Are you looking for Virtaul Assistance?

Today’s topic of conversation might not resonate with everyone but it will become more and more relevant to you as your online business grows and develops. At some point you will have to consider getting help or risk being stuck overloaded with work and just UNHAPPY about your work as you were when you decided to start it in order to get away from your 9 to 5 J.O.B

Yeah, I use the 3 letter word and I apologize but the truth is - most of us start with online business to get away from that nasty word and in process of development manage to overload ourselves to the point where we forget why we started!

Today’s guest - Amy Holding will give us the details you need in order to successful simplify your life - How And Why Consider Virtual Assistant!

Questions below supplied by me while all the answers provided by Amy.

1. What exactly is Virtual Assistant?

This is a great question as the exact definition of a VA continues to be a hotly debated topic among many within the industry. In my opinion, it is normal for the term virtual assistant to mean different things to different people. The functions and tasks that a Virtual Assistant perform is very much dependent upon their professional niche as well as the industry and needs of the underlying client they choose to join in partnership with.

Traditionally a Virtual Assistant’s focus was mainly on general administrative services. But this has and continues to change as entrepreneurs and small business owners rely more and more heavily on the visibility of their internet presence.. Virtual Assistants have expanded their expertise to provide assistance with internet marketing, copywriting, teleseminars and on-line video services ( just to name a few) so that they can provide a more complete package to their clients. But with this expansion in expertise, the lines get blurry for some. As an example, a VA with expertise in copywriting does not mean they are a copywriter, it means they are an expert in assisting with copywriting functions.

2. How would someone go about locating a VA that qualifies?

There are several VA associations that contain directories of their members and corresponding qualifications. The two that come to my mind as excellent starting points are the International Virtual Assistants Association (IVAA - http://www.ivaa.org/) and the VA Networking Forum (http://www.mediamage.com/va/). Both have search directories as well as the option to submit an RFP.

Another good method for finding a qualified VA is through social networks liked Linked-In, Twitter, Facebook and Ning. In my opinion, Linked-In provides a great platform for looking through a prospective VA’s work history, references, testimonials etc.

3. Why should I choose more expensive, US based VA over offers from Asia?

This is a tough question to answer as finding success with a VA is just as much about the partnership as it is the VA’s skill set. I don’t believe the country of origin has much to do with it at all, but rather the dynamics between you and the VA. I can tell you that in my experience, most US based VAs are solopreneurs and/or small business owners just like the clients they serve. They not only can be relied on as task-doers, but also as a faithful partner, sounding board and extension of your business. Being business owners themselves they understand that your success and gains ultimately result in their own success and gains.

4. Can you name some of the more instant benefits for Online Business from VA

The most instant benefit you will receive is time. Regardless of what you enlist the support of a VA for (i.e. internet marketing, analytic’s, general administration, project management etc. ) the immediate gain will always be the time you have to focus on your core business.

5. Any points you think will be beneficial to the readers of my blog in regards to the VA?

When looking for a VA, remember that you are developing a partnership. And the success of the partnership is not only dependent upon the VA’s skill set and expertise, but also on how well the two of you can work together at getting business initiatives into action and then completed. When entering into a new relationship with a VA give them sight of your big picture goals and be open to two-way straight-talk.

6. And last but not least - can you describe what do you personally offer and how we can find out more about you?

More Good Advice on Being Self-Employed

We’ve been saying for some time that many, if not most, of the 2.6 million who lost their jobs in the United States last year are never going to go back to full-time employment (meaning they’d be working for someone else).

We know scores of people who either already have, or will soon, attempt to start up their own business, or at least to find a gig as a “free agent” (to borrow Dan Pink’s term).

However, it’s clearly easier to talk about becoming self-employed than it is to generate a living that way. There are lots of guidebooks and blogs out there you can turn to - I’ll catalog some of them shortly.

But in the meantime, there was a good if short piece in last Sunday’s New York Times: “Smoothing the Way to Self-Employment.” It’s basically a homespun set of ideas and advice from some who have gone before.

But don’t be naive about it either. As the article points out, the vast majority of people who set out to be their own boss don’t make it:

Fewer than half of all start-ups survive five years, and only 25 percent last 10 years, according to Ari Ginsberg, professor of management and organizations at the Stern School of Business at New York University. Moreover, a failed stint in self-employment is not exactly a plus for a résumé.

So if you’re thinking about hanging out your own shingle, good luck. But don’t depend on luck - be thoughtful, take it very seriously, and treat your startup venture just as seriously as you would a job someone else is paying you to do.

Distraction Hurt The Home Business

Many adopt the idea of working at home because they like the idea of being with their children and their families. This can often be a problem.

If you do not take steps in the very beginning, you are going to be in big trouble later on. You must immediately set boundaries. You must ensure that business matters remain separate from family matters.

Remember that family and friends do not look at your new work at home venture like you do. Consider holding a family meeting so that you can discuss this right away.

Explain to them that even though you are home they still have to act as if you aren’t. In other words, they can’t call non stop with a passing thought and they can’t expect you to watch their kids while they run errands because you are home, and they can’t stop by uninvited.

Explain that you have a schedule to keep and this is how you get paid. You must make them understand that this is a business and must be managed as one.

You will have to put forth a lot of effort and time, especially in the developing stages. This could eliminate you from some family and social events for a while.

You must have an area of your home that is just for you to work in. This is your work space, not for the children to color in or to do their homework.

Explain that you have all of your work related materials and everything and it needs to stay organized. Even keep separate bank accounts, because if you merge bank accounts family with business bank accounts, you’ll be asking for a lot of problems at tax time.

Try as best as possible to maintain all hours worked and try to keep a schedule organized. You need a lot of breaks during the day to stretch.

It can be very difficult for children to understand that mommy or daddy is at home but can’t be bothered, especially for the younger ones. They can be quite distracting which can lead to you becoming aggravated.

You may need to hire a baby sitter for a few hours here and there. Even spouses and older children may find it difficult to adapt. Especially if you have only one computer, you will probably hear a million times, asking how long until you get off computer.