| Virtual Assistants (VA) are very often savvy women | | | | - Organizational skills |
| and men who use their highly developed skills, training, | | | | It really doesn't matter what your background. By using |
| and experience to assist other businesses virtually. | | | | your skills and knowledge to assist your clients with |
| Smart business people wishing to reduce business | | | | their businesses you can develop your own special |
| costs and make better use of their own time are hiring | | | | niche as a Virtual Assistant. |
| these new entrepreneurs and utilizing their professional | | | | Training and Certification |
| expertise. By taking advantage of modern technology | | | | There are some excellent courses and programs that |
| VA's perform many tasks using the internet and email, | | | | will assist anyone who is interested in starting their own |
| fax, telephone and courier services all from their own | | | | Virtual Assistant Business. Tawyna Sutherland, founder |
| home offices. | | | | of Virtual Assistant Networking Association has |
| Just what services can you provide as a VA? | | | | developed an excellent program entitled Virtual |
| Actually the list of what VA's can't provide is much | | | | Business Startup System (VBSS) which provides all of |
| shorter than what they can do for their clients. One | | | | the tools and resources needed to start a Virtual |
| very successful VA boasts that she can't make her | | | | Business within 30 days. Another excellent resource |
| clients coffee but can arrange to have it delivered to | | | | for interactive and self guided courses on social media |
| them every morning. Nothing is impossible. Many take | | | | marketing, blogging and event planning is Vaclassroom. |
| care of their client's daily administrative needs such as | | | | Where to find clients? |
| correspondence, email management, answering | | | | The client list is just as long as the list of those who |
| inbound phone calls, book keeping and client follow-up. | | | | are qualified to become Virtual Assistants. Clients can |
| The list is endless ~ it just takes a little imagination and | | | | be found anywhere! A short list of potential VA clients |
| creativity. There are VA's who design web sites, logos, | | | | is only limited by the imagination: |
| stationery, forms, newsletters and power point | | | | - Realtors |
| presentations. Remember all of this is done from the | | | | - Lawyers |
| comfort of their home office. Each has their own | | | | - Authors |
| unique capabilities and talents and depending upon how | | | | - Speakers and coaches |
| they market themselves is how successful they will | | | | - Small business owners |
| be. | | | | - Accountants |
| What does it take to become a Virtual Assistant? | | | | - Insurance Agents |
| A few of the suggested skills and experience from a | | | | Use skills and experience to become self employed. |
| potentially unlimited list are: | | | | Why work long hours for low pay when you are more |
| - Highly skilled in computers | | | | than qualified to use those same skills to operate your |
| - Secretarial or administrative experience | | | | own successful business. Use your skills and |
| - Legal or paralegal experience | | | | professional experience to start your own business as |
| - Medical background | | | | a successful Virtual Assistant who offers professional |
| - Real estate knowledge or experience | | | | expertise to other professionals. By working from |
| - Bookkeeping knowledge and experience | | | | home as a private contractor you determine who you |
| - Insurance background | | | | take on as clients, your rate of pay, hours of work and |
| - A strong work ethic along with excellent customer | | | | type of work you will do. Do not limit yourself to being |
| service skills | | | | an employee if its' self employment you would rather |
| - A strong attention to detail | | | | have. Become a successful Virtual Assistant since it is |
| - Strong communication skills | | | | definitely achievable. |