When it comes to running a VA business, it’s important to remember that communication is key. When your clients aren’t just the next desk away, it’s even more essential to be sure that you know what’s expected of you and that you know what your clients are looking for.

Talking with your clients can definitely make sure that the doors are open; and it’s good to have a relationship where you can feel comfortable enough to ask questions. But it’s also essential to know that - even before you start working with a client - you need to focus on doing your part.

First, that means asking the questions that will let you know what your clients expect from you. Similarly, it means knowing that if you receive a phone call - whether from a current clients or a prospective client - you should return the call (same is true for email messages, faxes and other forms of contact). It also means following through.

If you’ve promised a client that you’ll have something to them within a given time frame, you’ll find that running a VA business is a lot simpler if you meet your own deadlines. If you’ve said that you’ll look into something that you aren’t as familiar with, you’ll want to make an effort to get the answers that you and your client are looking for (your VA network can be extremely helpful in these situations), within a short amount of time.

Communication isn’t just about meaning what you say and about understanding what you hear. Communication is a matter or negotiating, building trust and establishing relationships - all of which contribute to the process of running a VA business.