Real Assistants in an Online World

Welcome!

Taking Care of Your Business Like It’s Our Own

Gone are the days of doing everything yourself. Sure, in the beginning of your business it appeared to make sense and save you money. But now your business is growing, you’re proven & successful in your industry, yet you find yourself up against a wall.

Your family will revolt if you work any more hours. You’re losing sleep. You’re missing important appointments and deadlines. You’re missing new opportunities. You need a clone (or perhaps just an assistant!). Sound familiar?

 

It’s time to REFOCUS.
It’s time to get back to doing what you LOVE.
It’s time to concentrate on your UNIQUE SKILLS.
It’s time to RECONNECT with why you started your business.

The good news is…We can help! We know the world of online or virtual assistance can be overwhelming, let us help guide your way.

Virtual Assistant vs. Online Business Manager

Virtual Assistant (VA): “Virtual assistants are independent contractors who (from a remote location, usually their home or office) support multiple clients in a variety of industries by providing administrative, creative, and technical services.” (www.ivaa.org)

Online Business Manager (OBM): “A virtually based support professional who manages online based businesses, including the day-to-day management of projects, operations, team members and metrics.” (www.obmconnect.com)

The difference?

A VA does the work.

An OBM manages the work and coaches the business owner.

 

Which do you need? Often, businesses start out with a Virtual Assistant and bring in an Online Business Manager as their business and team starts to really grow. As you build your team, you’ll find that it may include one or more VAs, a bookkeeper, a copywriter, a web designer, a social media specialist and more. An Online Business Manager will oversee this team in addition to taking on the day-to-day management of your business, organizing and streamlining your processes & marketing efforts and ensuring your business is headed towards your vision.

How is Creative Assistants different? We combine Virtual Assistance and Online Business Management under 1 virtual roof. In addition to OBM services, we bring along our experienced and established team of VAs. This frees you from the time needed to find and vet VAs and other service providers, and means you only have 1 check to write each month (instead of 1 check to each member of your team). Not ready for an OBM? Start with one of our affordable VA retainer packages and our OBM will be ready when you are!

 

Ready to get started? Schedule your free 30 minute consultation now!

 

Recent Posts

So You Want To Be My Friend?

You’re on Facebook. You’re on LinkedIn. You’re on Twitter. Now it seems like everyone wants to be your “Friend”. Should you accept them all? Deny them? Aliza Sherman at Web Worker Daily recently posted a great article to help you navigate the waters:

“Like anyone using social networks for my work, I struggle with the friend feature. There are a number of theories of how and why to friend other people and when to accept friend requests. Clearly, having more “friends” on your social networks has its benefits, but if friending is done randomly, how much value are those very random “friends” for your business goals?”Web Worker Daily, Oct 2008

Check out the rest of the article here.

Personally, my policy depends on the platform. On Twitter I do exactly what Aliza suggests in her article. On Facebook, I limit it to those I actually know of or have some sort of existing relationship with. On LinkedIn, I’ll accept most anybody.

What’s your policy? How are you friending?

Want to be my “Friend”? Follow me on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn!

What you should and shouldn’t do at Yahoogroups

Fellow Virtual Assistant Kathie Thomas (from Australia) posted this fantastic article today about etiquette on Yahoo Groups. When participating in any email list or group, these tips are important reminders to us all:

- Use full sentences, not jargon that you would use on IM or while texting.
- Don’t assume someone meant to offend – ask them offlist.
- Re-read your message before posting.
- When replying, delete anything not pertaining to your reply.
- If you change the topic, change the subject line.
- Avoid using wallpaper backgrounds.
- Check your grammar!
- Include a signature line

Read her full article here:

soho-life.com » What you should and shouldn’t do at Yahoogroups

Employee vs. Virtual Assistant

Employee vs. Virtual Assistant

Now that you’ve decided you need some help for the administrative and day-to-day aspects of your business, you have a decision to make: Hire an employee or use a Virtual Assistant? Here are some things to consider when making your decision:

Employee (or a “Temp”)

Pros:
› You can set their schedule and how they do certain tasks.
› Low(er) hourly rate
› Often able to come into your office to answer phones, file paperwork, etc.
Cons:
› Must pay payroll taxes, unemployment insurance, liability insurance, possibly benefits, bonuses, etc.
› Might need to provide equipment (computer, desk, software, etc.)
› Must provide and pay for training.
› You will be paying for break times and other non-productive time.
› How long will they stay? Are there advancement opportunities?
You will likely need to promise a certain number of hours per week.
Virtual Assistant
Pros:
› They have advanced skills and experience in a variety of software and programs. If you find a VA specializing in your industry they will already know industry-specific software, trends, and lingo.
› No benefits, taxes, or insurance to pay.
› No equipment needed – they provide their own!
› They are invested in your business and want to work with you long-term.
You can commit to a lower number of hours (or maybe not commit at all).
› You only pay for actual time spent on your project(s).
Cons:
› They won’t come into your office to file or answer the phone (although some offer remote phone answering).
› Higher hourly rate (offset by not paying overhead & taxes).

A Virtual Assistant isn’t for everyone. Certain industries need employees and some use both employees and Virtual Assistants. To successfully use a Virtual Assistant be prepared to work virtually (more on that in the next issue!), build a long-term relationship, and be open to new ideas. Now that you’re informed, the choice is up to you!