| Preparation before you hire a Virtual Assistant | | | | - Trade associations and organizations you are a |
| (VA) can turn a dream into a reality. The idea of | | | | member of, or that may specialize in your type |
| hiring a Virtual Assistant may seem too good to | | | | of business, |
| be true, but these steps will get you on the right | | | | - Virtual Assistant Organizations like, |
| track to finding your new VA. Plus, they will save | | | | VANetworking.com, DeskDemon.com, |
| you time and money when you do. | | | | - Search Yahoo, Google, or your favorite search |
| As business owners themselves, VAs are | | | | engine for Virtual Assistant Directories, |
| professionals, with experience in what it takes to | | | | - Small Business Association, |
| run a business, and the ability to do it from their | | | | - SCORE, |
| own offices, using their own equipment. | | | | - Classifieds, local services listings, CraigsList.org, |
| Although many Virtual Assistants specialize in a | | | | - Social networks like LinkedIn, FaceBook, |
| few niche areas, such as a Real Estate Virtual | | | | - Outsourcing services like GetaFreelancer.com, |
| Assistant, or a Virtual Assistant for Internet | | | | Odesk.com, or |
| Marketing, they also have skills in many other | | | | Now that you have some potential VAs with the |
| areas. Therefore, you will want to understand | | | | skills you are looking for, then you can give them |
| what skills are most valuable to you. | | | | a test drive. |
| If you follow these steps, the benefits will be | | | | 8. From these resources, contact prospective |
| more than you ever imagined possible. | | | | VAs, ask them about their skills, discuss your |
| 1.Write down the tasks you perform each day. | | | | projects, check out their website, portfolio, get |
| You may want to do this over a week or two. | | | | references from previous clients, and CALL THEM. |
| Write down everything; checking email, calling | | | | 8. For each potential VA you are still interested in, |
| customers, advertising, etc. | | | | select a small task for them to do. Get a price |
| 2. Go through your list and determine everything | | | | quote, ask them about how they will complete |
| that is repetitive or can be considered a process, | | | | the task, see if you communicate well with them, |
| and create a new list. | | | | etc. |
| 3. As you perform each task on your new list, | | | | 9. They may require you sign a contract, if so, |
| document the steps as they are performed, | | | | limit it to the task you give them. As new |
| from start to finish. | | | | projects come up, or until you feel comfortable |
| 4. Create a "Procedures" document for each task. | | | | working with them, a work order or project |
| By creating the steps, you will also gain | | | | description can be prepared to cover each |
| confidence that things will be done the way you | | | | project separately. (You don't want to get in too |
| want them to be done. Keep in mind that the | | | | deep on a big project just to find out that you |
| more you can automate tasks, the more | | | | can't work with them, or they don't have the |
| effective you can be, like using auto-responders, | | | | skills). |
| or email filters for your inbox. | | | | 10. When you have found a VA that fits your |
| Now that you have your processes documented | | | | business needs, build a relationship with them. Use |
| you are way ahead of the game! | | | | them as a sounding board for your ideas, get |
| 5. Next, make a new list of all the things you | | | | feedback, ask them for their ideas to market |
| should be doing but can't seem to find the time, | | | | your business, ask them about ways you may be |
| and the projects that you lack the necessary | | | | able to use new technologies to save money and |
| skills to complete. It may be organizing your | | | | help to grow your business. |
| inventory, getting your first website online, | | | | Finding a Virtual Assistant that fits your business |
| updating content, contacting previous customers, | | | | can make an overwhelming impact on your |
| or researching new opportunities. | | | | effectiveness and on the success of your |
| 6. Go through your "To Dos" and determine the | | | | business. |
| types of experience needed to complete your | | | | You'll have time to focus on the things you love, |
| projects (i.e. internet research, web design, | | | | and enjoy tasks that only YOU can do, like |
| customer service skills, etc.). | | | | building solid relationships within your business, |
| 7. Now that you have all your processes | | | | creating loyalty, making sure your products and |
| documented, and you know the skills that you are | | | | or services are the best in your industry, and |
| looking for, you are ready to find a VA that fits | | | | providing the solutions your customers are |
| your needs. | | | | seeking. |
| Here are several resources you can use to find a | | | | And, once you have a good business relationship |
| Virtual Assistant. | | | | with your VA, and they can begin to anticipate |
| - Referrals from friends, family, or business | | | | your needs, you will wonder how you ever got |
| associates, | | | | along without them. |