Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Virtual Assistant?
A virtual assistant, or VA, is a small business owner who offers many different services in the administrative, technical, or creative areas. A VA has spent a lot of time developing expertise in their chosen area of specialization. Services are provided remotely and communication is done via email, phone, fax, mail, or instant messaging. Work product is delivered either electronically or via US mail or overnight delivery.
back to topHow can a Virtual Assistant help my business?
In any way you can think of!
A VA can help you with administrative tasks (e.g., proofreading a proposal, preparing documents, bulk mailings), technical tasks (e.g., website development), or creative tasks (e.g., designing marketing materials, desktop publishing). Each VA offers different services so it is important that you choose someone who has expertise in the type of work you need to have done.
back to topWhat type of businesses do you work with?
We work with any business that wants to cut overhead costs, increase productivity, and gain more time in each day to focus on their core business objectives.
back to topHow does the "virtual" process work?
The important thing is good communication between client and VA. We start by discussing what work you need to have done and how you prefer to communicate - email, phone, instant messaging, etc. You will be given periodic updates to keep you informed about the status of the work we are doing for you.
From your end, we ask that you provide timely communication of any changes to your work needs, such as changed deadlines. Once the work is completed, we would send it to you in whatever way you choose, in either electronic format or hard copy.
back to topHow do I choose a Virtual Assistant?
The first step is to decide what work you need assistance with. From there, you can determine what type of services you are looking for. You should also determine your other requirements, such as an estimate of the number of hours of help you will need per day, per week, or per month. Then, you should do some online research to find VAs who provide those services. (A good place to start is on the International Virtual Assistants Association website, www.ivaa.org.)
Select two or three VAs who specialize in the type of work you need to have done and contact them to schedule a phone interview. Once you've selected someone, a good way to see if your styles work well together is to give the VA a small project and see if the work is completed to your satisfaction.
back to topCouldn't I just use a temporary employee?
You could but you would likely not get the same level of professionalism, collaboration, and dedication that you would with a VA. A temporary employee may be available one day or one week but the next time you need them, they may no longer be available, causing you to have to start all over again with someone new. A VA is there when you need them and has an interest in making sure you succeed.
back to topDo I need special equipment or software?
You will just need a computer with an internet connection.
back to topDo I need to sign a contract?
Yes, we ask that our clients sign a contract. It provides protection for both parties. A copy of our standard contract is available upon request.
back to topWhat type of software do you use?
The basic software programs we use are:
- Microsoft Office - Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Publisher, Outlook
- Adobe Products - Acrobat, InDesign, Photoshop
We also work with AutoCAD and Autodesk Revit. If you need assistance with work using other software or if you have proprietary software, please discuss it with us. We can make arrangements to get the other software or to get trained on your proprietary software.