Virtual Assistance is the services provided by an online assistant, sitting at a remote location, to grow and run your business smoothly. Virtual Assistants (VAs) are entrepreneurs who provide professional, administrative, technical or creative (social) assistance to their clients from their home or office. They work from their own facility and use their own equipment for providing services and assistance to entrepreneurs, businesses and executives. They are usually experienced professionals who have previously worked as executive assistant, office manager/supervisor, secretary, legal assistant, legal secretary etc.
Why VAs are getting so popular?
Mainly for two reasons One, your virtual assistant can handle the administrative functions of your business, creating more time for you to focus on other goals like making strategic decisions for your business or spending more time with your family. Two, it provides you with professional assistance on demand and you only pay for the actual time spent on the task. Outsourcing your administrative task to good companies providing virtual assistance leaves you with more time to focus on the priorities for your business. Administrative tasks like Internet research, e-mail management, meeting planning, and travel arrangements, can be managed conveniently.
Some other reasons of its increasing popularity are -
Assistance on demand According to your business needs, you may not require a full time or even a part time employee but some occasional or limited secretarial support. In such situation, a virtual assistant works as a remote secretary and provides perfect solution.
You get outsourcing benefits - When you hire a VA you get all the benefits of outsourcing i.e. no employer liabilities, tax and benefits issues, coupled with the loyalty and steadiness of a company executive PA.
You pay only for worked hours VAs are paid only for the hours they have actually worked. You are not obligated to pay for a certain number of hours a week.
Space & Privacy You don't require any extra space, since VA will use his own office and resources. Also, there is no loss of privacy.
Outsource Market Research - Market research is proving to be an integral part of any business process. It is critical to comprehend one's area of work thoroughly and this can be done by collecting and analyzing information that contributes to a more holistic understanding of consumers, market niches, and marketing programs. Market research aids in providing important information and in guiding business strategy.
Virtual receptionist A VA will greet callers, take your messages, route calls seamlessly just like virtual receptionist in your business. A good phone experience leaves customers, partners and potential clients with the impression of a well run office.
How can you boost your business with VA
A Virtual Assistance providing company like TaskEscape (has a tag line - Plan Your Escape!) provide all types of services and assistance for entrepreneurs, from managerial accounting to some of the best custom web design and web marketing solutions. Some ways in which you can use Virtual Assistance's services -
Blog Promotion / Web site Maintenance
Regularly posting content on your Blog.
Searching for the best places to submit your Blog.
Monitoring web site traffic and conversions.
Reviewing website on a monthly basis to check for broken links, errors etc.
Customer Support / Administrative
Schedule your client appointments.
Send out birthday cards or other appreciation cards on your behalf.
Take notes during calls to capture important information.
Remind you of important dates/deadlines, manage your project/ tasks/ priority.
Prepare reports for monthly sales, revenues, expenses.
Event Management / Speaking
Researching for locations to hold a live event.
Organize travel, hotel, transportation arrangements.
Finding local media outlets at event location radio, television, newspaper - collecting appropriate names, contact information, preferred method of how to receive press release.
Follow up with media outlets to get more attention for the event.
Research organizations within your niche market that you would like to speak to.
Create a speaker package with the appropriate information (bio, picture, topics etc.)
Follow up with presentation attendees after event.