The most important question you ask yourself is about TRUST. But if you hire a Virtual Assistant you must be open to new ideas and suggestions and delegate without doubt.

Therefore it is important to have a good communication with your Virtual Assistant from the very beginning. You can ask your Virtual Assistant for daily, weekly reports, and follow up on the work. On the other hand you must always give direct and understandable instructions,.

To avoid misunderstandings it is a good idea to set rules and guidelines.

Be patient and make sure that your Virtual Assistant understand your business, your needs. Spending some time to explain the work in the beginning, will save a lot of time in th end.

If you want to concentrate on other aspects of your business, and that is why you hired a Virtual Assistant, then do not be afraid to delegate and give control of some tasks that can be done by your Virtual Assistant independently.

In order to have a healthy partnership with your Virtual Assistant you must plan ahead. Keep in mind that your Virtual Assistant has other clients they work for. So ensure that you schedule your work accordingly. Keeping work for the last minute is not ideal. Ensure that you are prepared and available especially if you have a deadline to meet.

Follow these short guidelines and you will have a real good partnership with your professional Virtual Assistant. You will not even think about that you are far away if you have a good communication and you trust each other.

Have a nice work!

*Article taken from VAE, Virtual Assistant Europe - 20/10/2011 - Twitter @silvialarsen

You decide it’s time for you to hire a Virtual Assistant. Then you get stuck. How do you find one? What kind of VA do you need? How much is this going to cost? How do we communicate? How does this all work?

Before you even begin the process of hiring a Virtual Assistant there are a few things that need to be worked out first. What kinds of tasks do you want them to take on? Write it out with as much detail and structure as you possibly can. Are you comfortable with working with someone virtually? Can you handle not being able to see someone fact to face? If so, map out how you would feel most comfortable communicating with your Virtual Assistant. Decide how often you’ll want to touch base with them. It’s important to know this ahead of time so that you can find a Virtual Assistant that is compatible with you and your work flow. How many hours do you think you’ll need them for each .

Once you’ve worked these things out, it’s time to find your candidates. Google Virtual Assistant+ whatever niche or specialty and your location. Try to find the one nearest to you. Although you will mainly work virtually, it does help communication if once in a while you can meet face to face and chat.

Once you have found several, take a good look at their websites. Just as you would any future supplier, make sure they have a registered office, several methods of contact, testimonials and overall a good web presence.

With your shortlist in hand contact each VA and discuss your requirements. A professional VA will take the lead in this conversation and help you (if you are unsure) understand exactly how you can work together.

Good luck!

Virtual Assistants are persons that help to bridge the gap between a dedicated team and an entrepreneurial business that is growing. These individuals do not operate from the same physical location as you do; however, they help to get a number of tasks accomplished, so that you will be able to practice better time management and get more tasks accomplished. Here are some of the benefits of hiring a virtual assistant:

Pay-as-You-Go – One of the primary advantages of hiring virtual assistants (VAs) is that you only utilize their services when you need them. Due to the fact that they are not at the same physical address as you, you do not have to worry about spending most of your money on consulting fees. You will arrange with the virtual assistant the amount of hours that they will be expected to work weekly, and at the end of every week he or she will submit an invoice to you for the work completed.

Cut the Expensive Fees and Benefits – A number of business owners have to be practicing scalability, and hiring a virtual assistant is one of the ways in which you can practice that. By hiring a virtual assistant, you will not be required to pay for vacation time, health benefits, or other miscellaneous expenses.

Great Support Staff – Because you will only require the services of a virtual assistant as you need them, he or she will be able to complete work for other entrepreneurs as well. Therefore, it is imperative that you hire a virtual assistant that is able to practice good time management. This is essential to he or she being able to balance your workload, and workload from other entrepreneurs.

Efficient Work Production – One thing that you ought to keep in mind is that most virtual assistants are not located in the same time zone as you, which could ultimately help you improve the business. This is primarily because they will be able to complete certain tasks long before you are out of bed, which helps you to start your day worry-free. All this requires is proper time management.
Although virtual assistants are new to the small business world, they help with productivity and saving money, particularly in this global recession.

The Right Way To Treat Your Virtual Assistant

For business owners, getting a virtual assistant for the first time can be a challenge. Specially if almost all the workers he has are on-site. There is a large distinction in managing those 2 types of staff.

The numbers of small business owner having a Va are escalating everyday. Take a look at the amount of the job posts that the outsourcing internet sites have – take a take a look at oDesk, Elance, onlinejobs.ph and some others. Their company is flourishing.

But there is not much facts on how to interact with your Virtual Assistants. They may possibly come from at any place world wide – name it, they’ve VAs available. You can interview until you come across ‘the one’ for your company. The one that may support you’ve a lot more time for your self, profit far more and just be there when you will need them.

But what is the proper method to treat a virtual assistant?

Normally, you hire a VA on a per hour basis, it could just e several hours in a day, or half day or even even on a per assignment basis. And then you need to know the limitations, you just have to coordinate with them in the course of those hours alone. These virtual assistants have a number of clients also, and they’ve their very own work schedules. As an example: you have an office staff who sells insurance on the side. It’s possible for the insurance supervisor to go to your workplace and ‘borrow’ your office staff even for a few minutes? Now you begin to see the sense?

Another factor is that virtual assistants are human – they have feelings. It’s permitted to become close to them, to speak with them outside of their work. It is alright to know them better personally. You might discover this even effective inside the process. Bear in mind that individuals who like what they’re accomplishing and who they are doing that for are much more productive.

Trust. I recognize this must be received. You must be able to rely on virtual assistant and if not, maybe you do not have the suitable Virtual assistant for you.

And finally, supply feedbacks. You must correct your Virtual assistant, if she has completed some thing wrong. Tell her, so that next time she understands what to do. Don’t be shy to do that – which will be very good for both of you. And do not fail to remember to praise or recognize something excellent that your Virtual assistant has performed. A simple praise will go a long, long way, believe me on this.

So in short, whenever you hire a virtual assistant, treat them as your real personnel – not just well, a second rate staff. And you will surely reap rewards with regards to dedication, support, loyalty and who knows, friendship too.

Hire a VA is an SEO Company in the Philippines that outsources Virtual Assistants and SEO specialists. They take joy in with helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses by setting them free in doing tedious tasks and helping them in more ways they could imagine.

Article Courtesy of Article Network

Appearing in Women's Day NZ

It’s a virtual office support company that provides professional administrative, technical, and creative assistance to clients. In addition to PA and secretarial tasks, I can also provide clients with a wide range of more technical skills such as proficiency with Excel, graphic design and well-honed marketing and research services. We offer a personal approach, only enlisting a few clients at a time on our books.

What was your job before starting your business?

Marketing and event manager for a legal services provider, in Cardiff.

How did you go from your old career to your new business?

I jumped in the deep end! Travelling from Bath to Cardiff every day in rush hour, was not something I wanted to do while I was pregnant, nor did I want to return to work anytime soon after my baby was born. Luckily I had a wonderful relationship with my company and they agreed to take me on as a contractor rather than an employee. I resigned, set up my company and my new self-employed status and it grew from there.

What were your reasons for starting a business? 

My husband serves in the Armed Forces and is away for long periods of time, several times a year. I wanted the freedom to be able to work my own hours and be at home for my family.

Did you use any childcare?

I deliberated for months about if and when to send Ava to nursery. I am still deliberating… In the meantime I make sure she gets time to mingle with other children and the chance to experience new things.

How did you get your business idea?

I worked remotely on and off for my company after I moved counties. By utilising the power of the internet and by being accessible via phone or Skype for meetings, I proved that a virtual way of working was just as productive as being in the office.

What were your challenges and how did you overcome them?

For me the two biggest challenges were starting a business from scratch and winning customers.  The first I overcame by researching numerous websites. The likes of http://www.businesslink.gov.uk and http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/startingup/ I found the most resourceful. I also took the time to write a thorough business plan and have two of my closest business contacts look it over. I still refer to my business plan to keep things fresh in my head. The challenge of winning customers will always be a challenge. Initially I tested a number of different strategies to ascertain the best way of bringing in work. I now use the main approaches most frequently;

• Work closely with a competitor and have their overflow work fed down to me.
• Network online via social networking sites and related organisations.
• Encourage word of mouth marketing by rewarding referrals.
• Look for 20 new clients a month (in my target market) and contact the decision maker for the company.

What training, information or advice did you need to get started? 

I read a lot about how to start a business and did a great deal of research on my competitors. I used the knowledge and advice given to me by close business contacts and sought out additional advice from banks and start up agencies.

If you could give a  piece of advice to a mum of a baby or toddler starting a business, what would it be?

Write a business plan! From here you will clearly see if your idea is likely to succeed. Set an area aside at home and turn it into a productive working environment and most importantly make sure you can absorb your work but still give your time and love to your baby.

SME’s may not be able to take on permanent staff to increase their productivity and are looking for a more affordable alternative. This is why the market has seen an increase in demand for virtual personal assistants. Enlisting the skills of an experienced virtual PA allows small business owners the qualified resource needed, without the overheads of recruitment or training.

Virtual assistants, such as Emerald Resources Virtual PA Ltd, can work on an ad hoc, on-going or a project to project basis, providing flexibility as well as affordability to overworked organisations. Outsourcing is no longer exclusive to large corporations; SME’s can benefit from sub-contracting too, allowing skilled and experienced freelancers to drive projects forward, relieve overworked staff and add value to their businesses.

Emerald Resources was set up by Hannah Hall in 2010, with the objective to provide a wide range of affordable office support services to businesses and individuals.

After working for 6 years in Sydney for a leading publishing house, Hannah returned to the Events and Marketing Industry in England, working for a prestigious private school and as a Marketing Manager for a leading legal information provider. Now settled in Bath after having her first child, Hannah is focusing on her new venture, Emerald Resources, and is proud to offer a professional, cost effective solution for SME’s looking for office support.

In addition to PA and secretarial tasks, Emerald Resources can also provide clients with a wide range of more technical skills such as proficiency with Excel, graphic design and well-honed marketing and research services.

Emerald Resources offer a personal approach, only enlisting a few clients at a time on their books, ensuring a reliable and fully focused, freelance assistance.

With the economy set for more difficult times ahead, SME’s will soon discover that companies such as Emerald Resources Virtual PA Ltd will be the solution they need to keep their businesses moving in the right direction.

For more information about Emerald Resources Virtual PA Ltd please email enquiries@emeraldresources.co.uk  or visit www.emeraldresources.co.uk

ENDS

Please contact Hannah Hall on (0)7504 410 058 if you require any further details about this release.

A cost effective solution for SME’s looking for office support.

New business endeavours are usually related to the work an individual already carries out or a hobby that they can turn into a business. The USP (unique selling point) may be their expertise and what they personally bring to the business in terms of relevant experience and expertise.

With good research and time spent identifying your niche business and its unique selling point (USP) you will be well armed to succeed in a highly competitive marketplace.

Niche markets are usually overlooked by large companies because the market is too small. Niche markets are perfect for small, specialised businesses. These small specialised businesses can therefore charge a premium and enjoy the benefit of little or no competition.

Before committing to your idea you need to know as much as possible about your market, who the market is, what they want from your product or service and how much they are prepared to pay for it. You can then use this information to divide the market into segments. By combining these segments you’ll establish a demographical profile of your market.

If you’re still trying to identifying a niche market and potential business opportunities consider your own hobbies, skills and expertise –often the subject that you are most knowledgeable in is an ideal source of niche business opportunity. With the ease of the Internet it is easy to turn a niche hobby into a successful business and you won’t be hard pressed into finding others who share your interests.

My New Year’s resolution is usually to get in better shape, this year however I have decided to apply this action to my own business marketing plan.  

I really like this time of year where I can have time with the family and reflect on my professional and personal goals for the year ahead and even take time do a little planning, in fact I find it highly motivating and usually have a list of professional jobs I want to start before the New Year.

This year I am going to concentrate on, O2O (online to offline) and marketing techniques that combine instant media with traditional media. My goal… to drive leads from the online space, my website, to the offline space that is my office.  I also want to stop talking about social media as though it were some new, foreign cousin of marketing and fully integrate it into my strategy and tactics.

Finally I am copying the search engines and focussing on networked referral automation. As searches become more social, search engines are beginning to tell consumers who in their network has purchased the same product they’re considering, or who just wrote about a topic they’re researching. Using a social graph match with that of my own will become a standard part of my business behaviour.

If like me you want to ensure that 2011 is the year that you step into the spotlight, boost the visibility of your company, and attract highly qualified leads that are ready to invest in your products and services then let us work together.

Connect with me here and let’s swap marketing experiences and ideas.

Let 2011 be your year too.