you want and set your own salary as a successful Virtual Assistant. If you have excellent organisational skills, wa

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

Here are genuine reader testimonials:

"Dear Nadine, I suspect you receive numerous emails from people that have read your book, so here is another one! I never normally do this, but I just had to write to say how inspired I was. As a very bored project/operations manager with the daily commute grinding me down while a childminder has all the joy of looking after my two children, I decided that it was time for a change. It was such a joy to read your book and along the way I kept nodding, agreeing and frantically highlighting sections." Name & address details supplied

"I just wanted to say I purchased your book via Amazon UK and its fantastic, it made me rethink some of the things I had done that weren't quite right!! Thanks again for your assistance." Kate Pilkington Strictly VA.

I am writing to give you some feedback on your book - simply great, nice size, in plain English and made me realise I know more than I thought as it triggered lots of things that lay dormant in my head! Sarah Bradley, VA, Help Ahoy

About the Author

Nadine Hill is a business mum, entrepreneur and marketing expert, with more than a decade's experience in PR for fashion & lifestyle brands then in the motor industry which makes her contacts book more valuable than her jewellery box! She created The Dream PA, a boutique virtual assistance business based in Yorkshire serving the world in 2004/05 which focuses on assisting small businesses through telephone answering and admin support. Since then she has started to help other people achieve their dreams of becoming a virtual assistant through her popular short courses. Passionate about getting things done and managing time effectively, Nadine created `The Dream PA Busy Book' which is a personal organiser for busy women. Her own Busy Book is groaning under the weight of all the tasks written in there but Nadine enjoys the juggling act of her life that is lived in Yorkshire, UK with her husband, 2 young children and family cat! WANTED: well organised, computer savvy home-workers to help busy professionals and entrepreneurs get more done. Work where you want, when you want and set your own salary as a successful Virtual Assistant.

If you have excellent organisational skills, want the freedom to work from home and are passionate about doing a great job then a career as a Virtual Assistant could be for you!

Professional VA, Nadine Hill, shares all her tricks-of-the-trade to help budding and working VAs to become more in-demand with the right clients and more in-control of their success.

Inside you will learn:

• Tricks for being in-demand even if you know nothing about marketing
• How to find your niche to stand out from the competition
• Hard-won time-management tactics for staying sane and productive
• A simple technique for settting your fees to be profitable and competitive
• Where to go for further information including business development, networking and financial advice
• The 9 most common mistakes new VAs make and how to avoid them
• 6 candid case studies with top tips from successful working VAs
• How to raise your fees without losing clients by demonstrating value not cost
• How to find and do work that you love without compromising your values
• Systems and secrets for running a successful business while still having a life

PRAISE
"The book is crammed full of really helpful tips and is heaven sent for a complete novice like me. It is a thoroughly enriching and inspirational read with very clear and easy to understand references. I would thoroughly recommend this to anyone considering making the leap to becoming a VA." Alison Wright, Co Durham

"The book is a fantastic read with loads of excellent practical things that people can do if they aspire to be a VA. Also I think there is great stuff for everyone, not just VAs. I took note of a few things myself!" David Slane, Regional Director - Local Business, Barclays

"I am a new VA and feel that this book was written just for me. It is so open and honest and points out many mistakes that I was unaware of, even after completing a recognised VA diploma. Nadine has given me such good ideas about how to focus on my niche and I have found her book very useful.

"Although I'm not in the VA business I found the book easy to understand, written with a clear, friendly writing style." Catherine Gregory, Senior Career Development Adviser, University of Bradford

Nadine Hill is a business mum, entrepreneur and marketing expert. She created The Dream PA in 2004 and focuses on assisting small businesses through telephone answering and admin support. As well as running her own thriving VA business she helps others to become VAs too through her popular short courses. She lives in Yorkshire, UK with her husband, 2 young children and family cat.

Product Details

• Paperback: 196 pages
• Publisher: Bookshaker (April 2, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1905430566
• ISBN-13: 978-1905430567
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #762,561 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Nadine Hill is a 'hands on' mum of two young children, business owner, author, speaker and blogger. Nadine's business as a Virtual Assistant has seen her supporting more than 100 small UK businesses with her telephone answering service and administrative duties, and in 2008 she took the business Global when she secured several International clients (based in the USA) and began offering a 24-7 Virtual Receptionist service utilising a partnership with a call centre in Australia.

From starting her career in fashion and consumer PR, Nadine launched her own business, The Dream PA, in April 2005, with 50 GBP working capital, a great idea and a bucketload of passion. Coming to the Virtual Assistance Industry from a marketing background rather than a secretarial one meant that she was successful in getting media coverage for the business which led to a faster client intake and more business visibility. This in turn led to her receiving lots of calls and emails from new Virtual Assistants who wanted to ask questions on aspects of their business and the industry. After trying to answer them all and running her own business and family life, Nadine decided to create The Virtual Assistance Handbook to help these VAs. It is the book she wishes she could have read when she began the business and it is the first published 'how to' book aimed at VAs in the British market. It became an Amazon best-seller on launch day.

Nadine's second non fiction book, 'I Don't Have Time To Write' is a how to guide aimed at writers, bloggers and authors.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Key to Bieng a Virtual Assistant, May 8, 2009

By 

Rintu Basu "Author, The Persuasion Skills Bla... (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Virtual Assistant Handbook: Insider Secrets or starting and running your own profitable VA business (Paperback)

When I read this book I did so with some trepidation because I didn't think I was in the target readership for the book. I have used VAs in the past and not quite got the results I wanted and the nature of my work means I come across people wanting to start working for themselves all the time. My goals for reading this book were to get some insight into the world of VAs, how I could use one more effectively and more ideas around a business that is different from my own that I could use for myself and others.

I got all of my objectives and much more from Nadine's book.

Let me start with the one thing that would have made the book even better for me and that is to add some male angle to the work. I guess Nadine didn't because her target readership is female but I couldn't help thinking that there must be a man somewhere that is starting or running a VA business. Anyway this is a mute point against everything that is thoroughly brilliant about this book.

The writing style is conversational with relevant stories, experiences and anecdotes throughout. This made the book an easy and enjoyable read as well as extremely informative.

I think one of the best features of this book is how specific it is, i.e. it is for VAs starting and running a business in the UK. Within this Nadine speaks from personal experience and it is quite clear she is an extremely capable business woman as she gives good business advice that you can apply to any business. Even though I am not in the VA business I found myself taking notes about things I need to do or check about my own business whilst reading this book.

Does that mean if you are not in the UK that this book isn't of value? I believe the people that are starting / running a VA business in the UK will love this book but there is enough here to hold the attention of everyone that has some interest in VAs where ever in the world that they are.

Nadine has a coaching style to her writing and the whole book is laid out to take you through the whole process of starting, marketing and maintaining your VA business. My favourite chapter had to be the one on finding your niche. The advice here applies to any business and Nadine has experience in marketing that really shines out in this chapter.

In conclusion I think this book is essential reading for anyone in the VA world whether working as a VA or uses a VA. But I also think it would be wise to read the book with a wider perspective than just that because the ideas, advice and experiences Nadine writes about can apply to any business.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you run a small business you need to read this, May 6, 2009

By 

Jo Parfitt "Author of 26 books including Care... (Den Haag, Netherlands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Virtual Assistant Handbook: Insider Secrets or starting and running your own profitable VA business (Paperback)

I found masses in this book that will help me in my own small business of publishing consultancy. It is upbeat, accessible and full of great tips and advice for any budding or current VA. The takeaways here on pricing, finding a niche and marketing were very valuable indeed. I shall be recommending this to all my fellow small biz owners.Release The Book Within

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a gem!, May 1, 2009

By 

Elisa Sibille (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Virtual Assistant Handbook: Insider Secrets or starting and running your own profitable VA business (Paperback)

Drawing from her personal experience as a successful VA in the UK, Nadine takes you step by step from understanding what a VA is and does, to creating your own successful business.
I found the book is written in a clear, easy to understand style, and covers everything you may possibly need: how to figure out if becoming a VA is the right choice for you; how to stand out from the crowd with a specific niche; how to market yourself effectively and have a constant stream of work coming your way; how to decide what services to offer and when and how to work, so that you can have the balanced life you wanted in the first place.
I have learnt lots and will be implementing all the relevant advice in my own business, although I am not a VA myself, as most of Nadine's sound advice can be applied to any business.
I warmly recommend this book if you wish to start or renew your VA career or any home run business.