Colorado VA of the Month

YOUR NAME, CITY

Janet Crownover
Sheridan Lake 

WHAT IS THE NAME OF YOUR BUSINESS?

Windmills, Etc. 
www.windmillsetc.com

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE NAME FOR YOUR BUSINESS AND TAGLINE?

 I am located on the eastern plains of Colorado, where windmills are abundant. They range from the old fashioned ones that were used for the daily water needs to the modern ones that are used for wind energy. This inspired me to name my business, Windmills, Etc.

I use the tag line “Virtually moving your administrative needs from the past to the present.”  This incorporates the thought of bringing the past into the present with the virtual aspect, windmill (for the past) and the computer (for the future) logo. 

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO BECOME A VA?

Since I live in a remote part of Eastern Colorado, it is a minimum of 30 miles to the nearest town and there was the need to earn a living without using all your income to pay for commuting to work. So, I decided to work from my home.
I began as an inbound customer service agent for a company out of Nebraska for a while; however it didn’t work well with my schedule. Then I talked with my sister-in-law, Kathy Ritchie about the benefits of becoming a VA. I have always admired her for starting her own VA business at a time when it was still a novelty, and the fact that she has made Ritchie Secretarial Service a thriving business.
I began sub-contracting with Kathy doing research and data entry. Last year I completed UofVA Virtual Assistant Training Program at University of VA, and was mentored by Cheryl Callighan. I learned so much regarding the “new and improved” ways to do business virtually that I was hooked!
Since that time I have expanded my business to include services for a variety of clients (authors, copywriters, holistic healers, salvage yards, etc).

WHAT IS YOUR NO. 1 GOAL AS A VA AND WHAT STEPS ARE YOU TAKING TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL?

My goal as a VA is to help my clients provide great information and customer service to their business using the personal touch.
I am assisting my clients in finding the most economic way to “get the biggest bang for their buck”. 

DO YOU OFFER A NICHE SERVICE OR GENERAL VA SERVICES?

I provide general VA services. 

WHAT SERVICE(S) OR NICHE DO YOU SPECIALIZE IN?

 My niche is internet research, data entry and personal touch customer service. This includes personally speaking to my client’s customers, not only communication via email.

WHAT WAS THE BEST ADVICE YOU WERE GIVEN ABOUT STARTING YOUR BUSINESS? 

I have received a lot of good advice including (but not limited to of course):
Make sure that family members and friends honor your VA business hours the same as if you worked in a traditional office setting.
Also, remember to honor these hours yourself – just because you are “home”, you have to have the mindset that you are actually at work.

HOW ARE YOU CURRENTLY MARKETING YOUR SERVICES?

By word of mouth ~ from my clients and I promote my business to everyone I talk to.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST MARKETING VEHICLE FOR YOUR BUSINESS?

The best marketing so far has been referrals from other Colorado VA’s. I am looking at relocating in the next couple of months, so once I get my website renovated and the move completed I am going to be “filling the pipeline” as Cheryl would say by using internet marketing.

WHAT SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE DO YOU THINK ARE MOST IMPORTANT FOR A VA TO HAVE?

I believe that an open mind and to think outside of the box (both for your own business as well as for your clients) is the best skill that a VA needs.
As a VA, you have to make sure that your communication skills are top notch. You may have all the ability to do the work, however if you can’t effectively communicate with your client(s) then your business won’t grow.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE JUST STARTING A VIRTUAL ASSISTANT PRACTICE?

 Stay positive and be willing to learn new things. Also, as a fellow Colorado VA (Kathy J) mentioned, don’t quit your day job until you have enough business to support your business and you.

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF (FAMILY, HOBBIES, ACHIEVEMENTS, ETC.) 

When I married my husband, Dave, 16 years ago, we created a combined family. He had 3 boys and I had 2 daughters. Then our family grew with another daughter and a son. They are now 26, 21, 20, 19, 18, 16, and 14. This past year we added 2 grandchildren and are expecting one more in April and another in July! What fun!!!

I love to read, however I haven’t had a chance to read for pleasure lately….. I have been doing research for our next business venture (which I will be pursuing in addition to continuing my VA business). I am looking at starting a towing business with an emphasis on being an environmentally conscious business (going green) in Cheyenne Wells, CO with my husband.

My greatest achievement is taking the plunge into the world of being a VA! It has enabled me to learn new software, marketing and technology which I can use for myself and my clients.