As you may know, when I found out I was expecting Linnea, I was on a mission to work from home. But before I knew it, Linnea was nearly here and my world was taken over by all things baby. That's the beauty of owning your own biz- you can prioritize your life appropriately and focus on what's most important! As I explained in my last post, I put anything beyond that on hold as I prepared to become a mom. My husband went back to work on Wednesday, and I was finally settling into somewhat of a rhythm with... Continue reading

The end of 2009 was quite a whirlwind of activity. Between the holidays, baby showers, and preparing for the arrival of our daughter, life was entirely non-stop. Now that we find ourselves in not just a new year, but a new decade, I'm ready to look ahead and accomplish goals not only for myself and my family, but for my clients as well. And now I have a whole new inspiration to succeed: our daughter, Linnea Joelle, who was born three weeks early on December 23, 2009! She also happens to share her birthday with a very special man. My... Continue reading

If you are a small business owner or solopreneur, chances are good that you feel overwhelmed by your to-do list more often than not. Truth be told- and I hate using this phrase because it sounds like a cop-out- we are in the middle of tough economic times. Layoffs happen daily and businesses are closing. As a small business owner or solopreneur, you need help but you can't afford to hire additional, if any, employees. This is the simple reality we live in- for now. In light of this, I also see a transformation happening in the way we do... Continue reading

This morning, I'm drinking out of my favorite mug: I found this little gem from quotablecards.com while enjoying an afternoon at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf with the hubby a couple of years ago. They have the most fantastic collection of items with quotes that make you think. This one was no exception for me. What would I attempt? Is fear of failure the one thing that is holding me back? Or is it lack of experience, connections, expertise? Truly, when you set your mind to something, and are bound by a strong sense of determination, is there anything... Continue reading

I just completed the Web site for the Learning Garden of Orange County, a tutoring service for children in grades Kindergarten through Sixth. Owner and credentialed teacher Amber Saldana offers in-home, in-school and library tutoring services in the greater Orange County area. The innovative aspect of this service is that Amber offers tutoring virtually via Skype with an e-mail service for students who may have questions outside of regularly scheduled tutoring sessions. She graduated with her Master of Arts in Teaching from Chapman University and, in addition to working with her tutoring clients, is an active substitute teacher. This was... Continue reading

The other day when I was browsing B+N, I came across a great planning notebook and organizer for starting up a craft business. I already owned the author's previous book on how to turn your hobby into a profitable venture, and knew without even looking that her newest publication was chock-full of great information and organization tools for those going into that particular field. I almost picked it up, thinking that perhaps I could use some of it for my new VA business, but decided against it simply because there was just too much info pertaining only to craft businesses... Continue reading

Relationship is everything in business- that's why it is equally as important for your Virtual Assistant to feel comfortable working with you and your business philosophy as it is for you to feel confident in your professional relationship with your VA. Part of the reason many VAs venture out on their own is the ability to pick and choose the type of clients they will serve. As a result, the initial interview is a two-way street. Because of my experience working in several different types of office environments with all kinds of co-workers, I know what I prefer when it... Continue reading

This woman is fantastic. Continue reading

It's a good idea to ask the relevant questions before you decide who your virtual assistant will be. Familiarize yourself with their service offerings, rates, and most importantly, whether you connect with them. Here are a few questions to consider asking when interviewing potential VAs, along with my own personal answers: - What is your relevant background experience? I received my B.S. in Advertising from Northern Arizona University in 2002 and have experience working in advertising and public relations agencies, law, higher education, property management, and the restaurant business. I have also worked as a freelance writer and editor. My... Continue reading

Want to save more than $60,000 in business expenses this year? If so, read on... The following chart compares the total cost to you for a full-time employee versus a Virtual Assistant: COST COMPARISON Full-time Employee Virtual Assistant Hourly Rate of Pay $20.00 $35.00 Fringe Benefits @ 35% (Health/Dental/Life Insurance, Retirement Plans) $7.00 None Overhead Rate @ 50% (Office Space, Equipment & Office Supply expense, UI Insurance, Worker's Compensation, Overtime Pay, Administration Costs) $10.00 None Total Effective Rate of Pay $37.00 $35.00 **Hours Per Year 2,080 hrs. 480 hrs. TOTAL Annual Labor Cost $76,960.00 $16,800.00 Difference = $60,160.00 per year... Continue reading

I came across the video below and thought it was compelling enough to share. Social media is a major player in business these days and is worth building into your day-to-day marketing efforts. I am an avid reader of Dooce and was intrigued by the story of her terrible experience with Maytag. She kept getting the proverbial shaft from them when it came to fixing her brand new washing machine, so what is the author of the most popular personal blog on the Internet to do? Share it with her million+ followers on Twitter. Although it is a long story,... Continue reading

Welcome to the blog of No Strings! We are here to share relevant information for aspiring Virtual Assistants, inquiring businesses, and anyone else who wants to learn more about this growing profession. I would like to share a little bit about this business as well as my journey toward becoming an independent contractor working from home. Working from home became my top priority when I learned that my husband and I are expecting our first child in January 2010. She indeed came as a surprise, but we always held fast to the idea that once kids entered the picture, I... Continue reading