Virtual Assistant Basics- What is a VA?
This is the first in a series of articles that explain everything you want to know about becoming a Virtual Assistant. In future articles I will be discussing topics such as certification, equipment, specializing and what skills are necessary to be a great VA. So Let’s get started-
You probably already know that VA stands for Virtual Assistant - someone that remotely assists another business person from a remote location. VAs offer their professional expertise to help other professionals -VAs can work part time and full time and not all VAs are the same, everyone offers their own unique abilities and talents.
Assisting can be as simple as answering a help email or doing transcription to more complex skills like setting up a Shopping Cart or managing an Affiliate Program
For the client, it is a great deal. Basically, VAs relieve the person they work for of time consuming duties so they can focus on large goals. And they do this all remotely using their own equipment and software. You just pay the VA for the hours they work for you. That is much better than having a regular employee as you don’t need to pay for their vacation, sick days, health insurance, place to work or training. And, if the relationship between you and your VA does not work out there is not usually any type of contract between you and you can move on to a VA that may work out better.
For VAs the deal is just as good. We get to work where and when we want to. If we can concentrate enough to do our work well with the kids running circles around us who is to tell us we can’t. If we need to take off some days we can and once you get to a certain place in your business you can outsource to other VAs and go on vacation for weeks. It is the perfect work at home job.
Look for my next article in this series next week called ” Who would Benefit from Using a Virtual Assistant.”