Interview with award-winning VA Sarah Szekir-Papasavva

This is a Virtual Assistant case study and interview with Sarah Szekir-Papasavva. Sarah set up her award-winning business Apt Virtual Assistance (AptVA) in 2018 and provides small business owners with high-quality administrative and creative support. Originally from Brazil, Sarah currently lives in London with her husband and young daughter.

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The platforms, apps and tools I pay for (and the ones I don’t)

Confused about all the different platforms, apps and tools that Virtual Assistants talk about online? Worried that if you don’t know what they are and how to use them then you can’t be a VA? Uncertain whether a platform should be used by you or one of your clients instead? Not sure if you should upgrade or stick with the free version?

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How to work out your Virtual Assistant niche

Having a Virtual Assistant niche comes with numerous benefits not least because you want to be the irreplaceable VA whose clients would pay anything rather than lose, than an average do-it-all VA who can be easily interchanged with a cheaper one. You definitely have an area of expertise in your repertoire, so let me help you work out what it is!

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VA Interview with award-winning VA Joanne Manville

This is a VA case study and interview with Joanne Manville. Currently living in Devon with her husband and 4-year-old daughter, Joanne launched her business Joanne Manville Virtual Assistance in October 2015.  Outside of the office, Joanne spends a lot of time walking on the moors and is also on the committee of the Exeter Districts Scouts.

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Advice for new Virtual Assistants from experienced VAs

If you’re still in the setting-up phase of your VA business wouldn’t it be great to receive some personal advice from established Virtual Assistants who have walked the path before you? I mean, imagine how helpful it would be to hear some words of wisdom, get some pointers and find out what the best course of action would be? Oh wait… there is!

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What UK Virtual Assistants need to know about tax and National Insurance

When you decide that you’re going to become a Virtual Assistant and take over the Universe, one of the things you’ll need to do is tell HMRC you’re no longer working for The Man but for many men (and women) instead. The information below is based on current UK tax laws so please check what your own government requires if you live outside of the UK.

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Free (or low-cost) learning resources for Virtual Assistants

If you’re anything like me, then you love learning new things. In fact, it may even be one of the reasons you decided to set up your own business. But whether you’re a Virtual Assistant looking to upskill or you simply want to know All The Things, you’re going to flip over this carefully curated collection of online courses I’ve put together for you.

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How I survive winter without frostbite, fractures or a massive heating bill

Winter can be hard for freelancers. You could slip on ice and break your wrist, spend months freezing your butt off or end up sobbing over a massive heating bill. But there’s no need to worry about staying safe and warm this winter because I have some fail-proof ways to get through it without succumbing to frostbite or fractures.

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Interview with Scotland-based VA, Toks Coyle

This is a Virtual Assistant case study and interview with Toks Coyle (née Adebanjo) from TAVA Services. Winner and runner-up of a number of VA awards, Toks lives with her husband in East Lothian, Scotland and set up her business in the Autumn of 2016 after struggling to find a career path she was truly passionate about.

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FAQs about becoming a Virtual Assistant

I know from experience that when you first discover Virtual Assistants exist and you suspect you might want to be one, you research the subject to death and then quickly become overwhelmed with information. So, here are the most frequently asked questions about becoming a Virtual Assistant to help you decide if it’s the right career for you.

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