If you’re thinking of trying to earn extra money that way, consider this article from a business person who claims “Hiring Virtual Assistants Saved My Business”.

It will give you  new insight into what YOU, as a Virtual Assistant, “bring to the table” in today’s business environment.

If you’re wondering … “Should I do enter this business?” It might help you make the decision.

At one point I was creating and hosting shows; writing articles and editing; marketing and promoting; and cleaning the bathroom among other tasks. The big problem was I needed help, but did not want to manage employees or need a “real” office space.

The Solution: Focusing on virtual contractors and partners. I hired two, specifically skilled, self-starting virtual assistants (as contractors) who work from their homes and save me tons of hours per week handling details that were bogging me down including scheduling, website management and more.

Read it all at “Hiring Virtual Assistants Saved My Business”

As she says in the article, lots of people “do” these services. Most just offer it in the fine print instead of selling it as their “main product”.

These virtual office centers are a way for work at home businesses to have a ready pool of “help” they can outsource in a relatively short time frame without having to pay to maintain staff all year round.

I just like gadgets. I wish I could be off the grid myself. Maybe again one day soon.

Whatever your interest in “Living off the grid”, enjoy…

Living off the grid

The shortage of power, the rapid consumption of non-renewable energy, the ever-increasing demand for power supply, the daily warnings about our environment are enough signs to tell us that it’s time we do something. So, what can we do? For starters, how about living off the grid? If I have startled you with that proposition, let me tell you that living off the grid not only helps the environment and helps save power; it also cuts down our electricity bill substantially. Now, that’s a tangible benefit apart from all the good you will do to the world. Trust me, you will feel good doing this.

Let us first study the advantages of living off the grid.
• Reduced dependability on exhausting resources: Who wants to depend on public utilities all the time? Living off the grid helps you rely only on your resources and not the ones supplied by governments or corporations. How often have you cursed when faced with a power outage in the midst of some important work or a party? Wouldn’t you like to take charge of such factors affecting you life? With alternate power solutions, you can.
• Freedom of usage of naturally available resources: How would you feel when you don’t have to pay for the power you use? Wouldn’t it be delightful to use as much power as you want without worrying about the electricity meter? You can make use of the abundant power available in the nature to light up your home and make your food. The solar power solutions and the wind power solutions are the answers to your power quest (well, literally!).
• Reduced power costs, helping save your money: How would you feel if the electricity bills stop coming in your letter box? The alternate power solutions give you a return on investment very soon, thus making the power supply to your home eventually free!
• Making way for a healthier environment: Don’t you bless the people who planted trees years ago not expecting them to miraculously grow? They planted those trees for the future generations. Make the future of your future generations secure by giving them a greener, healthier world. Cut down on the usage of non-renewable sources of energy. Try to use water minimally. There is not much drinking water left for the next generations.

If you are thinking it is not very feasible to live off the grid, look for alternate power solutions and you will be surprised to learn that they are not only cost-effective but also extremely feasible.

Make power at home with solar and wind energy to eliminate your power bill. Get our complete guide at Earth 4 Energy

Related Link: How To Reduce Your Electric Bill

Many people hire the services of virtual secretaries. If you have specific skills such as web design, technical writing, graphic design, event planning, or working with advanced computer programs, there are many employers who would be interested in hiring you for specific projects or daily tasks. Those with traditional secretarial skills such as typing, editing, updating calendars, email monitoring, and coordinating meetings are also in need for various projects.

Where to Find Virtual Assistant Jobs

When looking for clients, you should start by contacting former employers and others you feel could use your services. Because some people may not know that they need a virtual assistant until the time comes, sending your business card and making periodic phone calls can help you find future work.

If you are looking for immediate work, look through your local newspaper, contact temp agencies, and conduct research online. There are many websites dedicated to helping virtual secretaries and employers find each other. Some of these website are free, while others will cost a monthly or yearly membership fee. On these sites, you will be able to create a profile page that lists your skills, hourly wage, and location so employers can have a better idea of the types of services you offer.

You can also place an ad in the newspaper; create a website or marketing campaign to let local businesses know that you’ve started a virtual assisting business. Referrals from satisfied clients can also help solidify your reputation and increase your exposure.

Who Hires Virtual Assistants?

Because virtual assistants can work anywhere in the world, you have the opportunity to find work in many different and sometimes unexpected places. Your client list could include the following:

·       department heads in medium or large corporations
·       small business owners who need extra help, but who cannot afford to hire a full-time employee
·       business people who travel often
·       HR departments who offer virtual assistants as part of their employee incentive package
·       Small companies who need seasonal or occasional help

Anyone who is in need of your skills is a potential client. It doesn’t matter if they’re the head of a large company or if they run a small business from home, the services you offer are valuable to anyone who lacks the time to complete certain daily, monthly, or special tasks.

Typical Work Assignments

Depending on your skill set, you may find yourself working on a variety of projects each week. Typical work assignments range from monitoring email for important messages to planning events. You may also be asked to work on web design projects, edit large documents, coordinate meetings between one or more people, transcription, and typing.

Even if you don’t possess all of these skills, you may be asked to work on projects that require them anyway. If you’re comfortable learning a new skill, then you should take the opportunity. If not, don’t be afraid to turn down work. Clients always appreciate honesty and are usually able to find other projects for you to work on.

If you enjoy working on a variety of projects, then you should find no shortage of virtual office jobs. By maintaining contact with clients, marketing your services often, and providing quality services, you should never have any problems finding enough work.

Melissa Brewer is an writer-preneur based in Washington DC. Do you want a real work from home job? The outsourcing industry is exploding with homeshoring employers</a> that hire moms, dads, retirees, and differently-abled people  to work from home. Come learn more about how you can make a living from home,  without breaking the bank. Interested in virtual admin work? We have  information on that, too!

A survey by the public-private teleworking partnership Telework Exchange has concluded that encouraging those who can work from home to do so for two days a week, rather than commute into work, would save 9.7 billion gallons of gas or $38.2bn.

This is an interesting statistic. Workers certainly care if they can save money.

But, this doesn’t pass the “what’s in it for me” test when it comes to selling your boss.

Business owners already have enough hassles with employees, they want to know what THEY save. If teleworkers don’t think this through, they’re making more of an argument to be outsourced by a virtual assistant than anything else! 

From their press release:

May 28, 2008 — With the pressure for companies to reduce costs and to increase productivity and profits, working with a virtual assistant is becoming a common solution. The “Today” show recently reported that virtual assistance is a growing field, and recommended Assistant Match for people who want to become virtual assistants and be paired with businesses who need their services.

“Working with a virtual assistant can be one of the smartest business decisions a person can make,” explains Katie Gutierrez, President of Assistant Match. “Companies get necessary support without committing resources for a full-time employee. Since virtual assistants telecommute from their home offices, they save businesses the cost of office space and equipment. They work only as many hours as needed, and it is possible to work with the person best suited to the needs of the company, rather than being limited to the local applicant pool.”

To identify a great virtual assistant, here are three steps to follow.
1. Only consider candidates who have the unique skills, experience, availability, and work style specific to the needs.
2. Eliminate candidates who do not follow directions, keep track of details, or communicate in a clear and timely manner, even if they have a great personality.
3. Talk with past clients about their experience with the candidate, and conduct a background check if she will work with confidential or financial information.

A well selected virtual assistant takes care of the important business details and allows others to have the time and support needed to increase sales and income. For sample services virtual assistants provide, visit http://www.assistantmatch.com/services.html.

About Assistant Match:
Assistant Match is a completely virtual company that places pre-screened virtual assistants with the busy people who need them. They provide education to aspiring virtual assistants, and help clients get the most from working with virtual assistants and virtual tools. President, Katie Gutierrez speaks internationally about how small businesses can make best use of their virtual teams and technology for greater efficiency and profits. For more information on Assistant Match, visit www.assistantmatch.com.

Contact:
Alecia Faber
Assistant Match
800-403-5506 x4
http://www.assistantmatch.com

They state several options themselves which you can read, but here’s what we’ve done.

Basically we’ve arranged space at an office “in town” that’s open anyway.

It’s usually a friend or acquaintance who doesn’t care whether we use a desk or conference room to meet with customers. Usually this is in a somewhat related business so there’s the possibility of referring a new client to them or they referring business to us.

The possibility of new business is a good way to keep use of the space “free”.

It’s easy to get excited about starting your own business, tell your boss to “take this job and __________________” and strike out on your own. But too many times, this only causes you to “strike out”.

The best thing about being a Virtual Assistant is that you can start part time working at home and gradually build up a clientele. You could “get your feet wet” working through websites like “Team Double Click” or advertising on Craigslist.

While it’s tempting to spend all your time online socializing with other working (or wannabe) VA’s, you need to develop contacts that will get you business like through a Chamber of Commerce or leads clubs that may exist in your area too.

Will you reach your goal of being a Virtual Assistant in 2008? Only if you have a solid plan and approach and are successful in marketing your business.

If you’ve been looking for a virtual secretary job or online data entry job, and haven’t had any luck, you may have considered starting your own virtual assistant business. A virtual assistant works for themselves – and creates their own client base. If you want to work from home and have more control over the amount you earn, the types of projects you accept, and the number of hours you work, then starting a virtual assisting business may be the right work at home option for you.

In order to become a virtual assistant, you will need a computer with a reliable Internet connection, fax machine, dedicated phone line, and the ability to market your services effectively.

Vital Skills for Virtual Assistants

Virtual assistants provide services that traditional secretaries do not. These include technical writing, editing, desktop publishing, and web design. Even though you may not possess these skills, if you’ve worked as an administrative assistant or you have experience in business writing, marketing, public relations, event planning, or legal experience, you should be able to use these skills when promoting your business. Many of your virtual assisting clients may need your help with email inquiries and content management – basically, a person to handle their daily small tasks while they focus on their main jobs. A good dose of web-savvy is a great launching point for a virtual assistant business.

Traditional secretarial skills like typing, transcription, monitoring email, setting up meetings, updating calendars, and reviewing documents are also needed by those too busy to do this type of work themselves. Depending on your prior experiences, you may be able to offer a wide variety of services to prospective clients. Keep in mind that you can also learn new skills once your business is up and running – don’t be afraid to ask your potential clients what daily web chores they could do without on a daily basis.

Finding and Retaining Virtual Assisting Clients

Virtual assistants market themselves in many different ways, and you’ll want to find what works for you. Like most small businesses, marketing your services is important if you want to maintain a certain level of income. Using the Internet to conduct searches in online classifieds, joining social networking groups, freelance job sites, and contacting people you know are all ways to find work.

A great place to find prospective clients is LinkedIn.com – an online networking community for business professionals. You can give and receive recommendations and target businesses in your area of expertise by answering questions and participating in groups.

Offline promotions can offer just as much business as your online marketing campaign. This may mean taking out an ad in your local newspaper, networking with people you already know, going to conferences and other functions to meet people in need of your services, or making phone calls to companies you believe could benefit from your services.

Once you have a steady stream of clients, you should continue your marketing efforts by attending social functions, updating your website if you have one, and making phone calls to companies in your area who might need your services. Unlike other jobs you’ve had in the past, clients who use your services will come and go, so you need to be prepared to find new clients at any time.

Average Income and Terms of Payment for VA’s

If you live in an urban area, you will probably earn more than someone who lives in a rural area because the need for virtual assistants is less. The average virtual assistant earns $20.00-$25.00 per hour and works at least 20-30 hours a week. You can choose to be paid weekly, bi-weekly, per project, or you can work with clients on a retainer. A retainer, commonly used in the legal profession, is paid by the client in order to secure your services. A monetary amount is agreed upon by the client and the business owner for a set number of hours during the month. If you work fewer hours, you get to keep the full retainer. If you work over the set amount, then you can invoice the client for any extra hours worked.

Because you are the owner of a small business, you will be responsible for health care, retirement funds, and other expenses that an employer usually pays their employees.

Becoming a virtual assistant may mean working long hours in the beginning until you have enough clients. You may also have to work occasionally in the evening, on weekends, and during holidays.

Virtual Assistance: The Future of Virtual Secretaries

Currently, there are 3,000 to 5,000 virtual assistants working worldwide. The number keeps getting bigger as more companies take advantage of the services offered by those who want to work from home.

If you want to start a virtual assisting business, creating a sound business plan, having enough in savings to pay for living costs until you begin earning a steady income and aggressively marketing your services to various industries are all important to your success. But once you establish yourself, there are many opportunities to be had in this profession.
About the Author: Melissa Brewer is the author of The Little White eBook of Homeshoring Jobs. Want to learn more about virtual opportunities? The Little White eBook of Homeshoring Jobs profiles 180+ companies that regular hire home-based workers for inbound and outbound callers, customer care, and tech support – complete with salary information, typical schedules, and the tools you’ll need to get the virtual job you want. All of our readers get free updates for life.

This young mother of two is an enterprising mompreneur and even a member of the Iowa National Guard. She’s launching her business as she finishes a business degree. Best wishes from the Work At Home Blog!

From Zwire

She started her home business two years ago with a wedding and event planning service, but with two small children, the second with multiple disabilities, she discovered that that line of work wasn’t practical. Event planning is an on-the-go kind of business and aside from childcare costs eating through any profits; she wouldn’t be with the boys at a time in their lives when they need her most.
Looking around for another way to use her skills and talents, as well as her home-based technology, she discovered the virtual assistant industry. “I started buying tons of books,” she said. “I enjoy absorbing a lot of information.”

She is set to complete the business course requirements next fall, but her services are available now. Once a business contacts her, she’ll provide a free quote, discuss specific expectations, draw up a contract and get to work.
Her mission statement reads: To provide reliable administrative services to small- and medium-size businesses without the endless expense of hiring an employee. A member of the International Virtual Assistants Association, she can be reached through her website at: www.practicalassistance.com or call 800-393-6126.

Image courtesty MPNews.net