| Recently I have been trying to decide as to | | | | a virtual assistant and opening your "doors" will |
| whether or not I want to continue being a virtual | | | | not earn you big bucks. Becoming a good virtual |
| assistant. Not because of lack of work but | | | | assistant means not just saying you do, but |
| because of lack of ethics, customer service and | | | | actually implementing the following, listening to |
| personal attention that other VA's are displaying. | | | | clients, finding out their needs, going that extra |
| I'm totally appalled and in shock. | | | | mile instead of taking shortcuts. If they |
| I must say not all virtual assistants are only | | | | desperately need your help but can't afford the |
| interested in the paycheck and not the client. In | | | | $40 per hour that you charge, then why not |
| fact, there are several who do have great work | | | | work out a plan so you can give them the help |
| ethics and really listen to their clients and enjoy | | | | they need without breaking their bank. Maybe |
| the work they do, not just for the paycheck but | | | | when they say I need help with this, and this, and |
| for the sound in their clients' voices when they | | | | this but I can only afford to pay you this, don't |
| have dropped their stress level significantly. To | | | | kick them to the curb, instead sit down and figure |
| them, I say thank you for overcoming the | | | | out what should be their priority and handle that |
| challenges that bad virtual assistants are causing | | | | project. |
| us. | | | | One of the complaints that I have been hearing is |
| Just this week I have seen numerous people | | | | I only need a part time person but nobody is |
| complaining about their virtual assistants. One | | | | willing to work part time. Doing part time work |
| person hired a VA and fired her within 4 days. | | | | may not sound appealing but that is the reality of |
| Another person is not getting the personal | | | | being a VA. You work for many clients, a little |
| attention and the customer service that they | | | | here and a little there. Full time work is the |
| should be getting from their VA and he is so fed | | | | exception, not the rule, and it comes as a result |
| up with it that he is willing to give up on virtual | | | | of doing piece-work. Once you do part time work |
| assistants all together. | | | | for somebody and then with the passing of time |
| What the heck are virtual assistants who really in | | | | your client begins to rely on you and trust you, it |
| truly look out for our clients supposed to do when | | | | may turn into full-time work. Not to mention the |
| so many VAs are giving us a bad name? I have | | | | fact that if they are satisfied they will tell their |
| seen virtual assistants talking about requirements | | | | friends, which means more business for you. |
| for VAs such as schooling but even that isn't | | | | What's sad is that a lot of the bad VAs are |
| going to help. Schools can not teach virtual | | | | complaining about the competition from virtual |
| assistants how to implement good ethics into their | | | | assistants over in the Philippines, China, India |
| business. That is something that needs to be | | | | charging $5 per hour when they shouldn't because |
| learned on their own. They need to learn the finer | | | | if clients get the kind of customer service that I |
| point of skills such as defining and applying good | | | | have been hearing about over here in the states, |
| ethics, and to put the client first instead of the | | | | who can blame them for going overseas. At least |
| paycheck. | | | | if they are only paying $5 per hour, they expect |
| One of the reasons that I think so many people | | | | bad customer service. |
| are becoming virtual assistants is because it has | | | | When a VA gives good service, overseas |
| been advertised that all you need to be a good | | | | competition ceases to be a threat. Good service |
| virtual assistant is a computer, internet connection, | | | | consists of competent performance of required |
| printer, and telephone. Amazingly enough I just | | | | tasks, combined with a willingness to go the extra |
| saw a blog post today that said "Earn Big Bucks | | | | mile, and to look out for the best interests of the |
| (right now) by becoming a virtual assistant." While | | | | client. The VA industry needs more VAs willing to |
| computer, internet, printer and telephone is all you | | | | do that, and fewer who think it is just about the |
| need to become a virtual assistant it is not all you | | | | money. When it ISN'T just about the money, |
| need to become a GOOD virtual assistant. | | | | earnings go up! |
| I can also guarantee that just by saying you are | | | | |