Web URL: http://www.traceydaviero.com
In Business Since: 1998
Type of Business: Internet Marketing, Email Marketing, Ecommerce Management, Virtual Events
Works: 100% virtually
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Twitter @Tracey_D
Ruth: Today I welcome Tracey D’Aviero, Virtual Assistant. Please tell us about your business.
Tracey: I have two sides to my business. I offer VA support to high level business coaches by helping them with their product and program launches, Internet marketing and ecommerce. I also run Your VA Mentor, which is where I teach and mentor virtual assistants to grow successful businesses. I teach business and marketing programs and provide private coaching.
Ruth: How did you get your start?
Tracey: I was working as a food and beverage consultant (my background and college is in hospitality) and as I realized that the hospitality business was not a viable industry for me due to the lack of revenue they had locally to pay consultants. I went in search of a new clientele that I could support. I found the VA world quite by accident, as I did my online research, but in doing so, realized the capacity of a VA for many different industries. Instead of a consultant I rebranded myself about 7 years ago into a VA. I found a few great clients right away and over the years have specialized my skills and service offerings so that I can work with my ideal client and provide the services I love to do each day.
Ruth: Along the way have you had a mentor or sponsor to support, guide, encourage and open doors for you?
Tracey: When I started branding myself as a VA, I had no support. I also did not have any support as a consultant. I learned many things the hard way. In fact, I learned everything the hard way. About 4 years ago I hired a business coach and learned everything there was to know about marketing my business. Since then I have worked with several other coaches. I find it invaluable to gain knowledge quickly and strong support from the right people. I also have become a part of a mastermind group and have a few accountability partners. Some of them are also VAs, and some of them are not. It’s a great mix to combine some VAs with other small business owners because you can see the grand picture more clearly. I also have many colleagues and strategic partners that I connect with on a regular basis just for networking. I wouldn’t be able to run my business the way I do without the various levels of support that I have in my business.
Ruth: What lessons have you learned and what advice do you offer about becoming an entrepreneur?
Tracey: The one piece of advice I would give people who are considering a virtual career is to realize that it’s going to be hard work. It’s not just a job, it’s a business. You need to learn the things you don’t know, and get support where you need it. By doing so you will realize the success you deserve. Set goals and strategy, implement your plans and analyze your results often, and you will be able to build on your success.
Ruth: What advice would you give someone seeking a virtual professional such as yourself?
Tracey: If someone is looking to start working with a VA like me, I would tell them to know very clearly what they need support with before they ever go looking for someone. Have a budget in mind, but be aware of what you need to have done, and realize how getting that support will up-level your own business. If you aren’t sure what it is you need help with, you won’t be able to articulate it clearly to potential VAs and you may not end up working with someone who is the right fit for you.
For instance, I provide Infusionsoft support for my clients. What this system allows us to do is to strategize together all of the pieces for every campaign or launch so that we know exactly what our intake process is and our follow up process. It’s not just being able to send a newsletter or a broadcast to your list. We bring strategy and assessment into everything we do. That’s an extremely valuable asset to your business.
Ruth: Any last thoughts you’d like to share with our readers?
Tracey: One of my favorite topics to discuss is the importance of finding the right support in your business. This is the essential piece to any successful business. Support can come in the form of a bookkeeper, a mentor, and so on, or it can come in the form of a virtual assistant. When the clients know what they need support with, and when the VAs know the clients needs and how to take care of them, it can be a perfect match. Just because we are solopreneurs does not mean we have to work alone. In fact, I don’t recommend that at all. When you have support in its various forms, your decisions get easier to make, and your results will reflect it when you know that you are doing the best for yourself and your clients.
Ruth: It’s been a pleasure, Tracey.