| u're organized, smart, capable and willing to work | | | | overwhelmed due to too many things needing to |
| with deadlines, you could start a virtual assistance | | | | be done and not enough time. I liked the work |
| business and cash in on your skills without having | | | | and before I knew it, those friends had referred |
| to commit to an employer (you'd be your own | | | | me to friends and I had a full time booming |
| boss instead) or the "cube life". A VA (virtual | | | | business." |
| assistant) is basically like an administrative | | | | While not all VA's have "formal" training, some of |
| assistant (or whatever duties need to be filled, | | | | them elect to by attending VA courses like those |
| such as writing, link building etc) that serves in a | | | | offered through VirtualAssistanceU and |
| virtual capacity. What this means is that they are | | | | AssistU.But, if a person has good business sense, |
| independent contractors, and not employees of | | | | marketing skills and a passion, like all |
| individual companies. | | | | entrepreneurs, it is doable with or without "formal |
| VA's get to set their own rates, their own hours | | | | training". |
| and most importantly, get to pick and choose as | | | | But, beware of some pitfalls – many virtual |
| to who they will and won't take as clients. They | | | | assistants end up working long hours (as with any |
| can choose what duties they are willing to | | | | start up business) in the first few years and |
| perform and what duties are not in the repertoire. | | | | some continue to work odd and/or long hours |
| They can start their own VA firms or gain | | | | well after their practice becomes successful. Be |
| business through those already established. And | | | | sure you are willing to put in the time to make |
| with the boom of the Internet, virtual assistants | | | | your VA service a success. |
| are in becoming more and more utilized by | | | | Try to find a niche to focus on – a way to |
| companies around the globe. | | | | make yourself stand out from the crowd. Have a |
| According to the Virtual Business Alliance, virtual | | | | proper home office in place and figure out what |
| assisting (of whom most are female) will be a 130 | | | | your rates will be – and remember to |
| billion dollar industry before the year 2008. In fact, | | | | advertise, advertise, advertise – be it via |
| many women see the trend and are entering the | | | | paid efforts or by making a "brand" out of your |
| field with high hopes of where they can be a few | | | | name. Christina advises, "Don't think that because |
| years from now. | | | | you've hung out your shingle or built your website |
| Christina Cole is the owner of – a virtual | | | | that clients will begin to bang down your door. |
| assisting business who caters primarily to | | | | Contribute to the business communities, brand |
| webmasters looking for content and link | | | | yourself, brand your agency and let people know |
| development services – and has found | | | | what you can do for them. The ability to market |
| being a VA to be very rewarding. "I started my | | | | your business and yourself is extremely important |
| business by doing odd services for friends of | | | | in this business. |
| mine who owned multiple websites and became | | | | |