| The virtual assistant industry continues to grow | | | | beginning. Many VAs are not keen on regular face |
| and more and more small business owners are | | | | to face meetings with clients and understandably |
| waking up to the great possibilities offered by a | | | | so. There are few things that cannot be done |
| good virtual assistant (VA). I believe that a good | | | | virtually and face to face meetings often involve |
| VA can be a fantastic resource for forward | | | | a huge amount of wasted time. |
| thinking small businesses, but it is worth putting in | | | | When do you need your VA to be available? |
| some thought to finding a service that will suit | | | | To some extent this will be driven by what you |
| you. | | | | want to delegate to your virtual assistant. If you |
| The VA industry has few barriers to entry and | | | | are looking for call answering then clearly you |
| consequently VAs vary greatly. There are those | | | | need someone who is going to be available for |
| that work on their own from home, others that | | | | the duration of the working day, five days a |
| work as loose knit teams and then there are the | | | | week. So you maybe better off looking for |
| big players who have lots of VAs and you could | | | | someone who works as part of a team rather |
| find yourself dealing with different people on a | | | | than a single VA. Likewise if most of the tasks |
| regular basis. Virtual PAs, VAs, virtual | | | | you want done tend to be urgent in nature or |
| administrators, virtual office support - call it what | | | | need a very quick turnaround, then really it is not |
| you will but there's a VA service out there to suit | | | | going to work if your VA only works mornings or |
| most needs. It's really down to you as the | | | | afternoons and you can't get hold of them when |
| potential client to identify what you're looking for. | | | | you want them. |
| However, it can be baffling - type "virtual | | | | Availability is not a concern if the work can be |
| assistant" into Google and you'll be faced with no | | | | scheduled in by the VA and has a turnaround time |
| end of choice. Here are a few areas to think | | | | of two or three days. For most solo virtual |
| about that might make choosing a VA easier. | | | | assistants this is their ideal type of work - a |
| What do you want to delegate? | | | | regular task or a particular project to delegate |
| You may already have a very clear idea of a | | | | that simply needs to be done by a particular date |
| particular function that you want to outsource to | | | | but with no restriction on what time of day the |
| a VA, such as responding to initial inquiries and | | | | work must be done, etc. |
| sending out brochures, or compiling your expense | | | | What do you want to pay? |
| reports each month. If this is the case then you'd | | | | There's a wide range of rates around in the VA |
| be well advised to seek out a VA that specialises | | | | world, I've seen people advertising rates as low |
| in the particular area you are looking for help with. | | | | as £10 per hour and as high as £40. |
| Perhaps you just have a general sense of not | | | | The average going rate tends to be around the |
| having enough time and being overwhelmed with | | | | £20 to £25 per hour mark. If these |
| admin. If this is the case then call a few different | | | | hourly rates seem high to you, don't forget to |
| VAs and have a chat about your requirements. | | | | take into account that using a VA means you |
| An experienced VA should be able to help you | | | | have none of the costs of supplying office space |
| think about what you could delegate by finding | | | | or equipment for the work to be carried out. |
| out about your business and requirements. They | | | | There's no holiday pay, salary or NI contributions |
| should also be able to give you some examples of | | | | to worry about. In addition you should be getting |
| how they work with other clients that may inspire | | | | the skills of someone who is highly experienced in |
| you. | | | | their area of work. |
| Where do you want your VA to be? | | | | Find a personality fit. |
| The very nature of virtual work means that your | | | | Last but not least your VA should be someone |
| VA could be located anywhere with an internet | | | | that you get on with and feel comfortable dealing |
| connection. So you need to think about whether | | | | with. Personality fit is important when finding a |
| location is important to you. Does it matter if the | | | | VA. This will hopefully be someone who will be |
| person is in the same town/region/country? It | | | | working alongside you for a long time so they |
| really shouldn't unless you want someone who has | | | | might as well be someone you get along with. |
| specific local knowledge for some reason. If you | | | | A virtual assistant could make all the difference to |
| choose a VA close to home because you are | | | | your business. But try to make sure you make |
| hoping to have face to face meetings with them, | | | | the right decision from the beginning and choose |
| then you should make this very clear from the | | | | one that is right for you. |