Last month, I was contacted by my local business journal to write a brief article titled, “10 Things I Know About Virtual Assistants.” The editor of my local business journal had seen my press release, Good Morning America Got It Wrong in which I tried to correct GMA’s impression that all Virtual Assistants operate the way the virtual assistants at Ask Sunday, RedButler and ihabilis operate (i.e., only doing half the job).
Grateful for the opportunity to publicize Virtual Assistants to my local business community, I found that the article I submitted wasn’t as extensive and specific as the article that was published. Both articles follow:
The Article I Submitted:
10. Not Employees
In a nutshell, Virtual Assistants (VA) are not employees. VAs are self-employed, business and administrative experts. Unlike the secretary-boss paradigm, where the secretary is subordinate to the boss, the VA’s relationship with her clients is that of peers working together in partnership toward a common goal.
9. Not Secretaries
Although the foundation of virtual assistance is the secretarial/administrative assistant field, VAs do so much more. In addition to administrative work, many VAs do web design, internet marketing, research, graphic design, newsletter publishing, copywriting, podcasting, e-commerce, blog setup and maintenance, social media, etc.
8. Highly Skilled
VAs are highly skilled and educated; many have college degrees and advanced skills in word processing, presentation and graphic software, spreadsheet software, communications software, HTML, CMS, etc. VAs constantly educate themselves on the latest and greatest tools and techniques available so they can be a valuable resource to their clients.
7. Self-Managed
VAs have extraordinary time management, productivity and customer service skills. They have to because they work with multiple clients, and yet somehow manage to make each client feel like they are the VA’s only client.
6. Inexpensive Alternative
You get what you pay for. VAs who charge $5/hr. or less are really unskilled virtual gofers. They can follow well-documented processes and procedures or tasks that can be done by rote. If you want skill, knowledge, critical thinking and expertise, expect to pay Bloomingdale prices, not Wal-Mart prices.
5. Value Proposition
A VAs ROI is measured by what it costs you to do the work yourself vs. delegating it to a VA. If your time is worth $50/hr. and your VA’s time is worth $25/hr., delegating to a VA saves you $25, and an hour that you can put to better use.
4. Business Work
Although VAs do more than administrative work, that doesn’t mean they do laundry and housekeeping. Months ago, the T&G ran a Help Wanted ad for a VA whose duties would include light housekeeping, and an online entrepreneur brags about her VA who does her laundry. Housekeepers do laundry, not VAs.
3. One for Everyone
It doesn’t matter what your personality type is or what business you’re in, there’s a VA for everyone. Some VAs appreciate micromanagers, most don’t. Some do only project work, and some only work in ongoing, collaborative relationships. Some VAs specialize in working with adult ADHD clients.
2. Industry Specific
Some VAs are generalists, and some VAs specialize in working with specific industries or professions. Industry-specific VAs include VAs who work in construction, heavy industry, publishers and authors, coaches, plumbers, lawyers, human resource professionals, marketers, consultants, realtors, web designers, graphic artists, etc.
1. More Information
The New England region has many Virtual Assistants, and the New England Virtual Assistants organization at http://www.newenglandvirtualassistants.com/what-is-a-virtual-assistant.html can provide you with more information. To find a VA to work with, go to http://www.newenglandvirtualassistants.com/NEVA-membership-directory.html.
The Article As Published:
10. Not Employees
Virtual assistants (VAs) are self-employed business and administrative experts. Unlike the secretary-boss paradigm, where the secretary is subordinate to the boss, the VA’s relationship with her clients is that of peers working together.
9. Not Secretaries
Although the foundation of virtual assistance is the secretarial/administrative assistant field, VAs do much more.
8. Highly Skilled
Many VAs have college degrees and advanced skills. VAs constantly educate themselves on the latest and greatest tools and techniques available so they can be a valuable resource to their clients.
7. Self-Managed
VAs have extraordinary time management, productivity and customer service skills. They have to because they work with multiple clients and yet somehow manage to make each client feel like they are the VA’s only client.
6. Inexpensive Option
VAs who charge $5 an hour or less are really unskilled virtual gofers. If you want skill, expect to pay Bloomingdale rates, not Walmart prices.
5. Value Proposition
A VA’s ROI is measured by what it costs you to do the work yourself versus delegating it to a VA. If your time is worth $50 an hour and your VA’s time is worth $25 an hour, delegating to a VA saves you $25.
4. Business Work
Although VAs do more than administrative work, that doesn’t mean they do laundry and housekeeping.
3. One For Everyone
It doesn’t matter what your personality type is or what business you’re in, there’s a VA for everyone. Some VAs appreciate micromanagers, most don’t. Some do only project work, and some only work in ongoing, collaborative relationships.
2. Industry Specific
Some VAs are generalists, and some VAs specialize in working with specific industries or professions.
1. More Information
The New England region has many virtual assistants, and the New England Virtual Assistants organization (www.newenglandvirtualassistants.com) is a great resource.
