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Erin Sturm has worked as a virtual assistant since 2014. She launched The Sturm Agency in 2015 specializing in social media marketing and virtual assistant services. Since then, she has worked with large and small companies, authors, entrepreneurs, and coaches.Her favorite thing to do is create processes! If you need to get organized, she can help. No job is too big or small, get in touch and she will come up with a plan!5:08 – Content creation and social media management are like peanut butter and jelly6:59 – Erin talks about how her clients use social media8:25 – On managing expectation around social media campaigns11:25 – Erin breaks down how she sets her rates15:25 – Matching clients with the most appropriate social media platform22:50 – Erin’s path to being a Virtual Assistant28:30 – On setting the hours that work for you32:27 – Recognizing ideal clients and clients who aren’t a good fit39:39 – Do the next right thingTo find out more about Erin, you can go to: www.erinsturm.comConnect with Erin! LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinsturm/Like the podcast? Want more with me and your peers? Join the AVA. We’re at associationofvas.com. We’d also love for you to share! You can tag us at @associationofvas on social media. If you’re a virtual assistant who wants to be featured, simply fill out the application on our page. Until next time, stay organized and professional!

In this episode, Kiri Mohan explores what some VAs consider their dream client and those that make them pause. As you progress along your VA career path, you learn which clients are those that you love working with (dream clients) and those that you want to stay away from (less than ideal). Our AVA members share from their own experience the clients they love and those that usually don't work out. As always, we would love some of our Monday episodes to be a feature where we answer YOUR questions! What are your questions for Kiri (AVA's COO), Melissa (AVA's CEO), or Mimi (AVA's CMO)? Send them to ask@associationofvas.com or leave us a comment. If we don't have the answer, we'll pose it to our own members!Like the podcast? Want more with me and your peers? Join the AVA. We’re at associationofvas.com. We’d also love for you to share! You can tag us at @associationofvas on social media. If you’re a virtual assistant who wants to be featured, simply fill out the application on our page. Until next time, stay organized and professional!

In this episode, Kiri Mohan talks about the biggest mistake she's ever made for a client in her VA business and how it was a good learning experience. Other members of AVA also chime in with mistakes that range from not vetting clients carefully, jobs that don't get done because of poor communication and expectations not being met.In every situation, the mistakes allowed the VA to have a chance to learn, showing that mistakes are an important, though not desired, part of the business process.As always, we would love some of our Monday episodes to be a feature where we answer YOUR questions! What are your questions for Kiri (AVA's COO), Melissa (AVA's CEO), or Mimi (AVA's CMO)? Send them to ask@associationofvas.com or leave us a comment. If we don't have the answer, we'll pose it to our own members!Like the podcast? Want more with me and your peers? Join the AVA. We’re at associationofvas.com. We’d also love for you to share! You can tag us at @associationofvas on social media. If you’re a virtual assistant who wants to be featured, simply fill out the application on our page. Until next time, stay organized and professional!

In this episode, Robbie Samuels goes into how he was able to pivot his business, which was based on in-person networking/events, to a completely online business during COVID. He also talks about how to utilize Zoom to get the most out of every virtual event (#nomorebadzoom) and how a VA can charge more as a Zoom Producer. Robbie also talks about his relationships with VAs he’s had, the best VAs he’s ever worked with, and how to work with a client like him. 8:48 Robbie lets VAs know how they can make 10x (yes, ten times!!) more than what they usually are paid to be a Zoom Producer.9:48 How a Zoom Strategist is different from a Zoom Producer14:22 What Robbie’s Certified Virtual Event Professional includes, titled The 5% Advantage Program.27:08 Robbie talks about the first VA he worked with28:13 Robbie discusses how AVA’s CEO, Melissa Smith, was his accountability partner31:59 How each VA has made the processes easier in Robbie’s business with SOPs34:54 The one thing every VA should work on39:43 What traits in a VA that Robbie thinks makes an exemplary VA44:00 The biggest difference a VA has made in Robbie’s business and life48:55 Robbie answers his favorite quote, mantra, or philosophy that he tries to run his business by Also, here's a gift from Robbie to our podcast listeners! www.RobbieSamuels.com/9ways - "9 Ways to Network in a Pandemic" Mentioned in this episode:https://the5percentadvantage.com Four-week certification program that helps presenters and meeting professionals grow in their confidence with Zoom, online facilitation, and virtual event design so they can reduce their tech angst and host more engaging online experiences.Nomorebadzoom.com  Free weekly Virtual Happy HourRobbie's TEDx TalkCroissants vs. Bagels by Robbie Samuels (over 200 reviews worldwide)Managing Up by Rosanne Badowski  Robbie Samuels is a keynote speaker, TEDx speaker, and relationship-based business strategy coach who has been recognized as a “networking expert” by Forbes and Inc, and as an “industry expert in the field of digital event design” by JDC Events. As a Virtual Event Design Consultant and Executive Zoom Producer, he assists organizations with bringing their in-person events strategically online. He runs a four-week program for presenters to become Certified Virtual Event Professionals. He hosts the On the Schmooze podcast and a weekly #NoMoreBadZoom Virtual Happy Hour. To get to know Robbie better:http://www.robbiesamuels.com www.OntheSchmooze.com - Robbie's Podcastwww.linkedin.com/in/robbiesamuels www.twitter.com/robbiesamuels www.facebook.com/robbiesamuelsfan  Like the podcast? Want more with me and your peers? Join the AVA. We’re at associationofvas.com. We’d also love for you to share! You can tag us at @associationofvas on social media. If you’re a virtual assistant who wants to be featured, simply fill out the application on our page. Until next time, stay organized and professional!

Most successful people have a morning routine. It's a way to set the intention for the day ahead, to get prepared, or to center yourself. As a way to kick off a new week, Kiri Mohan asked AVA members and LinkedIn what their morning routine was and asked if it has changed since the pandemic. Successful VA's understand the importance of creating a routine and making sure they get their exercise too. As always, we would love some of our Monday episodes to be a feature where we answer YOUR questions! What are your questions for Kiri (AVA's COO), Melissa (AVA's CEO), or Mimi (AVA's CMO)? Send them to ask@associationofvas.com or leave us a comment. If we don't have the answer, we'll pose it to our own members!Like the podcast? Want more with me and your peers? Join the AVA. We’re at associationofvas.com. We’d also love for you to share! You can tag us at @associationofvas on social media. If you’re a virtual assistant who wants to be featured, simply fill out the application on our page. Until next time, stay organized and professional!

Today’s guest is Sarah Noked, founder of Sarah Noked OBM, an Online Business Management Agency where she empowers entrepreneurs and creatives in all stages of business to grow a thriving online business. In this episode, we go into the OBM certification, what the modules consist of within the certification, and what kind of VAs evolve into an OBM.Don’t forget that AVA members get a $350 discount if they sign up for Sarah’s OBM certification through AVA!In this episode… 3:07 What an OBM’s tasks consist of and the differences between VAs and OBMs5:43 Sarah gets into details about what the OBM certification includes in the modules22:15 Not every business needs an OBM. Why is that?29:05 Sarah goes into the time commitment of the OBM Certification33:57 What rates can you charge as an OBM? 54:17 Sarah talks about evolving from a VA to an OBM55:28 Sarah talks about how she tries to control her emotions when owning a businessSarah works out of her home office in Israel, helping entrepreneurs plan and delegate, implement the right systems, unite virtual teams across the globe, and grow profits to achieve their goals. As one of just three Certified OBM Trainers around the world, Sarah shares her passion for Online Business Management through training and certification courses to empower and educate VAs and OBMs worldwide. Sarah’s website is: https://www.sarahnoked.com/You can connect with her:FB: https://www.facebook.com/sarahnoked Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarahNoked IG: https://www.instagram.com/sarahnoked/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/SarahnokedOBM/ LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sarahnoked/  Like the podcast? Want more with me and your peers? Join the AVA. We’re at associationofvas.com. We’d also love for you to share! You can tag us at @associationofvas on social media. If you’re a virtual assistant who wants to be featured, simply fill out the application on our page. Until next time, stay organized and professional!

In this episode, Kiri asks AVA members: If you moved to a VA agency, when did you make that switch and why? Have any of you made a deliberate choice to stay as a single business owner, and why? If you have subcontractors, at what point are you an agency vs a single business owner with support?AVA members loved this question and we have members with an agency talking about why they made their decisions to grow and how they got there. We also get to see the other side of the coin where some members deliberately decide to stay as a single business owner. There is no right or wrong - it's all about your plans for your business and what you are comfortable with.As always, we would love some of our Monday episodes to be a feature where we answer YOUR questions! What are your questions for Kiri (AVA's COO), Melissa (AVA's CEO), or Mimi (AVA's CMO)? Send them to ask@associationofvas.com or leave us a comment. If we don't have the answer, we'll pose it to our own members!Like the podcast? Want more with me and your peers? Join the AVA. We’re at associationofvas.com. We’d also love for you to share! You can tag us at @associationofvas on social media. If you’re a virtual assistant who wants to be featured, simply fill out the application on our page. Until next time, stay organized and professional!

As Co-founder of ProAssisting, Ethan leverages his 25+ years of experience as a Sr. Executive Assistant as well as Director of Administrative services to lead and manage top-level, remote executive assistants who support and serve their clients ranging from CEOs and C-suite executives to business owners to non-executive board directors to known personalities who want high-level, full-service support but don't need an on-site, full-time employee.In this episode… 1:33 Ethan discusses why ProAssisting decided to use the term Remote Executive Assistants instead of Virtual Assistants for their company5:21 Ethan explains the 3:1 Executive Assistant ratio that is foundational to ProAssisting’s business11:55 “The Velvet No” every EA should practice and instill in their phone conversations19:46 Ethan talks about his life after college, which includes piano lessons and singing, and how that creative side helped his career29:36 How has ProAssisting changed over the years? Ethan talks about the shift from training for EAs to what it is today41:10 Ethan talks about how he finds and hires remote EAs for ProAssisting50:14 Ethan tells you where you can go to apply to work with ProAssisting51:25 The quote Ethan runs his business by that circles back to his mission and high touch hospitalityTo get to know Ethan a ProAssisting better, he suggests you connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethanbull/ You can also find them here:https://www.linkedin.com/company/proassisting/https://www.facebook.com/proassisting/https://twitter.com/proassisting Like the podcast? Want more with me and your peers? Join the AVA. We’re at associationofvas.com. We’d also love for you to share! You can tag us at @associationofvas on social media. If you’re a virtual assistant who wants to be featured, simply fill out the application on our page. Until next time, stay organized and professional!

In this episode, Kiri Mohan talks about setting those important boundaries in a virtual assistant business. She relays a personal experience from working with a client in the hospitality business and learns that weekend work is something she will not do again, even for more money. From there, we explore boundaries that other AVA members have which revolves around availability and contracts.Tell us: What boundaries do you have in your VA business? Leave us a comment!We would like some of our Monday episodes to be a feature where we answer YOUR questions! What are your questions for Kiri (AVA's COO), Melissa (AVA's CEO), or Mimi (AVA's CMO)? If we don't have the answer, we'll pose it to our own members! 

We are so excited to release this episode on Veteran's Day! Get ready for a FUN episode! Latrice Prater is a confident, savvy business woman and also a Navy veteran. With a varied ("crazy") career, she shows you how to just go for it.We salute our veterans today!In this episode...4:17 Latrice talks about her transition from full time corporate office worker to a VA.8:16 Latrice finds clients using Facebook.12:46 She talks about her team and growth.18:14 Learn about a new software! Latrice uses Front (https://frontapp.com/) for her team.23:52 How does Latrice differentiate herself on social media?25:56 Latrice goes into her entire life and career before this point, including her amazing four years in the Navy.39:40 Latrice talks about the point where she realized she wanted to be the one calling the shots and how she started 10 different businesses.43:00 Advice for new VAs who have had a varied career path like hers.50:00 Latrice's favorite quote she runs her business by.Latrice Prater is a wife and mom of 3. She is originally from Washington DC but currently resides in Austin Texas. Latrice is a Military Veteran that believes in authenticity, transparency and communication. She has 5 years of experience as an Executive Assistant in sectors such as Healthcare, Finance, Insurance, Consulting, and Technology. She launched her VA business Latrice Prater & The Digital Solutions Team in February 2020 and began building her team a few short months later, in April. Her first 30 days in business she was able to get 6 clients. She and her team provide virtual support to female CEO's.Latrice's site: www.latricepratereva.comConnect with Latrice:https://www.instagram.com/thevirtualpro/ and https://www.instagram.com/vasupport4her/https://www.facebook.com/virtualsolutionsforher/https://www.linkedin.com/company/latrice-prater-evaLike the podcast? Want more with me and your peers? Join the AVA. We’re at associationofvas.com. We’d also love for you to share! You can tag us at @associationofvas on social media. If you’re a virtual assistant who wants to be featured, simply fill out the application on our page. Until next time, stay organized and professional!

Music affects each and every one of us. Some are affected more, some are affected less. This episode is a little bit silly and a little bit of fun.If you could pick one song to define your business, what would it be? Or, if you're starting your VA business, what is one song that you're using to motivate yourself? Tell us in the comments!As always, we would love some of our Monday episodes to be a feature where we answer YOUR questions! What are your questions for Kiri (AVA's COO), Melissa (AVA's CEO), or Mimi (AVA's CMO)? Send them to ask@associationofvas.com or leave us a comment. If we don't have the answer, we'll pose it to our own members! Like the podcast? Want more with me and your peers? Join the AVA. We’re at associationofvas.com. We’d also love for you to share! You can tag us at @associationofvas on social media. If you’re a virtual assistant who wants to be featured, simply fill out the application on our page. Until next time, stay organized and professional!

Oxana Romanyuk is founder and CEO of Remote Rockstars® that offers high-end online business management and professional virtual assistant services to visionary entrepreneurs, industry experts, and coaches. Oxana works with her home-grown team of rockstar account managers and virtual assistants, helping entrepreneurs systematize and grow their businesses. Her website is www.remoterockstars.com. In this episode...1:37 Oxana defines what it means to have a "homegrown" team10:42 Oxana talks about her career13:20 Kiri asks about how she became VA and her transition into an agency23:46 Oxana talks about turning away clients that are not a good match29:13 Kiri asks for advice from Oxana for new VAs and she goes into constantly following up to land clients38:17 Oxana tells us her top three favorite business books42:31 Oxana lets listeners know her favorite questions that she tries to run her business byInterested in the books Oxana mentioned in this episode?Mindset, Dr. Carol DweckAtomic Habits, James ClearGuerrilla Marketing, Jay Conrad LevinsonWarren Buffett and the Interpretation of Financial Statements, Mary Buffett and David ClarkShe also recommended joining the newsletter Rat Race Rebellion: https://ratracerebellion.com/To get to know Oxana better, she recommends you meet her here:https://www.instagram.com/remoterockstarshttps://www.facebook.com/remoterockstars https://www.facebook.com/groups/remoterockstarsclub/Like the podcast? Want more with me and your peers? Join the AVA. We’re at associationofvas.com. We’d also love for you to share! You can tag us at @associationofvas on social media. If you’re a virtual assistant who wants to be featured, simply fill out the application on our page. Until next time, stay organized and professional!

In this episode, Kiri Mohan goes into why she started her VA business in 2014. From there, we explore why other AVA members started their VA business.Tell us: Why do you want to become a VA? Why did you start your VA business?We would like some of our Monday episodes to be a feature where we answer YOUR questions! What are your questions for Kiri (AVA's COO), Melissa (AVA's CEO), or Mimi (AVA's CMO)? If we don't have the answer, we'll pose it to our own members! Like the podcast? Want more with me and your peers? Join the AVA. We’re at associationofvas.com. We’d also love for you to share! You can tag us at @associationofvas on social media. If you’re a virtual assistant who wants to be featured, simply fill out the application on our page. Until next time, stay organized and professional!

Mimi Klosterman is the owner of Your Virtual Services, a VA company she started in 2009 because she wanted to learn about running a business to teach her children in their homeschool curriculum (and prove to her husband that being a VA is legit).She takes us through her career, how her children have helped in her business, and how she joined the AVA.Like the podcast? Want more with me and your peers? Join the AVA. We’re at associationofvas.com. We’d also love for you to share! You can tag us at @associationofvas on social media. If you’re a virtual assistant who wants to be featured, simply fill out the application on our page. Until next time, stay organized and professional!