Virtual Assistants (VAs) are highly skilled professionals who take the time to excel in their given area of expertise. They provide extensive marketing solutions, creative and innovative advertising campaigns, administrative support, proofing and editing capabilities, transcription, internet research, article and press release writing and distribution, and just about anything that a personal assistant or secretary would do, only better.
Being a virtual assistant is not an easy job. It is similar to a personal assistant who is situated outside or in an office. The big difference, of course is from the title itself -work is done online or through the Internet.
Thoughtfully choosing virtual assistance as a career will help one in becoming a better VA even though the employer and VA are miles apart. The first thing that one must do is to prepare oneself for the job. A proper background is education. There’s no standard educational attainment on becoming a VA. Basic plus advance education will help anyone in this field. One must comprehend and communicate well. S/he must understand instructions and follow those properly. And in cases that s/he needs clarification, s/he must not hesitate to ask questions. Second is the right training. Though there’s no particular task a VA must do, one must have the initiative to train oneself. Nowadays, online training is found easily with the use of Google, Bing, Yahoo, You Tube, etc. Training oneself is a tool that one can use. This is the solution to any task or challenge.
Lastly, to become a better VA, one must have the proper equipment. This includes: a good running high specs computer, a quality headset with microphone, a separate working office and a stable Internet connection. Also, include an on-call ‘techy’ person or a technician. The computer is the mainstay of a VA’s job. One must invest in a quality brand that is proven reliable. High specifications with complete installed programs will make the job VA smooth.
One of the tasks of a VA is appointment setting, so it is a must for one to have a working headset and microphone. Most VA’s purchase equipment with a brand name. It is trusted because of quality results. As practicing VAs, we must also consider having a small but comfortable work area inside our home. Most VAs simply re-arrange a small room in the family home into an office. Tables and chairs are put in for use during working hours. Soundproofing the room is preferred by many VAs. One must also choose an internet service provider. DSL/wired connection is highly recommended for this job.
Virtual Assistants are the most professional and qualified partners that an employer can have. We work with companies to increase their business, to better their business image, and to increase their profitability. Entrepreneurs and businesses can be more efficient by outsourcing administrative work and other specialized services to bring their business to a new level or market their goods for greater results. So VAs have to give 101% focus to employers. Seeing them successful is a great feeling knowing that one is part of their success.
Written by Alex L- The Help