| ews is full of doom and gloom in the economy | | | | VA takes care of those types of responsibilities, |
| and work world. Even conversations with friends | | | | the business owner is free to make more sales |
| turn to stories of layoffs and reduced paychecks, | | | | and increase revenue. Virtual assistants can also |
| and the dreaded R-word: recession. Although it | | | | directly assist with generating income for their |
| may seem that everyone is being affected in a | | | | clients by creating online shopping carts, finalizing |
| negative way by the economy, virtual assistants | | | | e-books and other products to sell, and in assisting |
| continue to thrive. | | | | with marketing campaigns. |
| Virtual assistants, also known as VAs, provide | | | | There has already been a rise in the number of |
| administrative assistance to a handful of clients, | | | | small businesses working with a virtual assistant |
| and work from home rather in their | | | | since the economy has become more difficult, |
| clients’ office. They do anything from | | | | and with over 26 million small businesses in the |
| basic secretarial duties to more advanced | | | | U.S. that will continue to grow. Virtual assistants |
| functions like project management, online | | | | are starting to be mentioned more frequently in |
| marketing assistance, or bookkeeping. VAs | | | | the media, and business books reference their |
| primarily serve entrepreneurs and small business | | | | value. |
| owners, although larger companies are also | | | | Once a functioning home office is in place, being a |
| choosing to work with them in increasing numbers. | | | | virtual assistant has very low start up costs. Most |
| During a down economy, individuals who cannot | | | | people find they already have skills that will be |
| afford to work with a fulltime employee anymore | | | | demand, and they enjoy deciding who they want |
| are choosing to work with a virtual assistant. | | | | to work with and what services they want to |
| They get a talented professional to produce high | | | | offer. The average hourly rate for virtual |
| quality work, and they do not have the extra | | | | assistants is about $30, and that can increase with |
| costs of providing supplies or technology, of | | | | advanced skill or industry knowledge. |
| paying for payroll tax and benefits, or of even | | | | If you are interested in being a virtual assistant, |
| guaranteeing a certain number of hours per week. | | | | take the time to learn from successful ones who |
| VAs bill only for the time they work directly on | | | | have come before you. Although there is enough |
| their client’s projects, and knows the | | | | work to go around, without knowing the keys to |
| work load may fluctuate. | | | | finding clients, keeping them happy, and structuring |
| The businesses that will continue to flourish during | | | | your finances, a virtual assistant will not succeed |
| tight economic times are the ones that focus on | | | | as easily. Consider being mentored by an |
| increasing income, rather than just cutting costs. | | | | established virtual assistant, or take part in a |
| Virtual assistants allow that to happen. VAs take | | | | Virtual Assistant training program that will prepare |
| care of the important but time consuming details | | | | you to have a booming business. With the right |
| of a business, and let the owner to spend time on | | | | preparation and actions, being a virtual assistant |
| the activities that will generate income. Sure, | | | | can be a very lucrative and enjoyable career in |
| scheduling appointments, formatting documents, | | | | any financial climate. |
| and weeding through email are important, but if a | | | | |