| > | | | | works for/with a Staffing Agency, the Agency is |
| Defining three levels of Virtual Assistants - the | | | | their client, and not the end user. So, if that |
| Traditional VA, Virtual Staffing Agencies, and | | | | someone is only working with/for the Agency, an |
| Virtual Business Manager. | | | | no other outside clients, then they are considered |
| By now you have no doubt heard about the | | | | an employee by the US Government standards, |
| latest craze in the business world — Virtual | | | | and should not be referring themselves as a VA, |
| Assistants (VAs). But I am going to go out on | | | | regardless of how many clients the |
| a limb here and suggest that you have been | | | | Agency assigns to them. |
| misinformed of what this industry is all about. | | | | - Traditionally, the services are paid at a lesser |
| Do a quick Google search on the term Virtual | | | | rate than that of an individual Virtual Assistant, |
| Assistant. You will find that there are a bazillion | | | | but not always the case. |
| entries that come up. Ok, maybe that is | | | | - Agencies tend to have a high volume of |
| exaggerating a bit, but you know what I mean. | | | | short-term clients, or clients that only want one |
| Take a closer look though. You will have links | | | | or two things done on a routine basis. |
| that give you information on the | | | | A Virtual Business Manager: |
| VA industry, links that are for the VAs | | | | - Is a relatively new term in the VA industry |
| themselves (training, programs, etc.), links that | | | | - Takes all the things that a VA does (admin |
| point to websites claiming to be VAs who | | | | tasks, etc.) and bumps it up a notch. |
| can’t even turn on a computer (sorry, had | | | | - Creates, documents and finds the means to |
| to vent there a bit), overseas VAs, VA staffing | | | | implement systems to run their clients businesses |
| agencies, call centers - the list goes on and on. | | | | - Creates a team of VAs to support their clients |
| There are so many different types of businesses | | | | (Multi-Team VA), but is on a much smaller and |
| classifying themselves as Virtual Assistants, no | | | | intimate scale than that of a Staffing Agency |
| wonder you are confused as to what is what. | | | | - Tends to have a higher degree of Internet |
| To help you understand the VA industry a bit | | | | marketing knowledge or have someone on their |
| further, here are a few definitions to keep in | | | | team that does this for them |
| mind. | | | | - Oversees all the back-end aspects of their |
| A Virtual Assistant is— | | | | clients businesses, even acting on their behalf |
| - Someone who runs a business and they are the | | | | when needed |
| only entity in that business. Meaning, they do all | | | | - Partners with their clients in their clients |
| the tasks themselves for their clients with the | | | | success |
| exception of specialized tasks such as web design, | | | | - Acts as the big picture voice in their |
| graphics design, etc. of which, they would | | | | clients business |
| sub-contract the work out. | | | | - Is best when the business owner needs |
| - Someone who has more than one client. Only | | | | something more than your every day VA |
| one client stipulates you are an employee in the | | | | - When the client pays the VBM directly, and the |
| eyes of the IRS | | | | VBM pays any associates that may be needed on |
| - Someone who provides more than one type of | | | | a regular basis. |
| service. Traditionally, VAs perform administrative | | | | So which type of VA is best for you? Well, that |
| tasks such as word processing, desktop publishing, | | | | depends on what you are hoping to get out of |
| calendar and email maintenance, meeting set up, | | | | your VA relationship, and only you can decide that |
| industry specific tasks, travel plans, etc. | | | | for sure. |
| However and here is the kicker — to be | | | | To help you further, here is an example of how I |
| called a VA, they should be doing more than one | | | | see a client using each type of VA classification: |
| type of task for their clients on a regular basis. | | | | - Client Jane is a Business Coach. She needs |
| For example, someone who only does | | | | someone to handle her basic administrative tasks |
| bookkeeping is a bookkeeper; someone who only | | | | like scheduling appointments, invoicing clients; some |
| does web design/maintenance is a web master, | | | | travel plans from time to time, sending out |
| someone who only provides transcription is a | | | | welcome packets, etc. She needs someone to |
| transcriptionist, etc. However, that does not | | | | have minimal contact with her clients. Client Jane |
| mean to say that the VA can’t specialize | | | | could use a Virtual Assistant. |
| in one area, but they should also be providing | | | | - Client Joe is a Real Estate Agent who only |
| other types of services as well. | | | | needs someone to go into his lead generation |
| - Someone who can be physically located in any | | | | system and process his leads. He wants a daily |
| part of the world. Yes, there are some very | | | | report waiting for him every day when he gets |
| good VAs located in other countries, just be | | | | into his office. Client Joe could use a Staffing |
| careful to find the best one that fits your | | | | Agency or a Virtual Assistant. |
| business needs, and not just on price. More on | | | | - Client Max is an author and speaker who needs |
| over-seas VAs in the section below. | | | | help with scheduling his speaking gigs, setting up |
| - Paid directly by the client. | | | | appointments with publishers, proof reading, email |
| - Someone who work best with a small number | | | | monitoring, website maintenance, blog upkeep, |
| of ongoing clients, typically on retainer | | | | social networking monitoring, travel plans, |
| A Virtual Staffing Agency is — | | | | bookkeeping, and the list goes on. All of these |
| - More like the Kelly Services of the VA | | | | things a traditional VA or even several VAs within |
| industry (temp agency). These are | | | | a Staffing Agency could do, Client Max really |
| traditionally huge conglomerates made up of | | | | needs someone to get inside his head, be one |
| several thousands of VAs . | | | | step ahead of him, create and document the |
| - There are a few US/Canada based VSAs that | | | | systems needed to maintain his business and |
| run using VA contractors compared to | | | | facilitate the team that is needed to make this all |
| employees. | | | | happen. Client Max wants someone to head all |
| - This is where I would also classify a good | | | | of this up so he can focus on what he does best |
| portion of the over-seas VA companies | | | | — speaking and writing. Client Max needs |
| that you see popping up all over the internet | | | | a Virtual Business Manager. |
| thanks to Tim Ferris his 4-Hour Work Week | | | | If you are interested in working with a VA but |
| book. These companies run physical offices | | | | are uncertain of what direction you want to go, |
| where their employees come to work every day | | | | feel free to contact me for a free consultation. I |
| and perform the tasks assigned to them. | | | | would be more than willing to talk it through with |
| - The client pays the Agency; the Agency pays | | | | you to help you pick the best route for you and |
| the staff or team. Therefore, someone who | | | | the success of your business. |