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Imagine...what it would feel like to spend your day doing what you love and do best while I handle the rest.
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1. Q: What is Virtual Assistance?
A: A Virtual Assistant (VA) is a highly-skilled, independent business owner providing administrative and creative support to businesses and individuals. VAs develop long-term, collaborative relationships with their clients to help them handle the tasks of today, as well as achieve the goals of tomorrow. They are dedicated, driven, masterfully-skilled administrative professionals who genuinely want to powerfully impact your life! |
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4. Q: Who would work with a VA?
A: VAs work with successful people of all kinds. Authors, sales people, consultants, coaches, executives, professionals, entrepreneurs -- anyone who wants to live a more balanced life with more free time to do the things he/she wants to do! |
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5. Q: It sounds wonderful to not have to share my office, but if I wanted an assistant, why would I hire one who is potentially hundreds of miles away?
A: Well, part of the benefit of having a VA is that you haven't hired anyone. Plus, you get the benefit of working with someone who really wants to know you, your business, your customers, and who really wants to be deeply involved in your success.
When you work with a VA, you get a partner, not an employee. You get someone who chooses to work with you as much as you choose to work with her. The VA's decision to work with you will be based on being attracted to your work and on being interested in being your partner for success, rather than because she is looking for "a job”.
People work with VAs because they: Don't have the space for someone in the office Don't want someone in the office Don't have the equipment needed for someone else to use Don't want to buy the equipment Don't want the associated work and cost of having an employee ( Payroll, Benefits, Training, Admin) |
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2. Q: 1. How does Virtual Assistance work?
A: Using phone, fax and the internet, VAs provide administrative and personal support without being geographically present in the client's location. All your needs can be handled by your VA; she can personally do what you need, or she can make it happen. You and your VA are only bound by imagination, need, skills and desire! |
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3. Q: WHY would I consider working with a VA? ? I currently do everything myself!
A: Sooner or later you'll find you simply can't continue to do it all and have a great life. Something’s got to give! By collaborating with a VA who can proactively support you in reaching your goals, you free up time and energy for an abundance of other things, including: Working ON your business rather than IN your business Connecting with clients and cultivate important relationships Spending quality time with family and friends Taking care of yourself and indulging in your favorite activities Additionally, look at the dollar value of your time. Whatever that number is, that's how much it costing you to do your administrative work. Need we say more? |
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“A Virtual Assistant is a dedicated, driven, masterfully-skilled administrative professional who genuinely wants to powerfully impact your life!”
10 Frequently Asked Questions: |
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6. Q: How long would I work with a VA?
A: Just as there are assistants who have worked for the same person in the corporate world for many years, it's possible that could happen with your VA.
Part of the power in this dynamic relationship comes in the synergy which happens between the people working together. There's a flow, a spark, an ease of working with a VA which turns days to weeks, weeks to months, months to years, all before you know it. |
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7. Q: Isn't it more expensive than hiring an employee?
A: No. The cost savings is two-fold: financial and emotional.
When you hire an employee, on top of a salary or hourly wage, you have a ton of things you need to administer (payroll, benefits), many things to buy or lease (equipment, furniture), you have to deal with a variety of insurances (workers' comp, unemployment), pay your share of taxes, conform to Federal mandates (OSHA, ERISSA), and you have to share space well (no more working in your pajamas!). It's expensive and can be grueling.
Virtual Assistance was never intended to be the low-cost alternative to getting administrative support. It was intended to be, and absolutely is the most convenient alternative to having on-site employees provide that support. As a result, VAs set fees based on the value they create for clients; the higher the value, the better the VA's compensation. Depending on the VA, you might pay-as-you-go giving him or her only the amount of work you actually have during any week or month, or you might have him or her on retainer buying a certain amount of the VA's time each month for a pre-set (and usually slightly lower) hourly rate.
One payment, once each month. No muss, no fuss. Just great support from someone dedicated to your success. |
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8. Q: Is there anything my Virtual Assistant can't do for me, or that I shouldn't ask for?
A: Of course! If each of us learned 500 new things each day, there would still always be things we didn't know how to do. So it stands to reason that there will be things each VA can't do -- what those are will vary from VA to VA. The thing is--it doesn't matter, really, what your VA can do. What matters is what she can get done...what she can make happen for you. And great VAs can get absolutely anything and everything done (as long as it's not illegal, immoral, or impossible!). Great VAs have the ready resources to handle it all... to be your one-stop shop, as it were. Whatever you need (and we mean that quite literally!), you should go to your VA for it.
We mentioned that VAs will not do things that are illegal, immoral, and impossible. Those are the kinds of things you shouldn't ask your VA to do. Additionally, you shouldn't ask your VA to do things you really need a different sort of professional to do. For instance, there are many marketing functions that VAs can handle for you. But if what you really need is a publicist or a marketing consultant, and you expect your VA to perform at the levels of those professionals, your expectations are completely unrealistic, and you'll be horribly disappointed. Don't ask your VA to be something she's not qualified to be. |
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9. Q: Does Virtual Assistance work better for any particular type of person or professional?
A: Generally speaking, the benefits are enormous to almost anyone who's busy and needs support. What we've found, however, is that some people are better prepared to work in these kinds of relationships.
The people who are generally in a good position to work with VAs are:
People who value relationships People who easily see VAs as pros and equals in the relationship People who have big goals People who are somewhat cyber savvy, and well-organized People who can articulate needs and desires People who can let go of things easily People who are trusting and trustworthy People who are focused, centered, and organized
People who aren't in a good position to work with a VA are:
People who aren't online and who can't understand why this would work People with big egos, who are controlling, and/or arrogant People who can't let go, who have to micromanage People who think VAs are task-oriented, low-level employees types, rather than equals in the relationships they form with clients People who live in the urgent, where everything is last minute, where they procrastinate then rush to deadline, where they need people at their beck and call because the work is the driver, rather than their driving the work People who thrive on drama and who have to have drama surrounding them at all times. People who don't understand the power created in a relationship with a fantastic assistant People who aren't easily trusting, or have issues with trusting other People who aren't open to learning new ways of working and communicating People interested in finding cheap laborers to provide high-end assistance |
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10. Q: I want to a VA on my team! Where do I go from here?
A: Start by seeking out an AssistU-trained VA, they are the best in the business! Through the Registry you will have access to AssistU VAs who have taken the time to get intense industry specific training (250 hours of training and independent study) and who adhere to the highest professional standards in the industry
By choosing a VA from The Registry, you can be sure that you will find a partner for your success. The only thing you'll need to explore is whether there's a fit in terms of your personalities, styles and work objectives.
Because the hope is to start a long-term relationship, don't be surprised if there needs to be more than one conversation. Choosing a collaborative partner for your success isn't something to be done quickly or lightly! The VA will also share with you how her practice is set up, fees, availability, etc., so you can see if there's a fit in that way.
And remember — this is a mutual decision to work together. We're shattering the boss/assistant paradigm here. It's a budding relationship. Two people with varied skills and knowledge coming together in partnership for your success. Just be yourself. Being as genuine as you can, will allow the VA to understand you far more quickly than she would if you present a heavily professional corporate image.
And when you find one you want to work with who is excited about working with you — you won't have to really do anything. The agreement to work together will come very naturally. Before you know it, you'll have a valuable, collaborative assistant and your business and life will begin to be very different. |
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