Small Business meets VS – A date made in heaven!

small business meet vs virtual assistant Feb 22, 2017

In this series business owners were sent 10 questions to answer regarding working with a Virtual Assistant, for some of the businesses this was their first leap of faith into hiring virtual support, which can be both scary and totally unknown from the norm for brick and mortar businesses.

Before we get started I will just clarify what VS stands for.

Ever since I have worked with Kerry she has told me that I really should change my title from VA (Virtual Assistant) to VS (Virtual Specialist) as the services I provide are more then general VA duties. (I am slowly changing over reference to VS).

A question I am often asked by new Virtual Assistants is where do did you meet your clients.

Kerry and I were very unlucky to have one of the worse experiences from a teaching provider (we were both studying Coaching through a Coaching School in Australia), and we met through one of our class Facebook groups, we then attended in person training together and since I was flying from Western Australia and Kerry was flying from Townsville we decided to get a twin room in the hotel to save some money on the already expensive course, training, travel and accomodation (not to mention both had to take 2 weeks of work for this particular aspect of the course).

Prior to our training Kerry has enquired what I did and said she needed some help with her Mailchimp and online store, and from there it grew into a client relationship and I have been fortunate to have contributed to the evolution and success of Kerry’s business, Kids in Harmony.

Small Business meet VS – A date made in heaven!

LET’S MEET KERRY

Kerry is the author of The Little Book of Harmony and Harmony Cards for Kids as well as a parent coach and counsellor; she is the creator and owner of the very successful Kids in Harmony, a music and values program.

You can find out more about Kerry’s amazing business at:-

  • The website Kids in Harmony.
  • Her online bookstore, which features some of her amazing resources she has developed including The Little Book of Harmony, The Little Book of Harmony Colouring Book, Harmony in the Classroom – Tool Kit for Educators, Harmony Cards for Kids… and the people in their lives, Harmony Bliss CD and Happy Songs and Relaxation Songs CD.
  • Facebook page for parents
  • She also has a free 3 part video series – Facebook page for parents

TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS

I have a business called Kids in Harmony which is a Music and Values program for children newborn – 8Yrs old and their parents and carers.

I am a parent educator and support parents to raise happy, whole-hearted and resilient children.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD A VS?

I have had a VS for 4 years now.

WHY DID YOU HIRE A VS?

  • To help take the pressure off me.
  • To have someone else I could trust to follow through on things that needed to be done.
  • To have someone to help me be accountable and to keep me moving forward in my business
  • To maintain consistency in my newsletters and social media
  • To have someone to do the things I don’t have the skill set for.
  • To share the load, to celebrate and to have support when I needed it.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT HIRING A VS?

I have hired over 30 people in my business over the past  11 years and I have only ever employed 1 VS, the one I have today.

What I liked most about it, is I can trust my VS to love and care for my business as I do.

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU WOULD CHANGE IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR VS AND WHY?

I would change her location!

If she lived locally but then I guess she wouldn’t be a VS then.

Somedays, I’d love a cuppa and a chat and to be in person and talk things through.

HOW HAS A VS HELPED YOUR BUSINESS?

My VS has helped me with consistency in my business, branding, newsletters, promotions, web-shop, accountability and profit AND FREEDOM as I have more time to be creative.

HOW HAS YOUR BUSINESS GROWN SINCE HAVING A VS?

When I look back 4 years ago, I have grown and increased my business exponentially. With my web shop, services and data base.

WOULD YOU RECOMMEND OTHER SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS HIRE A VA/VS?

Without a doubt!

Especially working mothers as they need support to be able to parent their child, look after their family and follow their own personal dreams.

A great VA/VS is a great support to help you stay afloat in the tough times.

DO YOU HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS/ADVICE FOR A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER LOOKING TO HIRE A VA/VS?

Ask some very valuable questions like;

  • What do you specialise in?
  • What do you like about being a VA/VS?
  • Who are your clients?
  • What is your favourite thing to do in your business?
  • What do you do in your spare time?
  • What do you think my business is about?
  • Do you send stuff offshore?

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR VA/VS?

If you say you will do something, do it. 

Your VA/VS relies on you to get them work they need to do to support you.  If you don’t send it to them, they can’t help you.

Delegate Delegate Delegate. 

Once you establish a great relationship, you can trust them to do the stuff you normally would do yourself.  This is a gift in itself.

Don’t be afraid to let them know what you need, they need to know so they can be the best they can be for you AND for them and their business.

If they have specialties, gifts or talents in certain areas, get them to do those things as they will really enjoy working with you and it will be a great win win relationship.

Be mindful that your VS can free you up to do the things you either don’t have the skill-set to do, or don’t have the time to do.

Giving you the freedom to do the things you LOVE.

It’s therefore vital that you have a great collaborative relationship, that you can take the feedback and listen deeply to the suggestions your VS makes in order to save you money and time in your business to shine.

I think your VS needs to be a match made in heaven; a relationship built on mutual trust, connection and respect.

Sam and my relationship is most definitely that and I could not do what I do without.


Hope it helps all those small business owners out there who are tossing up if they need a VA/VS or how investing in a great one can help your business!!

So my big question to you is…

WHAT IS ONE AREA IN YOUR BUSINESS THAT YOU NEED SUPPORT WITH RIGHT NOW?

Need more ideas on how a virtual assistant can help you and your business?

Download our additional 25 ways booklet. 

Need help with outsourcing?

*** Please Note:- not all virtual assistants or virtual assistant businesses will offer the 25 services listed or the additional 25 listed in our downloadable document – please enquire about the services your virtual assistant or potential virtual assistant offers to ensure they meet your requirements for your business. You may need more then one virtual assistant for your business depending your needs and their skill sets. ***