| While the term Virtual Assistant is becoming more | | | | and cards as well as greeting cards for special |
| and more popular, many of us are still unsure as | | | | occasions. They can also arrange to purchase and |
| to how to use one in the day to day operations | | | | send gifts. |
| of a business. The Virtual Assistance industry is | | | | Like most entrepreneurs, you probably have all |
| growing by leaps and bounds. Every VA has their | | | | kinds of ideas or projects that are sitting on the |
| own niche and specialty skill set. This post is the | | | | back burner because you don't have the time to |
| first in a series. Each week I will be covering the | | | | explore or implement them. Your Virtual Assistant |
| different ways that a business can use a Virtual | | | | can: |
| Administrative Assistant, a Virtual Bookkeeper | | | | - Be a sounding board to bounce your ideas off |
| and an Internet Marketing Assistant. | | | | of |
| The following are just a few simple and easy | | | | - Help you brainstorm, streamline, and add to your |
| ways that a Virtual Administrative Assistant can | | | | ideas |
| jump in and save you lots of time. And lets face | | | | - Research |
| it, more time equals more money, more freedom, | | | | - Map out a plan to explore or implement your |
| and even less stress. | | | | new project |
| Are you spending a large chunk of your day | | | | - Seek out and coordinate other resources or |
| sorting through your emails and jotting down | | | | contributors |
| voice-mail messages? Give your Virtual Assistant | | | | - Liaison between you and other contributors as |
| access to your web-mail and answers to some | | | | project manager |
| frequently asked questions and they can: | | | | Do you find that you don't have time to jot down |
| - Weed out spam messages | | | | notes from meetings and interviews? Are you |
| - Handle customer service emails | | | | coming up with questions or ideas while driving or |
| - Answer frequently asked questions | | | | otherwise engaged and can't write things down? |
| - Flag high priority messages | | | | Do you have a lot of correspondence to address |
| You can also set up a separate high priority email | | | | and not enough time? With a digital recorder your |
| account that important messages can be | | | | can record your thoughts, meetings, interviews, |
| re-routed to. Set it up so that you are notified | | | | memos, letters etc. Download the digital file and |
| immediately when a message comes in, via cell | | | | email them to your Virtual Assistant. They can |
| phone or PDA and you are able to stay on top of | | | | then: |
| the super important messages without getting | | | | - Transcribe your recording and type it up for |
| distracted by the lower priority items. | | | | you, then email your meeting notes or interview |
| Do you find yourself wondering if you are | | | | back to you for future reference |
| forgetting an important event, meeting or special | | | | - Transcribe your thoughts and ideas for your |
| occasion? Give your Virtual Assistant access to | | | | review |
| your online calendar and a list of your special | | | | - Type the email, memos, or letters and email |
| occasions so that they can: | | | | them back to you or distribute them for you |
| - Input all of your special occasions into your | | | | These are just a few quick and simple ideas to |
| calendar | | | | begin implementing Virtual Administrative Assistant |
| - Set up a customized reminder system so that | | | | Services in your business. This is just the first in a |
| you never forget a special occasion, meeting or | | | | series. We will also be covering Virtual |
| conference call again | | | | Bookkeeping and Internet Marketing Assistant |
| Don't have time to send out cards or gifts? A | | | | Services. Subscribe to my Virtual Assistant Blog |
| Virtual Assistant can send out "thank you" notes | | | | to receive the next installment. |