virtual assistant – TP Javeton WebNet

If you are the owner of a small business, you probably spent most the early years dealing with most of the duties required to keep the business operating in an efficient manner. You know the kind of duties that, though mundane in nature, are very much a part of any business or entrepreneurship:

Clerical work that includes everything from answering the phone(s) to typing up contracts and balancing the books, in addition to writing checks to merchants which, ultimately, is the task that determine whether or not you get the services necessary to keep your business operational.

Those early years in business consist of some of the longest days – and some nights – a small business person or entrepreneur has to endure. You are afforded very little time for rest or leisure because, in addition to doing what you do best (generating revenue and managing the business), you had to do everything else.

As an entrepreneur you know your time and money are worth more when you are able to concentrate on what you do best and leave the rest to an assistant. The kind of assistant you can readily afford without the need to establish workman’s compensation, or withholding and payment federal and local taxes on behalf of your employees.

I’m referring to Virtual office assistants who work from their own home-based offices and are highly trained in their skill areas as well as a variety of technologies. Many of them have advanced degrees as well as years of professional experience. Not only can a virtual assistant relieve you of mundane, everyday tasks, but also in many cases, s/he can even help you grow your business.

One of the biggest benefits to hiring a virtual assistant is the ability to delegate work to people who have better skills, and can do work you don’t know how to do, don’t have time to do, or just don’t want to do.

The next big draw (when considering virtual assistants over bricks-and-mortar assistants) is that virtual assistants only clock-in and work when you need them and use their own resources. In other words, they’re not charging you to sit there and play solitaire on a computer you purchased for them.

Here Are Some Reasons that Justify the Use of Virtual Assistants:

Your VA receives calls routed to his/her home office phone and your prospective customers do not receive a voice mail. You pay only for the minutes that the VA is on the phone
You need to confirm appointments for the week. Your VA calls the appointments and notes who is confirmed and who must be rescheduled. Your VA even updates your calendar online, if you’re using a mutually accessible calendar program.
By purchasing a software program that installs a desktop electronic billing system on the VA’s computer, billing can be done off-site. The software vendor technical support trains the VA to use the program, then you email or fax information to the VA, who then does daily electronic billing or accounting services to get your billing done.
You are preparing a marketing plan and need further information. Your VA can contact possible advertising outlets on the Internet, magazines, periodicals, newspapers, etc. and acquire information on pricing, publishing dates, publishing deadlines, payment policies, etc. All information is compiled into a report for you to review.
You are preparing a direct mailing and need to verify your database. The database is sent to your VA via email attachment. Your VA telephones each name and verifies name, spelling, title and address. All corrections are made, old names are deleted, and new names are added. The corrected database is “zipped” and returned to you via email attachment.
You need a brochure, business card or flyer for your business. Your VA can design, type and print your advertising material using your own artwork or stock art. Your VA can also make the materials ready to print by a professional print shop and simply email the file to the shop for printing.

To be continued. Look for more VA skills in our next post

More time = more money?!

The old adage “Time is money” have been often repeated by many Web entrepreneurs like us, as well as numerous business people in the offline marketplace. This adage rings true in most circumstances because it seems to make sense that the more time you have which can be devoted to plying your trade, the more money you have the potential of earning.

However, in many cases, freeing up this precious time is easier said than done for a lot of entrepreneurs and for various reasons, none more prevalent than finding qualified people to work within our offices/studios/work places. And when we do find the right persons (or assistants) to work with us, we must be mindful of certain labor laws which cover these new employees; But what if there was a way to free up your time without these worries? Ever heard of a VA (Virtual Assistant)?

The pro VA alternative

A professional VA can offer all the benefits of a traditional administrative assistant, without the need to provide a “space” for him/her. Most VAs offer a wide range of services to pick and choose from; ranging from the basic, such as telephone answering; to the more advanced, such as web hosting and meeting room hire. In this way, how you benefit from a virtual office is entirely up to you and the sky is literally the limit. Just do a Google search for virtual assistant to find available VAs for your business.

According to Wikipedia, “A virtual assistant (typically abbreviated to VA, also called a virtual office assistant) is generally self-employed and provides professional administrative, technical, or creative (social) assistance to clients from a home office. Because virtual assistants are independent contractors rather than employees, clients are not responsible for any employee-related taxes, insurance or benefits (except in the context of those indirect expenses which are included in the VAs fees).”

Who does this benefit?

Virtual offices can benefit a wide range of users. This ranges from an Web-based entrepreneur working from home seeking a professional image to an international concern looking for a short-term solution to increase global business. In other words, a VA will be beneficial to your entrepreneurship if you are looking to free up some time to devote to marketing your business and leave the administrative work to a qualified someone else.

Not sure if you need a VA? If you are a solopreneur, Webpreneur or entrepreneur the only sensible solution to growth is to add to your staff. Yet, you may have a lot of reasons that prevent you from hiring an “on-site” assistant, even if you need one. Wouldn’t it be great if you had an assistant that was always there for you, when you need them? Say hello to your new virtual assistant, a proven concept that provides great solutions for small businesses and helps to give your new endeavor the manpower it needs.

Evaluating costs

Salaried workers are much more of an immediate expense. You have to provide a work space, computers, supplies, among other items; and you also have federal and state tax obligations. Don’t forget about benefits – sick leave, vacation time, holidays. Did you know the true cost of an “on-site” assistant is possibly double the cost of their yearly salary in terms of benefits and liabilities?
It’s true!

Plus the “personality issue” can be problematic when you’re sharing physical office space with someone whom you will probably spend more time with than your family! If it is not a “perfect fit” it can be a strain. Today’s Virtual Assistants are used to getting along with a wide variety of personalities due to the global nature of their businesses. They have a “built in” office manager hat which enables them to handle many difficult situations. You may find that a VA is a perfect fit for your Web business.