As an Internet marketing consultant I’ve had the opportunity to work with an array of talented individuals who assign themselves an array of titles, including “virtual assistant” and “freelancer.” Though I’ve never worked with a “freelance” admin assist, I have worked with VAs who proofread and copy edit AND freelancers who proofread and copy edit. I’ve had both good and bad results with each … uh … genre?
Semantics is a funny thing in business because on the one hand it’s, well, just semantics. But on the other hand, perception is everything when it comes to how a business is marketed. So, the big question is then: are you more interested in working with freelancers or virtual assistants? If you go searching for one, will you possibly find the other? And if so, is that okay as long as they serve up what you asked for? (And hopefully a little bit more if they’re real keeners.)
Personally, I’ve never paid much attention at all to what my subcontractors call themselves. For the most part, as long they perform the job they tell me they can within the standards I have set, it’s all good. And when it’s not good, well, it’s usually got less to do with the title and more to do with the person, if you know what I mean.
Nevertheless, I was curious how the two might be differently defined. So I hopped onto Google and did a couple quick searches. Note that the definitions I list below are exactly as I found them online:
Googling “what is a virtual assistant” brought up a link to this information:
- A Virtual Assistant is a temporary worker who works for businesses over the internet. The employer may be at a great distance from the assistant. …
www.cybercitymommies.com/Glossary.html - A Virtual Assistant (or simply VA), is an independent contractor providing administrative, technical, or sometimes creative assistance to clients …
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual assistant
And Googling “what is a freelancer” brought up a link to this information:
- a self-employed translator or interpreter who works independently directly with the clients and might as well do projects for translation agencies.
englishrussiantranslations.com/resources/glossary.html - (freelance worker) is a self-employed person working in a profession or trade in which full-time employment is also common. …
egjug.org/outsourcing_definitions - The Nomad ships in-game are comprised of a light blue organic polymer, and then physcially struck produce a strange drum-like reverberating noise.
www.bionity.com/lexikon/e/Bioship - Default class. Unlike the Onion Knight in the Famicom version, able to use a wide array of weapons, but can only use level 1 black and white magic.
www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Final-Fantasy-III-(DS) - a writer or artist who sells services to different employers without a long-term contract with any of them
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn - A freelancer or freelance worker is a person who pursues a profession without a long-term commitment to any one employer. …
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freelancer - Freelancer is a space trading and combat simulation computer game developed by Digital Anvil and published by Microsoft. …
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freelancer (computer game) - one who freelances
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/freelancer
Interesting! I could go on all day about the implied differences here along with how those differences might translate for different business scenarios, but alas, I am going to leave that to our loyal Commenters.
What do you think? Would you rather hire a freelancer or a virtual assistant? Or does it truly just depend on the situation? Better still, if you had to choose between a freelance copy editor and a copy editor who calls him or herself a VA, whom would you prefer to work on say, YOUR web copy?
Laters!
For me, as long as the job gets done, I don’t think it matters to me what the subcontractor calls themselves that I’ve hired. I’ve hired Chartered Accountants, Bookkeepers and Virtual Assistants who specialize in bookkeeping having excellent output work from all of the above sometimes even for the same hourly rate.
My point being, their name or the letters behind their name don’t necessarily bind me into hiring them although the perception of how they present themselves online can sway me. ie) If their website looks amateurish and like it was built by their 12 y.o. teenage nephew it then makes me wonder if their tech equipment is sub-standard too and that they may be trying to do word processing on their Commodore 64.
For me, 9/10 times I hire someone only through a word of mouth referral anyhow as I feel this is where I tend to get the best results. In the end it is all due diligence when partnering up with any VA or freelancer – caveat emptor!
Hey, what’s wrong with a Commodore 64? He he.
Yep, you’re totally right about doing your due diligence. In the end, the hiring party is ultimately responsible for business outcomes.
I’m sorry, Karri and Tawyna, but it does matter. I’m also surprised and disappointed to find such a posting on a blog designed to promote Virtual Assistants (VA).
First, the definition of a VA, as found on the Cyber City Mommies web site is soooo wrong it makes me want to scream and tear my hair out.
Second, as a Virtual Assistant, I do proofreading for my clients, without being asked, but I do so within my VA-client relationship with them. I do not do proofreading as a separate, standalone task for which I charge a different rate. As a VA, I don’t do bookkeeping because I’m not a bookkeeper, and I have no interest in bookkeeping. I’m happy to refer my clients to a bookkeeper or a VA who does bookkeeping. It’s part of my VA-client relationship to refer my clients to someone who does the things I don’t do. I’m also happy to refer people to multi-VA practices because it saves me from having to be “everything” to my clients. I have an interest in a wide range of topics, and I have no interest in a wider range of things. If I wanted to be well versed in everything, I might as well give up my VA business and go back to working for someone else as an employee.
It’s because VA industry leaders don’t see why it matters what a webpreneur calls his-/her-self that the web, as a whole, is confused as to what a VA is and what a VA does, and why so many webpreneurs experience disappointment and outright incompetence when they work with someone calling his-/her-self a VA.
Frankly, if you want to market yourself as “a do all and be all,” then call yourself a “virtual do all be all entrepreneur” so someone looking to work with a VA knows who and what to look for.
=>Donna Caissie, Virtual Assistant & Owner
ExtraOrdinary Assistance
dcaissie@extra-assist.com
Donna, thanks so much for taking the time to comment. This is what blogging is all about. Kudos! I’d like the opportunity to respond, respectfully:
First, I was not in any way promoting the Cyber Mommies definition, right, wrong or controversial as it may be. I was showing what came up number one in a Google search, purely for interest’s sake in the context of the article.
Second, I wonder if you interpreted my comments to mean I was suggesting a VA (or freelancer, per se) should try to be all things to all people. Instead, I was suggesting that there are some interesting points to consider when interpreting differences and similarities amongst the two.
In my experience–as the “client” on the other side of the equation–the title has not mattered to the result. That is just my experience. There are incompetent business persons in any field I can think of–even in medicine.
What Tawnya or any other “industry leader” says about the matter I may or may not agree with. We each must choose our alliances as critical thinking individuals. At the end of the day though, I’m still accountable as the principal of my practice. As you are for yours. As any VA or freelancer is for his or hers.
This is my opinion based on personal interpretation and loads of professional experience. Thank you for sharing yours – we honestly do appreciate it!
I think a name is just a name. I use the title virtual assistant, but my business includes the term Secretarial Services. While I understand what Donna is saying about it being important to promote the proper VA definition and title, it is still very difficult in certain circles to enlighten people.
And I think a scary number of people think a VA is a cheap offshoring type of solution it’s hard enough to differentiate ourselves. So I have explained what I do in different ways depending on who I’m talking to. I might call myself a freelance admin person to one, a legal assistant to another, or a virtual assistant. Most people don’t care about a title, they want to know what I can do for them, so I speak with that thought in mind.
There is a difference – at least to those of us who have been professionally trained at http://www.assistu.com.
True Virtual Assistance is about the relationship – it’s not a boss/employee relationship; it’s two equals collaborating to create work/life balance. As a VA, I partner with my clients in long-term collaborative relationships, providing administrative and personal support. I am highly-skilled at what I do so I that I am an asset to my clients.
These so-called VAs who do the work just to make a buck give the rest of us who are passionate about what we do and what our clients do, a bad name.
I understand the opinion that a name is just a name, but by not taking our name just as seriously as what we do, we run a very high risk of perpetuating the myths that float around the internet about what a Virtual Assistant is.
Let’s work together to promote an accurate and high standard definition to the term Virtual Assistant when educating others about our industry!
Yes, we must ALL work together to promote awareness of the term VA which is what we encourage at VAnetworking.com. The definition we promote can be read here: https://www.vanetworking.com/what-is-a-va.htm although there are many other definitions online as well as you will see from this link that we also support. Why do we support other VA organizations and their definitions? Because we understand & appreciate that each and every Virtual Assistant is unique and you will also find the definition of each of these VAs is also unique if you ask them what it is. Hopefully one day everyone can agree upon one definition like ours at VAnetworking.com but until then, there will always be debates over the semantics of each which is like Karri said earlier “well, just semantics”.
The bottom line is that “it” matters if you want it to matter to YOUR business. The definition you subscribe to (if you subscribe to one definition) is really dependent upon your strategic objectives as a business owner.
This kind of debate is thought provoking and important for sure. (Else I wouldn’t have blogged about it). But at the same time, we need to balance our desire to promote our “preferred” definitions with the need to ultimately provide each prospective client the precise information he/she will find useful in deciding whether to shell out bucks for what we each offer. (And yes, being a business owner generally means you’re trying to make money … )
Love this post! I agree that as long as the job gets done it does not matter what their title is. Personally I thought of myself as a freelancer when I first started out and I was working under my legal name. Once I registered my business as Virtual Business Solutions ON DEMAND I titled myself as a Virtual Assistant. I am sure there are several out there that have their own opinion on the terminology.
Serena Carcasole
http://www.vbsondemand.com
Your 1STOP Business Service Shop
Outsource your way to success!
There are freelancers who deliver excellent work for their clients; sometimes they even do the query to get the project started based on the work they’ve already started. As a freelancer, I would expect to be hanging on the phone for an assignment which would be pretty independent and mine until sold. I’m thinking of freelancing magazine articles, etc. which I’ve had to pitch to the editor. We have a different relationship than I do with a client.
As a virtual assistant, I do not want to perceive myself as a freelancer. I want to have a self-perception and a perception by my clients or the public as a stable, committed person, dedicated to keeping their administrative needs and mine on a level environment. The virtual assistant’s client has specific, micro-needs that involve confidentiality and responsibility.
I agree, Karri, that the work itself is the most important part. There are VAs who can write and there are freelance writers who can provide the same services as some VAs (I provide proofreading services, but not writing services).
For me, it doesn’t matter what someone calls themselves,
but I would still be sure to refer to them by their preferred ‘title’.
I work very hard to educate people on what a VA is, and what a VA does (at least this VA!), and I would expect that they would refer to me as a VA, and not a freelancer.
Bottom line for me – if you can do the work, I’ll call you whatever you want me to call you!
I’m a bit late to the party, but the thought that crossed my mind that I read all of this was, “VAs work so hard to come up with the perfect name, logo, vision statement, business plan, etc.; why shouldn’t we take the definition of our trade just as serious?” Our clients will only perceive as we portray ourselves. If we don’t take our title seriously, then neither will anyone else. Just my thoughts. 🙂
It’s never too late to chime in here Keri 😉 I agree, and as Virtual Assistants we need to educate the public about who we are, what we do and how we can help clients in business. It’s blogs like this, dedicated to the clients of the VAs that help with the awareness and thanks to all who contribute to this post with their opinions.
Great conversation. I, too, was distressed at the CyberCityMommies definition, and disliked that a non-authority, posing as an authority, was defining my profession so incorrectly. I’m happy to report however, that apparently they were listening and have updated their definition to: “Virtual Assistant – (VAs), are entrepreneurs who provide professional administrative, technical, or creative assistance to clients from a home office.” It’s not perfect, but definitely better that the previous definition!
Freelancer Versus Virtual Assistant: What’s the Difference Anyway?
First, this is a very healthy debate, as it should be.
Just as most things evolve, this particular discussion will evolve, due to the very nature of our industry, as well as the current job market.
Speaking of our industry, there are many laws that govern us and what we do.
Such as the IRS and the rules that govern Independent Contractors; It is critical that you, the business owner (VA), and clients correctly determine whether the individuals providing services are employees or independent contractors.
Again, as with anything, even the laws will evolve and our industry must evolve with them, period.
Until
My definition of a VA is based upon those laws that govern me as an Independent Contractor, my business plan as well as my title and what I can and will not do.
I take my business and partnership with any client very serious.
To answer your question, the law determines what the difference is. Until a precedent is set in our industry, the law governs the platform of VA’s and how they do business.
Both the VA and Freelancer are Independent Contractors (as per the law).
Just as you have plumbers, electricians and painters that are Independent Contractors (which have totally separate skill sets), the VA and Freelancer may as well.
The boom, so to speak, for Freelancers started in the 1980’s (controversy goes back to the 1960’s). Because there were concerns over IC’s and fraud, the IRS came up with the 20 part test, so that clients and IC’s alike could determine whether or not the work engaged in fell under the IC or employee category.
Legal definition of a Freelancer (can you see how closely this mirrors the VA?), can be found below.
Freelancer: http://definitions.uslegal.com/f/freelance/
In my opinion, because this (VA) is what I do, the definition of a VA (Virtual Assistant) is simple:
A Virtual Assistant (VA) is a highly-trained independent entrepreneur who provides administrative business support services virtually via phone, fax and internet based technology to support and meet the growing needs of solo entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Because my niche is in the administrative field, this definition works best for me as an Independent Contractor.
VAA (Virtual Administrative Assistant)
Virtual: being on or simulated on a computer or computer network : as a : occurring or existing primarily online b : of, relating to, or existing within a virtual reality
Administrative: This word has gone through some massive changes as well over the years, the work delegated once to a secretary, office manager as well as in clerical positions, can now be found in one person, the Administrative Assistant (or Executive Administrative Assistant; which would be the ‘head honcho’ of the AA’s.)
Assistant: Helper, assist, giving aid.
Simply put, I do not consider all IC’s to be VA’s. IC’s; such as plumbers, painters, electricians, lawyers and the like, do not do most of their work virtually.
VA’s are going through what the medical industry went through years ago with doctors, finding their niche, specialty or area of expertise and building their business based upon those factors.
Eventually, like most areas of business, someone in authority will come along and state that our industry needs to categorize all VA’s, to clear up any confusion.
Would I support this, to the extent of assisting the public and clients with clarification.
I can see our industry setting a precedent (establish a usage, tradition, or standard to be followed in the future), if only in the name of clarification.
Category: VA
Place your definition here
Subcategories:
VAA = Virtual Administrative Assistant
VBA = Virtual Bookkeeping Assistant
VOA = Virtual Office Assistant
VMA = Virtual Marketing Assistant
VPA = Virtual Personal Assistant
VRA = Virtual Research Assistant
This is just my humble opinion.
I so agree with you Tammy.
I’m a VA as well as a Freelancer. I do administrative work all that pertains to the alphabet in my VA’s business but as a member of the ATA (American Translators Association) I freelance.
I can say I have the best of both worlds.