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OCTOBER 5, 2009
ISSN 1947-105X | Vol. 3, No. 40
Don't forget to add "newsletter@virtualassistantnetworking.com"
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WORKING WITH VIRTUAL ASSISTANTS ISSUE
In This Issue:
A Note from Danielle...
You know, sometimes you just gotta lay your cards on the table and tell
it like it is. This week, I have a bit of straight talk for business owners
who want to truly reap the rewards of working with a Virtual Assistant.
Yours in goodness and success :)
 Danielle
Keister
Founder & Virtual Assistant Expert
Virtual Assistance Chamber of Commerce
This
week I'm grateful for...
 Lisa
Humphries of Freelance PA. Lisa was one of the Virtual
Assistants on my crack editing team and she totally rocks! Her help and
insights were invaluable in getting my new book up to snuff. Thanks, Lisa!
We Love Hearing From You!
 “After
attending the teleseminar you hosted with Jan King a few months ago, I
decided to take action and write my first article. It was accepted last
week and I now proudly highlight it on my business website. THANK YOU
so much for offering this teleseminar. I would never have done this if
it wasn’t for Jan’s presentation. Thank you again and please
continue to offer these invaluable teleseminars.”
— Sandy
Kowalec of Admin Solutions by SLK.
How did YOU like this issue or a past teleseminar?
Was it insightful, helpful or informative? Have topic ideas you'd like
to see covered in the future? Let us know!
-
FEATURE ARTICLE -
Continuity is the Name of the Game
 Virtual
Assistance is all about continuity, where ongoing administrative support
is the name of the game ("ongoing" being the operative word
here). Administration isn't a project. It's not something that is done
once and presto! you're done. It is a collective group of ongoing tasks,
functions and roles that keep your business organized and running smoothly.
This is precisely what separates Virtual Assistance from piecemeal secretarial
services.
Said another way, Virtual Assistance is a relationship.
In order for it to work—indeed, for the magic to happen—it
requires the active participation of both client and Virtual Assistant.
This means you, as the business owner, are a very integral part of the
equation. If you are absent from the relationship, it won't work and you
will end up dissatisfied. Following are three critical ingredients you
must bring to the table to ensure you get to experience the most fruitful
and rewarding aspects of working with a Virtual Assistant:
- Show up regularly. Your participation is needed.
A Virtual Assistant can not care more about your business than you do.
If you disappear on your Virtual Assistant for long periods of time,
and then all of a sudden show up on her doorstep with a flurry of requests...
well, that just isn't going to work. A Virtual Assistant has other clients
to serve who are just as important as you. Don't expect her to disregard
her previously scheduled commitments. You'll have to wait your turn.
- No dumping. I'm not going to beat around the bush
here--Virtual Assistance is not about dumping on your Virtual Assistant
and then walking away, leaving her with the mess to sort out. You will
be required to follow some sort of process or procedure for submitting
work so that it can be managed effectively and accomplished in the most
timely manner possible.
- Be respectful. A Virtual Assistant is not your hired
help. She is an administrative expert and collaborative partner. Business
owners who can't extend common courtesy and mutual respect are not a
good fit for working with a Virtual Assistant. You show your respect
by:
- Paying on time without any hassles;
- Making your meetings with your VA a priority, showing
up prepared, and canceling with appropriate (not last second) notice
when you can't;
- Answering her questions and returning your feedback
and input in a timely manner; and
- Observing the policies and procedures she has in place
that allow her to give great customer service to her clients (all
of them, not just you) and make her business (and yours) run smoothly.
RESOURCE: For more tips on creating
a successful relationship with a Virtual Assistant, be sure and check
out the VACOC's Client's
Guide to Virtual Assistants.
 About
the Author: Danielle Keister is an author, business advisor and
innovator in the Virtual Assistant profession. Through her organization,
the Virtual
Assistance Chamber of Commerce, she is passionate about helping
Virtual Assistants grow stronger, more financially successful practices
that lead them to greater personal happiness, freedom and client satisfaction.
An administrative professional of 20+ years and veteran Virtual Assistant
of 12+ years, her no-nonsense approach to business development has gained
her recognition as one of the leaders in the field.
© Copyright 2009, The
Portable Business™. All U.S. and International rights
reserved. You may print this article for personal use or republish it
online only if it is left unaltered and used in its entirety, including
bylines, links, copyright notice, resource and author information. Contact
the author for any other permission.
-
VACOC NEWS -
Take the 2009 Annual Virtual Assistant Industry Survey
UPDATE 10/5/09: 434 participants
so far—almost at the halfway mark! We're shooting for 1,000 so if
you are a VA, be sure and take the survey and keep those promotions going.
They really, really help. And if you are a client, please forward this
email to your Virtual Assistant. :)
Each year, the VACOC conducts an industry-wide survey with the purpose
of taking a representative, group snap-shot of those who are in the business
of providing ongoing administrative support. Virtual Assistants
who participate get the survey results report absolutely free!
Our goal this year is 1,000 participants. Judging from past years' surveys,
the report will be about 75-100 pages chockful of useful, fascinating,
eye-opening data. So don't delay!
Take
the survey >>
- VACOC NEWS -
Join the VACOC Virtual Assistant Ethics Pledge
 Did
you know the VACOC offers Virtual Assistants the most highly used and
respected ethics pledge in the industry? Lots of VAs use our Virtual Assistant
Ethics Pledge on their websites to demonstrate to clients their commitment
to integrity and excellence in business. If you are a Virtual Assistant
reading this ezine, you can, too!
It doesn't cost a dime--just your promise to honor and abide by these
ideals. Simply place the badge on your website and you're good to go!
The coding includes a link that opens the full Ethics Pledge in a new
window so you don't have to type everything out yourself. How convenient
is that?
Click
here to get your badge today!
- VACOC NEWS -
New Service for Clients: Quickie Gigs™
 The
VACOC has a new service for clients we call Quickie Gigs™.
Here's the idea:
The core business of a Virtual Assistant is providing one-on-one, ongoing
administrative support to clients they work with in long-term, continuous
relationship. We always encourage clients to go that route because it's
where you are going to reap the most rewards in terms of value, continuity
and cost-effectiveness. However, if you have not yet found your right
Virtual Assistant or you are between Virtual Assistants, but still have
occasional tasks and projects you'd like completed, we can help you out!
Quickie Gigs™ is for simple, straightforward administrative
tasks and projects that can be completed and turned-around in a day or
so (24 to 48 hours) with no fuss, no muss. All you do is fill out our
online form with the project specs and once the preliminary account set-up
is completed, we'll get to work right away. Simple as that! For
more information, be sure and check
out our Quickie Gigs™ page.
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SCRATCHING YOUR HEAD? Have
you been wondering what this administrative solution called Virtual Assistance
is all about? Not to worry! The Virtual Assistance Chamber of Commerce
has written an online guide to answer all your questions: The
Client's Guide to Virtual Assistants.
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