Hiring A VA Tips
Understanding how a VA operates
Most people who are searching for a VA have just heard of the industry and are overwhelmed when they find themselves faced with the task of hiring someone.
By understanding a few basics about Virtual Assistants, the entire process should be easier for you.
The first thing you should realize is that a Virtual Assistant is not [...]
What to Look For in a VA’s Proposal
When you decide to partner with a VA, it can be overwhelming. It’s a very big decision because you will be working very closely with this person and you want to make sure you choose the best VA for you that you possibly can.
I’d like to address a couple things you should keep in mind [...]
How Important are Testimonials?
As you browse through Virtual Assistant websites you will find that many of them will feature testimonials received from satisfied clients. That can make it easy for you to make a decision if you are having trouble deciding between the VAs who have made your short list. But, what if someone you’re interested [...]
The Importance of Personality
Far more important than rates and almost equally important as skill when selecting a Virtual Assistant, is personality.
If you need website updates, assistance with your Internet marketing efforts and database management, you can find handfuls of VAs that provide those services and most will fall within the same price range.
How do you choose after you’ve [...]
Common Policies and Procedures of Virtual Assistants
There are a few key things to look out for when you initiate the process of working with a Virtual Assistant.
First of all, the VA should provide you with a contract or client agreement to sign before you start working together. This should outline his/her hours of operation, your rate, different policies and procedures which [...]
VAs and Training
It shouldn’t be up to you to train your VA. The VA you choose to work with should already be experienced in the work you want them to do. That’s one of the big benefits of partnering with a Virtual Assistant.
If you find someone great who hasn’t any experience in the services you need, if [...]
Make a plan before working with a Virtual Assistant
When you think you’re ready to choose a Virtual Assistant to start taking care of your administrative headaches, there are some things you should do on your end to make things a bit easier for everyone.
The most important thing you can do before you get into a contact with a VA is to clearly lay [...]
Ready to Let a Virtual Assistant Hold Your Blankie?
I need to finish that darned book. You know, THE book everyone is talking about (and some are really really whining about, but more on that another post). The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss is a must read, even if you are the type who has a hard time just “letting go.” And that would [...]
What’s the worst question you can ask a Virtual Assistant?
Easy…
“Can you send me a resume?”
Even though people ask this question to VAs all the time, as a general group, we don’t like it.
I think it’s because it means we’re being thought of as employees. Remember, administrative assistants don’t get paid very well and often have to take a lot of orders and abuse [...]
Get dozens of skills with one Virtual Assistant
There are so many benefits to working with a Virtual Assistant. One of those is that in most cases you get a lot more brains than one!
No, Virtual Asstants aren’t two-headed creatures, but most are very well connected through the VA networking forums they frequent.
Let me explain.
If you wanted to hire one employee who could [...]
Quick Tip - Looking for a legitimate business expense?
The bad thing about making boat loads of money as an entrepreneur is that you have to pay for it at tax time. Even though the economy is in rough shape right now, you still need to have some legitimate business expenses to help even things out next spring.
It’s wise to watch your spending on [...]
Outsource your higher learning?
By ‘outsourcing your higher learning’, I don’t mean you should delegate your university education or your college assignments. That wouldn’t be ethical. But how many times have you thought something like…
“I’m ready to put a shopping cart on my website, I should really learn how to do that.”
“I know I should be putting out a [...]
If It Was Never About Price, Why Should We Start Now?
I posted some online marketing goodness over at Search Engine Guide yesterday and felt I should share, mainly because the strategies I wrote about are as much applicable to the B2B services web space as they are to ecommerce (the post was regarding etailer price wars specifically).
Recession is no longer “looming.” It’s at the forefront [...]
