3 Ways to the Fastest Path To Income Virtually From Home

3 Ways to the Fastest Path To Income Virtually From Home

Welcome to the How She Quits Show – Episode 14

On the next 3 episodes of the How She Quits show… we’re going to go rapidly through the most important advice for any mom running an online business today.

For VAs, Freelancers, Bloggers, Coaches, Consultants… I’m cutting right to the key facts to make you more profitable… because like me, you don’t have the luxury of extra time. Your family needs you NOW.

Over these episodes I’ll cover:

  • What is the FASTEST path to income from home and 3 keys to making that happen
  • What is the ESSENTIAL thing to spend the most time on when selling an online course or membership
  • Why people aren’t opening your emails
  • 3 Essentials to closing your one-on-one offers
  • How you should be spending time on Facebook

Following even one of these gems of advice will elevate your business immediately today. (I’m confident of this. Message me if it doesn’t and we’ll find a gem for you.

You want to work from home.
You want consistent, reliable income from your online business.
You need flexibility in your schedule for your family.
You don’t want to be tied to meetings and phone calls.

This is all possible in today’s online marketplace.

Maybe you already have a great online business but you’re struggling with consistency, overwhelm or growth.

In part 1 of this 3 part series, I’m going to share some of my best advice for mom’s providing 1-on-1 services (or those wanting to!)

Online businesses progress through many phases.  And each requires a new strategy and tactics.  Over the next 3 Episodes, I’m going to share my best advice in these 3 phases of online business:

  1. All one-on-one services (the fastest path to cash)
  2. Moving from one-on-one to one-to-many services (introducing packages, group programs, online courses / memberships)
  3. Scaling your online business (growing revenue and profitability in your membership or online course)

The fastest path to income is one-on-one services.
VA work.  Professional freelancers (writers, designers, techies).  Or even coaching others.

Contracts aren’t scary!  They are your friends.

My Best Advice about Contracts:

  • Always have one for one-on-one work (it can be a simple Scope of Work – training in the Collective)
  • Keep it simple.  Your initial contract can be a 30 day trial period so you can readjust based on experience.
  • Set and review contracts every 3 months due to this fast changing environment

Increasing Rates is the fastest way to increase income and can happen every 3-6 months in this fast moving world.

I’m getting calls but I’m not getting business!

3 Essentials to closing your one-on-one offers

  • Give a deadline and clear next step “I’m booking up June.  Can you confirm with me by next Tuesday if You’d like me to reserve a space for you?”
  • Be clear about your offer and your rates.  If you can’t on the phone, follow up immediately in writing within 1 day.
  • Be professional AND personable.  Making a relational connection can be the deal winner in a market with a lot of choices.

My Best Advice About Rate Increases:

  • Quote all new work at the new rate
  • Set expectations for current clients when ready to shift rates
  • Wait until you have enough new clients at the new rate then offer existing clients to continue at the new rate or be ready to drop them.

On the next episode, we will take our one-on-one business to the next level —> moving to packaged pricing and 1-to-many programs such as online courses and memberships.

Watch Here

Your Answers Will Shape Our Resources Coming This Summer

Your Answers Will Shape Our Resources Coming This Summer

{Virtual Work Opportunities for the week of May 8th…scroll down…. but we’d love for you to read our advice on how to land these great opportunities first!}

It’s “May Madness” around here.

4 kids. 3 schools. You get it.

But on overdrive this May because….I’m graduating my first from high school in t-minus 13 days. Ahhhhhh!

(I need space to breath and grateful for a business that allows that.)

But my passion for helping other mom’s in the online business world never dims. We just get efficient.

To help us define our summer offerings for you, in a super simple way that we can do amidst May Madness, can you quick reply with an answer here?

Select the question based on where you are on your journey:

📍 If you are already doing VA / virtual professional work:
     What’s the one thing that frustrates you like crazy and you’d like me to teach you a magic solution for?

📍 If you are a mom who wants to make some extra cash on the side:
     What’s holding you back from starting?

📍 If you are still in a day job dreaming of working from home:
     What’s holding you back from knowing what to do?

📍 If you are in a day job AND doing a side business:
     What’s holding you back from quitting?

📍 If you are full time in the online space in any capacity:
     When you see my business(es), what’s the one “Lori secret’ you wish you knew for your own business?

Talk to me ladies. So I have a distraction from all these “senior mom” tears.

Contact me HERE with your thoughts.

I’m sure it’s end-of-school-year “May Madness” for you too. A quick message takes 30 seconds.

My response may be a game changer for you.

Take 30 seconds for yourself, please. Thank you.

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Maybe a quick read through this week’s VWO’s will inspire you! Take a peek!

{These virtual work opportunities are pulled from various sources around the web each week.  Some are free listings and some require a membership to sites such as FlexJobs or HireMyMomIf you want the best clients, long term business and the highest rates, we suggest using these sites over free Facebook groups.  To learn how to refine your search for the highest dollar virtual work opportunities, try our fast class.}

Jack-Of-All-Trades-VA for a Virtual Based Company

This client needs it ALL. A short job post asking for a little bit of everything – so enter this knowing that it’s probably not super clear how they can best utilize you. With patience and understanding of putting processes in place, if you have a personality fit with this client and their mission, the work will likely become recurring….and you have a chance to help them be more profitable as a result. Win-win-win.

Social Media Manager for VA Firm

This is a great example of a specialized virtual work role….ironically with another VA agency.

They are seeking a Social Media Manager who is self-motivated and self-disciplined, demonstrating expertise in this area of work. Responsiveness and professionalism, be detail-oriented, have excellent grammatical skills, be organizationally and technologically savvy, communicate effectively, and be results-oriented and resourceful.

In short: Your chance to work for people who get it and shine as an expert in your area.

New VA’s Start With This Kind Of Work

I loved how this job prospect seemed very realistic, clear and specific about what they need in a VA. This position could be ideal for someone who is just breaking into the field. The tasks aren’t too complex. The hours are contained. The client seems to have good expectations. Tasks include customer service (via phone & email), has basic design skills (e.g., Canva, PowerPoint) and skilled at scheduling social media posts (via Hootsuite).

Marketing Assistant VA for a Coach/Trainer with a Sense of Humor!

Immediately when I read the post, I thought this entrepreneur knows what they want and has a sense of humor to go with determination for success.

This independent coach and trainer working with national clients, international clients and partners is in search of an experienced, resourceful, organized and trustworthy VA. Candidate MUST have at least 1+ years experience as an admin assistant.

If you read the full post I see one very key need: RESPONSIVENESS. (Ring any bells? I harp on this being essential ingredient #1 all the time). 50 hours a month. 21 day paid trial to make sure candidate is the right fit.

And back to the countdown to summer break!
You have the chance to have a clear business strategy and new clients before summer arrives.
My Predictions for the Future of the VA / Virtual Work World

My Predictions for the Future of the VA / Virtual Work World

{Virtual Work Opportunities for the week of May 1st….scroll down…. but we’d love for you to read our advice on how to land these great opportunities first!}

By now we’ve scanned thousands and posted hundreds of virtual work opportunities and we’ve only been doing this for about 6 months.

We do it to show you the WORK IS OUT THERE.

The virtual work world is so new and so wildly inconsistent. There is no standard yet. Which is frustrating but totally plays to your advantage. People are literally inventing their businesses as they go.

This is one of those moments you will regret if you let it slip by.

What does the virtual work potential look like?

If you want to make an extra $1000 a month. Almost a no-brainer.

If you want to replace $2 – 4k of your day job. Yes. Absolutely possible.

If you want to move into the $5-10k per month range…. yes. With the right skills, this is possible (and then higher because bringing that kind of professionalism into this industry is sooooo needed.)

What will the virtual work industry look like if you wait?

My prediction is this:

Those who started now will be dug in steady with the best clients. (All of my best clients are long-term… 1 – 2 years of work together. Find your fit and don’t change a good thing!)

Virtual Professional agencies will own the placement of the top talent (and take a portion of your pay if you work through them)

General VA work will become more and more commoditized (and therefore lower priced).

If you wait, you will start at a lower rate and have a tougher time working your way up.

This is why you need to start sooner and refine your skills and move into that highly skilled arena ahead of the pack.

You have a chance to be first to market. Which is like a winning lottery ticket.

What if you would have been an early investor in Uber? Or Amazon? Or Facebook? Aloha right? Success!

Or maybe a more relatable scenario for us moms who’ve most likely been pitched a variety of direct sales/home party businesses over the years. The first people in always have the best opportunity.

Ok. There is nothing MLM about this but the first mover advantage is very relevant.

Waiting until you…..

🔸 get thru the next project

🔸 your child is in preschool

🔸 your husband gets his promotion

🔸 the kids are back in school

Don’t wait. You can start small and start quickly and get further ahead.

Here are some insights into applying for this week’s positions.

I actually talk to the business owners for many of the postings we share. I do this to let them know we are sharing their post. Sometimes I suggest better ways to position their opening. Sometimes I have a prime candidate for them who has completed one of my programs (6 Weeks to Clients for example).

Here is what they are saying:
✔️ They are often overwhelmed by responses.
     TIP: You need to stand out.

✔️ Many of the responders simply don’t respond back quickly enough.
     TIP: Be responsive (within a few hours) and follow up.

✔️ Personality is key. They just don’t connect.
     TIP: Kindness and authenticity matter.

✔️ When they find the right person, there is always more work for them moving forward.
     TIP: Your first project can open the door to much more.

This week’s HOT VWO’s

{These virtual work opportunities are pulled from various sources around the web each week.  Some are free listings and some require a membership to sites such as FlexJobs or HireMyMomIf you want the best clients, long term business and the highest rates, we suggest using these sites over free Facebook groups.  To learn how to refine your search for the highest dollar virtual work opportunities, try our fast class.}

Online Genius is Hiring Again

This is your chance to work for a highly successful mom CEO in the online business world. You will learn, learn, learn your socks off even as you help her with admin and organization (i.e. I read project management in this). The job posting is well thought out. She’s a gem! And this is likely to be work that is rewarding and opens many doors for the right person. Apply by May 11th!

Flexible, Clearly Defined VA Position

A structured VA job description with training? This is so rare to find. This client knows what VA work makes them successful. Traditional online VA support for author/consultant kinds of things – newsletters, emails, client scheduling, web posting.
Must be available a couple of hours a day between the hours of 10-5 EST. Bonus – this entrepreneur understands SAHM life and the importance of flexibility. Feels kind of warm and fuzzy when I read this one 🙂

Etsy + Pinterest VA

Etsy, Pinterest, and other social media management. This looks FUN and promising. When a business owner is hiring in this space, they are GROWING and looking for their right-hand girl to help them grow faster.

Virtual Law Firm Admin

Very detailed and specific job description here shows me this will be a great client for the right part-time virtual assistant. If you have any kind of legal secretary background then go show your stuff in email response, calendar management, accounting, and research.

2 Clients in One for a Virtual Book Keeper

Pick up multiple clients in one swoop! Quickbooks Bookkeeper for a business owner with multiple businesses. This is EFFICIENCY. For you and the client. The job description demonstrates they are organized and know exactly what they need. (That’s a good thing!)

So how do you stand out and really land one of these opportunities?

Just dive in of course. Action always wins.

There are, however, smarter and better ways to do this than others. Ways that save you a lot of time and increase your rates sooner. And it’s too much for just one post. It takes advice, refinement, learning and studying yourself and the market. But it’s SO DOABLE with the right guidance.

We do this together in the How She Quits Community. You accelerate finding the right clients with personal attention in the 6 Weeks To Clients program.

It’s not a giant massive group of other women learning a cookie cutter VA business.

(that will ultimately be commoditized right?) First and foremost I’m a business strategist. My goal is to help you take your skills and craft a business that grows to be a sustainable, valuable specialist business…. before the market gets there ahead of you!

You have the chance to have a clear business strategy and new clients.

Remember….. stand out. Get your business designed and operational ahead of the crowd.

ARE YOU READY TO BUILD THE REVENUE YOU NEED TO QUIT YOUR DAY JOB? 

Break Into The Virtual Work World Even When You’re Brand New

Break Into The Virtual Work World Even When You’re Brand New

{Virtual Work Opportunities for the week of April 24th….scroll down…. but we’d love for you to read our advice on how to land these great opportunities first!}

You’re reading our job opportunities each week and feeling discouraged because you’re still pretty new at this.

“How should I present myself? Oh, forget it. I’m not even going to apply.”

Stop.

That’s not how this virtual work industry works. No one is looking for college degrees or years of experience.

Business owners are looking for this (a direct quote from one of the opportunities we posted today):

“I am willing to train the right person in new things, but it is the eagerness to work and complete tasks with accuracy that I seek. “

So this is GREAT NEWS. It means that you go-getters, who are good at listening, learning and following up have the BEST CHANCE at breaking into this field.

Here are 3 ways to present yourself for these opportunities:

1. Be honest about your skillset

Just tell them. “I’ve never worked with the tool Drip but I’ve used other email response systems so I’m familiar with the concepts. I’ve taught myself other email systems in the past.”

I use this even when bidding $2 – 5 k projects and it’s fine. Because no one knows everything so they want a fast learner. Which brings us to point 2.

2. Demonstrate you are a fast learner

This can happen on your interview call or even emails. Find something to show you really pick up on their needs and can quickly grasp and understand what they want you to do.

You could even ask for a test project to show your learning ability. Offer it for half price (free is dangerous as you can be taken for a ride and ultimately the client is getting value for your work.)

3. Be responsive

I can’t say this enough. Apply fast. Reply fast. Deliver fast.  Always with quality of course. If the first set of work I get from a new VA has grammatical errors or misses the mark in what I asked for, it’s a sign they aren’t paying attention to detail.

Which is the #1 skill all VAs and Virtual Professionals need to always do well – attention to details.

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Here are our Virtual Work Opportunities for this week:

{These virtual work opportunities are pulled from various sources around the web each week.  Some are free listings and some require a membership to sites such as FlexJobs or HireMyMomIf you want the best clients, long-term business and the highest rates, we suggest using these sites over free Facebook groups.  To learn how to refine your search for the highest dollar virtual work opportunities, try our fast class.}

Take Fast Action – this business owner needs a VA ASAP for Product Launch

She’s launching May 13th. Yikes! I know this feeling! So much to do. Hit the ground running and take all the busy work off her plate. Uploading videos, update the members’ area, create social content, etc.

Work well together and this will become on-going with WordPress updates, social media strategy, marketing and copywriting. (Can’t do all of that? Most people can’t. She really needs a team and a ringleader – that could be you!)

Write to your heart’s content and get paid for it!

Join a team of 40+ virtual workers who believe in work-life balance as a freelance copywriter. Creating content is heavy work and often outsourced. The right words win customers. Have you worked in sales and marketing and can write on those topics? Those are the desired topics here: conversion rate optimization, leaky marketing funnels ( the ability to fix them!) and sales lead follow-up.

VA Support for Online Writing Program

Meet by video. Keep her Buffer social queues full. Help with member content and the never-ending email newsletter work (this one is using Drip and Access Ally.)

Simple. Direct. And perfect work for the right professional. Apply quickly. Display confidence and professionalism. And follow up. That’s the formula for getting these positions.

Detail Oriented, Fast learners – Professional Beginners

Read these job descriptions closely to understand the business owners pain points: They need copywriting and proofreading across multiple platforms with their content. This means…. they’ve had stuff posted that isn’t perfect (i.e. embarrassing to their business) and know they shouldn’t have to worry about reviewing VA work. It should all be proofed well. Also, content work is heavy and once it’s done once (i.e. the blog is written), it’s a mechanical exercise to get it out across their channels.

Then this statement is so telling: “I am willing to train the right person in new things, but it is the eagerness to work and complete tasks with accuracy that I seek. “

This is a business owner who’s been disappointed in past VA results. And understands that people who have the patience for detail and are fast learners can be easily trained up into this job. This makes it perfect for a newer VA who is polished, professional and detail-oriented. (I love opportunities like this because it can be so win-win for the right people!)

Another Growing Digital Marketing Firm Needs a VA

UK-based digital marketing company is looking for a smart & savvy, upbeat VA to help with administrative tasks such as customer service, client email and phone calls, research and various administrative duties.

(Every single week there is at least one opportunity like this. Do you know why? This industry is booming and these small but growing agencies need help. Set your targets on learning these skills and there is no shortage of work.)

Wanting to go faster in building your virtual professional business?

Now through April 30th, I have FIVE SPACES for our buy one – get one special.

When you join 6 Weeks To Clients VIP edition (which includes your own Virtual Professional website and hosting and personal training for setting up the copy … a steal already), we’re also giving you Verified Virtual Professional Training Center. 30 skills to learn rapidly and build up your virtual professional portfolio.

This is the time. In 5 weeks, summer hits and us moms all know what that means.

Go strong in May and watch your summer fun money grow. 🙂

For the first FIVE participants only:
Join 6 Weeks To Clients VIP and get Verified Virtual Professional Training Center f.r.e.e.
Use coupon code BOGOFREELANCE
Expires April 30th
How To Stop Trading Dollars For Hours In Your VA / Virtual Professional Business

How To Stop Trading Dollars For Hours In Your VA / Virtual Professional Business

{Virtual Work Opportunities for the week of April 17th….scroll down…. but we’d love for you to read our advice on how to land these great opportunities first!}

If you’ve been following me for some time now, you know it’s a no-brainer to add $2-5k per month to your income with hourly VA kinds of services.

But at some point, you realize you’ve maxed out your dollars and hours. Ultimately, moving into a package or project-based pricing is going to be win-win for both you and your client.

There are 2 opportunities we feature this week which are specifically project-based pricing, not hourly. And both are pitched from the client as project-based which is a nice transition step for you.

They already know they want to charge this way so you don’t need to convince them.

The benefit here is that those who are masters in their skills can earn top-notch rates for quality work.

The risk is that it takes you way longer than you think and your actual hourly rate is lower.

But that’s totally within your realm of control. You can define your own systems and approaches to churn out high-quality project-based work to generate more profit.

If you want to know more about how to make this transition into package based pricing, we just released a new training on this exact topic in our monthly membership community, the How She Quits Collective.

Stay tuned this week as I make some bold and drastic changes to our free Facebook community.  Why?

It’s not working well for you OR me. When something’s not working, it needs fixing.

My heart, time and energy are poured into the How She Quits Collective membership community. THAT is working and working well.

New trainings like the one we mention above are released each week including at least twice monthly group calls for Q&A as well as Office Hours to ask your personal questions.

I know I make a difference in your journey to quit your day job and become a freelance virtual professional.

Together in the Collective is where that happens.

This week’s hottest virtual work opportunities:

{These virtual work opportunities are pulled from various sources around the web each week.  Some are free listings and some require a membership to sites such as FlexJobs or HireMyMomIf you want the best clients, long term business and the highest rates, we suggest using these sites over free Facebook groups.  To learn how to refine your search for the highest dollar virtual work opportunities, try our fast class.}

Part-Time Freelance Marketing Copywriter

Copywriters: Another chance to move away from the hourly work with this pay-per-project opportunity.

This client also demonstrates professionalism and growth – there is already a project manager and process in place. And they ask to see your online digital portfolio and writing samples. Don’t have a portfolio yet? Build one out with our 6 Weeks to Clients program. Or simply step into our How She Quits Collective where just this month we’ve added training on “Fast and Efficient Client Scope of Work Agreements” and “How to Move from Hourly to Package Based Pricing in your VA Business”. Coming later this month “New Ways to Wow with Your Portfolio”  Join the Collective here.

Part-Time Social Media Manager + Design

Looking to move from the hourly work? Here’s a great place to start with per-project pay. If you’ve got the creatives, an eye for design and an understanding of what makes things attractive on social media, try this one out. And like everyone, they are wanting to move to short videos. You could be the one to sweep in and ramp up the videos effectively for their business.

VA Supporting Operations for Entrepreneur

Ontraport anyone? This is a hot tool in the VA world now and for good reason. It can do EVERYTHING and really streamline a business (if you want to learn it, go here (lorimercercto.com/ontraport) and watch their free tutorials. Bonus: if you start your own Ontraport account using my referral link, I’ll give you a free 30 minute consult to get you up and running quickly with Ontraport. And let’s be real. If you want to do this kind of work, you need to buy into the tools. You need to have them at your fingertips playing with them and learning them. The good news is that it’s all learnable.

This position is for a part-time VA with very traditional online business work – landing pages, email drips, etc. Plus the ability to structure these projects and help them meet the needs of their clients.

Now, $17 / hour as advertised is way too low for Ontraport work. So chances are very few people are bidding on this. Which gives you an opportunity to stand out from the crowd and wow them and step in at $25 / hour with a plan to move up.

Part-Time Customer Support VA

If you are comfortable with customer service BUT want more, here’s an opportunity for you.
This growing health and beauty company selling online through many platforms such as Amazon and eBay needs you to help them define and run their customer support. Friendly, quality response in an efficient manner via phone and email is what’s needed. And a process to work around the clock with customer service reps around the world…. so everyone gets to sleep normal hours.
Start small and grow with this one.