| If you have recently come to the realization that | | | | with them. During the consultation, discuss the |
| you can make better use of your time and earn | | | | VA's professional experience, but remember, this |
| more profits by focusing on the income earning | | | | is not a one way interview. The Virtual Assistant |
| aspects of your business, you are not alone. More | | | | is a business owner and will also be asking you |
| and more entrepreneurs are choosing to | | | | questions about your business to see if he/she |
| outsource their administrative duties to a Virtual | | | | wants to work with you. Be sure to discuss their |
| Assistant. But how do you find the right VA for | | | | billing practices. Will they track their time for you |
| you? Putting your trust in a complete stranger to | | | | so that you can see the hours they have spent |
| care for your business' administrative functions is | | | | on your work? During this consultation, you should |
| tricky, and in some cases even risky business. | | | | be able to evaluate whether the VA is intelligent |
| You want to be sure that you are able to trust | | | | and articulate and whether you are able to easily |
| that your assistant isn't taking advantage of you | | | | communicate with one another. |
| by over-billing and that he/she is not disclosing any | | | | 4. Ask for references. If you have time to check |
| of your business' confidential information to | | | | references, it's a good idea to do so. As with any |
| others. You also want to be sure that your VA is | | | | potential contractor, checking with businesses the |
| a skilled, reliable professional that will make your | | | | VA has worked with, will allow you to ask an |
| business a priority. | | | | objective individual for their opinion of the |
| The vast majority of Virtual Assistants are | | | | Assistant's work. |
| business owners much like you. If they have any | | | | 5. Start on a per project basis before retaining |
| knowledge of the business world at all, they | | | | the VA's services for a longer term. This will |
| realize that your business success correlates with | | | | provide the best indication of their skill level and |
| their business success. But, in this industry, as in | | | | how well you work together. Some VA's offer |
| many others, there are opportunists that one | | | | discounts on first projects to encourage you to |
| would like to avoid. Blindly hiring VA and then | | | | use their services on a trial basis. While not all |
| trusting that person with your business is not | | | | VAs offer such deals, it can't hurt to ask. Always |
| generally the best approach. The following are | | | | take advantage of these offers before agreeing |
| some tips that should help you select a capable | | | | to a long-term working relationship. |
| VA for your business needs: | | | | Some other things you should look for in a Virtual |
| 1. Examine the VA's website. The site should | | | | Assistant are superior customer service skills, |
| enable you to determine a few key details. Is the | | | | prompt replies to your phone calls or emails, and a |
| text free of spelling errors? Is it properly | | | | work schedule that is commensurate with your |
| formatted and well written? If so, this is a good | | | | own. Having said this, it is important for you to |
| indication that the VA operates their business in a | | | | remember that a Virtual Assistant is a business |
| professional manner and is detail oriented. Visit the | | | | owner. They have other clients and may not be |
| "services" page to see if they can carry out most | | | | available at all hours of the day or night. If that is |
| of the tasks you need performed. The "about us" | | | | what you need, you should probably consider |
| page should give you an idea of the VA's | | | | hiring an employee instead. |
| background and qualifications. | | | | Finding a qualified Virtual Assistant will provide you |
| 2. Ask a friend or colleague about their VA. More | | | | with the freedom to focus on making your |
| people than you think are using the services of | | | | business more profitable. The right VA should |
| Virtual Assistants these days. Ask around to see | | | | provide quality work in a relatively timely manner |
| if anyone you know either uses a VA or knows | | | | and will undoubtedly increase your productivity. |
| someone who uses a VA. Talk to that person to | | | | The approach to finding the perfect VA |
| see if they are happy with their Assistant's work. | | | | suggested here is a structured one that should |
| If other people are happy with his/her work, this | | | | increase your probability of gaining an Assistant, |
| is a good indication that you will be happy as well. | | | | with whom you can enjoy a lasting and mutually |
| 3. Ask any potential candidates for a free | | | | successful working relationship. |
| consultation to discuss the possibility of working | | | | |