10 Weeks of Free Tools Every VA Must Have – Week 1

Posted on August 8, 2007 
Filed Under Business & Startup, Our Favorite Products, Tips & Tricks, Virtual Assistance

Starting a virtual assistance business doesn’t have to be expensive, but keeping up with the technology you need for your growing practice can add up, unless you know where to look! Working and running your business virtually can be inexpensive—and “virtually” free—thanks to those who believe that you don’t have to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars on software and services each year just to keep up with the times.

For the next 10 weeks, I’ll be sharing my all-time favorite must-use and must-have resources for VAs. Many of these favorites will benefit small business owners or solo entrepreneurs as well. These are programs, products, tools, sites, and services that are all free. No 30-day trials, no credit cards required, just plain free.

Week 1: Must-Use Resources Provided by Virtual Assistance Organizations

VANA: VA resources and networking at its best. Simply irresistible!

VANAWhether you’re new to virtual assistance or you’re a seasoned veteran, every VA has a home at VANA. Where else could you collaborate with over 6,000 aspiring, new, and veteran VAs for tips, tricks, advice, networking, idea bouncing, and more? Did I mention more? That’s because VANA is so much more than a forum. Founder of VANA, Tawnya Sutherland, is on a mission to provide an abundance of exciting resources to the VA industry, and VANA’s trusty volunteers help to keep things running smoothly.

VANA is just a great place to be, but most importantly, it provides a way to make new virtual friends, to network with other VAs, and to gain support while building your business—all for free.

Personal Note from Connie: You can clearly see all the work that Tawnya and the volunteers put into VANA every day, all while keeping it free for you. It takes a lot of time and money not only to keep VANA running, but also to continually develop new services for the VA industry. If you enjoy VANA and you just can’t stay away, then please consider making a donation to help with all those costs. Think about what could happen if every registered user gave one dollar to VANA. Isn’t it worth a dollar for all that you receive in return?

The VA Connection

The VA Connection One of the newest kids on the block, The VA Connection, was created to bring all virtual assistance resources together in one place, allowing you to find what you need and discover new connections to the industry. The VA Connection is NOT just another virtual assistance directory; it is a collection of resources that are available to the VA industry. The VA Connection is completely free to search and free to join.

The VA Connection is categorized by topic for easy searching. At the time of this writing, the categories included are:

If you offer products or services for other virtual assistants, list them today. It helps other VAs find your products and provides a link back to your website. If you are new to the industry or just looking for VA resources, then come on over to the Connection and find what you need. There are premium memberships which allow you to advertise your product or service for a very nominal fee, but otherwise, it is free to join, list, and search. The VA Connection is growing every day, so bookmark it and check back often for new items.

Note from Connie: I know what you’re thinking here: “Aren’t you a little biased about this one?” Well, the answer is yes, maybe a little, but I believe very strongly that the VA Connection could become the largest assembly of virtual assistance resources on the Web. I also believe there is a real need for this site. I was once a newbie too, and I know that a site like this would have helped me tremendously.

IVAACast

IVAA Cast IVAACast is the official VA Newsletter of the International Virtual Assistants Association! Not a member of IVAA? Not a problem. You don’t have to be a member of IVAA in order to receive the newsletter. Simply subscribe and get the monthly IVAACast, which is jam-packed with information you WILL use, all for free. Check it out for yourself and download the latest June 2007 or July 2007 issues today. To subscribe, just go to IVAA and complete the subscription form at the top of the page, and you’re done!

What are your favorite free resources provided by VA organizations? Leave a comment and tell us more! And don’t forget to check back next week for more free tools!

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