| If you find yourself bogged down with the | | | | create brochures, newsletters or presentations. |
| business of running your business, you may need | | | | And if a VA or VA company says they can do |
| a Virtual Assistant or VA. A competent VA can | | | | anything and everything, BEWARE: Every VA has |
| set up systems and procedures to free you from | | | | their strength and weaknesses and the smart VA |
| time consuming tasks that eat away at your time | | | | will know what they do best and not accept work |
| and energy. However finding the right VA does | | | | that they do not do well. |
| take some time. Because the work is | | | | 4. Respect the VAs system and procedures |
| collaborative, it is important; in fact imperative, | | | | Virtual Assistants are highly skilled in business |
| that you find the right fit for you and your | | | | administration and provide their services to you |
| business. Here are five things you need to know | | | | for mutual benefit. They are not employees. |
| when hiring a Virtual Assistant: | | | | When hiring a VA one must remember that he or |
| 1. Understand what a Virtual Assistant is or does | | | | she has several clients and it is important to |
| A Virtual Assistant is a highly skilled administrative | | | | respect his or her boundaries. Since a VA works |
| professional working from his or her own office, | | | | WITH - not for - several clients, it is important |
| utilizing their own equipment. Virtual Assistants are | | | | that their time be respected and the procedures |
| not at your beck and call, and most work more | | | | they set in place adhered to. |
| like an attorney, accountant or billing service | | | | 5. Look for a VA that is targeting YOU |
| providing you with a set number of hours per | | | | If you are a business coach, speaker, attorney, |
| month on a retained basis. It is your responsibility | | | | or horse breeder, do your due diligence and look |
| to make sure you use those hours. A competent | | | | for someone that is specifically targeting your |
| VA should have a minimum of 5 years working in | | | | profession. If you cannot find one that is in your |
| upper level administrative positions in the brick and | | | | exact field, then broaden your search a bit. By |
| mortar work place before stepping out to start | | | | finding someone in your field, you are going to |
| their own business. | | | | find that special connection of someone who |
| What a VA does is create a collaborative working | | | | speaks your language and understands your |
| partnership with you to help you succeed. They | | | | passions. |
| create systems and procedures to streamline | | | | When searching for a Virtual Assistant, be sure |
| your business and help it flow in a logical, | | | | you fully understand what a VA is and what he |
| intentional way. They do the things that eat away | | | | she will do for your business. Look for someone |
| at your time and prevent you from being most | | | | that is targeting your market, someone that |
| effective. | | | | speaks your language and understands your |
| 2. Shop for value and not for price | | | | business. Realize that a superior VA will not be or |
| Stop thinking in terms of how much will this cost | | | | do all things. Drop the employer/employee |
| me and think of how this will save you time, | | | | mentality. Understand that you are working with a |
| energy and yes, in the long run even money. | | | | business owner, like yourself, providing a service |
| Virtual Assistants are invaluable assets that help | | | | and partnering with you for mutual benefit. |
| you grow and succeed. We all know that running | | | | Understand the terrific value a VA will bring to |
| ourselves ragged is not the answer to a | | | | you and your business. Respect their time and |
| successful business. Work smarter, not harder is | | | | procedures. They are busy professionals just like |
| the mantra of small business owners, and VAs | | | | you. |
| are the smart solution. | | | | Last, but not least, honestly appraise your ability |
| 3. Know VAs are ADMINISTRATIVE experts | | | | to trust and let go. Can you trust another |
| In this day and age, so many people are looking | | | | individual to do the work and use your time and |
| for someone that does it all. VAs are first and | | | | money wisely? Even VAs that hire other VAs |
| foremost administrative professionals, not | | | | struggle with this one. It is hard to let go of your |
| bookkeepers, web designers, and graphic artists. | | | | baby. But letting go might be the most rewarding |
| Most are able to handle some billing, update | | | | thing you do! |
| existing websites and use graphic artwork to | | | | |