You can learn a lot from people who are doing what you want to do. That’s why I created the Behind the Scenes of a Virtual Assistant Business series. I hope these interviews inspire you to create your own successful VA business!
Today I’m interviewing Becky Moffit of Becky in Bold (and The Organized CEO). Becky is one of my VAs and helps me with lots of different projects.
She’s the Support Unicorn inside my membership program, the Introvert VA Club (she assists with answering questions in the forum and posting job opps), and she writes and schedules my newsletters, helps with my website updates, and basically anything else I need! She’s super funny, organized, and just an all-around amazing person.
Learn how she got started, how she found the majority of her clients, what her favorite online tools are, and more!
This article may contain affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through the link, I get a small percentage at no additional charge to you. See my disclosure for more info.
MY INTERVIEW WITH BECKY MOFFIT OF BECKY IN BOLD:
Q: How did you get started as a VA?
I dreamed of having my own work-from-home business for years. I’d scroll through Pinterest and read about blogging, proofreading, virtual assistance… anything and everything I could find basically. I just always assumed that I was too late to get into the game.
Finally, I decided to take the leap and try becoming a VA. It didn’t cost much to start so I really didn’t have anything to lose. I made a website, set up my social media platforms, and started learning as much as I could while I looked for clients.
Q: We’d love to hear more about your niche. What do you specialize in?
I specialize in tech, email marketing, editing, and project management — a little bit of everything really! I like to have variety in my work so that I’m not doing the same thing over and over.
My clients need help making changes to their websites, sending newsletters, creating workflows, reviewing content, staying organized, and so much more! I love being able to help them with all the little things that pop up when you’re running a business.
Q: How did you prepare to become a VA? Did you take any courses, read any books, use skills from another job, etc?
My previous careers include civil engineering, software development, and teaching English as a foreign language so I had a lot of skills already that translate well into my VA biz.
I did take quite a few courses in the first year of starting my business so that I could learn more about being an entrepreneur and about the popular software that’s used in the online world. I learned a lot about running a VA business, email marketing platforms, and project management tools.
Q: In your experience, what’s the best way to find clients?
Referrals! All of my clients except 1 have come from referrals.
My very first client was actually my best friend who has her own bookkeeping business. She hired me to organize her inbox, which gave me a chance to test out my systems like getting a contract signed and sending invoices.
After that, I sent a pitch to someone who had emailed me to thank me for writing a testimonial for their online course. I offered them some free proofreading in exchange for a testimonial for my new website. That turned into my first long-term client, and the referrals just snowballed from there!
Q: What’s your favorite thing about being a VA?
I love the freedom of having my own business. Nothing in the world can compare to the joy of being your own boss. I spend as much or as little time as I want helping others grow their businesses, achieve their goals, and improve the lives of their audience.
Freedom drives me to keep going when challenges arrive.
Q: What do you struggle with as a VA?
It’s not easy owning a business. Learning the ins and outs of finances and legal situations alone can be overwhelming. You’ve got to be committed because it’s a rollercoaster of ups and downs.
Q: What do you wish you knew or did when starting your VA business?
I wish that I hadn’t been such a perfectionist. I spent too much time on silly things like my website and logo. My focus should have been on making authentic connections online and finding more clients.
Q: What’s your advice for someone who wants to be a VA?
Stop waiting and take action immediately! The perfect time is never going to come. The next 6 months are going to pass no matter what. Do you want to have your own full-time business by then? Or do you want to look back and regret that you didn’t start?
Also, never stop learning. Continue to learn and improve your skills. The better you are at what you do, the more referrals you’ll get, and the more you can charge for your services.
And of course, don’t underestimate yourself or your value.
Q: What tools or programs could you not live without?
There are so many! It’s hard to narrow it down.
I use GSuite, Asana, Trello, LastPass, and Toggl every single day. ConvertKit and Flodesk are my favorite email marketing tools. Later and Tailwind help me schedule all my social media posts.
I use Divi and WordPress for my websites. And since I need lots of help with graphics, I love Ivory Mix and Canva.
Q: What’s your favorite trick for staying healthy as a VA?
You have to set boundaries. I didn’t do this early on, and I wish I had.
I let my clients know the best ways to contact me, when I’m available, and when I’m not. They know that I don’t work on nights or weekends, although sometimes I choose to if I want.
It’s better for me and my clients because we respect each other and our time. It’s important that you take downtime away from your business so that you don’t burn out.
Q: If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
This is a tough question! I think I’d choose invisibility. I’m just such an introvert. I would love to go on crowded hiking trails and not be seen or help people in small unexpected ways without them knowing I was there.
Q: What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I live for time in the mountains! I’m close to the Smokies and they are my happy place. I also enjoy spending time with friends and family, reading, working on my business, and cuddling my tornado pupper.
Q: Where can we find you?
You can find my VA business at BeckyinBold.com.
Or you can check out my newest business at TheOrganizedCEO.com where I help online business owners get organized so they can reduce overwhelm, boost their confidence, and build their businesses to their full potential!
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