The Sam + Jo VA Show

Giving your time away for free means you’ll soon be on the fast-track to burn-out AND your dream VA business will most likely end up a non profitable one. In fact, Sam + Jo would put money on the fact that a lot of our VA community aren’t even aware of just how much time they aren’t charging out for.   What you’ll learn:·         How you’re giving away your time for free without even realising it....

Sam + Jo see this All. The. Time. Women (and men!) failing to launch their VA businesses as they can’t afford the latest laptop, office rent, accounting subscription, qualification, fancy logo and professionally designed website. Breaking news peeps! You can absolutely get started with the bare minimum of tech, tools and subscriptions. In fact, anything not on Sam + Jo’s must-have list is just goi...

Should you ask your clients to sign a contact? YES, YES, YES!  A hundred times YES! Virtual assistants should never, EVER start work until a contract (aka Service Agreement) is signed by their clients. Sam + Jo are incredibly passionate about this as they have seen first-hand what can happen if you don’t. What you’ll learn:·         The reasons your clients should always sign a contract. The types...

We get asked frequently how virtual assistants should be showcasing their work – and what types of projects they should be including. It's a common question because everyone knows having a standout portfolio is a powerful thing to have under your belt, and done well, it has the potential to knock the socks off new leads! What you’ll learn:·         Why not all VAs need portfolios  How best to show...

In the lead-up to the holiday season many virtual assistants are stressing and wracking their brains to pick the perfect end of year thank you gifts for their regular clients. Why? Because building meaningful relationships with your clients is proven to increase referrals and means higher retentions rates.  And showing them your care about them and their business is part of achieving this. HOWEVER...

Most of us are familiar with this well-known quote by Anne Lamott: “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes … Including you.” But despite knowing it to be true, burnout is VERY real in the VA world.  In fact, it’s certainly one of the main reasons VAs return to their 9 – 5. The good news is that balancing your workload can absolutely prevent virtual assistant exhaustio...

Becoming a sub-contractor for an already established VA business is not only a great way for those new to the VA world to gain some experience, it’s the route many VAs go down who have no interest in the work involved to find their own clients. And with the VA industry in the midst of a pandemic BOOM, there’s been a huge increase in VAs looking to growing their teams. What you’ll learn:·         T...

Don’t make your first impression a last impression! That very first consultation/discovery call with a new lead is your time to shine!  In fact, your #1 priority is to make that potential client walk away knowing you’re a professional business owner who WANTS to work with them. We've heard first hand some seriously shocking stories of VAs making the WORST first impressions imaginable, and although...

First impressions count online, and a bad first impression it all it takes for a potential client to head elsewhere. But standing out online can be daunting, especially when you look around at other VAs who seem to be nailing it. In this episode you'll learn the 10 actionable steps you can take RIGHT NOW to improve your online presence.  Join the Scale It! Mastermind for established virtual assist...

Don’t worry! VAs are NOT leaving the industry in droves! However, many are shying away from using the title ‘Virtual Assistant’.  Love it or hate it, the term ‘VA’ is one that is easily recognisable and is a search term that business owners are typing into Google right now. Sam + Jo discuss the pros and cons of using such a broad (and sometimes undervalued) title and why being overly clever when n...

After listening to this episode on the differences between a Virtual Assistant and an Online Business Manager, we think there will be more than a few of you saying “WTF! I’m already an OBM but never realised it!”. What you’ll learn: That you may already be an OBM The differences between a VA and an OBM That it might be time to raise your rates Join the Scale It! Mastermind for established virtual...

Established VA business owners around the globe are right this second searching for sub-contractors to join their growing teams. In this episode, Sam + Jo share with you the do's and do nots if you’re wanting to stand out from the crowd, make a great first impression and get hired by a Virtual Assistant agency. What you’ll learn:·         The best ways to approach VA business owners How to make a...

Like a lot of things in the virtual assistant industry, there is no one-size-fits-all timeline of how long it takes to become a VA. Some manage it in a matter of hours. For others it’s weeks – months even. But we’re going to let you in on a not-so-secret secret … having a launch party, designing your website, hiring an office space, and even registering your business name isn’t what makes you a bo...

Once upon a time Sam + Jo were asked by a member of the VA community whether it was possible to earn a 6 figure income as a VA. A pretty innocent question right? Who knew the responses this query would receive in The VA Foundry group would be quite so polarising! If you’re looking to make more money as a virtual assistant, then value based pricing is the way to go, and Sam + Jo’s chat with pricing...

Wouldn’t you just love the opportunity to peek inside the mind of a potential client to see what it is they REALLY want when looking for their right-fit VA? Entrepreneur, Author, Speaker, Coach and Podcaster Natalie Sisson has been outsourcing to virtual assistants for almost 10 years - with both good and bad experiences. Sam + Jo sat down with Natalie for a very honest chat to find out exactly wh...

When it comes to transitioning from a 9-5 job to your new VA venture, there are a range of different options to choose from.  In this episode, Sam + Jo discuss the five options in detail, the pros & cons of each, and share which routes they personally took. But remember – there really is no right or wrong way.  Only you can decide what’s best for you, your family and your personal financial ci...

Is there such a thing as too many VAs? We’re currently witnessing a never-seen-before growth in the number of new VAs entering the market, which is undoubtedly causing worry the industry will become over-saturated. But there’s actually an incredible upside to this COVID-19 VA boom we’re experiencing right now. Join the Scale It! Mastermind for established virtual assistants looking to level up the...

Sam + Jo often talk about the key to finding clients is building meaningful relationships. Most Virtual Assistants know what it takes to do that successfully through networking, but there are many yet to tap into the huge potential of email marketing. Expert guest and copywriter extraordinaire Hayley Maxwell shares with us her tips and tricks to nurturing those new leads signing up to your lead ma...

Most people feel doubt – that’s normal. But it’s detrimental to your VA dreams if you let those feelings of fear and inadequacy control your actions. In this episode Sam + Jo chat to business and life coach Tracey Hancock who has been a supporter and cheerleader of the VA industry for many years, and knows from experience why we often feel like we’re only succeeding due to luck. Don’t let imposter...

The episode you’ve all been waiting for! The episode where Sam + Jo disagree! Will there be fireworks? Will there be tears? …Nope. It’s just a calm discussion where opposing views are shared, leaving it up to you to decide which option is right for you. (Fireworks and tears would have been entertaining though right?) Join the Scale It! Mastermind for established virtual assistants looking to level...

With our industry thriving it’s understandable that many virtual assistants are worried about getting lost in the crowd.  Sam + Jo, along with special guest Pallas Hupe Cotter from Pop With Pallas, discuss what VAs around the world need to be doing well in order to stand out. Get your copy of Pallas' ebook 'Make Your Life POP' on Amazon here. Pallas Hupe Cotter, Pop With Pallas Anyone can live an...

We’re all about positivity in our businesses, but let’s face it … an occasional rant now and then with like-minded friends is bloody cathartic, and after being in business for as long as Sam + Jo have, it’s not surprising they’ve got a few things they need to get off their chests. Their current top things to rant about … clients that don’t value their VAs, the inability to get in touch with a real...

These are the common pricing terms talked about by Virtual Assistants around the world. But what’s the difference and what’s best for you? If you are new to the Virtual Assistant world we recommend you start off by simply offering an hourly rate. Only after you’ve got some clients under your belt should you move on to other pricing options. For established VAs looking to increase your profitabilit...

Saying ‘NO’ doesn’t come naturally to many VAs – especially when they’ve come from PA/EA backgrounds where it's been ingrained in them to simply ‘make it happen’ for those they have supported. After years in the business, one of the biggest lessons Sam + Jo learnt early on is that saying ‘NO’ is not only more powerful than saying ‘YES’, it’s a necessary skill every virtual assistant business owner...

For most virtual assistants finding clients is the hardest part. And throw in a whole bunch of uncertainty and an economic crisis and everything changes! In this episode, Sam + Jo share where all of those elusive clients are hiding and how best to get in front of them. Sam & Jo xoxo Want help finding clients? Check out the 'Finding Clients For Introverts' Masterclass Bundle here.