I’m curious to hear other people’s experiences with this. When you start working with a new client and you haven’t spoken on the phone or exchanged voice messages yet, do you usually mention upfront that English is not your first language? I’m bilingual and fluent in English, but of course being fluent is not always the same as being a native speaker. There can still be small differences in pronunciation, wording, or the way certain things are expressed compared to someone who was born and raised in an English-speaking country. I sometimes feel that this has put me at a disadvantage once a client realises that I’m not a native English speaker, even though it doesn’t affect my ability to communicate or do the work professionally. So I’m wondering: do you think it’s better to mention from the beginning that you’re bilingual / that English is your second language, just so expectations are clear and there are no surprises later? Or do you feel that, as long as you’re fluent and capable of doing the job, it shouldn’t really need to be pointed out at all? I’d love to hear how other bilingual VAs handle this and whether you’ve ever experienced something similar.

Hi everyone. I just wanted to share some good news. I may have landed my first client, it’s not 100% yet and it’s looking like it’ll be a trial period but fingers crossed. It’s a big thing for me as Ive been trying for a year now to get my first client. Thank you Erin for all your help 🙏 ☺️

The replay from our last call is up, and it's a good one! We got into how to run discovery calls that lead with your client's problems instead of your service list, why custom packages land better than a menu of everything you offer, and why following up 6 or 7 times isn't pushy, it's just how clients get won. @Stanley Azubuike chisom walked us through exactly how he prospects, from digging deep to find a client's pain points to making every follow-up worth opening, plus the tools he uses to make it all easier (LinkedIn Sales Navigator, Google Alerts, and email tracking). We also talked about building a portfolio when you're brand new, whether to niche down yet (short answer: not yet, try a few things first), how to break into healthcare VA work, and how to wrap up the year by looking at what's actually working so you walk into 2027 with a plan. If you missed it live, grab a notebook and give it a watch!

Apologies, everyone! The most recent addition to our group turned out to be... our first scammer. The "BELAY recruiter" has been removed. The major red flag 🚩 was her insistence on moving conversations to Telegram. BELAY is a legitimate, well-known remote staffing agency that hires virtual assistants, web developers, and bookkeepers, but they do not recruit, interview, or offer jobs through Telegram. If you're interested in working with a VA matching agency, apply directly through the agency's own website: https://belaysolutions.com/jobs

Hi @Erin Booth 😊 Could I ask you something as someone further along than me? How long did your first client take to land? I keep having great conversations that go nowhere, they seem keen, I send the proposal, then it's endless "I'll get back to you" with nothing concrete. It's the part I find hardest. Any advice on handling it, and why people struggle to just be direct? Thank you so much x