Podcast & Blog Hopping VA Stops by for Chat about Virtual Assisting
I’m very excited to welcome a special visitor today. As mentioned in my last entry, 45 Day Virtual Assistant Blog/Podcast Tour is Underway! Sharon Williams, the founder of the Online International Virtual Assistants Convention, is stopping by to answer a few questions that may have crossed your mind if you’ve been wondering if you should be working with a VA.
Hello Janet, and thanks for hosting the 6th stop of this globe-hopping tour promoting the virtual assistant industry. Today is Good Friday, a religious holiday observed around the world, so I’ll visit just long enough to answer a few questions.
1. What kind of businesses uses VA services?
Currently, small business owners, entrepreneurs, solopractioners, and individuals comfortable using e-commerce applications (many with home offices), use VA services. This trend is changing as corporations begin to understand the concept and realize the benefits of outsourcing. I’m not talking about telecommuting – which is an entirely different creature – I’m referring to outsourcing to business owners who work from their homes. (A telecommuter is an employee of a company whereas a virtual assistant is a business owner).
A short list of industry categories that work with VAs:
- Coaches
- Realtors
- Consultants
- Speakers
- Financial Planners
- Attorneys
- Authors
- Contractors
- Associations
- Trainers
To view a more comprehensive list, visit the Industries Using VAs area of the Alliance for Virtual Businesses, where more than 225 industry groups, including types of duties VAs perform, are provided. Industries and duties are updated on a regular basis.
2. Isn’t it more practical to have an assistant in the office?
Yes, it may be for some business owners. If you are a micromanager, uncomfortable delegating tasks or are in a perpetual “crisis” mode, working with a VA may not be a sound business decision. Virtual Assistants are independent contractors, who traditionally allocate a set number of hours a day/week to an individual client’s assignments. VAs manage their own schedules, work with multiple clients, and are multi-taskers. Therefore, if the client wants to “control” every hour of the assistant’s work day, even though all those hours may not be productive, working with a VA would not be a practical choice.
On the other hand, if the client is comfortable with delegating, can prioritize work assignments, and is willing to trust the assistant’s capabilities, even though she is not sitting in their personal office, then working with a virtual assistant is a viable recommendation.
3. What is the most important thing to consider when choosing a VA?
There are many tangible and intangible factors to consider when choosing a VA. I outlined several when I visited Laurie Dart of Writing Wisely on April 2nd. However, I’d say the most important consideration is your intuition; that “gut” feeling. Are you comfortable when speaking with her? Do you share similar philosophies? Are you at ease in discussing your needs, and did she respond in a manner that made you think, “I want to work with this individual and build a relationship; she can help me achieve my goals”.
If you do not feel that “vibe”, you may want to interview other candidates.
The purpose of finding your “ideal VA” is to eventually develop a relationship with someone you enjoy working with, who believes in your mission, shares similar philosophies, is willing to help you achieve goals, and just as importantly, you are her ideal client. It’s a two-way relationship and that’s why your “gut” feeling can play such an important role in this very important decision.
4. How can I be confident that a VA who specializes in my industry won’t share my business ideas with other clients?
Virtual Assistants that practice their business with integrity adhere to a Code of Business Ethics forbidding the sharing of client information. In addition, VAs traditionally include a confidentiality clause as part of their written Contractual Agreement. I recommend that the potential client discuss this subject with the VA to determine their policy and stipulate that the written agreement include a well-defined confidentiality provision that protects proprietary and intellectual property.
5. Is there a way for me to connect with the VA community?
There are several ways to connect with to connect with the 25+ international VA industry organizations. One is to attend the 2nd annual Online International Virtual Assistants Convention (OIVAC), scheduled for Thursday, May 17 thru Saturday, May 19, 2007. (Visit OIVAC for details). In addition to seminars, workshops, and exhibits, the convention will host five international networking events and on Friday, May 18 at 5:30 p.m. (EDT, New York) the Thomas J. Leonard Virtual Assistant of Distinction and Janet Jordan Achievement Awards will be presented to two deserving Virtual Assistants. The networking, exhibit halls and awards ceremony are free and open to the public. Twenty-seven (27) experts, including Paul & Sarah Edwards, Michael Russer, Robert Middleton, Donna Messer, Robyn Henderson, and many, many more will present on topics ranging from responding to RFPs to negotiating contracts to doubling your customer base. Seminar registrations begin at $25. Over the 3-days, visitors can meet and mingle with members of the global virtual assistant community.
Another way to connect with Virtual Assistants is to visit the Alliance for Virtual Businesses, where individual Alliance member businesses are featured. There, you can read up-to-date information about the VA and jump to her Web site for more details. At the Alliance, VA organizations are listed, many of whose Web sites list member profiles also. The Alliance is your portal to VA-related information. Feel free to peruse it and learn more about the virtual assisting industry.
Clue #6 is irevcess. By the way, one player is really stumped on clue #5. She asked for a hint – but I wouldn’t tell! And no, it wasn’t Heidi of WeCai our last tour stop. It’s great to find so many participating in this adventure. I really appreciate it – but I wonder; are they following because they want to learn more about the industry or because they are enjoying the game. Hmm! Next stop is Pam Ivey over at the Virtual Real Estate Assistant Blog.
It’s time to go – Easter is around the corner and I haven’t fulfilled my once-a-year personal tradition of purchasing chocolate marshmallow bunnies (the only chocolate I like). So, I’m off to find a few. If you and yours are observers of the religious commemoration, Happy Easter!
About Sharon Williams
Sharon is the Chairperson of the Alliance for Virtual Businesses and OIVAC, and president of The 24 Hour Secretary an administrative, secretarial and internet-based marketing support services company. She is the 2006 recipient of the Thomas Leonard International Virtual Assistant of Distinction Award and co-founder of Virtual Business University an e-learning environment for entrepreneurs willing to step towards their greatness.
