Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Becky on October 8, 2008 at 5:58pm

That's okay! I know what you mean about the photography though! There is a huge demand for product photos though. And you don't have to work with people and you can work all hours of the day or night from home! Your wife ought to like that!

Have you thought about trying to freelance? I used to teach new writers how to craft query letters and sell. You'd probably be better at it than you know! Elance.com is a great place to ply your trade too! (click on that link to see my profile, then you can go to the home page from there).

If you can shoot photos and write - all the better. Lots of small publications depend on folks that can do both. Writer's Digest is a great resource and at only $3.95 a month or $36 a month if you subscribe (I do) you can find writer's guidelines to all sorts of magazines and make a tidy little profit writing about anything from birds and flowers to whatever you're interested in.

Permalink Reply by Judy Vorfeld on October 8, 2008 at 6:31pm

Becky, when I first started my business in 1992, it was a secretarial service with a slant to help mostly businesses rather than individuals that wanted a letter written. I love presentation, and good grammar, and it all came together for me. I belonged to national and local organizations for years.

Secretarial services segued into the Virtual Assistant arena. I suppose I was one of the first, and by then, I was designing and editing websites as well. One of my first online clients was a businessman in Sweden who needed help designing websites and editing promotional emails into good English.

Just secretarial services had varied services, so did VAs. In the beginning, it was mostly office support, but as Word and Publisher became popular, people expanded their services to offer accounting, database work, public relations support, graphic support, computer programming expertise, human resources savvy, marketing know-how, along with writing, editing, photography, and many other areas. Including all kinds of consulting.

Then coaching became very popular. Many VAs went on to be part of the support staff of coaches, who often require help at many levels.

Then real estate burgeoned, and many VAs went on to specialize in coordination and documentation for real estate professionals. Many of my colleagues did this, and I've helped them with websites. However, they're going back to some of the basics, since real estate is so slow.

I've belonged to IVAA since its beginning, and have met (in person and online) a simply marvelous group of men and women.

I belong to another organization called Remote Professionals, and these are my key contacts. Very focused, open to change, and skilled in a variety of ways.

So what is a VA? A remote professional. There is no beginning and no end to the ways that a VA/Remote Professional can support the needs of businesses...all from a distance. Just as you, Becky, have many life experiences that contribute to your ability to write and do whatever else you choose to do, so do many VAs.

The most important things to establish are trustworthiness and ability. In that order. People need to know that I respect their right to complete privacy, and that I'll be there for them (God willing) tomorrow. That's why a website works for people like me. I can provide background information so potential clients can connect with me, and testimonials. It's hard work, but worth it.

I look out on the changes to our society and see nothing but opportunities to work with others to be part of cohesive organizations that fill the needs of others in our society.

Permalink Reply by Becky on October 8, 2008 at 9:11pm

Wow! You are awesome! I had no idea....have you written an ebook about all this? You are a wealth of experience and information and I'm sure there are many folks here - myself definitely included, that could benefit. Thanks for the link to Remote Professionals and IVAA too! I'll check both sites out!

Permalink Reply by Betsy on October 8, 2008 at 7:58pm

Hi Becky! Thanks for the invite. To answer your question, I suppose you could all me more of a temporary VA or consultant. My largest retainer is as Communications Director for an international franchise, although I do collaborate with the franchisor several times a year in person. I'm responsible for electronic newsletters, inter-company online community development and oversight, franchisee mentoring, and other duties.

I've freelanced other temporary assignments for small businesses, mostly via referrals. These have ranged from consulting services for those just getting started in e-communications, to writing newsletters, blog entries, hard letter copy, and other. I am usually able to pound something out rather quickly for them that gets the job done so they are able to keep moving.

Permalink Reply by Becky on October 8, 2008 at 9:15pm

Hi Betsy! Glad to see both you guys here! You know what, your answers really changed my perception of what a virtual assistant is. Now I'm wondering. Is "Service provider" a better title for a virtual assistant? Am I virtual assistant if I'm doing writing, graphics and photography as opposed to more administrative tasks? Do people think of virtual assistants as anyone who provides work/service over the internet? How much of a difference does it make if we call ourselves "providers" instead of VA's? (anyone can answer!)

Permalink Reply by Sue L Canfield on October 20, 2008 at 10:15pm

Hi Becky. I know different people think of different things when they hear the term virtual assistant. I think the term originally meant providing administrative support virtually. But there are more specific niches now. However, most people think of service providers as businesses that provide a service such as coaches, barbers, etc.

Maybe we could call ourselves Virtual Providers, VP for short? I know I call myself a Virtual Office Professional (VOP?). That's because I feel I'm more of a partner when helping clients, not just an assistant.

Permalink Reply by Judy Vorfeld on October 20, 2008 at 10:30pm

Sue, I love the term Virtual Providers. And it is all about partnering, isn't it.