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Podcast & Blog Hopping VA Traverses Detour to Arrive at Niche Partners Stop

Sunday, May 13th, 2007

Hi Janet, Sorry I’m a little late, but cyber traffic was hectic and I had to take a detour before arriving. I notice your business is creating passive income for clients, which is a business growth process I am very interested in. After we conclude today’s chat about the virtual assistant industry, let’s set aside time to discuss this interesting method of developing continuous streams of income. In the meantime, I’m ready for your questions – so, let’s begin.

1. What exactly is a VA?

As defined by the Alliance for Virtual Businesses, the online information portal to the Virtual Assistant industry, Virtual Assistants (VAs) are independent entrepreneurs providing long-term, collaborative, professional administrative, creative, managerial, technical, business office and/or personal support services for clients. From their home offices, VAs use the most advanced means of communication, and the newest and most efficient and time saving office products and work delivery, regardless of geographic boundaries.

2. Many of my customers either are setting up an Internet marketing business or are using Internet marketing in their existing small business. How can a VA help them to grow their business?

By forming long-term, collaborative relationships with Virtual Assistants, the VA will become familiar with the client’s business operations and provide a variety of support services. VAs can assume nonbillable yet time consuming responsibilities such as calendar management and scheduling trips, planning meetings, researching the Internet for information, tracking expenses, paying bills and taxes, balancing the books, maintaining files, screening calls, and answering e-mails. In relationship to internet marketing, VAs may assume administrative and internet-based services such as: Internet research of online article submission sites Media release distribution Compilation of resource information Transcribing and editing of recorded teleseminars Autoresponders management Drafting and distribution of ezine Product fulfillment services Design and layout of ebooks Editing and posting of podcasts and submission to RSS feeds, etc. Blog updates and maintenanceAs described above, a VA can support clients by assuming tasks that consume many potentially profit-generating hours. In addition, VAs also often introduce best office practices that improve office operations efficiency. By delegating these tasks to a VA, the client gains additional time to concentrate on income-generating responsibilities such as networking, soliciting and servicing clients, developing new products and services, etc., all of which may result in positive financial outcomes and business growth.

Why would I use a VA instead of employing someone in my office?

There are many tangible and nontangible reasons to develop a contractual relationship with a VA instead of employing full or part-time staff, including:· Reduction or elimination of personnel-related expenses. Virtual Assistants are independent contractors, entrepreneurs responsible for paying their own benefits, insurance, taxes, etc.· Elimination of equipment and furniture-related expenses. A VA’s works from a fully-functional, furnished office, and provides her own equipment, technologies, software, etc. (Note: If a client requests that the VA purchase and learn a specific software that is not in her current arsenal, the client may be responsible for costs associated with its purchase and training). · Only pay for time on task. VAs are paid only for time on task and utilize a time tracking software that records duration and billing information associated with the assignment. As a result, the client is not charged for downtime, breaks, lunch, leaving the office when emergencies occur, etc. · Work with Internet-savvy professionals. Virtual Assistants are technology experts and proficient in performing Internet and Web-associated duties. In-house staff may be inadequately trained, as well as lack the knowledge and experience to perform internet-based assignments in a timely and cost-savings manner.· Clients gain extra hours. By retaining the services of a VA, clients obtain more hours to concentrate on perform income-generating responsibilities that fuel their passion.A Virtual Solution for Business Growth, Stability and Profitability is a white paper outlining how business owners increase profitability and save time and money by outsourcing work to a Virtual Assistant. The report is especially beneficial for entrepreneurs seeking relief from overwhelmed, and can use fresh insight into projects, an extra pair of administrative hands or an expert in Internet-based technologies. It is a blueprint to help business owners get back on track, achieve goals and rejuvenate their passion. Feel free to download this white paper for a comprehensive description of how to develop a successful and profitable relationship with Virtual Assistant.

How do I communicate with a VA? Isn’t it difficult to get things done if we don’t meet face-to-face?

Oh, it was difficult many, many years ago, but with today’s easily adaptable and affordable technologies it is almost effortless to communicate with a Virtual Assistant. Below is a short list, inclusive of simple and more advanced ways to communicate with a VA.

Email
Instant messaging
Telephone
VoIP (Vonage, Skype, etc.)
White boarding
Utilizing shared space applications
Accessing online meeting rooms, forums, list servs
File transfer protocol (ftp)

How do I find a good VA?

To assist individuals in their efforts to locate and develop partnering relationships with virtual assistants, the Alliance for Virtual Businesses, the industry’s information portal has compiled a thorough list of VA organizations that represent thousands of Virtual Assistants, worldwide. In addition, it also showcases individual VAs in its Meet VAs Directory. Feel free to use these resources to locate exceptional virtual assistants for developing partnering relationships.

I want a VA that keeps up to date with the latest technology and trends so my business can always be in the lead. Is there a community of VAs and a way for Vas to keep up-to-date and educated?

Absolutely! Virtual Assistants are known to be “life learners”. Since industry members utilize internet-based technologies as a part of our daily operations, we must stay abreast of the latest trends and technologies. In addition, to life learning, there are several VA training and certification programs offering a wide range of education and service enhancing options to choose from.

Tell me about the virtual conference (makes sense that Virtual assistants should have a virtual conference doesn’t it?). Who should take part and what are the benefits of joining in?

The 2^nd annual Online International Virtual Assistants Convention (OIVAC) will be held Thursday, May 17-Saturday, May 19, 2007 (New York). At this convention, virtual assistants and other business owners from around the world attend seminars, workshops, network, and visit exhibit halls, all from the comfort of home via their desktop or laptop computer. Even though the convention is a virtual assistant event, it presents an excellent training and networking opportunity for business owners across all industries. Imagine attending an international convention without the added overhead of travel, food, lodging, being away from business and family, etc. In addition, participants, using VoIP or text chat technology, interact with speakers; ask questions and network with other attendees. The keynote presenter is Fran Capo, a world record holder, comedienne, keynote speaker and writer specializing in humor, publicity and motivation. In addition, over the 3 days, 27 presenters, including world-renowned experts will conduct seminars, including:

Paul and Sarah Edwards - Working from Home, What You Can Do to Avoid Getting Squeezed out of the Middle Class
Robyn Henderson - Network or Perish: How to Double Your Customer Base Through Effective Networking
Robert Middleton - Marketing Your VA Services on the Web
Michael Russer - How to Explode the Size of Your Business Without Breaking a Sweat!
Donna Messer - The Power of Positive Linking
Beverly Mahone - Who are You and Why Should the Media Care?

Registration closes May 15^th (New York), so join us for business growth training, workshops, networking and exhibits. Visit the OIVAC for more details. Well Janet, I’m sorry to say I have to leave and hop back to the US. In the meantime, I invite readers to journey over to OIVAC and join us at the convention. For those of you who enjoy solving puzzles, we’re conducting a scrambled phrase puzzle game in conjunction with this podcast and blog hopping tour. It’s not too late to join the fun. Each day, I leave a new clue for travelers. Yesterday’s clue was dropped at Karen McGreevey’s Konceptuality site and tomorrow I’m visiting Patty Dost of Time Is Of The Es~Cents.com. Your clue (#41) is: eromopt.

Alliance for Virtual Businesses and OIVAC, and president of The 24 Hour Secretary an administrative, secretarial and internet-based marketing support services company. She is the 2006 recipient of the Thomas Leonard International Virtual Assistant of Distinction Award and co-founder of Virtual Business University an e-learning environment for entrepreneurs ready to step towards their greatness.

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