Virtual Administrative Assistant - Virtual yet Effective

In the past few years, with a growing internet use and world becoming more a global village, a new concept of virtual administrative assistant has become popular. Virtual administrative assistants basically assist their employers from the comfort of their own home. It has taken the post of office assistant to the new level. The virtual assistants to any company typically perform the duties that any other office assistant perform physically. The job has become increasingly popular among the women because it allows them to work from home and become entrepreneurs while achieving the work and home life balance. The business trends are forecasting that there would be an increase in this trend because the start up costs is minimal while earning prospects are quite good. In one of the survey conducted by the Virtual Business Alliance, it has been found that average gross income of the full-time virtual assistant was almost $39,452, in last year.

Virtual administrative assistants are the independently working entrepreneurs, who work remotely and make use of latest technology such as laptops and internet, to provide their services to the clients on global scale. But one should bear in mind that becoming a virtual assistant is not an easy job to do and it cannot be done by just anyone. Many of the virtual assistants have to work between 12 to 18 hours each day, when they start up with the job. And even after establishing repute and gaining experience, virtual assistants often report that they have to work long hours sometimes even in holidays and on weekends.

Most of the virtual administrative assistants do work from their offices at home and receive the instructions about projects and other office work through phones, fax, e-mail or through instant messaging. They also make use of skype to remain online and get instructions. Most of the virtual assistants provide secretarial services. But the people who have more experience, skill and expertise, also provides services in specialized areas such as marketing, graphic and Web design, IT support or even translation services.

Clients mostly hire the virtual administrative assistants because it saves them money and cost because the virtual assistants suppose to pay for their equipment, taxes, training, healthcare and insurance. The industries which are now hiring more and more virtual assistants include real estate, coaching, financial services, accounting and law.
If you too are planning to start off your career as a virtual assistant, here are some tips and the questions you should ask yourself;

• The first step is to decide and analyze what is the type of services that you want to offer and do you have that background experience which ensures necessary expertise.

• Decide upon your business niche. It’s better to go for two or three services.

•  Are you willing to work full time or just part time?

• It is important to conduct the comprehensive research of the industry in which you want to offer your services.

• Develop an outline of your potential clients; who they are, where they are and how you are going to access them.

• It is important to prepare a proper and well organized business plan and to have the proper equipment which fulfills the client’s needs.

• It’s very important that you market your services 24/ 7. This way you will get the right client, easily.

• By following these tips, you can achieve the desired results.