Name : Alison Fourie

Email Address : alison@amftyping.co.za

What kind of Business do you run? Typing Company

When did you start it? April 2001

Why did you start it? Because I knew I had the confidence to start my own business and be a success at it.

What was your inspiration? A Virtual Assistant, Kathie M Thomas in Australia, I knew I could do what she had done.

How much capital in terms of resources did you invest to start up your business?
I had everything I needed, all my equipment so it was a case of advertising and getting the first client.

Do you have a website for your business? If yes please provide it http://www.amftyping.co.za, http://www.vaforhire.co.za

Who are your main customers? What demographic are they mostly from?
My clients are worldwide, but I seem to draw clients in education and training.

What do you feel are the basic goals that a business such as yours should reach in the first year?I feel you need to reach a total of at least 5 to 6 clients who are long term and to
be operating your business full time to earn money to survive, then you keep building

For anyone who wishes to start their own WAH business in the same industry as yours what are your top 3 advice tips? Be confident Be Assertive and dont be frightened to reach out and approach clients and potential clients Be able to multitask and be good at what you do. Excert confidence to clients because that will get you the job.

Has this business venture allowed you to spend more time or less time with your family? Spend less time, as I run a busy office full time, working nights and weekends, public holidays when needed, you do what you have to do to grow your business.

What are the top three marketing strategies that you employed to achieve success for your business? My ability to know the market I wanted to target to get the clients that I want. To know how to draw clients via my website, writing good content to draw people tome. Market anywhere and everywhere that you can.

What goals are next for your business? My goals are not so much for my business, just to make sure it gets better and better but to rather spread the news within South Africa about the industry of Virtual Assistants.

Where do you see your business in another 10 years? A business that I will be able to pass onto my son and daughter if they so wish, but being the number 1 Virtual Assistant business within South Africa. I want to be at the top of my profession in this country.

Name the top 3 products and/or services your business provides and their respective
benefits to the customer/consumer : Typing, I can type anything, so my clients benefit by getting a quality document that is presented well. Powerpoint presentation, this is a skill i enjoy doing and a well done presentation looks good for your client Transcription this is a service I provide by using contractors who are good at what they do, this enables my clients to get on with running there business while we transcribe which is a time consuming job.

Has your business been recognized in any way by the media or any awards organization? If so please state how you were chosen and what kind of recognition your business has achieved. I was the recipient of the VAccolade Business Entrepreneurial award.

The VAccolade award not only recognizes participation at VAnetworking, the world’s largest member based Virtual Assistant Networking Association online, but also recognizes the professionalism with which Alison presents herself on the web, thereby giving them more credibility amongst other Virtual Assistants.

“Virtual Assistants (VAs) are business owners who work from their own office providing professional support, services and skills to their clients via phone, fax and internet based technology. Partnering with a VA reduces stress, protects cash flow, eliminates administrative hassles, and enables business people to find the success they originally set out to achieve. A VA is your right hand person helping. you to succeed in your business. The irony is you may never meet your VA as odds are they live nowhere near you!” (definition from www.VAnetworking.com).

AMF Typing Services cc company specializes in (Typing) and is a home-based administrative professional providing various online services to her clients . She started her Virtual Assistant career to run my own VA business and work from home.

I dont

Share with us two positive feedback comments your customers have said about your product/and or service. : My clients use my services because of the professionalism i display when working with them. I know what I am dong, I am an expert in my field/industry and I reflect this when I talk to my clients. I am very confident in my approach with my clients and this shows as my c lients have been with me a few years now.