Becka Goings is the Pod Leader and Senior Copywriter and Copy Editor for EVA. She is a published author and a freelance editor with Champagne Books. She writes and edits according to the seventeenth edition of the Chicago Manual of Style and is a diehard defender of the Oxford comma. At EVA, she oversees, writes, and posts blogs for clients, as well as drafting newsletters, web copy, email copy, sales copy, and social media copy. She also edits existing copy for clients, including older blogs, employee handbooks, company manuals, and business course curricula.
Tell us about yourself. Where do you live? What do you like to do for fun? Any hobbies or skills?
My name is Rebecca Goings but I go by Becka. I live in Hillsboro, OR which is a suburb of Portland. For fun, I like to drive out to the Pacific coast and spend some time at the beach, but admittedly, I don’t get out there very often. I love to read and I have amassed a small library of theology books. I’m a writer, so I also love to write faith-based devotions and poetry.
Why/how did you become a virtual assistant?
Out of necessity, really. I couldn’t work due to a shoulder surgery that had me out of commission for three months. The only thing I could do with my arm in a sling was type, so I went online to explore freelance copywriting and found a new client (Emerald) who loved my work so much she offered me a job to become a VA. What was tossed out on a wing and a prayer became my primary job to this day.
What do you love most about your job?
I love that I get to work from home. It has become such a blessing for my family as I live with my daughter and grandchildren. Being available for them has taken a lot of stress off all our shoulders with regards to childcare. I am able to set my own hours and work for as long or as little as I need to. If I have a doctor’s appointment or some other engagement, I can go without worrying about taking time off a traditional job, which can often turn into a big headache.
What are you passionate about in the workplace?
I am passionate about being authentic and putting my best work forward. My work not only reflects EVA, but also my clients’ businesses as well, so I take what I do very seriously. I never want to promise what I can’t provide, but I also want to do the best job possible. Doing so only ensures a better flow of business, both for my clients and for EVA. The more excellent the work I produce, the more value EVA has for our clients overall.
What do you bring to the table at EVA? What type of work do you do as a VA?
I am EVA’s resident copywriter and copy editor. I write and edit copy for both EVA and my clients, which includes blogs, newsletters, web copy, social media posts, employee handbooks, and so much more. I work closely with clients to write and edit copy to their specifications and get it ready for publication. I delegate tasks to other writers as well and also upload edited copy to blogs and websites. I have my eye on everything that’s written or edited for our clients at EVA. In other words, the buck stops with me.
What would you tell potential clients about why they should hire a VA?
Virtual assistants save you both time and money. So many businesses take good copy for granted, but good or bad copy is what can make or break a business. It is not a job “anyone” can do by throwing words on a website or blog. Good copywriters understand the art of writing, to make your content both exciting and engaging. An excellent copy editor knows grammar rules and will edit your copy according to the latest edition of the Chicago Manual of Style. Even if you want your copy to be catered to your audience with a more laid back style, only a copywriter (or copy editor) who knows what they’re doing will give you the conversions you’re after.
What is something you wish people knew about being a VA?
It is a very rewarding job. I am able to work from the comfort of my own home and not feel rushed or as if someone is looking over my shoulder. With several clients, no one day looks like any other, so there is always something new and fresh to do every time I sit down to work. When I see my copy published on a client’s website or blog, it brings me great joy to know that what I do on my own little laptop helps other businesses to grow and flourish—including EVA.
What is something surprising or interesting about yourself that people might not know?
I have rheumatoid arthritis, so for me, being a virtual assistant is a dream job for setting my own hours and working around my chronic illness. Some days I’m down due to medication, other days I’m very fatigued, while still others I might be quite achy. There is no way I could work an 8-5 job in an office setting, and I am so blessed Emerald at EVA hired me while my arm was still in a sling after my surgery. If she hadn’t, who knows where I’d be? Being a VA and working from home has opened a whole new world of possibilities for me, and gives hope to people with chronic conditions and disabilities to not only have a job, but a fulfilling career.
Thank you, Becka!
At Emerald Virtual Assistance, our team of experienced VAs can help free up your day by taking all kinds of jobs off your plate. Take the time to save your time. Schedule a consultation today!