Hi Ladies,
The idea of using a virtual assistant is one that I am now ready to pursue. Any advice on how to find one and manage the relationship?
The tasks I would like help with include doing online research, submitting press releases and articles, follow-up, SEO, social network marketing and book keeping (Quickbooks).
Thanks
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The best way to find a virtual assistant is go to a reputable, dedicated VA organization. I suggest www.assistu.com. Or you can do a google search and see who may be a match for you. It is important to remember a Virtual Assistant is a small business owner like yourself. I am a Virtual Assistant. I partner with clients who believe in collaborating and partnering to take their business to the next level and/or give them back more time in their lives. A Virtual Assistant shouldn't discount their fees or do project work. You can expect on average to pay $30-$120 per hour. Most operate their businesses on a pay-as-you-go basis or a monthly retainer.
Since a potential client and a VA are equals, you won't have to "manage" the relationship. I highly suggest you have at a minimum 2 consultations. This will allow you and the potential VA to know if you truly are a match and will have a great working relationship.
First, consultation should be all basic-just getting more details about each other’s backgrounds, finding out more about your needs, talking about the ability to meet or not meet those needs, and talking with one another about work styles. The first consultation is for filling in the particulars about one another and your businesses and getting a feel for how you would interact.
If you feel like things went well, schedule a 2nd consultation. This second disucssion you would talk about deeper discussion topics. During the second consultation, the idea is to talk openly about potential issues, pet peeves, expectations/boundaries around your business practices, conflict resolution solutions, goals together, sharing values, and hot topics that might hinder your success if you were to work together. It’s really best to confront these issues head on in the consultation process, rather than being surprised by them later on in a working relationship.
This would at least give you a great start to working with a VA. Last but not least is communication; it can't happen enough. Also setting expectations and deadlines will help things flow smoothly. I hope this helps. Have a fabulous week!
Warmly,
Larissa
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Think of yourself on the threshold of unparalleled success.
A whole clear, glorious life lies before you.
Achieve! Achieve! - Andrew Carnegie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Larissa Parks, Virtual Assistant
Seven Winds Virtual Assistance, LLC
Empowering you for success!
Email: larissa@sevenwindsva.com www.sevenwindsva.com
There are several VA organizations on the web as well as several individuals with websites. Finding one is just a matter of doing a search on Google or your favorite search engine.
As for managing the relationship you will have to know how to delegate and give specific instructions. In other words you have to know what you want in detail and be able to convey that to your VA.
Based on the tasks that you've listed you really need a person that is above average and on top of their game. I suggest going to one of the following VA sites and checking out a few profiles.
You might also get others to make recommendations. Also with what you are asking for, be prepared to pay $15 and up per hour. Just keep in mind that you only pay for the hours they work so it's not like a 9-5 job. You might also get a discount for paying for a block of hours to be worked per week or month.
I have a dear friend in Dallas who is set up to be a virtual assitant. Give me the details of what you need and I will forward the info to her.
All the best.
Dr. pk
family21stc@yahoo.com
This is a great post, which is why I have decided to feature it on 'The Business', a digital magazine featuring the best Small Business discussions and material on the BBWO Network. This is a new feature, so it is still being customized and I would love your feedback. Feel free to add comments on 'The Business' page. I've been wanting to set this up for a while now, especially after reading the responses I got from my post 'Putting the Business Back in BBWO.' As our community gets bigger, it is becoming a SPAM magnet, and I want to ensure that does not happen. We are experts in our own right with tons of info and experiences to share, which is what I want BBWO to continue to be about. If you feel as I do, great! Continue writing these wonderful posts and I will do all that I can to promote you and your business.
Quick tip: If you haven't already done so, feel free to include your web banner or business details at the bottom of this post. I hope that with the new Magazine page, more traffic will be directed to your way!
My company, Comprehensive Backoffice Solutions, Inc. offers virtual assistant services. We strive to provide our clients with the tools necessary to change your goals to reality. This is all we do.
When looking for a virtual assistance, ask for specific details on what they will deliver and how they will deliver it. Some companies offer only one or two services, while others offer a full office solution. If you know this information up front, you will know what to expect. We give our clients a questionnaire before we begin the process so we can demonstrate how we can service the client's wants and desires.
A virtual assistant should be able to customize their services to meet your requirements.
Tina Potts
Comprehensive Backoffice Solutions, Inc.
I own a full-service concierge & event planning company in Brooklyn and I used Donna Hill of SOS Virtual Assistance.
Please keep in mind that I'm in Brooklyn and she's in Texas - no problem at all!! She's professional, punctual, friendly, resourceful and taught me sooooo very much!
Replies
One of my clients just happens to be a virtual assistant. If you are interested let me know:)
The best way to find a virtual assistant is go to a reputable, dedicated VA organization. I suggest www.assistu.com. Or you can do a google search and see who may be a match for you. It is important to remember a Virtual Assistant is a small business owner like yourself. I am a Virtual Assistant. I partner with clients who believe in collaborating and partnering to take their business to the next level and/or give them back more time in their lives. A Virtual Assistant shouldn't discount their fees or do project work. You can expect on average to pay $30-$120 per hour. Most operate their businesses on a pay-as-you-go basis or a monthly retainer.
Since a potential client and a VA are equals, you won't have to "manage" the relationship. I highly suggest you have at a minimum 2 consultations. This will allow you and the potential VA to know if you truly are a match and will have a great working relationship.
First, consultation should be all basic-just getting more details about each other’s backgrounds, finding out more about your needs, talking about the ability to meet or not meet those needs, and talking with one another about work styles. The first consultation is for filling in the particulars about one another and your businesses and getting a feel for how you would interact.
If you feel like things went well, schedule a 2nd consultation. This second disucssion you would talk about deeper discussion topics. During the second consultation, the idea is to talk openly about potential issues, pet peeves, expectations/boundaries around your business practices, conflict resolution solutions, goals together, sharing values, and hot topics that might hinder your success if you were to work together. It’s really best to confront these issues head on in the consultation process, rather than being surprised by them later on in a working relationship.
This would at least give you a great start to working with a VA. Last but not least is communication; it can't happen enough. Also setting expectations and deadlines will help things flow smoothly. I hope this helps. Have a fabulous week!
Warmly,
Larissa
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Think of yourself on the threshold of unparalleled success.
A whole clear, glorious life lies before you.
Achieve! Achieve! - Andrew Carnegie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Larissa Parks, Virtual Assistant
Seven Winds Virtual Assistance, LLC
Empowering you for success!
Email: larissa@sevenwindsva.com
www.sevenwindsva.com
There are several VA organizations on the web as well as several individuals with websites. Finding one is just a matter of doing a search on Google or your favorite search engine.
As for managing the relationship you will have to know how to delegate and give specific instructions. In other words you have to know what you want in detail and be able to convey that to your VA.
Based on the tasks that you've listed you really need a person that is above average and on top of their game. I suggest going to one of the following VA sites and checking out a few profiles.
Virtual Assistant Networking
IVAA - International Virtual Assistant Association
AssistU
These are just a few to start with.
You might also get others to make recommendations. Also with what you are asking for, be prepared to pay $15 and up per hour. Just keep in mind that you only pay for the hours they work so it's not like a 9-5 job. You might also get a discount for paying for a block of hours to be worked per week or month.
I hope that helps.
Samantha
Rich Single Momma
All the best.
Dr. pk
family21stc@yahoo.com
Quick and Easy Ways to use a Virtual Administrative Assistant
This is a great post, which is why I have decided to feature it on 'The Business', a digital magazine featuring the best Small Business discussions and material on the BBWO Network. This is a new feature, so it is still being customized and I would love your feedback. Feel free to add comments on 'The Business' page. I've been wanting to set this up for a while now, especially after reading the responses I got from my post 'Putting the Business Back in BBWO.' As our community gets bigger, it is becoming a SPAM magnet, and I want to ensure that does not happen. We are experts in our own right with tons of info and experiences to share, which is what I want BBWO to continue to be about. If you feel as I do, great! Continue writing these wonderful posts and I will do all that I can to promote you and your business.
Quick tip: If you haven't already done so, feel free to include your web banner or business details at the bottom of this post. I hope that with the new Magazine page, more traffic will be directed to your way!
Take Care,
LaShanda
.... keep sharing ladies for the interrupt
When looking for a virtual assistance, ask for specific details on what they will deliver and how they will deliver it. Some companies offer only one or two services, while others offer a full office solution. If you know this information up front, you will know what to expect. We give our clients a questionnaire before we begin the process so we can demonstrate how we can service the client's wants and desires.
A virtual assistant should be able to customize their services to meet your requirements.
Tina Potts
Comprehensive Backoffice Solutions, Inc.
I own a full-service concierge & event planning company in Brooklyn and I used Donna Hill of SOS Virtual Assistance.
Please keep in mind that I'm in Brooklyn and she's in Texas - no problem at all!! She's professional, punctual, friendly, resourceful and taught me sooooo very much!
She can be contacted at:
donna@sosvirtualassistance.com
www.sosvirtualassistance.com
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