| By :
Nick Clipton
Copyright (c) 2010 Nick Clipton First, let us define virtual assistant. Virtual assistance is a relatively new trend in the business world and it has been welcomed as a much needed service to countless small businesses and people who do not want the traditional office setting or want to veer away from this setting for one reason or another. So what is a virtual assistant? This is a person or a group who has set up a business serving as secretary, bookkeeper, researcher, customer service care, events planner, web designer, etc to businesses and working with these businesses through fax, phone or the internet. Virtual assistance is a great boon to small businesses who do not want the added expense of employees or businesses that do not have enough work to make hiring employees a feasible option or for people who like to work alone. So what would a business owner look for when he is considering using a virtual assistant? - First, can the virtual assistant be relied upon to meet deadlines, understand the requirements needed, and deliver quality work? - Second, would the virtual assistant be able to give suggestions and recommendations on systems that could improve your workflow and cut your costs? - Third, are their fees competitive? - Fourth, since all communication with them will be through the virtual world meaning fax, phone and the internet, is their communication system reliable and not likely to go on the blink especially during critical moments? - Fifth, have you checked on their references and have gotten nothing but praises for them? - Sixth, have you checked on their background and made sure they are legitimate and not some fly by night, backroom operation trying to pry business secrets out of you for their own gain? If you have answered yes to all the above questions then you have found yourself a good virtual assistant. It would be wise however to review your expectations from a virtual assistant. You will be working with a consultant who will be charging you a fee which they have pegged as commensurate to the work they will be doing for you and who, more likely than not, would be serving other clients as well, aside from you and who have their own business procedures, systems and policies that you will have to agree on. This is actually additional proof that you have gotten yourself a good virtual assistant if they make this clear to you upfront as this shows their business is a well thought-out, organized and no-nonsense operation.
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