1. What is a Virtual Assistant?
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 remotely from a home office. Wikipedia
2. What are the clients responsibility to the Virtual Assistants?
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 that those indirect expenses are included in the VA’s fees. Clients also avoid the logistical problem of providing extra office space, equipment or supplies. Clients pay for 100% productive work, and can work with Virtual Assistants, individually, or in multi-VA firms to meet their exact needs.
3. What are the common ways of communication for a Virtual Assistant?
Common modes of communication and data delivery include the Internet, e-mail and phone-call conferences, Online work spaces, and fax machine. Increasingly Virtual Assistants are utilizing technology such as Skype as well as Google Voice.
4. Do you need to have experience working as a Virtual Assistant?
Typically 1-5 years of administrative experience in an office is expected at such position. Nowadays, virtual assistants can have less than a year of experience as long as they have the skills and the proper mindset.
5. What can a virtual assistant do?
Virtual assistants have different skills. Some may gear their work more toward administrative,scheduling and logistics, while others may focus on web-based services like manning email accounts, doing research or social media. Here are just a few things they can help you with.
Upload blogs or email newsletters
Respond to emails and set up email lists
Transcribe voice memos, conference calls and more
Run your calendar and plan your travel
Research
Compile data into organized spreadsheets
Handle forwarded phone calls when you’re unavailable or out of town
Any time-consuming or repetitive tasks
Help you hire other employees by doing preliminary research on candidates
Write and distribute standard business communications
Prepare presentations
Manage your social media accounts
Coordinate with vendors
Place orders for new supplies
There are actually so many things a virtual assistant can do, I can’t list them all!
To my readers, please feel to ask me questions about becoming a virtual assistant. I would be happy to satisfy your curious thoughts.