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Posts Tagged ‘virtual assistant’

How to Get a Virtual Assistant Business Off the Ground

August 11th, 2010 |

Author: Shelly ~ Admin.

How to Get a Virtual Assistant Business Off the Ground by Lori Redfield

The revolution of how businesses operate is an enormous boon to Virtual Assistants. With more businesses moving into an internet based atmosphere, the opportunity for growth as a Virtual Assistant (VA) is exceptional.

Virtual Assistants are modern day Administrative Assistants. Most often a good VA has the skill sets of a traditional administrative assistant with the added benefit of being technically web savvy and often possessing website and graphic design skills, HTML know how and an understanding of search engine optimization and Internet marketing.

However, there are many levels to what type of work you could choose to target as a Virtual Assistant. Many Virtual Assistants provide virtual customer support for clients while others focus entirely on data entry work. The options are diverse and plentiful.

So Where to Begin?

Many up and coming VA’s get their first assignments from established Virtual Assistant businesses. So networking with other VA’s can be an essential method of getting a shoe in this business. The obvious place to begin networking is on forums. Do a Google search on ‘virtual assistant forum’ and you will have a good starting point.

When you are networking on forums, try to be an active participant on the forum. Ask intelligent questions. Share your understanding on different topics and comment on what other members have said. The biggest mistake for many women trying to network or promote their businesses on forums is to give one-liner answers that aren’t thoughtful. I am far more likely to outsource work to a candidate when I see that they are serious about beginning their business, it isn’t just a whim. And that they are willing to ask questions and hone their skills.

Build a Website

You really should have a website up for your business. Without one, your chances to succeed are seriously going to be hindered. There are several viable options for getting your website started. You can purchase a template, use a site builder, hire a designer or build one yourself.

Building a website yourself can seem daunting, but it is likely a skill you will need to develop in the Virtual Assistant industry and this will give you some hands on experience. I highly recommend building your own site.

Once you have your website you can begin promoting it on your signature in emails and on forums. You can advertise your services locally and provide your customer with a website address to learn more about your services. The opportunities for acquiring clients and networking with other VA’s expands tremendously once you have a professional website presence.

Find Work Online

There are quite a few places now online where you can connect with prospective clients and bid on jobs that they have. By far the best place to do this is www.elance.com. Elance has an excellent reputation and an excellent advertising budget. They draw thousands of jobs there all the time. There is a fee, but it is well worth the investment.

Other sources for finding work are: www.craigslist.com, www.sologig.com, www.homejobstop.com, www.guru.com, and getafreelancer.com. There are really quite a few websites now that focus on bringing clients and service providers together.

Do a Good Job

When you do land your first gig, do it well. Aim to astound your client. Be ahead of schedule, respond to their inquiries, and send them daily updates. Oftentimes first assignments are your best opportunity for receiving more work. When a business reaches the point of outsourcing, they are doing well. It is very likely that pleasing the client with your first assignment can lead to ongoing work and/or glowing recommendations to their colleagues to use your services.

Starting a Virtual Assistant business is an innovative, legitimate way to utilize skills that you have. It is quickly becoming a popular home business and there is tremendous room in the industry for growth. It can take some time to sign on your first clients, but before you know it you will have a full work load and a surprisingly abundant business doing what you love!

Lori Redfield is the founder of http://www.FreelanceMom.com. Her website provides support, advice and job leads for women who wish to work from home.

Article Source: WAHM Articles

Posted in Business Articles, Home Business Start Up Ideas, Virtual Assistant Info |

Tags: Home Business Start Up Ideas, virtual assistant, work at home business |

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What is a Virtual Assistant? Virtual Assisting Explained!

June 11th, 2010 |

Author: Shelly ~ Admin.

What is a Virtual Assistant? by D. L. Willms

A virtual assistant, or VA, is an administrative rofessional who outsources his or her administrative talents and experience to small business, individuals and corporations for a long or short-term period. Most virtual assistants have several years of experience in the corporate world, and bring to their business the training and experience accumulated during those years. Many administrators who leave the corporate world to start their own virtual assistant business do so because they are motivated to achieve and want to influence how their talents are used and developed. Virtual assistants are known for continually developing their administrative skills, business knowledge, and keeping up with leading edge technology to provide you, the client, with professional and reliable virtual service.

Virtual Assistants In Business

Virtual assistants are not employees. VAs are small business owners who work with you to support your business goals and needs. When you contract a virtual assistant, you receive expert and flexible administrative support, provided through popular and leading edge technology. VAs are business owners themselves and understand why you and your business need professional, timely, reasonably priced service. Because the client’s satisfaction is key to the success of a virtual assistant business, you can expect solid and reliable performance on a continuing basis.

Though virtual assistants can be engaged for an occasional project, their potential is best realized in ongoing business relationships with their clients. Over time, your virtual assistant will become more familiar with the workings of your business, so he or she can better support you and add to your success.

History of Virtual Assistants

The history of virtual assistants, as they are defined today, is only a few years old. Though “work-at-home secretaries” existed in the 1980s, the technology was not available for the industry to be truly virtual. The true virtual assistant began to emerge in 1995, after the explosive growth of the World Wide Web (WWW) in the mid-1990s. Through the Internet, faxes, and the telephone, these pioneers proved time and again that they could fully support their clientele virtually, from their home offices.

Virtual Assistants Today

The virtual assistant industry continues to grow by leaps and bounds. The many small businesses and entrepreneurs of today’s business world have found virtual assistants to be an invaluable resource.

Virtual assistants have come a long way from being “work at home” secretaries. They can be writers, proofreaders, editors, database creators, researchers, marketers, web designers … The list of possibilities is as diverse as the people who enter the VA industry. Business owners and independent professionals are realizing they no longer have to do everything on their own and are hiring virtual assistants to take care of tasks they no longer have time for, or that they don’t enjoy doing.

Where Is The VA Industry Going?

At one time, a common question was, “What’s a virtual assistant?” Now people are asking, “Who’s your virtual assistant?”

The current trend in business outsourcing means that the role of virtual assistants will become more significant in the future. As technology develops and business need grows, a virtual assistant may become a vital part of every successful business.

D. L. Willms works from her home as a virtual assistant. Visit her blog Virtual Assistant Resources to find virtual assistant articles, tools, news and resources.

Article Source: WAHM Articles

Posted in Home Business Start Up Ideas, Virtual Assistant Info, Work At Home Articles and Tips, Work At Home Jobs and Tips |

Tags: Home Business Start Up Ideas, virtual assistant, Work At Home & Jobs, work at home business, work from home |

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