Tips for Working With a Virtual Assistant (and Why You Might Want One)

Brett Says:

January 11th, 2008, 23:55 pm

Great post, Leo. You should check out this new blog I found today. It’s called The Newly Rich (http://www.newlyrich.com)

It’s a couple that is reporting their experience with trying to live the 4HWW lifestyle. They have some great videos and articles about their experiences.

Never the Same River Twice Says:

January 12th, 2008, 0:20 am

I gave virtual assistants a try a while ago. It was an exercise in frustration until I re-thought my goals and got very clear about what I wanted. Instead of dealing with a foreign VA and all of the language and time zone differences, I decided to begin a little closer to home.

As time has gone on I’ve done more systematizing and organizing in my house - much like you teach, Leo. This, along with hiring a house cleaner for 2 visits a month has really helped me reduce my busy-work.

Miss Gisele from myBeautyMatch.com Says:

January 12th, 2008, 0:37 am

Leo,

This is excellent post because this is one of my objective for 2008.

Thank you elance for these really great tips.

That said, I do agree with “never the same river twive”…when it comes to working with people who don’t master English perfectly…it can be a bit frustrating.

From my experience, time zones can actually work in your favour.

I will look up the site that Brett mentions.

I’m also looking forward to when my business will allow me to hire a cleaning lady…I do want to claim my life back by outsourcing as much as possible.

Gisele

Miss Gisele from myBeautyMatch.com Says:

January 12th, 2008, 0:39 am

Brett,

I think the web site you are recommending is: http://thenewlyrich.com/. You missed the “the”.

Gisele

MyDifferentFeet Says:

January 12th, 2008, 0:48 am

I have been using VA assistance for AskSunday for about 1 1/2 months now, and it has been a great experience. They are very professional, efficient and understandable. I also created the following email templates to help standardize and simplify how I make the requests for assistance:

- Appointment to schedule
- Something to buy
- Plan ticket to purchase

The more creative I get about leveraging the AskSunday service, the more templates I will create.

Again, great experience for me and I would recommend AskSunday based on my experience.

annab Says:

January 12th, 2008, 0:49 am

Is a virtual assistant the same as a freelance secretary? You could probably hire a secretary for part-time work, and find someone local (from the classifieds.)

webringnet.com Says:

January 12th, 2008, 0:55 am

huh. what a huge list. btw it is good to follow the guide and implement it.

*just know you are the The Best Overall Blog of 2007.
readers choices, congratulation!

Eugene (Editor, Varsity Blah) Says:

January 12th, 2008, 1:24 am

I loved reading the book and love the idea of outsourcing your life even more. Can’t wait to try it out!

Teresa Says:

January 12th, 2008, 1:44 am

Great post! I also have been considering testing out a VA and just haven’t gotten over the inertia hurdle of starting. If you get started, I hope you continue to blog about it.

Brett Says:

January 12th, 2008, 2:46 am

@ Miss Gisele- Whoops! Sorry about that.

To those of you who use VAs, what’s the cost like? Would a lowly law student like me be able to afford one? Heavens knows I could use one. Trying to run two blogs and going to law school will probably kill me. A VA would definitely be useful for research for posts and answering emails.

Goal Setting College Says:

January 12th, 2008, 5:54 am

A virtual assistant? Leo, I agree with Teresa. Maybe you can provide some insight as to how to select a virtual assistant and how much it may cost? It’ll be great if we can hear your thoughts on those.

Much as I’ll love to get a VA, the cost, opportunity of NOT getting one plus the effort of finding one will help make me the decision. Thanks in advance, Leo.

Cheers,
Ellesse

Marley Says:

January 12th, 2008, 7:53 am

Thanks Leo.

It’s an interesting idea that been running around my head too to try out.

At the moment, I’m partly with Brett as I’m wondering about the cost/benefit of it.

On the other hand, I’m intrigued… and in the 4HWW I seem to recall one of the key points being about getting into the mindset of delegating.

I’d be intrigued to hear about your experiences and if anyone can advise on costs for it (in practical terms, not just hourly rates)

Right - I’m off to check out the newly rich!

Nora Rubinoff Says:

January 12th, 2008, 8:43 am

Interesting to read about the Elance perspective of hiring a VA, but I’d like to add my two cents.

I am a virtual assistant. VAs are varied in their subject matter expertise across the globe. Some specialize in transcription, some have a legal or medical background and specialize more in those areas, some have a more technical oriented slant and so forth.

Many serious VAs I know do not do all their work through Elance. Many have their own independent business, do their own online marketing and networking.

To select a virtual assistant who is highly qualified, look for a VA who is certified. There are a variety of VA certifications, and I won’t list them all here - MVA, CVA, Ethics Checked, GVA, REVA and many more. Certification is usually associated with a professional association. Certification indicates a commitment to excellence, and demonstrates that the VA has gone through an evaluation process.

Another great way to look for a VA is through some of the most respected VA professional associations out there — IVAA.org, VAnetworking.com, IAVOA.com are some of the biggest ones. There is even a professional association for Mac-using VAs out there — MacVAs.com. For example, IVAA, which is the largest global VA professional association, has an RFP system on their web site. IVAA, and other VA professional associations, dedicate themselves to the enrichment and professional development of virtual assistants.

Finally, since VAs are often well-networked, a great VA will have a tight network of colleagues who will be able to offer subject matter expertise in a variety of areas of focus. For example, accounting is not my thing, but I have several colleagues to which I feel very confident referring my clients if they have a need in that area.

Do your homework, and look for a certified, well-established VA through one of the respected industry professional associations so that together, you may work to build a long term partnership, freeing you to work on your high payoff activities.

Goal Setting College Says:

January 12th, 2008, 8:46 am

Wow, Nora, you’ve clearly answered to my other question about finding a VA. How about the fees? Is there a standard across the industry?

Cheers,
Ellesse

Nora Rubinoff Says:

January 12th, 2008, 9:13 am

Hello Ellesse –

Fees can vary across the globe, and I’m not trying to be coy by that response. Here is my two cents regarding fees (pardon the pun):

Beware of VAs that will work very inexpensively. Remember the adage, “you get what you pay for.” Fees vary based on area in the globe the VA is located, the VA’s subject matter expertise and the task at hand.

VAs typically charge in one of two ways (although I’m sure there are some other models out there, these are the two most prominent). 1) By the hour and 2) by retainer.

A retainer is when a client retains a VA for a set block of hours each month. In my practice, most of our clients retain us for blocks of time such as 10 hours, 20 hours or 40 hours per month. I offer a slightly reduced rate off my normal hourly rate for retainer packages, and the percentage discount I offer increases based on the number of hours per month the retainer package is for.

I know of some VAs who will also use a model of charging $x for transcription, $y for internet research and $z for word processing, etc. I think this is confusing to the client. I have two main rates — an hourly VA rate and an hourly technical rate. When I am doing certain more technically-oriented items, I charge at my higher tech rate. All other work is charged at my general VA rate.

In the US, you’ll find good, qualified VAs who generally charge in the neighborhood of $25 to $50 per hour based on their skill set, experience and so forth. Tech rates are a bit higher.

Yes, you can find less expensive VAs than that, but proceed with caution. VAs establish their rates with an overall cost of doing business in mind. Low rates may be a signal of less experienced VAs, or ones who have not properly gone through the process of business planning, etc. to determine what they need to charge to stay in business.

A comment on possible sticker shock: Most VAs, myself included, use time tracking systems such as TraxTime on the PC or Office Time on the Mac. We punch in and out as we do work for various clients. You are not paying for our “water cooler time,” coffee breaks, etc. So, the amount of pure work that can get done in an hour is a great deal, particularly with a skilled VA.

A good VA will create a dialog with you to evaluate you and your needs. Most good VAs I know will put together a proposal and/or estimate so that you know exactly what to expect. Most good VAs I know use online collaboration tools to help communicate and collaborate with their clients, such as Sharepoint or Basecamp. (I use both and base my selection on the needs of my client)

Take your time evaluating the options out there. I’m happy to answer other questions concerning the VA industry.

Jay Levitt Says:

January 12th, 2008, 9:47 am

Interesting stuff. I considered a VA a few years ago, before I’d heard the term, but my big problems were:

1. I _could_ do a more thorough job myself than most VAs, since I know my own problem space better. Obviously, that breaks down, because I don’t have time to do a thorough job on any of my tasks, which is exactly why I’d want to hire a VA. Still, I have trouble picturing where the sweet spot is. I need a VA to help me figure out which of my 400 pending tasks could use a VA.

2. I don’t know how to sift through “well-regarded” VAs. The type of people who hire a VA are not the type of people who have time to go back and write glowing reviews. Heck, they could outsource writing their reviews to the VA, couldn’t they…

Nora, what do you think? As you say, there are many certifications available, and I don’t know the difference between them, or which certifications are themselves considered good, neutral, or even a bad sign. Doing that kind of research, well, that’d take a VA!

Nora Rubinoff Says:

January 12th, 2008, 10:20 am

Jay, regarding certifications and professional associations (and of course this is my opinion — other VAs may chime in), here’s my short list of well-established and respected certifications (in no particular order):

EthicsCheck
Certified Real Estate Support Specialist
Certified Virtual Assistant
MVA
REPA

My point about doing homework on selecting a VA is this: if you find a VA (and you won’t have to look hard) on Google or Elance, etc. who will work for say, $10 an hour, you may find yourself disappointed and working with an inexperienced VA or one who has not properly planned and researched his/her own business. Ultimately this may very well mean that your VA may not be a reliable long-term resource. Even if you only keep in mind the major professional associations I’ve mentioned above (IVAA, VANetworking and IAVOA), looking for VAs who have certification through those organizations AND who are actively a part of those professional associations will put you in good hands. I am a member of all three of the organizations and serve as a board member for IVAA.

Regarding your comment on needing a VA to figure out how to look at pending stuff you have to determine what to outsource to a VA — well, a good VA will do that with you.

Sometimes when I begin working with clients, it’s hard for them to understand what I may be able to take off their plate. During the first few months that I work with new clients, we spend more concentrated time looking at what’s pending, what’s on plate and what’s in the pipeline. I also make it a practice to have a weekly (or other appropriate frequency) conference call with my clients, to discuss what’s going on. That makes it easier for both of us to see what is easily offloaded to our practice, where I can recommend or bring in a trusted VA colleague (if a task is outside my subject matter expertise) and so forth.

If the desire is to build a relationship with a VA who will free you to work on your high payoff activities, the infrastructure that a good VA builds and the time you spend together during the first few weeks/months will be well worth it.

I hope this is helpful. Please let me know if you have other questions.

Josh Buckley Says:

January 12th, 2008, 10:25 am

Excellent post Leo, this is something that i must give a try!

Lucille Zimmerman Says:

January 12th, 2008, 11:55 am

I am a counselor/psychotherapist. My supervisor (also a psychotherapist) has a VA who schedules all his appointments.

He doesn’t have to pay her much because it only takes a few minutes of her time each day, scheduling people via email.

My supervisor saves himself a lot of time - typically when people call to schedule an appointment, they will take several minutes of your time to update you on their life.

However, I think one really important benefit of his having a VA is that it gives my supervisor the appearance of being that much more successful (he really is successful and very commited to his work). People perceive him as someone who has a paid full-time staff person in his office, when really, she is someone working from her home, working very few hours per week.

Laura Jo Richins Says:

January 12th, 2008, 13:30 pm

Nora has covered a lot here. I, too, am a virtual assistant. I have a couple of other resources you might want to check out if you are in the market for a virtual assistant.

AssistU at http://assistu.com is the premier place to find qualified VAs. Another great resource is the VACOC which can be found at http://www.virtualassistantnetworking.com/.

When partnering with clients, I have an extensive interview process. I want the relationship to be a win-win for both of us. I want us to be able to communicate well with each other. My clients find that I am a true partner–suggesting ways to grow their business and improve their processes. I truly become a part of their team, even if it’s only a team of two.

When looking for an experienced VA who can truly ‘partner’ with you in growing your business, don’t expect to pay $10 or $20 an hour. You’ll want to plan on paying $35 to $75 an hour. Remember, you’re only billed for actual time worked. No coffee breaks, sick days or vacations to pay for.

Retaining a VA can free you up to focus on the entrepreneurial side of your business.

Tina Su - Think Simple Now Says:

January 12th, 2008, 16:10 pm

Thanks for the link Brett. Interesting blog.

Leo, I’m so glad you posted on this. Great advice on hiring and reasons why you’d want a VA.

I’ve been working with VAs from overseas for the past 6 months and it’s been a learning experience… not to mention challenging. The hiring aspect is really an art, it’s a balance between paying a low fee vs the quality of work you’ll receive.

The key is to give really really specific details written in conscious form (much like writing successful blog posts). If you’re too verbose in your communication, it is prone to misunderstandings and misreadings. And if you’re hiring an assistant for long term projects, its also important to periodically re-evaluate their results, since often times, VAs will hire other VAs for a lower cost in their own country resulting in decreased quality of work.

The other point you touched up on is giving specific expectations regarding time. Otherwise, the same task can be dragged on. I can’t stress enough the importance of setting expectations before they start a task.

When hiring, instead of looking at what the current rate is (ie. $10/hr), ask yourself, how much are you willing to pay someone to do a particular task. Even if the price is lower than the standard that you’ve seen advertised, there’ll be someone willing to do the job (with quality). You’ll find that you can find the same help for much cheaper if you’re specific about how much you’re willing to pay (ie. less than $5/hr).

In addition to elance, I’ve also had luck hiring from Craigslist for domestic outsourcing. The first person we ever hired a year ago still works for us today, and she’s a god-sent.. we can’t imagine our life without her. We plan to take our first mini-retirement in three weeks (inspired by 4HWW) , she’s the point of contact for renting out our home and coordinating communications. I can’t express enough how much time she’s saved our family and the extra headache-free time we have freed up to spend with our loved ones.

cindy*staged4more Says:

January 12th, 2008, 19:08 pm

Frankly if it is just data entering and simple tasks like that, wouldn’t hiring a high school/college kid suffice? Then I supposed they may bill you for times they goof off. Then again, an unqualified VA can do that too.

I think the crucial thing is to build trust and ideally have a solid referral. Lea over at LIP http://tinyurl.com/2qox69 also wrote an article on virtual assistants, which had benefits her a great deal since she travels a great deal and work overseas.

But the main thing you should test your VA out, not all VAs are created equal, you also have to see if your work style mesh. I have known a VA for awhile and recently I called her because I want to use her services especially calling my clients for year end survey. She sent me 2 emails after my initial phone call and said she would call me, I still haven’t gotten her on the phone. And also she replied in one of the emails said she is bad checking phone messages.. so obviously I probably won’t hire her. Very disappointed in her as well, since she came highly recommended.

BTW, wow Nora, your detailed comments had me sold on you!

Cheers,
Cindy

Kristin Says:

January 12th, 2008, 20:25 pm

Wow….what a great post!! I am not in the market for hiring a VA - but I have been seriously considering becoming one.

I work from home for a recording artist and have been looking for another source of income. I spend hours in front of the computer every day and would love to have some side projects to do to fill the time when I’m waiting for people to get back to me. I can easily work an extra 5-6 hrs a week - probably more if the schedule is flexible and I can put in hours in the evening or on the weekend.

This post has given me so much information - thank you for that!

I can’t imagine what it would be like to try and find an assistant that you can trust without ever really being able to meet them face to face. As an assistant, my concerns would be trusting that the person hiring is legit and will follow through with his/her word on payment. I am also very concerned about giving out my private information to someone who could potentially be a problem.

That being said - if anyone is looking for some extra help during the week (even you Leo!) I’d be happy to help out…don’t have any certifications but I do have a resume that proves my qualifications.

Thanks again to everyone for your input - what a valuable resource!

Best,
Kristin

Mrs. Micah Says:

January 12th, 2008, 22:55 pm

I found that being a professor’s research assistant eventually transitioned into being a virtual assistant of sorts, what with e-mail and e-databases for me to search. I’ve thought about doing that again.

Goal Setting College Says:

January 12th, 2008, 23:46 pm

Hey Nora, thanks for your detailed reply. Like Cindy, I’m immensely impressed with your professionalism. Now, I know who to look for when I’m getting a VA ;)

Cheers,
Ellesse

Kathie Thomas, A Clayton's Secretary Says:

January 13th, 2008, 7:05 am

I’m also a Virtual Assistant and have been in business for almost 14 years. I manage a network of VAs that spread across 16 countries. All are experienced former corporate workers who came home to work for a variety of reasons, using skills they’d developed in the corporate world. A list of VA networks can be seen at http://vanetworknews.com/va-organisations/. Many of these networks have Requests for Proposals or Job Requests where clients can outline what they’re looking for and suitable VAs respond. My longest term client has been with me for over 11 years. There are testimonials from clients and others on my blog - linked to this comment.
If I were in business for only $10 an hour or less I wouldn’t be in business very long and I wouldn’t have had clients stay with me for many years. Why would clients stay so long? Because I’m their Personal Assistant, only virtual. I’ve learnt how they want things done over time and have provided additional value to their businesses. I’ve freed up their time from doing the jobs I can do so they can concentrate on what they do best - to develop their businesses further. There are other certifications as Nora said - I’m a Master Virtual Assistant (MVA) and also an Accredited Secretary Online (ASO). These two accreditations have been in the industry since March 2001.

Rosie Murphy, Virtually Yours Says:

January 13th, 2008, 7:46 am

I am also a VA and I would like to say “well said” to both Kathy and Nora.
It’s very important to note that VA’s aim to support the growth of their clients’ business and/or projects. Rather than just remote assistants who only do the tasks specified (which if that is what you want, is what we will do), most VA’s can work together with the business owner as an integral component and can suggest ways to do things easier and more cost effective. A quality VA knows how to run a business and this hands on experience can be a very useful resource to a client.

Patty Says:

January 13th, 2008, 10:43 am

As Rosie stated, I am also a VA and agree that Nora and Kathie have done a wonderful job in explaining a Virtual Assistant.

Although I have not yet acquired the various certifications, I have made a number of my clients happy by assisting them with various projects and given them time to work on growing their business.

I belong to a few of the organizations on Kathie’s list and have to say that there are quite a number of very professional Virtual Assistants out there willing to make their clients life easier.

If you’re looking for a few explanations of ‘What a VA is’, you can check out http://www.vanetworking.com/what-is-a-va.htm.

Dawn Lane Says:

January 13th, 2008, 13:56 pm

Nora and Kathy have given great detailed responses to this article but I would like to point out that whilst not all VAs are certificated that does not mean that they are not professional and highly skilled/qualified.

I am a member of a number of VA associations, and although I have not completed a VA Mastery course ( VAs are not in an industry which is currently regulated anywhere in the world), I have a number of years’ corporate experience and have completed business courses at college which has enabled me to set up my own business in the UK. I am a member of VA Associations in America and Australia which have a set procedure for VAs applying for membership, part of which is to detail secretarial skills/qualifications and experience before being able to join.

I have set procedures and policies in place to ensure both the potential client and myself as their VA know what is expected of both of us when setting up a contract and agreeing to work together. We also review what work I do for the client and how it is done on a regular basis (a little like a corporate appraisal although I am not an employee).

Rates will always play an important role when deciding whether to work with a VA but as stated earlier, you get what you pay for, and the professional VA who is running her/his own business will not be cheap - please note below:
1 Good Service + Cheap = Not Fast
2 Fast Service + Cheap = Not Good
3 Good Service + Fast = Not Cheap

Kathie Thomas, A Clayton's Secretary Says:

January 13th, 2008, 15:45 pm

As Dawn and Patty indicate, not all VAs are certified or accredited through the various VA networks - sorry, if it read that way. But it is important to note, as also mentioned, that many of the VA networks do assess their new members to ensure that they have the skills and abilities to support their clients. Certification and Accreditation is designed to help further their professionalism and to demonstrate that VAs continue to improve themselves - just as certification does for any industry.

Anyone seeking a VA to support them in their businesses would do well to go through the VA networks to find support.

Ryan Says:

January 13th, 2008, 18:39 pm

Thanks for sharing. It’s good to be aware of opportunities such as using a virtual assistant, as it will allow us to have something to work towards on our path to success.

I know the prospect of a successful blog sometimes brings the worry of becoming too busy so this is an avenue to take when that does happen.

Cheers,
Ryan - Yang Town

Tina Hilton Says:

January 13th, 2008, 21:52 pm

For those of you who like the idea of a virtual assistant, but aren’t sure just how to use them within your business structure, check out the four part series “100 Ways to Utilize a Virtual Assistant” over at the Home Office Warrior (http://homeofficewarrior.com/2007/11/07/the-top-100-ways-a-home-office-warrior-can-utilize-a-virtual-assistant/ ) or get the entire list in e-booklet form at my website.
With business owners and home office business people looking for ways to stay competitive in today’s business world, a virtual assistant could be the answer!

smoother living in japan Says:

January 13th, 2008, 22:51 pm

Nora - Thanks for the info about TraxTime
Patty - Great link.

Lyn Prowse-Bishop MVA ASO CAVB Says:

January 14th, 2008, 2:13 am

Great to see some of the “big names” in the VA world here like Nora, Kathie and Rosie!

I too am a VA and won’t add anything to what these three ladies have already done.

Except to say remember that Elance and Guru are places to go for PROJECT work. If you’re serious about partnering with a VA then that is precisely what it is: a partnership. The VA gets to know you, your business, how you operate, your clients and so on and so forth. This is how they create value for you and your business. You aren’t going to get this at the $4/hour Tim Ferris quotes (apart from which those businesses are now charging quite substantially more!).

And Tina hit it on the head: pay a low fee expect questionable quality.

There is a market and requirement for the low-fee provider - such as the student looking to have someone to bits and pieces. But if you’re serious about partnering with a VA then check out some of the VA networks mentioned by the others as your first point of call.

I also operate a new network of Australian businesses - for those looking to take advantage of time zone differences. This is so far the ONLY network that prequalifies its members to ensure they meet minimum requirements of skill, professionalism, confidentiality and business acumen. You can find it here: http://www.avbn.com.au

When partnering with a VA you’d use the same due diligence that you would when employing staff (though a VA is a contractor not an employee). Check them out, their background, their experience, skills, number of years in practice … and ask for business references. It is true that not all VAs are certified (as certification carries different weight in different countries), but that doesn’t mean they’re not highly skilled. Do your homework, ask questions, and don’t expect quality work from “cheap as chips” operators.

Adam Metz Says:

January 14th, 2008, 20:12 pm

I met Tim at a mixer earlier this year, and I’ve gotta say that trying to work with a virtual assistant was one of the most annoying things I’ve ever done. The company that ran their office charged my credit card twice and it took weeks to get the money back. What a lame experience.

Lyn Prowse-Bishop MVA ASO CAVB Says:

January 14th, 2008, 20:20 pm

I’d have to say Adam that it doesn’t sound like you were working with a virtual assistant in the strict sense. The majority of VAs operate singly as sole operator businesses - which is what enables them to form a partnership with their clients.

Sounds like you used a serviced office or a business support services centre - not strictly speaking Virtual Assistants!

Again, it’s about performing the necessary due diligence. Get referrals, check credentials.

We’re hearing a few comments of late about difficulties people have had with virtual assistants and more often than not it’s because the client hasn’t checked out the VA properly or grabbed either the first response to an RFP or the cheapest provider. When in doubt - go to the VA organisations or send an email to the business referee you should be asking the potential VA for.

Cheers
Lyn Prowse-Bishop, MVA ASO CAVB

eSOS - http://www.execstress.com
AVBN - http://www.avbn.com.au

Rosie Murphy, Virtually Yours Says:

January 14th, 2008, 20:21 pm

Hi Adam
That must have been frustrating for you. I know I had the same experience with a courier company once. Luckily I have not determined that all courier companies would annoy me so much! :) Since then I have signed up with a courier company that actually has personal (gasp!) service and always does the job on time.
Perhaps one day you will find yourself in a situation where you meet a VA who is matched well to your needs and you can enjoy the positive things a VA has to offer.
That being said, working with a VA does not work for everyone, nor should we say that it does.
Best wishes
Rosie Murphy
Virtually Yours

Eva Says:

January 17th, 2008, 17:27 pm

Great post. We translate your post on italian blog; we talk about virtual secretary. You can read the post at link http://www.segretariaonline.splinder.com/post/15554762/Perch%C3%A9+si+deve+aver+bisogno+d

Jeff Yablon Says:

January 18th, 2008, 16:10 pm

“Never the Same River Twice” hits this on the head.

I’m “in the biz”, and I can tell you that an awful lot of our new clients lately are coming to us after realizing that as with anything else, going for “cheaper is better” and sourcing your work overseas comes with some serious issues.

The point of a VA is to REDUCE your workload . . . if you have to spend time manging the relationship, you have just as big a problem as you did before you hired the VA… maybe even bigger.

Jeff Yablon
President & CEO
Virtual VIP
http://virtual.answerguy.com

Lyn Prowse-Bishop, MVA ASO CAVB Says:

January 18th, 2008, 19:00 pm

Jeff exactly. But your point just underscores what we’ve been saying: do your due diligence and go with a VA who is experienced and professional. Then you won’t have to “manage the relationship”.

I have clients all over the world - none in fact even in my home town. Our first meeting was the only time they’ve had to do any ‘managing’ per se. The rest is left up to me because I’m experienced enough to not need hand-holding.

Go with a cheaper option and the chances are good that you will need to manage them and THEN your point is a valid one.

Cheers
Lyn
http://www.avbn.com.au/
http://www.execstress.com/

Dc Global - Outsource2us Says:

February 4th, 2008, 20:40 pm

nice post Leo,

a very nice explanation for seeking a assistance.. why not check for companies engage in virtual assistance services. The good thing is low-cost and you can totally saved money and time…

check out our site: http://www.dcglobal.us

Virtual Assistant Says:

February 6th, 2008, 5:40 am

Hiring a virtual assistant is necessary for people that has more work that most people have. in doing so, having a VA gives you the opportunity to focus more on the things that is most important in your business or job.

Tracy Collins Says:

February 27th, 2008, 14:59 pm

Being a virtual assistant, I must say this is a great article that points out what you need to do to get ready to use a Virtual Assistant but not many people fully understand the process of working with a VA.

Many people feel that you contact a VA or look at elance or something similar and say this is what I need how much would you charge for it. While that may be the case in some instances, it is not always.

A virtual assistant is a business owner and to be able to fully address the needs of their clients and truly make the clients’ life easier there is a process that needs to be followed. I just recently wrote an article addressing this very thing that you can see here:

http://www.collins-admin.com/index.php/working-with-a-virtual-assistant

Just remember that while Elance and other similar sites may provide the opportunity for you to find cheap virtual assistant services you are not receiving the full benefits of a VA.

Danielle Keister Says:

April 7th, 2008, 19:21 pm

The Virtual Assistance Chamber of Commerce is a fantastic resource for business owners seeking qualified and competent Virtual Assistant professionals. Of particular interest:

Client’s Guide to Virtual Assistants:
http://www.virtualassistantnetworking.com/client-guide.htm

How to Hire a Virtual Assistant:
http://www.virtualassistantnetworking.com/how-to-hire-a-virtual-assistant.htm

Virtual Assistant Directory:
http://www.virtualassistantnetworking.com/directory/

RFP Center:
http://www.virtualassistantnetworking.com/rfp-center.htm

Get to Know Our Virtual Assistants:
http://www.virtualassistantnetworking.com/subscribe.htm

Bob Letterman Says:

August 10th, 2008, 10:35 am

Hi Guys,

It is great to read all about VA facts. I was also very hesitant initially about hiring a VA and I have advertised in one of the bulletin boards for a VA. Wow I received thousands of replies out of which there was one reply from Sri Lanka.

I never thought that Sri Lanka has VAs but this guy is fantastic. He has quite an array of skills. Since I started with 2 months back, I am hooked on to him since he makes my life so much easier. I don’t need to give him pages and pages of instructions. Just few lines and the guy does it clean and neat. If any one is looking for a VA, you can always try http://www.e-connexion.info and the e-mail is pbemmulla@gmail.com

Vera Babayeva Says:

December 31st, 2008, 1:05 am

So true. Virtual Assistants are great.

I actually blogged about it here. http://womencanhaveitall.com/babysitters-and-virtual-assistants-are-my-miracle-this-holiday-season/

I am using services of Secretary In Israel, and what great is that the assistants were born and raised in US but then they moved to Israel either temporary or permanently and work from their home in Israel helping american business owners. I like that because it’s a person that was born in US and understands the culture of US and everything. The best part, it’s affordable to me as a startup!

Thanks for this good post. I look forward to reading more from you.

SEO Consultant Says:

June 14th, 2009, 10:14 am

Nice work dude… It is helpful for me as well as others..