Articles abound advising the business community how to properly screen when looking for a Virtual Assistant (VA). Unfortunately, some of the advice may lead you astray, as it often ignores the fact that VAs are not employees but independent contractors providing professional business to business (B2B) services.
For example, I have yet to have a prospective client actually ask me for a "list of references," although if one did, I would happily provide him or her with a name or two if I thought the request was a valid one from a serious, qualified prospect.
Many writers also suggest that a good VA will have formal training and credentials. This is entirely subjective, however, and I caution against spending too much energy counting letters. Many highly sought after and capable VAs have no letters behind their name yet provide a caliber of service that is second to none. While formal training certainly lends credibility in a virtual environment where a warm handshake is not a reality, I advise people seeking a VA to evaluate other qualities first such as experience, professionalism, presentation, and honesty.
Here are some additional suggestions as to what you should look for when seeking a Virtual Assistant:
-> A professional presentation. When you speak to or correspond with the VA, how does he or she present? What do the VA's website and marketing materials look like? Is the copy well written and informative? Or is it full of typos and grammatical errors? These types of things say a great deal about a VA as a potential contributor to the success, image, and reputation of your small business.
-> Inquiry turnaround. When you send an inquiry to a VA asking about his or her services, rates, etc., what is the turnaround time for getting a response? A good VA respects the entrepreneur's time and will get back to you within at least 48 hours. (My own turnaround time for email inquiries from prospects is 24 hours or less.)
-> Price. This is a hot topic but has to be addressed if you are going to get real value from your Virtual Assistant. If the VA charges "peanuts," please turn and run in the other direction. You get what you pay for in this life. A VA who is charging anything less than $25 to $30 (USD) per hour cannot possibly be running a profitable business and may not be the person you want to trust with your own small business and life's work.
-> Quality over quantity. Does the VA offer every possible service under the sun? Or does he or she strategically focus on one or two categories of B2B services? While the VA doesn't necessarily have to be "niched" into a narrow market, he or she should know who they are talking to in their marketing communications. A good VA does not try to be all things to all people. This does not mean we will not flex to accommodate a new and exciting request. Still, if your project requires skills and experience the VA simply does not possess, a true professional will either refer you to another VA altogether or strategically partner with a VA who has the requisite expertise. (Yes, VAs use subcontractors too!)
-> An online presence. Here is something that perhaps you haven't considered. VAs operate, for the most part, in a virtual environment (thus the "V" in VA!). Before approaching a VA, do some research to see if he or she has an online presence anywhere else besides his or her website. (If the VA doesn't have a website, that should make you take pause. How committed to this whole virtual thing is he or she anyway?) Many VAs are active in various online "communities" such as business blogs, forums, networks, etc. This is great way to get to know your VA's true colors before committing to a partnership.
Those are just a few of the many things to consider when surveying the Internet landscape for your new Virtual Assistant.
Karri Flatla is a business graduate of the University of Lethbridge and principal of snap! virtual assistance inc., a business and project support service that specializes in business research, planning and communications. Karri also produces Outsmart, a small business newsletter full of practical tips and fresh insights for entrepreneurs. Visit http://www.snap-va.com for more information.
executive chauffeured services Bradford .. Madison to Airport carHow many hours do you work a week? When was... Read More
We have all seen the mobile washing units cruising our... Read More
In this series of articles I'm going to show you... Read More
A corporate shell could be liken to a house that... Read More
When the recent Games of the XXVIII Olympiad came to... Read More
SBIR Corner: FFP vs. CPFF contracts:In the SBIR/STTR world, the... Read More
Recently one of my customers told me the chaos swirling... Read More
Your grandfather probably told you to "learn something new everyday".... Read More
Do you have all the customers your business can use?The... Read More
I recently met with a very successful magazine publisher who... Read More
I was floored! I couldn't believe what they were saying!... Read More
You may be in Mail Order, Direct Mail, or you... Read More
Ongoing support for a franchise system is omnipotent. A major... Read More
Senior citizens are generally not a large marketing segment for... Read More
First, we need to define the different kinds of skip... Read More
Service Cleaning Businesses must maintain their equipment in order to... Read More
Q: After years of dreaming about starting my own business,... Read More
You're pretty proud of yourself! After all, only four months... Read More
If you have a busy private practice, chances are you... Read More
Why do you need an account plan?When you first decide... Read More
The day care industry is expanding. There are now more... Read More
Running a business on the net these days can be... Read More
How to identify future solutions and opportunities?Your power page, if... Read More
It's a commonly quoted statistic: 80% of all small businesses... Read More
Managing cash flow is every small business owner's most important... Read More
O'Hare Chicago prom limo ..If you are the boss and you think your job... Read More
Q: A friend told me that as a woman of... Read More
Here are seven ways for owners of small businesses to... Read More
Debt collection letters--an overview"Debt collection letter" in the singular may... Read More
You've heard it before; we're living in an information age.... Read More
My 16 year-old daughter said, "Gee Dad! You look just... Read More
It's the dream of every person who starts a business... Read More
If you've been considering incorporating your small business, you've probably... Read More
Looking for ways to boost your cash flow? As a... Read More
We very much like what we see in Lubbock, TX... Read More
Most pressure washing companies never look into some of the... Read More
Cleaning concrete is tough and there is an easy way... Read More
With the massive explosion of start-ups and home businesses developing,... Read More
Many small business startups fail within the first 2 years... Read More
Last year, trillions of dollars transferred hands on the internet... Read More
How often has someone thought of starting a business based... Read More
The book, "Become the Squeaky Wheel," by New Hampshire author... Read More
Why do you need an account plan?When you first decide... Read More
Q. I am a former pastor who left the ministry... Read More
People will always stress that having a well researched business... Read More
Whether you are an Entrepreneur or Business Professional there are... Read More
Nothing can drive a business down faster than customers who... Read More
Everyday, customers and business owners are bombarded with billboards, logos,... Read More
Every business starts with an idea or a dream. To... Read More
If you are a small business you know that you... Read More
Small Business |