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VictoriaClose
Virtual Secs | victoria@virtualsecs.info | Sole Proprietor | October 24th##comma## 2002 | Sole Proprietor
Virtual Secs is wholly owned and operated by Victoria Close. Originally from Dublin##comma## Ireland##comma## Victoria now works from her home office in Essex##comma## England.
What kind of training or education did you acquire before your venture?
I am 24 years old and started my first business at the age of 16. However##comma## this never turned into much more than a school project but it did light an entrepreneurial flame within me. I have worked in a secretarial and administrative capacity since leaving school and so##comma## when I decided to start my own business##comma## I went into an area I was familiar with and also enjoyed.
What services or products does your organization offer?
Virtual Secs provides professional##comma## off-site administrative and secretarial support##comma## primerily to small businesses. Although located in Essex##comma## England##comma## my working methods allow me to have clients from all over the world.
What type of business or organization do you operate?
I operate under the status of Sole Trader. I chose this method for its simplicity##comma## economy and because I do not hire any other people.
How many employees do you currently have?
Just me!
How did you originally discover the idea for your organization?
For various reasons##comma## I was unable to do a ##aps##normal 9 – 5##aps## job. However##comma## I still wanted to work so I originally decided to offer a home typing service##comma## as this was an area I was familiar with. However##comma## having done some research into this on the Internet##comma## I realised there was an entire industry out there##comma## Virtual Assistance##comma## that I had never heard of! I did some more research##comma## brushed up on my skills##comma## bought some office equipment and went to it (after writing a business plan##comma## of course)!
How did you originally fund your organization?
My business was financed wholly on personal funds.
Are you the founder of your organization?
Yes
Do you believe there is any distinct culture within your organization? If so, please describe it.
As my business is so small in terms of the number of employees##comma## there is no distinct corporate culture.
What obstacles or challenges have you faced in your organization?
One of the main obstacles I encountered was in convincing potential clients that working with a Virtual Assistant is an efficient and effecting method of carrying out ones administration. I have been managing to overcome this obstacle by researching my industry##comma## ensuring I can answer my clients##aps## questions and learning more so I can take care of their needs.
Did you accept any advice along the way? Do you believe new organizations should be open to such advice?
I feel that advice is important to any entrepreneur. It is necessary that you know not only about your business and industry but also about running a business. Being an entrepreneur involves being secretary##comma## boss##comma## marketing manager##comma## tea maker##comma## receptionist##comma## sales manager##comma## bookkeeper and a whole lot more. It is important to know ##aps##what you are getting in to##aps## and how to do it before you commence.
Did you receive any help along the way from other businesses or organizations? If so, how and from whom?
I am a member of some local chambers of commerce. I attend networking groups in order that I can meet other business people##comma## network and share ideas.
What have been the keys to success in your business? What do you believe are the keys to success?
Hard work##comma## determination##comma## long hours and more hard work!
What kind of relationship do you establish with your customers or clients?
I continually try to update my skills so that I can offer my clients even more services at a high standard.
What types of marketing do you employ?
I find that being listed with Internet Search Engines to be very useful. I also place targeted flyers with local businesses and offer a variety of discounts. I have also found that donating prizes (of my services) have brought me some new clients.
Do you employ any web or online marketing?
Technology plays a huge role in my business as the majority of my work is carried out on line. I use e-mail and the Internet on a daily basis. I also make use of digital audio transcription and occasionally use a digital camera. Furthermore##comma## one of my main sources of advertising is my web site.
What role does trust play in business or in your organization?
I have learned that for a service industry such as Virtual Assistance##comma## contracts are an essential part of any relationship with new clients. This protects myself as well as my client.
Did you struggle with starting your own organization or venture? Why did you decide to begin on your own?
Although I always wanted to be my own boss##comma## I was not sure it would happen at this stage. I am always thinking of new business ideas but often they are not possible. Now that I##aps##ve got there##comma## there##aps##s no going back!
What books or resources would you recommend for individuals starting off now?
##quote##Getting Business to Come to You##quote## by Paul and Sarah Edwards. This is an EXCELLENT book!
Do you notice any trends in the marketplace? If so, what are they?
I see that more and more people are starting to enjoy the freedom of working from home. Several large companies are offering employees this choice. It seems I have got into the Virtual Assistance industry at a time where its potential to grow is huge.
Do you believe networking and contacts are important? If so, how?
Although I consider networking to be very important##comma## it is not for everyone. For this reason##comma## you should always ensure that you have other marketing options available. Having said that##comma## networking does not have to be confined to formal events. You can network when you go shopping##comma## talk to friends##comma## meet the postman or milkman. There are loads of networking opportunities and you should try to take advantage of them all.
What do you think about contracts and other legal obligations? Are they important in your business?
That it is not as easy as I first envisaged! However##comma## I have found that I have enjoyed the hard work; this is my ##aps##baby##aps## and I want to bring it up perfectly!
If there is one thing that would sum up your advice to new entrepreneurs, what would it be?
I beleive that learning is very important. However##comma## not all learning needs to be done in a class room. Much of it can come from experience and working in the ##aps##real world##aps##. It##aps##s also important to consider##comma## though##comma## that when you are starting out##comma## particularly in a service industry##comma## potential clients and customers often feel safer if they know that you are properly trained to provide the services you are offering.
What, if any, final advice do you have for new entrepreneurs?
Make sure you chose a path that you will enjoy! There is nothing worse than having to spend all day every day doing something you hate! This is your life##comma## make the most of it!
