| A good online virtual assistant can help you | | | | complete a task that a VA can handle, you can |
| complete tasks that you would normally delegate, | | | | make more money! |
| and at a lower cost than a traditional employee. | | | | After answering these questions, you can begin |
| You do not have to pay benefits for a VA, or | | | | your search for an online virtual assistant. A |
| provide vacation pay. You can pay a VA by the | | | | professional website can act as a barometer for |
| hour, and even hire a VA for a single hour or two. | | | | your VA search. Once you have found some VA |
| Many VA's do not have a minimum amount of | | | | websites, you need to carefully examine them for |
| hours required for any particular job. | | | | certain elements.... |
| But, despite these advantages, many people still | | | | - Is there a Privacy Policy or Terms of Use? |
| balk at the prospect of using an online virtual | | | | Scroll all the way to the bottom of the website. |
| assistant. That's because many people just do not | | | | Can you see links containing a privacy policy? |
| ask themselves the proper questions before | | | | Ensure that the VA will not sell your information |
| trying to find a virtual assistant. Below are some | | | | to any third-party. |
| questions that you need to consider before trying | | | | - Does the online virtual assistant belong to any |
| to contact a VA - you need to be organized | | | | organizations or associations? A lot of VA's will |
| when you start looking for an online virtual | | | | belong to an association. An example is the CVAC |
| assistant. | | | | (Canadian Virtual Assistant Connection). Does the |
| - What kind of project do you need completed? | | | | VA belong to any local Chamber of Commerce? |
| Ensure that you carefully document the tasks | | | | Membership in associations and organizations |
| that you need completed before starting your VA | | | | provides legitimacy to a VA! |
| search. This will allow you to easily communicate | | | | - Are the rates and services listed? Listing rates |
| with your potential VA. | | | | adds a lot of credibility to a VA website. Many |
| - How much can you budget for a VA? How | | | | people have been ripped off by VA's who charge |
| many hours a week/month will you need your | | | | ridiculous rates for poor service. Make sure you |
| online virtual assistant? Try and provide an | | | | are clearly aware of the VA's capabilities and you |
| accurate assessment of the amount of hours | | | | have a good idea of the rates for their services. |
| that you can give to your online VA. | | | | A good online virtual assistant will have a |
| - What is your time worth? Do you think this is a | | | | transparent business - what you see is what you |
| strange question? It is extremely important to | | | | get! |
| know how much your time is worth before hiring | | | | A good VA can really help to improve |
| a VA. You can then figure out how much money | | | | productivity for your business. You can cut costs |
| you can potentially save/earn by utilizing an online | | | | and increase your output by finding a great virtual |
| virtual assistant. For example, if you make $300 | | | | assistant. On the other hand, a poor online virtual |
| an hour, and you hire a VA to complete tasks for | | | | assistant can cost you time, productivity and |
| you at $50 an hour; instead of losing an hour and | | | | money. Make sure that you search for certain |
| making nothing, you are able to pay out $50 an | | | | characteristics when trying to find a VA and ask |
| hour and bill another hour to a customer at $300 | | | | yourself the proper questions before beginning |
| an hour. Instead of making nothing and having to | | | | your search. |