Virtual Assistants - Questions and Answers

What's A Virtual Assistant?I'm Not Sure What Type Of Help I Need Or If A
A virtual assistant (VA) is an independent virtualVirtual Assistant Will Work For Me.
office assistant who provides clerical,A consultive needs assessment will help determine
administrative, technical and personal support towhich tasks can be delegated and identify your
clients from the VA's remote virtual office. VA'scommunication and work style preferences. A
are very disciplined and able to workgood VA will work with you to ensure that you
autonomously with minimal supervision. Virtualare comfortable with all aspects of the
nature of business allows for flexibility to deliverpartnership.
products and services across a wide geographicHow Will We Communicate?
area.Anyway you like. VA's communicate via phone,
How Can A Virtual Assistant Help Me In Myfax, e-mail, internet, US Mail, and overnight mail.
Business ?For local clients, in-person meetings are available.
In a nutshell, VA's free up your valuable time. ByRemember, a VA service is designed for your
outsourcing routine office administration andconvemience - to help you streamline and
personal tasks, you are able to focus on whatoutsource administrative, clerical, technical and
you do best...marketing and growing your businesspersonal tasks.
- or simply enjoy the extra time to spend withAre Virtual Assistant Services Expensive?
family and/or pursue personal interests andVirtual Assistant rates vary based on specialized
hobbies.skills and background. VA's are independent
How Do I Know If I Need a Virtual Assistant?contractors and not an employee. They maintain
Are you disorganized or overwhelmed? Missingand are responsible for their own office,
out on business opportunities? Not networking orequipment and software. Clients are only
marketing your business? Drowning in paperwork?responsible for hourly, project or retainer fees
Feeling frustrated trying to do it all? Procrastinatingplus any additional miscellaneous expenses (i.e.
because you don't know where to begin?supplies, materials, postage, etc.). All fees are
Suffering from "analysis paralysis"? Unable toagreed upon in advance. And since clients pay only
spend time on strategic planning or businessfor the actual time VA's spend working on a task
development? Do you end each day feeling as ifor project, the overall cost of hiring a VA is
you have not accomplished important tasks?significantly less than hiring a full-time office
If you answered "Yes" to any of the aboveassistant with benefits.
questions, you need to partner with a virtualWhat About Confidentiality?
assistant.Ask the VA that you're considering if they will
What Types Of Tasks Can A Virtual Assistantsign a confidentiality agreement, prior to
Help Me With?commencing work. A written agreement will help
Services offered vary from VA to VA due toprotect you from anyone selling or disclosing your
specialized backgrounds. Consult with aproprietary information or using information
professional VA and communicate your specificobtained during the course of business for
needs.personal gain.