Finding the Right Virtual Assistant for Your Small Business

Articles abound advising the business community-> Price. This is a hot topic but has to be
how to properly screen when looking for a Virtualaddressed if you are going to get real value from
Assistant (VA). Unfortunately, some of the adviceyour Virtual Assistant. If the VA charges
may lead you astray, as it often ignores the fact"peanuts," please turn and run in the other
that VAs are not employees but independentdirection. You get what you pay for in this life. A
contractors providing professional business toVA who is charging anything less than $25 to $30
business (B2B) services.(USD) per hour cannot possibly be running a
For example, I have yet to have a prospectiveprofitable business and may not be the person
client actually ask me for a "list of references,"you want to trust with your own small business
although if one did, I would happily provide him orand life's work.
her with a name or two if I thought the request-> Quality over quantity. Does the VA offer
was a valid one from a serious, qualified prospect.every possible service under the sun? Or does he
Many writers also suggest that a good VA willor she strategically focus on one or two
have formal training and credentials. This is entirelycategories of B2B services? While the VA doesn't
subjective, however, and I caution againstnecessarily have to be "niched" into a narrow
spending too much energy counting letters. Manymarket, he or she should know who they are
highly sought after and capable VAs have notalking to in their marketing communications. A
letters behind their name yet provide a caliber ofgood VA does not try to be all things to all
service that is second to none. While formalpeople. This does not mean we will not flex to
training certainly lends credibility in a virtualaccommodate a new and exciting request. Still, if
environment where a warm handshake is not ayour project requires skills and experience the VA
reality, I advise people seeking a VA to evaluatesimply does not possess, a true professional will
other qualities first such as experience,either refer you to another VA altogether or
professionalism, presentation, and honesty.strategically partner with a VA who has the
Here are some additional suggestions as to whatrequisite expertise. (Yes, VAs use subcontractors
you should look for when seeking a Virtualtoo!)
Assistant:-> An online presence. Here is something that
-> A professional presentation. When youperhaps you haven't considered. VAs operate, for
speak to or correspond with the VA, how doesthe most part, in a virtual environment (thus the
he or she present? What do the VA's website"V" in VA!). Before approaching a VA, do some
and marketing materials look like? Is the copy wellresearch to see if he or she has an online
written and informative? Or is it full of typos andpresence anywhere else besides his or her
grammatical errors? These types of things say awebsite. (If the VA doesn't have a website, that
great deal about a VA as a potential contributorshould make you take pause. How committed to
to the success, image, and reputation of yourthis whole virtual thing is he or she anyway?)
small business.Many VAs are active in various online
-> Inquiry turnaround. When you send an"communities" such as business blogs, forums,
inquiry to a VA asking about his or her services,networks, etc. This is great way to get to know
rates, etc., what is the turnaround time foryour VA's true colors before committing to a
getting a response? A good VA respects thepartnership.
entrepreneur's time and will get back to youThose are just a few of the many things to
within at least 48 hours. (My own turnaround timeconsider when surveying the Internet landscape
for email inquiries from prospects is 24 hours orfor your new Virtual Assistant.
less.)