A Virtual Assistant (VA) is a highly-trained independent entrepreneur who provides a myriad of business support services virtually via phone, fax and internet based technology to support and meet the growing needs of businesses worldwide.
Partnering with a VA reduces stress, protects cash flow, eliminates administrative hassles, and enables business people to find the success they originally set out to achieve.
A VA is your right hand person helping you to succeed in your business. The irony is you may never meet your VA as odds are they live nowhere near you!
Source: Virtual Assistant Networking Association Virtual Assistant Definition
What are the benefits of hiring a VA?
You want to make money, right. You are so busy working on your daily administrative tasks, that you don’t have time to market your business and get new clients. You can’t grow your business without getting some kind of help. By hiring a VA, they can take care of the ongoing behind-the-scenes work and activities that must be accomplished for your business in order for it to grow, generate revenue and run smoothly and profitably.
Anyone who:
1. Wants skilled, professional level, right-hand administrative support, but don't have the space or equipment for an in-house assistant;
2. Requires a particular skill for a task or project but does not know how to do it themselves;
3. Has an administrative workload that isn't large enough to justify the expense (and administrative hassles) of an in-house assistant.
Where does a Virtual Assistant work?
Virtual Assistants work from their own offices, which is one of the reasons their service is so convenient. Because they are running their own businesses, VA’s also furnish their own equipment, software and tools. Working together virtually is inherently more efficient and cost-effective. Most of your work together won't require anything more complicated than simply emailing or faxing each other. VA’s are experts on the technology that is available that make working with them virtually a breeze.
Virtual Assistants are independent professionals with other clients to serve, and are not employees. The nature of your relationship is one of client and professional—not employer to employee. Each Virtual Assistant has her or his own business policies, standards and procedures for working with clients and will inform you of these upon consultation.
What tasks can be delegated?
Tasks that are most often delegated include those that are:
Ñ Repetitive in nature
Ñ Menial or low-thought items
Ñ Tasks that do not require YOUR expertise to complete
Ñ Tasks that you may not like to complete
Ñ Scheduled items that will require someone to remember to do them on a daily, weekly or monthly basis
Virtual Assistants use a combination of methods to facilitate the exchange of information, such as online project management tools, email, mail, fax and courier.
Virtual Assistants work with you to arrange a schedule that will work for both of you. With today’s technology, communication can take place via telephone, email, instant messaging, SKYPE, and/or mobile phone.