Here are my views on some
Frequently Asked Questions!
Can’t I just keep doing it on my own?
Why wouldn’t I just hire someone?
Couldn’t I give the easy stuff to a service, and just have a VA work on bigger things?
Is a VA a short term solution?
Isn't it more expensive than hiring an employee?
What kinds of work might my VA do?
Is Virtual Assistance for everyone?
Why should I choose Assist Virtually?
What are you like to work with?
Virtual Assistance is an emerging profession meeting the administrative needs of small business owners and entrepreneurs. VA’s works closely with their clients via email, fax, phone and the internet, without actually being in the client's office. Most administrative work doesn’t really require face time, just the skills and abilities to do the job well. With a VA you receive the skills needed to do the job right without the costs involved with having employees. VA will partner with you for the growth and success of your company.
VA’s work with smart, successful people – authors, sales people, consultants, coaches, executives, professionals, entrepreneurs – anyone who wants to live a balanced life with more free time to do the things they want to do!
Can’t I just keep doing it on my own?
As you grow your business you'll find that you can do most anything, but you can't do everything! When you delegate the work that doesn't need your personal attention, you gain space and time in your life for other things. Imagine having more time to spend with your family, more time to spend on your golf game or more time to grow your business rather than just maintain it.
Why wouldn’t I just hire someone?
One of the benefits of having a VA is that you haven't hired anyone. With a VA you get a partner, not an employee. You work with someone who chooses to work with you as much as you choose to work with them. The decision to work with you will be based on partnering for success, not because I need a boss or a job. If you want the benefit of working with someone who really wants to know you, your business, your customers, and really wants to be involved in your success, you'll want to work with a VA.
People work with VA’s because they:
Only need a few hours a month – not the 20+ hours a week part-timers want
Need quality assistance without a full time commitment
Want a partner for success rather than a clock-watcher
Don't have the space for someone in the office
Don't want someone in the office
Don't have the equipment needed for someone else to use
Don't want to buy the equipment
Don’t want to pay payroll taxes
Don’t want to pay for health insurance, vacation and sick time
Couldn’t I give the easy stuff to a service, and just have a VA work on bigger things?
Of course. But it may not pay to do that in the long run. Secretarial services are a bit less expensive per hour, but the people who work there don't know you, your business, or your customers. You have to do a lot of prep work before giving them the work, so they know what you want – and then you will need to speak with them several times before your documents, faxes, messages, etc., represent you in your voice.
A VA can speak for you and write in your voice. A VA, because they have learned how you work, can listen to just a few words about what you want done, and make it happen – sometimes, even better than you could have done it yourself. The more a VA knows about your needs, the less time it will take them to do your work. So, even for the basic secretarial work, where do you really get your best value? The key is to remember a VA becomes your partner for success, a secretarial service helps you for the short term.
Is a VA a short term solution?
Just as there are assistants who work for the same person in the corporate world for many years, the same can happen with your VA. Part of the power of the relationship comes in the synergy which happens between the people working together. The ease of working with a VA can make the time fly by and you’ll have years in before you know it.
Isn't it more expensive than hiring an employee?
Not only do you have to pay the employee an hourly wage or salary, you have to pay for vacation time, sick time, payroll taxes, health insurance, office space, new software, new computers, coffee breaks, bathroom breaks, personal phone call breaks, late to work time, long lunches, etc. With a VA you are only charged for the actual time that is used. While the hourly rate for a VA may be more, the work to dollar ratio is much higher. With a VA you also receive a partner who is dedicated to the success of your business, not to just receiving a paycheck.
What kinds of work might my VA do?
There is very little done in most offices that actually requires face time, and even the filing can be processed remotely with a little creativity. A VA’s services are only limited by our imaginations. It's not important that your VA knows how to do it all, what is important is that they know how to get it all done.
Some things VA’s do:
Buy gifts/cards for customers of clients
Coordination of web design/hosting
Copy editing
Create/maintain databases
Desktop publishing
Fax/receive faxes
Handle email or US mail, handling most and forwarding to you just those which need your attention
Handle registrations for seminars given by clients
List managing (majordomo, listserv)
Mailings
Make appointments, keep a schedule
Make travel arrangements — business and personal
Make/receive phone calls/inquiries
Manage vendor relations
Newsletter publishing (print and Internet)
Plan meetings and events
Plan parties (business and personal), weddings, reunions
Proof reading
Reminder service
Research of all sorts
Transcription and Dictation
Web maintenance
Writing
Is Virtual Assistance for everyone?
Of course not – if you work in the middle of chaos and thrive on that chaos you may need a different solution. If you aren’t open minded and flexible, able to trust what you cannot see, you may need a different solution. If you need to be the boss rather than a partner who works with another business owner, you may need a different solution.
If you are open to new things and new technology, able to see the advantages offered by using new concepts and techniques, a virtual assistant may be the solution for you. If you need quality assistance without the struggles of working with unqualified part-timers, temps or indifferent services, this may be the solution for you. If you want to grow your business efficiently and effectively, partnering with another who also has the success of your business as their goal, this may be the solution for you.
Why should I choose Assist Virtually?
At Assist Virtually we have more than 20 years experience in all types of administrative and managerial positions. From managing offices, executives, and warehouses, to logistics, collections and event planning, it’s all been done. In addition to extensive experience in the corporate world, I have completed the rigorous VA training course at AssistU which includes nearly 400 hours of training, independent study and practical client experiences. I also have the added distinction of completing the CPVA - Certified Professional Virtual Assistant - program which is an intensive certification showing an extra level of expertise. AssistU holds VA’s to the highest standards in the Virtual Assistance profession, to which Assist Virtually adds their own high standards. I bring commitment, focus and determination to doing a job well so that I, and my clients, can enjoy the excitement of success!
Can we talk? Seriously, that is the best way for both of us to make the decision on working together. We will discuss what it is that you need relief with in your business, what your challenges might be, where you want to take your business, and how we can go about making that happen. A major component will be our ability to communicate with each other. The more open and straightforward we can be about the work, our expectations, who we are as a people we can be, the clearer the decision will be for both of us.
What are you like to work with?
At Assist Virtually I work hard to do the best job for my clients that is possible. I also feel that it is important to have fun while I’m working. I have a great sense of humor and enjoy using it often, as I hope all of my clients do too. I am pretty laid back in my dealings with people – I save the intensity for doing the job right. I value honesty, integrity, and loyalty – I value them in myself and in others and try to live my life by these values. For a fun look at Assist Virtually, check out the Spotlight at AssistU.
Assist Virtually can be contacted by the link on the menu or by calling 425-844-2573. We would welcome the opportunity to answer any and all of your questions!
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