Entries from June 2008 ↓

Expanding a bit on the topic of my last blog regarding the role of a Virtual Assistant, and what  the difference is between a Virtual Assistant and someone who provides ”virtual assistance”.  There seems to be very strong opinions around this question.  A Virtual Assistant is generally defined as an “online administrative/executive assistant” who is an entrepreneur and who “partners” with their clients to ensure the client’s business is successful. As an entrepreneur, a Virtual Assistant is able to offer helpful suggestions from their own experience to help ensure the client’s success. And, with years of administrative background, a VA can handle a variety of tasks as would an on-site executive assistant, but with cost-saving benefits to the client. 

“Virtual assistance” can be interpreted as being provided either by a Virtual Assistant….or by someone who has chosen to provide a more specialized service such as internet marketing, web design, or bookkeeping, but delivers their services online. It should be noted as well that although Virtual Assistants are usually generalists, there are some more experienced at specific tasks such as shopping carts or writing press releases and it’s this situation where a client may choose to work with several different VA’s for their expertise.

Those providing administrative assistance “virtually” can choose to be personal assistants available all day (or the hours they choose). Or, they can choose to work specifically with projects, i.e. newsletters, large Word projects, PowerPoint presentations, etc. so their working hours can be scheduled at irregular hours that fit deadlines and lifestyle. Or, the business model that we here at Tana Woodward & Associates - Virtual Office Services have adopted, which is to enjoy the best of both worlds.

In closing, I would re-iterate that whether calling oneself a Virtual Assistant, or someone who provides “virtual assistance”, the key is to provide services that meet the clients’ needs and ensures the happiness and success  of the service provider as well.

Great Virtual Tip for today: www.sendthisfile.com - Send large files free via the Internet

*To receive this blog in your inbox, please email tana@virtualofficeservices.ca

Had an interesting in-person discussion with a fellow Virtual Assistant today whose latest client uses 3 other VA’s, each with specific capabilities and specialities.

Coincidentally on another blog saw an entry about using multiple VA’s and commented on it, which prompted a comment from another VA on the definition of a true VA, i.e. she felt a Virtual Assistant is a generalist and anyone providing only one service is not a Virtual Assistant.

I’ve seen this discussion on list groups before and to be honest I can’t remember the outcome or the general consensus but to my way of thinking, no one person can be good at everything. Therefore, a client truly gets their money’s worth by working with several different VA’s as they can rest easy with the knowledge that their tasks are being completed by a knowledgeable person who isn’t wasting the client’s or their own time trying to figure out how to do something.

It really doesn’t matter what one’s title is, efficient services that make the client happy and more productive in their own businesses is what’s important.

Great Virtual Tip for today: When you receive those forwarded emails with all the funny little marks - Go to Edit/Replace, type ^p (=return) and type ^t (=tab) in “replace”. This will convert every return to a tab.

*To receive this blog in your inbox, please email tana@virtualofficeservices.ca

Summer is literally around the corner and it can be an interesting time for a Virtual Assistant. It can be extremely slow, or on the flip side, extremely busy, depending on one’s clientele.

This is the time many clients take a vacation from their own businesses or projects so the VA life can be a bit slow at this time of year.

On the plus side, by nature of having a home-based business, is the ability to schedule your day to  enjoy the sun (hoping it will be sunny!) and to work after hours. 

But…. it’s also a great time for clients to use this quieter time of year to start up new projects, finish old ones that have sat on the back-burner or hand off projects to a Virtual Assistant that regular staff can’t complete because they’re on vacation, or the office is too shorthanded.

If you’re a VA, or any other online entrepreneur, and business is a bit slow at this time of year, look at it as the perfect time to get a marketing routine started up and try out new approaches.  And, it’s a good idea to start a summer marketing campaign back in the spring in anticipation of the upcoming quieter months.

Great Virtual Tip for today: www.gotomypc.com - Access your own or a client’s PC.

*To receive this blog in your inbox, please email tana@virtualofficeservices.ca

As I mentioned in my last blog, the best laid plans can go awry, but often for the best. A service for which you thought there would be a spectacular demand just isn’t, but ”out of the blue” a client may ask for a service that you hadn’t given any thought to providing. By viewing this request as an opportunity, one can stumble onto a whole new path with exciting results. Such was the case for me when a company asked me to provide personalized computer training for its employees.

Not being a “stand up in the front of a class and teach” type of person, I was initially tempted to decline, however I re-thought the idea and this has evolved into an opportunity to provide one-on-one personalized computer training, teaching 1-3 people at a time, based on each person’s needs, beginning with the basic basics of how a computer works. 

This is an ideal service as I’m able to share my knowledge of computers and Microsoft software programs that I’ve gained during my years in the Virtual Assistant profession, and personalize it to the student’s abilities. The shortcuts and tips I share are particularly well received. One-on-one tutoring has proven particularly effective as the student tends to feel more comfortable asking questions in this setting. More effective learning is accomplished in a single session than in a classroom full of students with varying levels of skill because students don’t feel too intimated to ask questions.

Great Virtual Tip for today: www.ccleaner.com - A free optimization and privacy tool that removes unused files from your system.

*To receive this blog in your inbox, please email tana@virtualofficeservices.ca