How I Started Working From Home


Since a lot has been asking about my work. I'm gonna post it here in my blog so I can just send this link if anyone asks in the future. 

What's my work...

I've been a freelance virtual admin assistant since 2010 but I started working in an online business in 2008. To mention a few of my responsibilities... I help my clients in managing and organizing their business, setup and maintenance of their website, email marketing management, developing marketing plans for their business, managing their social media networks, and other administrative tasks.

How I started... 

Before I got a work-from-home job I was struggling to find a job. I have worked as fast-food cashier, department store cashier, waitress, secretary of a small office with a salary that is not enough to pay for bills, food, and other expenses for a family of three. So during break time of my secretarial job, I have to walk around the city checking on establishments that has "Job Hiring" post. Submitted my resume and praying for a call for an interview. Until a friend recommended to apply at the outsourcing company where she is currently working. 

I started working online last December 2008. I was hired by a local outsourcing company here in our city. It's not a work from home, so I report to the office from 8 AM to 5PM on weekdays. I was assigned in the SEO (Search Engine Optimization) team. My main task back then is doing backlinks for the websites of our foreign clienteles through forum posting. I research forums, sign-up, participate in a discussion and then post the client's website. I also do blog commenting. I search some related blogs and then post comments with the client's website attached to my comment. It might sound easy, but no you have a quota on how many forums post and comments to make and comments should be long, relevant, and unique.

Then as months passed, social media was added to my task. This is the reason why I joined Facebook. I remember how I used to add random foreigners to my friend list, for me to advertise and invite them to like the client's Facebook pages. Yes, that's how we do it back then. 😁

I also created accounts on other social networking sites. We were encouraged to use our personal profiles to promote our clienteles blogs and websites. This is the reason I have so many accounts in almost all social networking, I even forget the logins in some of them now. 

I also do the social bookmarking tasks. I don't know if these websites still exist, but I do know Reddit is still very active now.

January of 2010,  is when I nervously ventured on freelancing while I am still working at the office. After my office work, I go to a friend's internet cafe to work for my own client because I don't have a PC or laptop then. I found my first client who is from the United States while searching for an online job listing at OnlineJobs.ph. I'm working during his daytime which is nighttime for me, thats 6PM - 1 AM. The best thing about my first client is that he is okay with me still learning on the task. So most of my work back then is 50% training and 50% implementation. His business was my training ground on WordPress and hosting. From setting up several websites from scratch, managing the hosting, maintenance of the website, adding content. 

After 2 months of working with him, I  was able to buy my own laptop. All my hard work paid off, I no longer need to work long hours at the internet cafe and came home late. For a single mom, it was tough being out the whole day and don't have that much time to take care of my son. It was a blessing I have my mom who take care of my kid while I was out making a living for us. 

At this time as well, the local outsourcing company that I'm working with has some internal trouble with pioneering employees, things got so messy. After a long thinking and asking for advice from freelancers and bloggers friends, I decided to quit at the local outsourcing company and focus on my on client. As the cliche quote from Alexander Graham Bell goes... 

"When one door closes, another one opens." 

My work-from-home journey started...

While I am still working with my first client I found my second client who is from Switzerland. Luckily, when I started working for my second client he provided me a laptop and paid for my monthly internet bill for the first year. So I was off to a good start with my freelancing journey. 

My Swiss client was so happy and pleased that I am so eager and interested to learn something new in the online marketing business, so he enrolled me in so many training. He even bought software and tools to expand my knowledge and skills. And that's how I got my image editing and video editing skills. His business has been my training ground for marketing, project management, and business management. Experimenting with video marketing, social media, online advertising, and more. In his company, I learn to develop business tactics and marketing proposals. To understand clients and to learn the ability to make the client understand the project even if he isn't a technology-knowledgeable person.

15 years after, I am still using the PC that my Swiss client bought me back then when the laptop can no longer support the image and video editing task that I was working on. I just did some upgrades on it last year. 

Both clients were a blessing because they have helped me a lot in building my confidence in freelancing, honing my skills, letting me test and learn new software and tools, and provided me with lots of support to start my online job easily. 

Where to look for online jobs?

From my experience, I found most of my clients from OnlineJobs.ph (I recommend for beginners VA) and Virtual Staff Finder Careers (recommended for advance VA).

I have a friend who also works from home and she mostly gets clients from Upwork.com

I hope this will help you in starting a work-from-home career too. Best luck on your journey, have more patience and willingness to learn. You'll surely go a long way.    

My Fave Outfits of Park Minyoung in Her Private Life Korean Drama

 

Park Min-young and Kim Jae-wook

I just finish watching the Korean drama, Her Private Life in Netflix starring Park Min-young and Kim Jae-wook. And I couldn't help but notice Park Minyoung's fashion in the drama. It's really chich and eye-catching. And I love how simple the style yet she look so elegantly stylish. I took some screenshots of my favorite look among all she wore in this drama to share here in my blog. 

The first three pics are in my wishlist. I'll share a post if I can shop this clothes. ^_^

I really love the stylish cut of the skirt of this plaids suit!

Love this all nude outfit is gorgeous. I'm not sure if this one will look good on me but I shall try. I dont own any nude button-down shirt  but I did have a nude skirt before but it has prints on it. I use to pair it with dark top.
 
 I want this knitted dress with a modest side slit.  

New idea on how to style the button-down shirt.

I love side slits and that's why I love this outfits with modest slits that she wore. And the combination of cloth texture is amazing. Truly get some great ideas for a stylish corporate look.

I actually like this particular scene because it flaunts Park Minyoung feature. When she bun her hair it was perfect with the outfit.
 
I do notice that she mostly wear knitted tops in this drama. And this white long sleeve knitted top actually has an open slit at the back of the elbow which make it unique. (But I honestly don't like the open slit. XD)
 

 

With this look I just love how the men long sleeve and men slacks still look chic on her. 

 If you've seen the drama, you may noticed  I didn't post the pant suit outfit besides the last two images. They're actually nice but I'm no a fan of pants, I'm a skirt and dress type.  

What outfit do you like of Park Minyoung in Her Private Life Kdrama? 

If you haven't watch this drama, which of the outfit above do you like?

#LifeLately | Holy Week

 

Watching

I just finish The Bureau of Magical Things. I actually plan to watch a K-drama series but as I was browsing on my watch list in Netflix I saw this and got interested.
It's a feel good fantasy TV series about a girl who accidentally discovers an extraordinary world of fairies and elves, and gains magical powers. I like the main character's, Kimie Tsukakoshi, and also Elizabeth Cullen acting.

Feeling

Grateful for the blessings and opportunities.
I am grateful for the 4 days rest from work. Although, I may have done some little work but it mostly rest.
I am grateful that I was able to buy my original domain -- venussmilyegal.com for cheap price.
I am grateful to received WearYourFaith.me Got's Got It mug last Thursday. 

Thinking

Thinking of where or how to share some overdue post that I want to share here in my blog. I just thought these are helpful content. And since some friends ask about this from time to time, might as well share this in the blog. Who knows any of you might need this information as well. And also, its easy for me to share the details to friends if they ask information again. 

Wishing

I am wishing for a weekend getaway at a resort, with my son.

Hoping

I am hoping that my bestfriends pregnancy delivery will go smoothly and that she and the baby is healthy. And they can go home immediately.

Wearing

Purple nightwear that I bought from Shopee. I hope I can write a review of this here in the blog soon.

Welcome back to Venussmileygal.com!

 

Hi y'all! I'm so happy today because I finally got my original domain -- venussmileygal.com! 

After how many years of waiting I finally bought the domain at a cheap price.  I was so surprise because it was very expensive the last time I checked. 

If you're wondering how I lost this domain.... 5 years ago, I updated my header image and reverted my blog name from EmoterGoddess to Venussmileygal. I created a blog post for that (read here) with the story how I lost my original domain.

Earlier this year I've been meaning to go back to blogging but every time I attempt to create a blog post it all ended to draft. I got overwhelmed of so many things I want to share in my blog and also I don't know where to start after a long time of on and off in blogging. 

Getting back my original domain inspired me to blog again. I think this is a sign. I also get this domain in time for Holy Week break, where I have a few days off from work. So I have time to work on some updates on my blog.

I still don't know where to start. I still feel overwhelmed of so many things I wanted to share, but I'm gonna take it slow. I will keep in mind the following benefits of blogging for me...

Blogging is the process of writing a blog, an online journal in which you share your thoughts. And just like how I did before when I was younger where I write down my thoughts in a diary notebook, writing my thoughts in my blog will help me unload everything that's on my mind. 

Blogging will make you practice gratitude more. Sharing about the places Ive been, food I've tried, things I bought, and the achievements helps me to realize that I am blessed. And sharing this in my blog reminds me to be thankful for every small and big things and experiences.

Blogging will remind you of good memories. Reading my past blog post helps me remember good times with good people. And also reminds me of the things that Ive experienced and achieved. Some past memories also inspires me on how to live in the present.

Blogging will give you opportunities and freebies. I must admit, seeing some progress in my Google Adsense also inspires me to actively update this blog. And there are still businesses who still continually reach out to me for collaboration. Reminds me of the good old days, where I used to shop online for free and received so many products in my house. My outfits before are mostly sponsored. Even though I don t go out more often now but I miss dressing up.

Positive Things of 2020


I spent my January 1st cleaning the house and re-organizing my plants in the garden. And while doing those things I was thinking of the things happened in 2020. 

2020 is a year that everyone would probably want to skip. At some point I do felt the same, but I realized... it isn't really that bad for me. I'm probably just influenced from the negativity that I read and watch and still not used at the big changes that this pandemic has cause and the new normal that brought so much inconvenience. 

There's so many good things 2020 has uncover. And I choose to focus on this things to remember and be grateful...

1. 2020 thought us to of proper hygiene and awareness of cleanliness. 

2. 2020 thought us to be mindful of our actions. Our recklessness and negligence will not only harm our own self but also our family and also our community.

3. The pandemic also put a value on healthcare, hospitals, nurses, and everything in the healthcare industry. I just hope the government will develop a good healthcare policy and law for us. 

4. In 2020, we discover the convenience of  food delivery, online shopping, and online grocery. Its so great seeing many business embracing online services, delivery services, and social media. I even discovered shops I've never know before. Some recommended by friends online and some discovered via social media.

I definitely love how I just list down my grocery items, order, checkout, and then wait for it to be delivered. Your personal shopper can even call you if the items in the list is not available. For someone who easily get distracted and add to cart some unnecessary items not in my list its truly a big savings to have someone else do the grocery for you. XD

5. Since everyone is going online the online services improve. And a lot of government offices and business is embracing online processing.

I just hope PLDT will realized going online service though, they're an internet company yet they still prefer traditional business transaction at there one and only office in the city. Get ready to line up and get expose to the virus. And their costumer service is nowhere to be found.

6. Due to the international and national lock-down, many people campaigned to buy from local businesses to support the local economy.  Everyone is learning to utilize and appreciate local business and local resources. 

7. Because everyone is asked to stay at home. Everyone is making the most of the time improve there home. The long overdue plan of home renovation finally materialized. 

I saw a lot of home improvement post homes in social media and beautified front yard in our neighborhood.

8. And speaking of home improvement, a lot of people embraced the inner plantita/plantito. A lot of people plant flowering plants, herbs, and vegetables. Everyone now embrace urban gardening. 

9. A lot of passion and new hobbies has been discovered in 2020 too. Due to lock-downs some people take this opportunity to learn new things. May it be online or through reading books. Some even made a business of the new hobby they have discovered.

10. Due to lock-down, a lot of family has come together. Parents who doesn't have time to their children finally has the time to bond and play. Parents is thinking ways to make most of the moment by doing things to keep kids sanity without doing extracurricular activities or going anywhere to distract them. 

Im so glad to read a lot of family has develop a new bonding moment and family tradition. 

11. The lock-down also teach us to learn and enjoy a home-cooked meal. 

12. 2020 has also given those people who are living a fast-paced life a time to slow down and relaxed. If before they don't have an excuse to relaxed and stay home now they have all the reason to stay put and embrace some things they have missed. 


 

Covid

The brother of my mom got Covid. 

Even if he is very careful and only goes out every 2 weeks for work, he still catches the virus. His in the hospital now fighting to survive, and his wife is positive too. The kids are quarantined separately from their parents at the quarantine facility. 

But today's sad news is the results that came out... 3 of the kids are positive for the virus too. And so each kid is separated to quarantine alone. It's sad because these young kids are already stressed out with their parents in the hospital. Now they have to fight the virus on their own too. 

May God give my cousins the strength to endure all this and to fight the stress and anxiety that this virus caused to their family. And I pray that they will be healthy and come home to celebrate Christmas as a family.

This is a reminder to stay at home, wash hands, and wear a mask and face shield. Protect yourself, to protect your family.


Thankful. Grateful. Blessed.

 

Our simple Thanksgiving dinner... Sinuglaw (Singuba + Kinilaw) and grilled squid. 😋

The kiddo told me, that we should celebrate Thanksgiving for the continuous blessings that we're receiving.

Thanks to Food Panda for making the celebration possible, coz I'm busy at work and have no time to cook. 

And to our go-to restaurant, Mag SUGBA Ta Seafood & Grill thank you for the delicious food, big serving, and affordable price as always. Sulit kaayo every order! 2 thumbs up and really recommended.