How to find the RIGHT virtual assistant for you!

Now you’ve decided that you want to hire a virtual assistant (VA), it’s time to start looking! The good news is that this can be a much easier process, and cheaper, than actually employing a personal assistant (PA) or executive assistant (EA) in-house! Although, that said, hiring a virtual assistant (VA) is not as simple as just having a look on Google (www.google.com). You can certainly find a virtual assistant this way, but it’s also important to find the virtual assistant that’s right for you and your business. This blog runs through four important factors to consider when searching for the right VA for you. So let’s get started! Personality & Ethics Personality and ethics are probably the first factors to consider. Hopefully you’ll have a long standing working relationship with your virtual assistant and therefore it is essential for both you and the VA that your personalities and ethics match. It makes a big difference if you have a VA who cares about your business and goals. Work life is also a lot easier if the VA is someone you actually get along with! Ways of Working Ways of working go hand-in-hand with matching your personalities and ethics. In my experience, as a business executive assistant many CEOs and managing directors work in different ways. The perfect virtual assistant for you should be able to adjust to your way of working. Cost As with every profession, the hourly rates between different virtual assistants varies. But it’s not always as easy as going for the cheapest option. Don’t forget the saying ‘you get what you pay for’. I charge £30 an hour. This is average for a good business VA. I also have years’ of PA/ EA experience and expertise in all the usual Microsoft packages such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, Adobe and of course…Outlook! Services There are many virtual assistants out there offering an array of services. Therefore it’s important to think about which services are most beneficial to your business. It’s also worth noting that the services being offered often reflect the virtual assistant’s previous experience. I offer typing, proofreading, document production, document formatting, general administration and inbox detox. For more information on the services I offer, head over to my Services page. Hopefully these four factors have given you some food for thought. If you enjoyed reading this blog, then please check out my website each week for more. Alternatively, if you would like to book some time with me at Online Exec PA, then visit my How it Works page today.

Tags: Virtual assistant services, typing, data entry, admin projects, proofreading, freelancer, document production, formatting, inbox detox