The last two decades witnessed the gradual growth and recent explosion of the virtual assistance industry particularly in the range of skill sets offered by professionals in the field. Virtual assistants or VAs can handle a variety of tasks some recurring such as scheduling of weekly meetings and handling forwarded calls when the client is away. They can make cold calls for a sales team when needed.

Why are VAs hired? There are many reasons but the most common is their being low-cost as well as minimum supervision they need. Low cost because they are paid based on services rendered. Experienced administrative assistants are gold mines. With very little supervision, they oversee virtual offices making sure that business managers and owners get their investments’ worth.

At The Help, clients are provided quality assistance at reasonable prices. Of course, a repeat client is more than welcome because a customer’s return to the same provider is evidence of satisfaction. Here are some reasons given by repeat patrons:

• Employees at The Help are skilled in customer service ensuring that client requirements are met. Its staff is adept at using Ring Central, Desk.com, Google Voice, and Microsoft Excel.
• The Help handles inbound or outbound telephone calls; managing and delivering in an effective, accurate manner and in accordance with agreed protocols. To support its goal of efficient communications, The Help uses RingCentral, Google Voice, and Vonage International.
• The Help does beta testing, subjecting software to further trials prior to its market release to make certain that the product has minimal faults or bugs thus preventing glitches for end users. For this type of work, they are experienced in the use of Test Flight and Apple devices.
• In bulk mailing, The Help works in a wide array of post office tasks such as receive letters and parcels; sell postage, revenue stamps, postal cards, and stamped envelopes; fill out and sell money orders; mail large numbers of identical printed items (snail mail, electronic mail). They also do mass emailing with the use of email sender applications such as AutoPilot, MailChimp, and Constant Contact.

Combining administrative best practices with technical expertise resulted in The Help, a fine-tuned virtual assistant. Now on its 8^th year, they are here to stay.

Written by Yoli P.- The Help

As homebased jobs become more accessible and large numbers of people choose working from home over traditional office work, it is important to remember that working from home is not for everyone. Certain aspects of this lifestyle change must be weighed before making a decision. Looking into both its advantages and disadvantages can prevent possible disappointments and financial setbacks.

Some advantages of working from home are:

• Saving time; no need to worry about commuting to the office everyday.  In only minutes, the computer is turned on, signing in is a breeze.
• Saving on transportation, food, and even clothing expenses.
• Being your own boss. Setting your own schedule, avoiding daycare, and spending more time with your family.

Now that some advantages are clear, here are the disadvantages of working from home:

• Distractions can disrupt concentration; may be difficult to deal with activities at home while working.
• Time management is important; challenges may present itself in separating office work from housework leading to missed deadlines.
• Used to working in an office environment, someone new to homebased work may be overwhelmed because of lack of social interaction. Working from home means working alone, no co-worker to chat with or even ask for help when needed.

Given these advantages and disadvantages,  it’s now up to the individual to decide if working from home is going to be to his/her advantage. The virtual assistance company, The Help has a number of moms and dads who work from home, full time (8 hours/day). They manage assignments and tasks in the evening or when kids are in school and are also able to attend to their family’s needs. Committment and creating a healthy work-life balance is very important in any type of professional activity. Careful examination of the many aspects involved in changing from traditional work environment to virtual work from home could lead to financial stability.

“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” 
― Confucius

Written by Evyna A- The Help and  Edited by Yoli P- The Help

Millions of people are looking for work everyday and, with the help of technology, many now work virtually thus making more jobs accessible to everyone.

Virtual work allows an employee to perform activities in the office without his/her physical presence thereat. Although not all businesses hire virtual employees, those who do have shown efficient cost  reduction in operations without affecting quality or delivery of tasks. Virtual work is not new but is now undergoing rapid growth.

One company who offers remote assistance to businesses is The Help; they have been in the business for over five years and have been utilizing technology to cater to their clients’ needs. Their employees, based in different parts of the world, provide excellent service to customers. Because virtual work requires minimal supervision, an employee should be knowledgeable and technically savvy for the job given him. Virtual assistance services obtainable at The Help are:

1. Administrative Support– Many types of work fall into this category and each type often involves  management, clerical tasks and back-office  assignments ensuring that the client’s business meets it’s objectives.
2. Graphic Design– Graphic designers handle different types of layouts & illustration, web design and typography according to clients’ business guidelines.
3. Writing- Providing sound articles about various topic requested by the customers.

As technology continues to improve, it is bound to open more doors to endless possibilities for virtual employment, giving everyone an opportunity to work in the convenience of their homes.

Written by Evyna A. – The Help

URGENT!!

We are looking for new team members to join our growing company. Are you ready to be a part of The Help?

We are in great need of full time workers.
We are seeking for a sharp, highly dependable, experienced and detail-oriented VA to support new and ongoing projects. Those who have experience working in a Call Center are encouraged to apply. We are looking for someone noted for high integrity and possess the following qualifications:

• Able to work during business hours in the US (maybe PST, EST and CST).
• Strong understanding of Internet and online communication tools.
• Ability to work on several tasks during a day, but focusing on one task at a time
• Ability to meet deadlines.
• Strong communications skills. Phone calling is a MUST.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Adobe.
• Experienced in Sales is a plus!

This position is for our Cavite office.
Interested applicants may send their resume to admin@thehelpbyastrids.com.

When the profit and loss statement is in the black, business owners tend to believe that the company is on its way. For example, closing a long-term virtual assistance contract with a prestigious client can make a company bring out a bottle of Moet et Chandon. A second client of the same caliber might ensure the employees’ year-end bonuses. On these occasions, though, foresight is required to prevent complacency. Also important to emphasize that the team’s hard work is paying off. To keep the momentum going, The Help keeps in mind –

That the customer is the focus of the business.  Communication and cooperation along with commitment will sustain a business relationship. Conducting a survey or assessing the competitions’ activities can determine clients’ preferences. Satisfied customers will bring more consumers to the company.

 That social media is vital in today’s commercial environment. The Help makes a practice of devoting time to it. Constantly aware of the challenges in its virtual assistance business, The Help brainstorms for possible solutions.

 That interesting web site content will make customers hungry for more.  Information like state holidays and charity events will make clients remember the website. How-to blogs can entice more readers, and eventually clients, creating a strong connection with the public. The Help makes time to write engaging articles. As John D. Rockefeller said “The secret of success is to do the common things uncommonly well.”

The Help keeps up and learns the latest technical skills in the market; the team is focused on its vision; The Help is hard at work thus sustaining its success in the business..

 Written by Yoli P.- The Help