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Write You - How to Hire a Virtual Assistant: Your 10-Step Guide to Finding the Perfect Fit
Cash flow is your businesss lifeblood, and managing it effectively is the key to its long-term solvency. The first mistake that business owners make is thinking that receivables will always come on a regular schedule. A little optimism is always good for business, but too much can be lethal. Keep in mind that your buyers can and will miss payments. It is your responsibility as a business owner to make sure that these lapses are covered. Do not live from paycheck to paycheck. Keep a revolving emergency fund to hold you afloat during lean times.One of the main reasons for business failure is neglecting to accurately forecast future cash flow. If you dont know what your buyers owe you and what you owe others, you will not have a precise understanding of where you are now and where you will be in the next months. Make it a habit to prepare cash flow projections. Start by doing it weekly and then progress to longer periods. Seeing your cash flow on paper enables you to identify possible trouble even before it happens, and zoom in on opportunities to improve revenue.The formula for a positive cash flow is simple your must receive your receivables before you pay for your payables. Encourage your customers to pay ahead of time by offering incentives such as discounts. Follow up immediately when buyers are slow to pay, and consider changing your payment regulations (like shifting to cash on del
A clear overview of how she works with clients;
What her processes are;
What services she provides (and doesn't provide); and
What her values and expectations are for working together.
4. Personal & Professional Traits. Listen for the cues that tell you this is someone you can rely on and form an excellent business relationship with. How smartly the VA handles her business is going to directly correlate with how well she handles your work. Some things you should pay attention to include:
Does she take the lead in guiding you through the consultation?
Is she confident and articulate?
Does she inspire feelings of trust?
Do you
In other words, are you someone who will easily find new work if and when the need arises?Recruiters often talk about whether or not a job searcher is placeable. This distinction determines whether or not a recruiter will work with you to help you find a new job.A placeable job candidate is a person who a recruiter can place with one of their clients and as a result, get paid. This job candidate has great skills, has a great background and generally has the traits that a recruiter can get paid to place within a company.Recruiters look for the most placeable candidate when they are trying to fill a position. They look for the most desirable candidate who will get a job offer and take the job.A non-placeable candidate is one that recruiters wont work with because they are not someone that companies will generally pay a recruiter to find.Recruiters get paid to place candidates, therefore we look for placeable candidates.Quite frankly, some job searchers wont get placed by a recruiter because companies simply wont pay for every candidate put in front of them.For a company to pay a recruiter to hire a particular person, this person had better be exceptional in one way or another and had better have above average skills.If you are the type of person who can easily be found on an Internet job board or if your skills and experience are pretty well-suppl
These days, outsourcing your administrative work to a Virtual Assistant (or VA) makes it very easy to get just the amount of support you need without the expense of costly in-house staff. But how do you find a highly skilled, truly qualified Virtual Assistant? Below are some practical points to consider and questions to ask as you go about the selection process.
1. Website. Since Virtual Assistants operate virtually, its important they have an online presence. A website can yield critical clues as to the VA's competence and professionalism. As you look through the website, ask yourself:
Does it present a polished, credible business image?
Is there an abundance of informative content?
Is the concept clearly explained?
Is it organized well and easy to navigate?
Is it well-written and coherent?
Is there a solid command of grammar, spelling and punctuation?
If the VA's site is littered with misspelling, improperly structured sentencing and incorrect punctuation, dont expect that she is going to provide you with any greater skill or attention to detail should you decide to work with her.
And if it looks like she put little thought, time or money into presenting her business image, or had her 14 year old kid brother throw it together one Sunday, chances are she isn't serious about her business, and is not going to put any more care into the work she does for you.
2. Consultation. You naturally want to find a Virtual Assistant you can work with well, and whose personality and style is compatible with yours. You also want to gain some insight into whether this is a person offering the skills, service and expertise you need.
Once you find a site that instills confidence, have a conversation with that Virtual Assistant. Most Virtual Assistants offer a complimentary consultation, and all it takes is a simple email or phone call to schedule one. In making initial contact, some things to note include:
Does she respond to your inquiries in a timely manner?
Does she answer the phone professionally?
Are there kids and noise in the background?
Is she on time for the call?
Does she seem prepared or unexpectedly flustered?
Does she follow-through exactly as promised?
3. Finesse. How well the Virtual Assistant guides you through the consultation process can tell you a lot about what it will be like to work with her. Not only do you want a Virtual Assistant who can provide superior quality work, but you also want someone who demonstrates excellent business sense, especially since she will be instrumental in helping you in your business.
During the consultation, some things the Virtual Assistant should cover with you include:
A clear overview of how she works with clients;
What her processes are;
What services she provides (and doesn't provide); and
What her values and expectations are for working together.
4. Personal & Professional Traits. Listen for the cues that tell you this is someone you can rely on and form an excellent business relationship with. How smartly the VA handles her business is going to directly correlate with how well she handles your work. Some things you should pay attention to include:
Does she take the lead in guiding you through the consultation?
Is she confident and articulate?
Does she inspire feelings of trust?
Do you
Freelance graphic designers are the ones who are their own boss and can work from anywhere. They dont have any fixed office hours. They dont have to follow set rules, nor is there any limit to their earning potential. To become a successful graphic designer, pick a name that stands out from the lot. Avoid using the word freelance in your name, and get your name registered to prevent others from using it.Make sure you have a dedicated place to work from. Office space is okay, but most freelance graphic designers work from home. If you work from home, try to get a room dedicated to your business, without the interference of kids. Keep the place clean and organized. Have enough room for a large desk, a filing cabinet, and a phone. Doing freelance graphic designing without having your own website is suicide. Pick a reliable website host, upload the site, and keep the site updated to convey professionalism in your work. Create a catchy and short domain name, and get it registered. Domain names only cost about $10 a year, depending on where you look.As a freelance graphic designer, you are responsible for graphic designing, along with accounting, bookkeeping, janitorial duties, and marketing. It is you who have to answer phone calls and make appointments. You have to be very assertive to get your supplies to you on time. You can never be a person who can be pushed around. Act and look like a pro
Does it present a polished, credible business image?
Is there an abundance of informative content?
Is the concept clearly explained?
Is it organized well and easy to navigate?
Is it well-written and coherent?
Is there a solid command of grammar, spelling and punctuation?
If the VA's site is littered with misspelling, improperly structured sentencing and incorrect punctuation, dont expect that she is going to provide you with any greater skill or attention to detail should you decide to work with her.
And if it looks like she put little thought, time or money into presenting her business image, or had her 14 year old kid brother throw it together one Sunday, chances are she isn't serious about her business, and is not going to put any more care into the work she does for you.
2. Consultation. You naturally want to find a Virtual Assistant you can work with well, and whose personality and style is compatible with yours. You also want to gain some insight into whether this is a person offering the skills, service and expertise you need.
Once you find a site that instills confidence, have a conversation with that Virtual Assistant. Most Virtual Assistants offer a complimentary consultation, and all it takes is a simple email or phone call to schedule one. In making initial contact, some things to note include:
Does she respond to your inquiries in a timely manner?
Does she answer the phone professionally?
Are there kids and noise in the background?
Is she on time for the call?
Does she seem prepared or unexpectedly flustered?
Does she follow-through exactly as promised?
3. Finesse. How well the Virtual Assistant guides you through the consultation process can tell you a lot about what it will be like to work with her. Not only do you want a Virtual Assistant who can provide superior quality work, but you also want someone who demonstrates excellent business sense, especially since she will be instrumental in helping you in your business.
During the consultation, some things the Virtual Assistant should cover with you include:
A clear overview of how she works with clients;
What her processes are;
What services she provides (and doesn't provide); and
What her values and expectations are for working together.
4. Personal & Professional Traits. Listen for the cues that tell you this is someone you can rely on and form an excellent business relationship with. How smartly the VA handles her business is going to directly correlate with how well she handles your work. Some things you should pay attention to include:
Does she take the lead in guiding you through the consultation?
Is she confident and articulate?
Does she inspire feelings of trust?
Do you
Business ethics maintained as a high standard in your business 100% of the time should not be an option, it should be your rule, a rule never to be broken!Seems simple enough right? Then do it! Always!OK, here is the thing; those of us that choose to operate with business ethics 100% of the time, never have too much to worry about. If you are treating others the way you wish to be treated in business, then more times than not, you will be dealing with people that share the same principals.This is as easy as remembering the truth; you always remember the truth, it is hard to remember a lie unless you are well practiced at it. So if this is you, please do not call me! I was taught long ago that if you want to know the secret to building a long term and strong business, it has to be done with ethics.So I would like to share with you 5 Principals of Success with the standard practice of business ethics:1) You are who you do business with: If the person you are considering doing business with, or the person you are already doing business with is openly or seemingly un-ethical, then do not do business with them. You are or will be compromising the future of your business if you go down this slippery slope.2) Be fair and honest in your dealings: Ensuring that you always give a fair price and always honestly represent yourself, then down the road it will
2. Consultation. You naturally want to find a Virtual Assistant you can work with well, and whose personality and style is compatible with yours. You also want to gain some insight into whether this is a person offering the skills, service and expertise you need.
Once you find a site that instills confidence, have a conversation with that Virtual Assistant. Most Virtual Assistants offer a complimentary consultation, and all it takes is a simple email or phone call to schedule one. In making initial contact, some things to note include:
Does she respond to your inquiries in a timely manner?
Does she answer the phone professionally?
Are there kids and noise in the background?
Is she on time for the call?
Does she seem prepared or unexpectedly flustered?
Does she follow-through exactly as promised?
3. Finesse. How well the Virtual Assistant guides you through the consultation process can tell you a lot about what it will be like to work with her. Not only do you want a Virtual Assistant who can provide superior quality work, but you also want someone who demonstrates excellent business sense, especially since she will be instrumental in helping you in your business.
During the consultation, some things the Virtual Assistant should cover with you include:
A clear overview of how she works with clients;
What her processes are;
What services she provides (and doesn't provide); and
What her values and expectations are for working together.
4. Personal & Professional Traits. Listen for the cues that tell you this is someone you can rely on and form an excellent business relationship with. How smartly the VA handles her business is going to directly correlate with how well she handles your work. Some things you should pay attention to include:
Does she take the lead in guiding you through the consultation?
Is she confident and articulate?
Does she inspire feelings of trust?
Do you
Every business owner knows without their customers they do not have a business. Finding customers is only the first step in running a business. Keeping them for the long haul is the most important thing a business needs to do.Customers want to buy their goods and services from businesses in tune with their needs, wants and desires. They want to be taken care of and sold the best possible products for a reasonable price. What they do not want is to deal with a business that does not seem to have those thoughts in mind. How can keep your customers happy, and still make a profit?1. Do not forget your current customers when you offer promotions and special offers. While you do want to bring in new customers, giving your current customers the same promotions is a surefire way to keep them happy.2. Treat your current customers with the same curtsey and honesty you give to new customers. A customer who feels you are not treating them fairly will not be a customer for long.3. Do not promise something you cannot keep. Nothing annoys a customer more than to have a business tell them they can deliver on a certain date only to have the shipment days or even weeks late.4. Get to know your customers. Everyone likes to be remembered, even your customers. Keeping track of birthdays and anniversaries are a few ways you can make your customers feel more like they are part of the family, t
Does she respond to your inquiries in a timely manner?
Does she answer the phone professionally?
Are there kids and noise in the background?
Is she on time for the call?
Does she seem prepared or unexpectedly flustered?
Does she follow-through exactly as promised?
3. Finesse. How well the Virtual Assistant guides you through the consultation process can tell you a lot about what it will be like to work with her. Not only do you want a Virtual Assistant who can provide superior quality work, but you also want someone who demonstrates excellent business sense, especially since she will be instrumental in helping you in your business.
During the consultation, some things the Virtual Assistant should cover with you include:
A clear overview of how she works with clients;
What her processes are;
What services she provides (and doesn't provide); and
What her values and expectations are for working together.
4. Personal & Professional Traits. Listen for the cues that tell you this is someone you can rely on and form an excellent business relationship with. How smartly the VA handles her business is going to directly correlate with how well she handles your work. Some things you should pay attention to include:
Does she take the lead in guiding you through the consultation?
Is she confident and articulate?
Does she inspire feelings of trust?
Do you
Are you lost in the wilderness when it comes to choosing a career? Once, we knew the way. As children, we played at different roles, but some became our favorites. Those favorites hinted at our gifts. They pointed the way to our exciting futures as entrepreneurs, dancers or astronauts. We did what was fun, and, in the process, we began to find and follow our paths.As young adults, however, our paths began to fade under thickets of obstacles: other people's expectations, poor self-esteem and /or lack of faith. But, the good news is that, for each of us, the path is still out there. A cover of tangled weeds may hide its course, but it's still there.A few tracking lessons can put you back in the hunt. An expert tracker can follow a trail that's been cold for days, months, or even years. Trackers like this can track over any terrain, under all kinds of weather, and even in the dark of night. Tracking, however, is not just about following a set of prints in the dirt.The physical skill of observation constitutes only about 10% of what it takes to be a good tracker. The other 90% consists of awareness and intuition.Here's how you can apply tracking techniques to your career hunt.OBSERVATIONThe first step a would-be tracker takes is to develop his or her powers of observation to a razor-sharp edge. Called the "eye of the tracker," it's the ability to discern a large amoun
A clear overview of how she works with clients;
What her processes are;
What services she provides (and doesn't provide); and
What her values and expectations are for working together.
4. Personal & Professional Traits. Listen for the cues that tell you this is someone you can rely on and form an excellent business relationship with. How smartly the VA handles her business is going to directly correlate with how well she handles your work. Some things you should pay attention to include:
Does she take the lead in guiding you through the consultation?
Is she confident and articulate?
Does she inspire feelings of trust?
Do you feel a good connection?
Does she interrupt often or listen carefully when you speak?
Does she exhibit interest and curiosity about your business?
Does she ask smart, purposeful questions?
5. Experience. Understand that the single-most important qualification of a Virtual Assistant is extensive administrative experience. From this level of experience, she is expected to possess the superior skills, training and business knowledge that are the hallmark of a truly qualified Virtual Assistant.
However, this is an unregulated industry, and while the veterans of us work to promote and maintain high standards, the Internet has nonetheless attracted a certain segment of individuals who have little to no qualifications or only entry-level skill sets that do not equip them to meet your very real and important business needs. Asking the prospective Virtual Assistant some of these questions will help you discern the difference:
What was your experience prior to opening your Virtual Assistant practice?
What positions have you held?
How many years administrative experience do you have?
How would you rate your skill level (you might ask this in reference to certain skills or software competencies relative to the services you need)?
How would you characterize your level of understanding with regard to business principles and operations?
Look for a Virtual Assistant who has worked in upper-level positions such as administrative assistant, executive assistant, office manager, legal secretary, legal assistant, paralegal, supervisor, manager, etc. Virtual Assistants whose only experience was in receptionist or clerical roles are not commonly going to have high-level skills and competencies.
Keep in mind that Virtual Assistants are independent professionals, not employees. Just as you would not ask an accountant, attorney or any other service professional for their resume, it is inappropriate to ask a Virtual Assistant for theirs, and the request would be considered ill-mannered. However, they should be prepared to discuss in a consultation with you their skill levels and qualifications as described above.
6. Training & Certification. The highest form of qualification, and what Virtual Assistants are expected to have before entering the profession, is at least five years upper-level administrative experience. Our training ground is the real (non-virtual) business world. If you are a business owner needing competent support from someone who can hit the ground running and take the reins as your administrative expert, you should expect no less.
Don't put too much stock in certification. Virtual Assistance does have a few legitimate professional associations and training programs, but these are intended for business--not skills--training. Where certifications are offered, they can be somewhat subjective and misleading, and many of the veteran Virtual Assistants who
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