Sara Lingenfelter is the CEO of Virtual Biz Partner. She’s been featured in numerous mom outlets such as Hiremymom.com, Party Plan Magazine, Female Entrepreneur Association, The Work at Home Woman, The Boss Hat, and Boss Babe just to name a few. Sara has a proven track record of managing and growing businesses while simplifying strategies, systems, and technology.
When she’s not supporting moms working from home, you can find her spending time with her young son, watching movies, enjoying the outdoors, and probably eating some chocolate or other tasty food!
1) How did you get started working from home?
I was on Facebook one day in 2011, saw someone talk about working as a Virtual Assistant in a post. I researched it and figured I could do it too. I soon learned of a site called Hiremymom.com and that is where I got my first two clients from. I got them in the same week!
2) How did you choose the work-at-home career you do?
Well I was working an employee job at the time but after I learned of a Virtual Assistant and started working as one I realized I could make more money as a VA. I looked for online training so I could grow my business, and I eventually quit my job when I felt I knew enough to run a successful business. And from there I kept learning online skills, figured out what I loved and what I didn’t. It just progressed over time and I learned more.
3) How did you get started (basic initial steps)?
I did a lot of research using Google. I also found some useful articles on how to get setup. Basically, I needed a computer, fast internet, pay a small fee to the state, and a few other basics. I also talked to others working online to ask them questions and listened to some webinars on how to get started.
4) How did you get your first client or customer or job?
I got two at the same time, I was only trying to get one! It was the site hiremymom.com, I sent an email to the people hiring. They both responded and wanted to do an interview. One was skype and one was via phone. then they both offered me the position.
5) How do you market your business?
It’s always been quite a bit through referrals, but I am listed in some online directories. I also network a lot and they refer me. I now do some FB ads as well.
6) What does your usual day look like?
Haha, well this changes a bit depending on the day. I have a school age son and I am a single parent so I work while he is at school. Once he’s at school, I start about 9 or so, check emails. Do my biz stuff then start on clients work. I stop for lunch around 12 and then sometimes take a walk or do other exercises. Work more till I get my son at 3. Then I do a bit more once home, and finish up with email about 5 pm. I have two days a week for client meetings. Then Friday’s I take a 1/2 day off. I don’t work much on weekends as that is family time. But I also so social media network during the day. I have a mastermind 2 hour call every 2 weeks. I do Q&A calls for my mom VA group 2x per month. So lots of other stuff thrown in there.
7) What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started?
To trust myself more. You will be told a LOT of ways to run your business, and sometimes I listened to others even when it wasn’t what I wanted. I should have trusted myself more earlier on.
8) What advice would you give someone who wants to work from home?
First, make sure they are someone that works well on their own. Second, they must learn how to manage their time. Third, decide what their goal is for their business. Many just start working without deciding this then not being happy with their business. But it’s because they never really thought about what they wanted it to be! Then fourth, learn how to focus. You do NOT need to do it all and trying to will just burn you out. Do what you love, don’t always try the newest thing, and learn that less is really more in business!
Find Sara Online:
Website: Virtual Biz Partner
Twitter: @StrategistSara
Facebook: VirtualBizPartnercom
Instagram: @virtualbizpartner
[click_to_tweet tweet=”Learn how Sara Lingenfelter @StrategistSara heard about working at home as a virtual assistant, and then started her own home-based VA business. #workathome #virtualassistant” quote=”Learn how Sara Lingenfelter @StrategistSara heard about working at home as a virtual assistant, and then started her own home-based VA business. #workathome #virtualassistant”]
