As a small business owner, outsourcing work to Virtual Assistants is fast becoming a popular and intelligent decision. The business owner saves enormous amounts of money by cutting the costs of offices and equipment overhead as well as expensive benefits packages.
The 'Virtual Office' creates an enormous amount of personal freedom and independence for both the small business owner and the virtual workers. The dedication and commitment that virtual workers demonstrate testifies to the satisfaction derived from a home office setting.
Being on the cutting edge of this profession offers tremendous opportunity for technical savvy entrepreneurs to secure a viable and stable home business opportunity. A good business plan and well thought out marketing campaigns are crucial to the organized success of a Virtual Assistant in both securing enough clients and/or work to meet their budget goal as well as adequately being able to balance clients and deadlines.
Virtual Assistant's actually would be well advised to embrace a business partner or utilize a team of trusted colleagues to entrust overflow work to. The standards of a good Virtual Assistant aren't easily met and establishing a virtual network of quality workers isn't an easy task. Any overflow work that you outsource must exemplify the same care and quality as your own or you stand the chance of alienating your clients.
As the owner of a home business resource specifically geared toward professional mothers seeking home based work, I am often approached for advice on how to become a Virtual Assistant and also receive many inquiries about what skills are required to be successful in the field.
To gain and retain clients, my main advice is to maintain your professionalism in all of your interactions with your client. As much as it is a leap for you to give up the 'security' of working in a corporate office, it is also a very new concept for business owners to outsource their work to a team of 'Virtual Workers' who they may likely never even see face-to-face. There is a great level of trust employed in this relationship and your professionalism in correspondence and phone calls will go a long way in securing their trust.
Furthermore, I advise you to pay great attention to your accuracy and final product that you submit to your clients. Meet all of your deadlines, and know at least two days ahead of time if you are not going to be able to meet them. Communicate that to your client before the project is late and keep in communication on a daily basis from the beginning to the end of all projects with brief status reports.
Make yourself easily accessible through email, telephone and instant messenger. You should have access to whatever instant messenger service your client prefers. The most popular are ICQ, MSN, and Yahoo. Be certain to set your instant messengers to save your history so that you can easily refer back to client request or comments without having to solicit the client to repeat what they already have said.
A rule of thumb is to remain in communication with the client, but don't waste their time. The client should end their work day each day with a sense of real gratitude of the skills, organization and trustworthiness you bring to the table. They should know that you are available to converse with at almost any time but you do not bother them unless it is absolutely necessary.
In the end the presence of a Virtual Assistant should prove to make the company more money because the owner and other business team members can focus on income producing areas of business that they otherwise wouldn't have as much time to do.
The most common and I would say necessary tools for the job are the most current version of Microsoft Office. You should have and be comfortable using Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Access. You should have either Macromedia Dreamweaver or Microsoft Frontpage and know the basics of HTML and ftp'ing files to and from servers.
So much of a Virtual Assistant's work is based online that it really is crucial to have DSL or Cable internet access. You also want to have a good computer that you can rely on.
There is so little expense in running a virtual office that I don't believe it is wise to cut corners with your computer, software and other office equipment. Having the latest technology on hand and continuing to acquire and master new skills will increase your desirability and worth in the eyes of your clients. It will also demonstrate your commitment to your career.
When a client begins to trust you with important responsibilities and invests the time in training and familiarizing you with the procedures of their particular business, they need to be able to depend on you and to know that you are committed to your work.
In short, with administrative skills and above average technical savvy, coupled with an organized and professional approach ? a career as a Virtual Assistant is definitely a viable and rewarding option.
About The Author
Lori Redfield, owner of freelancemom.com, freelancemom.com is a Virtual Assistant, Freelance Designer and Internet entrepreneur. To sign up for her monthly newsletter, visit freelancemom.com
executive chauffeured services Bradford .. Madison to Airport carFor many small businesses, the "S" corporation is the business... Read More
If you intend to franchise your company you will need... Read More
Tammy, a skilled and gifted horticulturist, called me to discuss... Read More
Everyone wants to succeed in life. Most people want to... Read More
Entrepreneurs are hardy stock. But sometimes hardiness can get you... Read More
Rule 15C211Under SEC Rule 15C211, a U.S. securities broker or... Read More
Here are some useful tips on what to consider before... Read More
There have been many great points raised on both sides... Read More
The easiest way to lift profits is to cut the... Read More
Discover How Specialized Cost Containment Creates A New Win-Win Position... Read More
If you are a small business you know that you... Read More
Q. I am a former pastor who left the ministry... Read More
Technical writing services are employed to explain the details of... Read More
The Boston suburbs seem to be rich with possible locations... Read More
You've heard marketing and advertising gurus quip, "Sell the sizzle,... Read More
Pardon my enthusiasm, but a large part of your small... Read More
Starting the blind cleaning business is one of the best... Read More
How often have you thumbed through a business opportunity magazine,... Read More
You want to know more about making money with your... Read More
My colleague, Jane, recently lamented to me an all too... Read More
A Small Business Opportunities Magazine is one of the new... Read More
Every business starts with an idea or a dream. To... Read More
CARD SHARK7 Card Tricks That Improve Your Personal Networking PowerThe... Read More
For really tough boat hull cleaning you will need to... Read More
Many new ventures are preoccupied with all the money they... Read More
O'Hare Chicago prom limo ..Many small companies work very hard to get new accounts.... Read More
I meet and talk to hundreds and hundreds of business... Read More
Paper Shredding Business Opportunities are blossoming up everywhere because in... Read More
The Federal Trade Commission is assisting competitor to cheat and... Read More
Consistency is a huge word when operating your business. I... Read More
Let's face it, we all tend to get stuck in... Read More
Data. Most people think it is a term relegated to... Read More
As the owner or an employee of a small-to medium-sized... Read More
There have been many great points raised on both sides... Read More
There are many little details that go into making sure... Read More
Writing a business plan for a mobile car wash is... Read More
Here are some important points to take note of if... Read More
Each day we hear of companies entering the franchising industry.... Read More
Disclosure laws in franchising are suppose to help the consumer.... Read More
Have you been searching for the perfect home-based business? I... Read More
The Customer Analysis section of the business plan assesses the... Read More
As a solo entrepreneur or small business owner, one of... Read More
So there I was ? sitting in the audience of... Read More
Small business success is very similar to learning to walk,... Read More
In the Truck Washing Business every single type of vehicle... Read More
Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a... Read More
With all the cabinet refacing business opportunities out there, you... Read More
Here are some of the questions that you need to... Read More
How careful are you with the data you collect from... Read More
Q: I really want to start my own business, but... Read More
Small Business |