Setting myself up to travel, working as a Virtual Assistant

Over the last 2 and a half years, I have had my own business, working as a Virtual Assistant. The majority of this time has been spent working in my home office, but have also had times where I have got to experience what it is like to also work while travelling in our van.

The goal of setting up my business was so that I would have that flexibility in my work life. I am too young to retire but keen to get out there exploring Australia while healthy and having an income to support it.

While we wait for our new van to be delivered before we can take off exploring, I thought I would share with you what I believe you need to have in place.

Have Systems in Place

Knowing that my business runs smoothly while not travelling is crucial to smooth sailing while travelling, and this is why I need to have systems in place. When onboarding a new client, I have my new client forms pack and welcome pack set up and ready to send. I plan and schedule my social media a month at a time.

Clear Communication

Communication is so important. I have ensured that I have a communication process in place that is working smoothly and my clients don't have any issues reaching out to me and vice versa. I am all about openness and will advise my clients that I am travelling, but aim to reply to any communication within 24 hours.

Time Zones

As I travel around Australia, I need to remember there are times that I will be in a different timezone to my client. I already have clients in different time zones so luckily I am used to dealing with this.

Cloud Apps

There may be times when my clients need access to things I have been working on with them. Some of the cloud app/things I use to make sharing work with clients easier are:

• Google Workspace - has the equivalent of Word and Excel, called Google Docs and Google Sheets, Gmail, Google Forms and Google Drive

• Dropbox - I don't use this for my own business but clients that don't like Google Drive opt for it, so I have an account set up

• Canva - used for creating social media posts, flyers, documents, presentations, etc

• Toggl - for time tracking

Wi-fi

We are getting our caravan pre-wired for Starlink so that we will have internet access, no matter where we travel. To be able to work efficiently while travelling, especially when the majority of my work is online, getting Starlink is a no-brainer for us!

Updated Gadgets

I am heavily relying on my mobile phone and laptop, so I need to ensure they are in good working order and performing at their optimal level. I also have a second screen and a small printer that makes things easier.

I love working as a Virtual Assistant because:

• I decide how much work I take on

• I get to work with different types of businesses

• It provides a work/life balance

• I get to travel and explore while working

• I get to connect online and in my travels with new people

• I am always learning new things

What could be better?