| So you have launched a great site with an | | | | range and make sure that they are experienced |
| awesome product/idea. You are generating new | | | | (or you are willing to train) as they will most likely |
| sales all day, every day. You have people lined up | | | | need it. |
| to JV with you, your phones ringing off the hook, | | | | You don't want to have a lot of turnover with |
| and you don't know when the last time you slept | | | | your growing company as time equals money and |
| a full 8 hours was. Congratulations and welcome | | | | you don't want to train someone just to have to |
| to the world of a successful internet marketer! | | | | fire them and re-train someone else a few |
| You've reached a plateau that most internet | | | | months later. Make sure you find out their |
| marketing newbies only dream of. You are on | | | | short-term and long-term goals. Most professionals |
| your way to guru status. | | | | will tell you that this is their chosen profession or |
| But what do you do next? Your email box is full, | | | | career. |
| your brain is storming with ideas, the programmer | | | | Finding a Reliable VA |
| needs your help with the next project, and you | | | | The great thing about working online is that there |
| have 10 voicemails to return. It's becoming | | | | are many reliable and wonderful places to seek |
| extremely hard to focus on just one thing. You | | | | out contractors. You can check out sites such as |
| know you need to hire someone to help you out, | | | | or It's where potential contractors bid for your |
| but the problem is that you have no office space | | | | project or virtual assisting opportunities. Craigslist |
| (as you work in your living room converted into | | | | is another great place to find potential VA's. They |
| an office), and don't have the slightest clue about | | | | usually advertise in the services section as well as |
| local, state, and federal laws regarding employees | | | | under resumes. |
| and taxes (nor do you have the time to learn). | | | | Another good way of finding a reliable VA is |
| You just want a reliable person who will focus on | | | | through message boards as well as word of |
| the projects at hand, complete the tasks in the | | | | mouth. Other marketers are going to know of or |
| time allotted, and be there to help you grow your | | | | heard of a good VA. Most won't want to give out |
| business to the next level. Its time to hire help, it's | | | | the info as they don't want to run the risk of |
| time to find a reliable and professional VA. | | | | losing a great asset to their business. A lot of |
| What Can a VA do For Me | | | | internet marketers trade insider information and |
| Just what is a virtual assistant anyway? You | | | | will pass on information regarding potential VA's |
| know you've heard the term on marketing | | | | they have worked with and had bad experiences |
| forums and through associates, but what exactly | | | | or poor work performance from. Make sure you |
| do virtual assistants do? A virtual assistant | | | | ask a lot of questions if the VA has claimed to |
| personal assistant (VA) is considered to be an | | | | work with so and so but no longer does. There |
| executives right hand person. | | | | may be a reason that the marketer is no longer |
| Virtual assistants handle many day to day | | | | retaining their services. |
| activities including answering/returning calls, | | | | Retainer and Work Agreements |
| scheduling appointments and trips, research, | | | | Make sure you have an agreement outlined in the |
| answering emails and customer service questions, | | | | very beginning and both parties know the |
| link exchange management, project management, | | | | parameters of the work to be completed. A |
| scheduling updates for your website, managing | | | | professional VA should have a work agreement, |
| your forums and blogs, building relationships with | | | | retainer structure and work portfolios ready and |
| your JV partners, seeking out affiliate programs, | | | | on hand for you once initial contact is made. This |
| copywriting (very important), creating and | | | | is a good way to weed out the desirable from |
| managing personas, registering and keeping active | | | | the undesirable candidates. |
| domain names, and basically making your life and | | | | What exactly is a retainer agreement? Just like a |
| business run much smoother. | | | | lawyer requires an upfront retainer so you can |
| They are a highly skilled group of individuals | | | | have access and reserve their services, so does |
| whose focus is on creating a win-win situation for | | | | a professional VA. They want to make the most |
| their clients through effective time management. | | | | our of the time that you allot to them. And by |
| They save client's countless hours, weekends, and | | | | retaining their services for a specified period, |
| overnighters by prioritizing their lives and schedule | | | | usually over the course of a month, you not only |
| to accommodate family time, business trips, and | | | | have their undivided attention, but you also know |
| overall sanity. So at this point, you must being | | | | that you will always come first in their business. |
| saying to yourself, wow! I have got to get myself | | | | Most VA's will also offer a price break for |
| a VA. Where do I find one and how much is this | | | | retaining a certain amount of hours of work per |
| going to cost me? | | | | month. Always ask a potential VA about their |
| The Cost of Hiring a VA | | | | retainer arrangements. |
| There are so many different avenues to take | | | | Contracting a VA is Not the Same as Hiring an |
| when looking for a reliable VA. The first one being | | | | Employee |
| how much do you want to pay for a VA? The | | | | This is one area where internet businesses and |
| rule of thumb when looking for a virtual assistant | | | | marketers get a bit confused. Hiring a VA is NOT |
| is to know that cheaper is not always better. | | | | hiring an employee. A virtual assistant is running a |
| Simply stated, you get what you pay for. Are | | | | professional business that offers a much sought |
| you looking for someone trained in the marketing | | | | out service. They want to make it a win-win |
| industry? Or maybe you want someone who is | | | | situation for both themselves and their client. |
| going to offer more personal assisting services as | | | | Therefore, they have set office hours, rules, and |
| well such as booking appointments and trips. | | | | guidelines. They work on their time and schedule |
| I have been in this industry quite a long time and | | | | and will do everything possible to accommodate |
| have had clients who not only wanted someone | | | | you, but they are not your employee. |
| who was spot on when it came to knowing how | | | | Therefore, you cannot expect them to work |
| to navigate and manage a website and blog, but | | | | strange and long hours, or be there every |
| they also wanted someone who would call up and | | | | moment of your day (unless you are retaining |
| schedule their dentist and doctors appointments | | | | them enough hours to constitute 8 + hours a |
| as well as find them a reliable cook and maid. | | | | day). If you are a micromanager, unable to be |
| Typically speaking, if you are looking for an all | | | | online frequently, or want an employee in your |
| around professional and experienced VA, you are | | | | office or home, then you should consider hiring an |
| going to pay between $30-50 (USD) per hour. | | | | actual employee who, in the end, will probably |
| Some VA's charge more for specialized services | | | | cost you way more in taxes, fees, and |
| such as SEO, e-book writing, ect. If you are | | | | headaches. With a potential employee, you will pay |
| looking for someone to just answer the phones | | | | for down time, sick time, bathroom breaks, |
| and a few emails here are there, you are | | | | socializing ect. Remember, a professional VA's |
| probably going to pay between $8-15 (USD) per | | | | time is ALL productive time which helps your |
| hour. Be careful when hiring a VA in this price | | | | business grow, prosper, and reach new heights. |