Web URL: http://www.lighthousevirtual.com
In Business Since: 2006
Type of Business: VA Subcontractor/Real Estate
Works: 100% virtually
Facebook PageLinkedIn
Twitter ID: @lvsolutions
Ruth: Welcome to the blog, Sandra. It’s great to have you here and be able to share more about you with the readers. Tell us about your business and how you work.
Sandra: I am a VA that subcontracts out my services to other VAs and small businesses. I have been in business since 2006. I have extensive experience – over 25 years of Administrative Assistance and Real Estate operations experience. Additionally, I have several certifications in the following: NAR REPA – Real Estate Virtual Professional Assistant, REW -Real Estate Webographer, Social Media Marketing Specialists, Infusionsoft, REVA Academy plus a few other courses.
Ruth: Would you share what led you to consider a virtual profession and how you got started?
Sandra: What lead me to become a virtual assistant was I needed to be able to stay at home for my son and I was tired of working in the corporate world with the drives across town and gas prices were on the rise and still are.
Ruth: Yes, having the 1 minute or less commute to your office is a definite plus. Along the way have you had a mentor to support, guide, encourage and open doors for you?
Sandra: I have to say that the people that I have been encouraged by are my husband and family. They are my support! I do want to also say that by finding the forum of VAnetworking.com and purchasing Tawnya Sutherland’s VBSS system helped get me started in my VA business.
Ruth: Having a supportive family makes this chosen career so fulfilling. I’ll admit I’m a bit biased towards Tawnya’s VBSS system (the Virtual Business Start Up System) as I am one of the contributors to its content. Sandra, if you could share a nugget of insight or bit of advice for someone considering a virtual career such as yours what would that be?
Sandra: I would have to say just do your research like I did when I started. There are lots more Virtual Assistant forums out there now than when I started. Some free and some not, personally I am part of both kinds. If you want to get several clients more than say just marketing in your local area than you should join a few and pay their fees to be a part so you can see plenty of RFPs which are job postings that you can apply for!
Ruth: Very insightful, Sandra. Being part of the forum communities is most certainly a way to network and get acquainted with other like-minded business entrepreneurs. With your chosen niche being a VA subcontractor it’s proven to be an excellent way for others to get to know you, your personality, and experience how knowledgeable you are with the responses you share on a forum. Now tell me, what bits of advice would you give someone seeking a virtual professional such as yourself?
Sandra: My advice in finding someone you trust is to become a member of the a few virtual assistant forums – get in there and start networking with them. This is how I started and once they get to know you and you them, then you will feel more comfortable in being able to reach your business goals! And, the old saying you have to have that I-really-wanna-do-this-and-I-can-do-this attitude.
Ruth: Great tips and a great Can-do attitude! Any last thoughts or comments you’d like to share with our readers?
Sandra: I would just like to say a BIG Thank YOU to Ruth for picking me as a VA to interview! I really LOVE being a Virtual Administrative Assistant and am so glad that I did my researching and found lots of others that started their own business! Lighthouse Virtual Solutions looks forward in providing services to helping Virtual Administrative Assistants out and small business owners that need administrative assistance of various tasks. We hope that you will give them a chance to show the reliable, trustworthy, honorable services that can be provided! “Helping you to see the light at the end of YOUR tasks!”
Ruth: It’s been a pleasure, Sandra. I’m thrilled to have interviewed such an interesting virtual professional such as you and learn more about who and what a VA Subcontracting specialist is. Others interested in this niche, I hope you’ll heed Sandra’s suggestions.
If you’d like to connect with Sandra then head over to her website or seek her out on one of the social media sites.