Personal Development

How a Virtual Assistant Can Help You

You may be wondering what a Virtual Assistant is and how one can help you. Well, a VA is essentially a PA/Administrator/Secretary who works from a different geographical location.

There are more and more small businesses who would like some assistance with various office duties but in the current economic climate would prefer not to employ someone. This is where a virtual assistant can help.

Services which a VA can offer include:

* Helping you with your to-do list
* Deal with all your admin and paperwork
* Secretarial services
* Take orders, bookings & enquiries
* General office duties

Benefits

Virtual Assistants are cost effective because they are not an employee which means as a business owner you are not responsible for their NI Contributions, Tax or other costs.

Virtual Assistants work from their own office with their own equipment.

Virtual Assistants are totally flexible, if you don't need them one week then just let them know. No cost is incurred as you pay them usually on an hourly basis.

Many VA's specialise in one particular area. This may be admin work, sales, database cleansing, personal assistance, etc. So take the time to find one which suits your needs and you won't be disappointed. You will soon wonder how you ever managed without one!

So it might be that you just want a couple of hours help a week while you catch up on other things. It might be that you are finding all the paperwork too much to fit in. If you would like to spend less time on boring paperwork, free up some time to develop your business or have extra support around the office then a Virtual Assistant may just be the answer your looking for.

Clare Axon-Saunders is an an experienced, versatile and friendly Virtual Assistant based in St. Albans, Hertfordshire. If you are a small business in need of an extra pair of hands, then contact Clare at clare@onlineva.co.uk to see how she can help.

Clare is particularly interested in assisting small businesses within the local area. She is also keen to work with people involved with animals, holistic & alternative therapies, yoga & Pilates.

http://onlineva.co.uk

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Clare_Axon-Saunders

3 Reasons to Hire a Virtual Assistant

Outsourcing to a Virtual Assistant is a growing trend in small and online businesses. But, what exactly is a virtual assistant, and why should you consider hiring one? According to the International Virtual Assistants Association (IVAA), "A Virtual Assistant (VA) is an independent entrepreneur providing administrative, creative and/or technical services. Utilizing advanced technological modes of communication and data delivery, a professional VA assists clients in his/her area of expertise from his/her own office on a contractual basis." There are many reasons that a VA may be the right choice for you, but we will look at just three of them today: the ability to hire an expert, cost effectiveness, and ease to work with.

Hire an Expert

Possibly the most exciting reason to hire a virtual assistant is the leverage that it provides. It is now easier than ever to hire an expert in either a specific industry, or with a specific skill set! Most VA's quickly develop some type of niche. Some VA's concentrate their efforts on working with a particular client type for example, insurance agents or realtors. Others may focus on a specific service such as website design and marketing.

Cost Effectiveness

Don't let your heart start racing the moment you get an estimate from your potential VA. A VA's rate can sometimes be deceiving. Rates can vary and may sometimes be hourly, monthly, or per project. A virtual assistant is probably more cost effective than you would think. Here are a few things to consider:

• A Virtual Assistant is not like a traditional "employee". You are not responsible for any of the benefits, or payroll taxes that you would have with an in house staff.
• There is also no need for you to provide any type of office space or supplies. Normally, any standard office supplies and equipment such as paper, phones, computers, fax machines, paper clips, etc. are all included.
• There is little or no downtime. When your business suffers from a lull, you can simply cut the hours that your VA works. Although in some cases, there may be an exception if you have entered into a contract.

It's So Darned Easy

Even though your VA doesn't reside in your office, at times it just might feel like it. Because of the nature of what a virtual assistant does, there are several ways for you to reach them or work with them. Technology has made it very easy. Most VAs will use some combination of the following: a website, social networking sites, telephone, video chat, instant messaging, or even third party software (such as Basecamp) in order to stay closely connected to you.

If you would like to use this article please retain the attribution at the end.

Jennifer Muench is a virtual assistant and the founder of Everyday Business. She has been providing office support to small businesses and online entrepreneurs since 2008. Find out more about Jennifer at http://www.EverydayBusinessServices.com.

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Do You Need a Virtual Assistant For Your Business?

A Virtual Assistant is a person that works at home for other business owners. They help with administrative tasks as well as other tasks that a business owner may need done to help them out. A Virtual Assistant is also known as a VA.

Did you know that most business owners need a Virtual Assistant? You may not even realize that you need a VA. But, you may need a VA to help you do things that you don't know how to do or help you do things that you have had on your to-do list that you keep putting off. As a business owner, you decide what you need your VA to do to help you out.

This article will show you some reasons why you need a VA and it will also show you just a few of the many tasks that a VA can do to help you when you are in need. Here are two reasons why you need to hire a Virtual Assistant.

1. Your family

If you run a business and have a family, it may be difficult to do everything. When you hire a VA to do tasks like newsletter creation and submission, blog writing and posting, article writing and submissions, and social networking you will have more time to spend with your family. These are things that are important in your business, but if you can outsource them to your VA, they will get done and you won't have to do them.

2. Grow your business

While newsletters, blog writing and posting, article writing and submissions and social networking are very important in business, they are not the main way you grow your business. To grow your business you need to make calls and do presentations if you are in direct sales, or perform the work if you are in a service business. If you hire a VA to do the newsletter, the blog, the articles, and the social networking, you can focus more time on the things that will grow your business. Here are two tasks that a Virtual Assistant can help you with.

1. Newsletters

There are two ways you can outsource your newsletter to your VA. The first way is for you can create the content and then send it to your VA to input into your software program. Your VA will add pictures and make it look great. Then they can send it out to your list. The second way is for you to give your VA topics you want covered and your VA creates the content, inputs it into your software program, and sends it to your list.

2. Articles

Another task that your VA can do for you is write and submit articles. You give your VA a topic and a few bullet points and she can create an article for you to approve. Once the article is approved, your bio is added to it and then your VA can submit your article to article directories. There are many reasons business owners hire a Virtual Assistant. If you don't have enough time in the day to complete all your business tasks or you want to take your business to the next level, you will want to consider using a Virtual Assistant.

Corrie Petersen runs a successful Virtual Assistant business. She enjoys helping others reach their goals and dreams. Check out her website at http://www.virtualfreedom4you.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Corrie_Petersen

Advantages of Outsourcing

Outsourcing has become increasingly popular both for those buying outsourced labor and those providing the services. It is an ideal use of a speaker's or author's resources to take advantage of outsourced help while promoting their speaking services or book. And, due to recent economic conditions, small to midsized companies are having to lay people off or delay hiring full time staff. This results in a larger pool of talent looking for work. The answer is very often outsourcing.

The entrepreneur, author, speaker, or small business purchasing the outsourced service enjoys the following advantages:

1. You Don't Have to Commit Full Time to Outsourced Help.

If you aren't happy with someone you have chosen to outsource work to, you can sever the relationship easily and find a better fit.

2. Less Employment Overhead.

You only pay for the work you need at the time you need it. When times are slower, there are generally few if any expenses involved.

3. Can Outsource Easy or Complicated Projects.

You will be able to find an outsourced service provider to meet your needs whether those are complicated legal issues or simple office tasks. Small business owners have found good success with outsourcing any number of tasks, but some of the more popular are accounting and bookkeeping functions, virtual assistants, and even website and Internet marketing.

Outsourced service providers benefit from the relationship as well:

1. Choose Your Own Employer.

If you find that a working relationship is unhealthy, you can "fire" the company and find a better fit.

2. Easy Scheduling.

You can often complete your work from home, and have control over your hours and other terms.

3. Any Economy.

The ability to earn on an outsource basis is not reliant on your ability to obtain traditional work that may not be available in your field.

Outsourcing benefits both the entrepreneur, author, speaker or small business owner purchasing the service and the outsource service provider, which is why this type of service is here to stay.

For many more resources and ideas for promoting your book effectively online, be sure to stop by PromoteYourBookCoach.com. This article is available as a unique content article with free reprint rights.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Spyda_Diva

Pros and Cons of Outsourcing When Starting a Business

Some of the current popular advice for would be entrepreneurs says that outsourcing everything but your core operations is the best and easiest route to business ownership. Like most other advice, this idea comes with its own set of pros and cons. Before you take the leap into outsourcing, be sure to understand exactly what it really means to you and your business.

Outsourcing Pros

Outsourcing non-core competencies does have its advantages. If you do not have to spend your time handling the accounting or managing your website, your full time and attention can be on the actual operations of your startup. If you are lucky, the professionals you outsource to will work hard for your business and help you grow. Outsourcing can be a valuable money-saving alternative to hiring and dealing with staff, and can provide an alternative perspective on what and how your business is doing.

Outsourcing Cons

The downside of outsourcing revolves around one critical point - abdicating control of your business. One of the significant advantages of entrepreneurship is taking control and responsibility for your own work life. Often, business owners hand off a task to an outsource professional and trust them implicitly to do the right thing. But every business includes nuances and details that need to be addressed through every aspect, and it is unrealistic to expect every outsource professional to know and understand those specifics on their own. In addition, without taking a proactive position in monitoring outsourced tasks, you can easily become a target for unscrupulous practices - overcharges, underperformance, even theft.

What to Do?

Clearly, entrepreneurs need a way to enjoy the advantages of outsourcing non-core tasks while avoiding the potential problems. The first step is to check your attitude - be sure you are looking at outsourcing as a supporting role in your business. That is, you must maintain a sense of responsibility and the control of a manager over the work that you pass off to others. This means that you need to understand the fundamentals of every business task and how it relates to and affects your business before you outsource. You need to identify precisely what it is you want the outsource professional to handle and a method for evaluating their performance. You need to work closely with the outsourcer to develop useful reporting procedures so that you can keep up with what they are doing, and when and how it is getting done.

The fundamentals of entrepreneurship require more than a passing familiarity with business basics. Whatever your particular operations, you are ultimately in the business of business and, as the owner, you are ultimately responsible for everything that occurs in the name of your venture. Making a choice to hand off core business tasks without thoroughly understanding the purpose, procedures, and impact is a critical but common error among new business owners.

Going out on your own provides a freedom and autonomy that just isn't found by working for someone else. Your success rises and falls on your own actions -- a reality that is motivating for some and overwhelming for others. By taking the time to hone your fundamental business skills before you launch, you can make informed choices about what tasks you outsource and to whom. You will still be responsible for the outcome, but you will also have the knowledge and skills to maintain control over the work product of everyone involved in your venture...even outsourced professionals.

About the Author- K. MacKillop, a serial entrepreneur with a J.D. from Duke University, is founder of LaunchX and blogs about starting a business. The LaunchX System will teach you the business fundamentals you need to make sound decisions regarding outsourcing your non-core functions and help you select and manage outsourced professionals. Visit LaunchX.com to learn more about our complete business startup kits. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=K._MacKillop

 

Virtual Assistance is an Inspired Choice

Feeling Overworked?

Running your own business can be very satisfying. Being your own boss, doing a job you love can give you a feeling of fulfilment and motivation. Probably the main reason you went into business for yourself is because you really enjoy what you do and you excel at it. Whatever your business is you'll want to spend most of your time focusing on gaining new clients and carrying out your core activity. Unfortunately running a business generates a multitude of tasks that whilst don't make you any money, are essential to the smooth day-to-day operation of it.

You can find yourself working late into the evening or on weekends just to keep on top of everything. Eventually you may feel so overworked, with no time for yourself or your family that you begin to wonder why you ever thought working for yourself was a good idea.

Delegate

Learning how to delegate to a virtual assistant can put you back on the road to feeling fulfilled and motivated again. It can get you back to doing what you do best. Quite often people find delegating tasks difficult - usually because they think it's quicker to just do it themselves. It's true that it may take a little longer at first while you explain what you want doing but is doing the task yourself the best use of your time?

What Tasks?

So how do you decide what to delegate? Write a list of the tasks you do on a daily or regular basis that you don't enjoy, are taking too long or are taking you away from other aspects of your business you feel are more important. Do you really need to do them yourself or could you easily train someone else to do them? Think about the things you could be doing more of if someone else took on those tasks.

Who To?

Okay, so now you've got a list of tasks you feel could be done by someone else. But who do you delegate them to? You may not want to employ someone and take on the added employer's responsibilities of holiday pay, sick pay and national insurance contributions. Perhaps you don't have the office space for another person, especially if you're working from home.

A Virtual Assistant (VA) could be the ideal solution. They work from their own office with their own equipment and they're ready to work when you need them. As virtual assistants are self-employed business owners themselves they understand your needs better than anyone and you only pay for the time they spend working on your tasks. A VA is happy to take on one-off projects or regular commitments. Hiring the right Virtual Assistant is the next step and depends on the project or task you want to delegate.

There are VAs who specialise in audio transcription, book-keeping, marketing, social media, event management, e-commerce or copy writing. Some will offer general PA services such as diary management, travel arranging and general copy typing. A lot of VAs will offer a combination of both. Some may also specialise in different industries such as financial, legal, manufacturing, or medical. You may know someone who can recommend a Virtual Assistant or you can use a VA directory such as the UK Alliance of Virtual Assistants where you can search by services offered or by county.

Find out if their experience, knowledge and skills match the tasks you have in mind for them.

How Does It Work?

You may be wondering how a Virtual Assistant can carry out your tasks if they're not in the same office. If it's audio transcription and you use a digital recorder it's a simple matter of uploading your audio files and emailing them to your VA who will then type them up and email you the document back. If you use cassette tapes to record then it's a simple matter of putting them in the mail or if you're local to your VA she may offer a pick up and delivery service.

Copy typing documents can be faxed or mailed to your VA. If you want someone to work on files you have stored on your PC there are several ways this can be done. File sharing tools such as Dropbox make it easy to share your files with someone on another PC. Programs such as can give remote access to your computer.

If you need your VA to keep your diary up-to-date online collaboration tools such as Google Calendar or Airset allow you to share diaries and stay organised. A lot of tasks can be explained via telephone or email, or if you prefer speaking to someone face-to-face a Skype chat using a webcam is ideal and free. You could even get a VA to organise your filing by sending it all to her in the mail. She can then organise it for you, put it into a cardboard filing box and mail it back to you. All you need to do is take it out and pop it in your filing cabinet.

What Are You Waiting For?

A good Virtual Assistant will give you a free consultation. Spend some time talking to her about the help you need. She may be able to suggest things you hadn't thought of. Don't be afraid to ask questions such as what the hourly rate is, does she offer a retainer package, has she got testimonials from other clients, is she able to take on another client, what the turnaround time is.

Don't sit there feeling stressed about the amount of work you need to get through, contact Cloud VA today and give yourself more time to do what you do best.

Karen James is a professional, experienced UK Virtual Assistant specialising in audio transcription. Visit http://www.cloudva.co.uk to give yourself more hours in your day. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karen_LJ_James