Frequently Asked Questions
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"How can working with a VA save me money?"
Because I am an
administrative expert, I can likely complete such
tasks more quickly than you can. That frees up your
time for doing the things that generate more
revenue or bring better balance to your life. As the
client of a virtual assistant, you will not pay for my
breaks, vacation time, holidays, time spent staring
out the window or surfing the 'Net. A
2007 survey found that the average employee wastes
20% of every workday. While I don't
claim to avoid some time wasting, you'll never
pay me for doing so!
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"So
what do I pay for?"
You will pay for time
I spend communicating with you—verbally
or electronically (phone, e-mail, faxing, etc.)—and
for time I am working on your tasks or conducting
business on your behalf. I also bill for any travel
time. My time is billed in 1-minute increments. I
accept payment by check and--via Google
Checkout--Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and
Discover. I believe that prompt
payment of my invoice is a strong sign of respect, and
I expect prompt payment from all of my clients.
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| "As
a VA, what is your employment status?"
I am an independent
contractor. I am responsible for and in charge of
my own record keeping, taxes,
equipment, and working hours. As your VA, I work with you,
not just for you.
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| "What are
your office hours?"
I am generally in my
office Monday-Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Central
time. I am not available evenings, Fridays, or
weekends. The nature of a virtual partnership allows
me to work with clients throughout all time
zones.
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"What is your work style? What can I expect with
you as my VA?"
I am flexible yet serious, have
a quirky sense of humor, appreciate open
communication, love to help others succeed
and want, wholeheartedly, to enjoy partnering
with each of my clients. Virtual assistance works best
as part of a proactive system, one in which we are
both clear about my role in your life and how best to
support your success in an ongoing manner.
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"What if, as your client, I need
something done that you can't do?"
I'm quick to admit that I don't know everything—no
one does! On the other hand, when it comes to
learning new things, you'll be hard pressed to find
someone faster than I! And while I don’t know
everything, I do know how to get everything done.
As an
AssistU-certified VA, I have valuable resources that
allow me to make things happen for you. By working
with me, you are really connected to the best-trained VAs in the world! When needed, I am happy to refer
you to other professionals and, if you desire, I
can help coordinate their work for you.
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"What about confidentiality issues?"
I am a
professional, and you can expect me to conduct myself
in that manner. What I know about you (business and
personal) will
be kept confidential unless you wish for me to
share such information with someone on your behalf. I
do not, however, wish to hide the fact that you are my
client; I want to be able to say good things about you
and the work you do. If you are not transparent
regarding your team to your clients and customers, I
am not the right VA for you.
You are welcome to talk about our working relationship
with anyone you choose.
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"Are you insured?"
Yes, I carry coverage on my
business property as well as general liability. I take my business and my
responsibility to my clients very seriously.
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"You talk a lot about the importance of a good fit
between VA and client. You've also talked about your
work style and personality, but what do you look for
in your ideal client?"
Some traits of my
ideal client are:
•
having a healthy sense of humor;
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exhibiting kindness and
consideration for others;
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being fairly
well-organized (if only they could find the time!)
and not inclined to "emergencies";
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being relatively
laid back, yet appreciating detail;
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being optimistic;
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honoring my fees
without argument or need for justification;
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having the knowledge
and desire needed to be successful (as defined by
them), but not having adequate time to do it all;
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accepting
responsibility for themselves;
•
communicating
clearly. |
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