Lessons Learned – Lesson #3
Mistake #3: Undervaluing my services
If you were like me or like many other virtual assistants just starting out, you probably researched other virtual assistants’ websites, looked at the types of services others were providing, saw what others were charging, and then followed suit. Repeat after me – this is not the way to set rates.
Worse, some websites even had a nifty calculator wherein you input your expenses and other variables and Voila! – it calculates your rate. This is so very wrong.
Instead, look at the value you are giving to your clients and set your fees with that in mind. Take into account the expertise you possess that others do not. For example, do you specialize in graphics, website design, or have a background as a paralegal? You can probably command a higher fee than those who provide general data entry or typing services.
Lesson Learned: Don’t be shy about charging what you deserve. If you need help in this area, there are a couple of resources I recommend: Kendall Summerhawk’s How to Charge What You’re Worth and Tom Buford at http://chargewhatyoudeserve.com.
