Meet Carly, a Virtual Assistant ready to free your business from the old admin ball and chain

Carly is a Virtual Assistant who specialises in working with women in micro to medium businesses, Carly is a super organised Australian Virtual Assistant, a qualified JP, and a big believer in freeing the cubicle monkeys. Carly’s passion is to assist women who are tired of the old admin ball and chain that keeps them from freedom. Women who have lost their cats and kids under the piles of paperwork in their office. Women who can’t see past the admin to keep their businesses growing. Her mission is to give her clients more of what matters to them. From all general admin tasks (like email management and invoicing), through to sealing up leaky sales funnels to keep money in your business, your success is always her end goal.

Tell us about yourself and your business.

Myself, I’ve been in admin roles for 14 years, so my own company was, I believe, a natural progression. I love planning and getting things in order. I am snarky and ridiculous to my nearest and dearest and believe that puns are life. I love me a Dad-Joke; the more woeful the better.

For my company, InkBlotVA is a Virtual Assistant company who provides remote administrative services to women in small business. ​I started InkBlotVA to be work around how I wanted my life to look while still doing what I do best – support people. Whether it is to do the nitty gritty they hate doing, random general tasks that have no category or be an accountability partner for them to show up for themselves – I can stand in that place for them. I can completely take charge and end up telling them what they need to do or I can be that passive receiver if that is preferred too. The team are on both West and East coasts of Australia and there are 3 of us to share the load.

​When and Why did you ditch the 9-5?

I left my corporate job in mid-2018, took some time off, and then started my business at the beginning of 2019. I needed to be able to choose who I worked with (client and colleagues). Best professional decision I’ve ever made.

What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to someone who is waiting to take the leap to work for themselves?

Have 2 service offerings (packages are best and 1 offering if necessary) and START. Start by going to networking events and meeting people. They are going to connect with you, ask you what you do and they’re going to engage you because they like you and what you can do. Meet some people and just get started. All of the rest comes once you’ve started.

What are the best tips for winning new business?

Give value without expecting to receive first. You become valuable and therefore they want you.

What is the favourite project I’ve done to date?

​I work with a fantasy/mystery author. Being a serious book dragon [read: hoarder – but is it really hoarding if it’s books?] I love anything book-related. To be working with an author is bliss!​

What is the business win you are currently celebrating?

My calendar is filling regularly enough that I can start being choosier about who I’m working with. Really pare it down to who and what I want while doing a great job. And I’ve sorted my 2021 Christmas Cards and they’re ready to be written on when it’s time.

Are you ready to break free from the admin chains? Let Carly take care of the minor (and major) details in your business. You can connect with her on the Gem Directory. Not a member? Join now.