Dawson Documents- Virtual Assistant

I want to be a VA!

According to articles on msn.com, a Virtual Assistant (VA) business is one of the hottest home-based businesses going around.

A Virtual Assistant can be so something every business needs, the costs are low to start, and although some businesses need to be educated on how a Virtual Assistant works, and why they benefit their company, once they know how to use a VA- they would most likely never go back to hiring a ‘Staff Member’.

There are many things to consider if you do decide to start your own Virtual Assistant business. This series of 5 Articles will help you understand just what it takes to be a VA.

I will tell you what you need to get started, give you the resources that you need, what to do once you have started, how to get those clients, how to market and brand your Business and how to keep your business going.

First of all- What is a Virtual Assistant?

A Virtual Assistant is much like your office employee, though can be more beneficial to your company.

The services provided by a Virtual Assistant are done so from their own office. Hiring a Virtual Assistant is an asset to any company. They can save time, stress and help build your company to where you want it to be.

Virtual: pertaining to a conceptual, rather than physical presence

Assistant: a person who contributes to the fulfilment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose.

I have been running my business as a Virtual Assistant (VA) for just under 2 years now. I have received many emails from ladies from all walks of life. Some are working and want a change but most are Mums who are at home with their Children, wanting something more than to just be at home looking after the children.

The emails I have received all follow in the same direction- to one Question- ‘How do I become a VA’?

Is it as simple as me saying- You go- you can do it? My answer is: Yes you can, BUT, you have to have the skills, passion, patience and support to do so.

First off, having the experience and knowledge of Administration is something you have to have. My past employment included working in Administration and Human Resources, so I had the experience to be a VA.

I also have completed several Certificates at TAFE including a Diploma in Business, which also teaches you relevant skills needed for on the job. If you have not completed courses this may be an option and you may like to visit: www.tafe.wa.edu.au, www.tafe.sa.edu.au, www.tafe.vic.gov.au, www.tafe.qld.gov.au, www.tafensw.edu.au, www.cdu.edu.au (NT).

If you have the communication skills, experience and knowledge- then you are half way there.

You then will have to decide if you just want to subcontract out to other Virtual Assistants or go with the option of starting your own business.

Links to Sub Contract Out:

www.asecretary.com.au , www.indeed.com.au

To start your own business you will need to consider:

• Business Plan: www.business.gov

• Business Name: Something that relates to your Business and You. I chose Dawson Documents as Dawson is my Surname and Documents covers a very wide range of services I can provide. I also added ‘-Virtual Assistant’ to the name so it really defines what I do.

• Website: There are many website builders and options out there- finding the right one for you can take some time, but once you do, you will be grateful for the time spent looking for it. Of course you can always hire a VA to complete your website and of course there are many Web Designers out there. If you need some options, please let me know and I can assist with this though I will cover this Article ‘What You Need- Getting Started.

• Email and Contact Number: It is so important to brand your business. A Business email shows professionalism and people are generally more trustworthy of a business email. For example dawsondocuments@bigpond.com is less professional than erin@dawsondocuments.com.au. Again, there are many options out there; you really can’t afford not to have your own business email.

• What services will you provide? You need to decide who your target market will be and what you can offer them. Be firm about what you offer. If you find you want to offer more to your clients, there are many courses out in the www that you can take-up. Many Virtual Assistants have a Niche: Real Estate, Legal. Accounting etc

• ABN: You can go here www.abr.business.gov.au  and Register your Business Name and get an ABN for Free.

Lastly there are some great VA Forums out there you can join to gain knowledge and get started if that is what you wish to do.

So that is ‘Getting Started’. In this 5 Part Series I will go over what else you need to get started in your VA Business and Answer any questions that you may have which I will also incorporate into the Series.

Remember, by 2015 people will be asking not ‘What is a Virtual Assistant’ but ‘Who is your Virtual Assistant.’

This month Dawson Documents are introducing a range of Business Starter Packs.

We all know how hard it can be starting from scratch and asking 'Where do I go from here?'

The Packs will include Template Designs, Newsletters Options, Business Card options, DL & Postcard design and print and there will even be some items available that are Complimentary.

The First pack was introduced last week and has proved to be popular so far. The Business Starter Template Pack consists of an Invoice Template, Receipt Template, Order Form Template and a With Compliments Slip Template. The pack is priced at $50.00 but as an Introduction Price is currently available to purchase for $45.00.

There is also a Resources Page which has some Physical items available for purchase that will definitely help any business with what they want to achieve.

Dawson Documents aims to assist any business in their Administration needs and will strive to get the best results for YOU and YOUR Business.

If you have any items that you think other Businesses would benefit from, please contact Erin.

As a small business you spend all of your time working on it, building it, and keeping it running to your best.

There are so many tasks that need to be done and sometimes you start to drown, fall behind and become unmotivated.

Everyone running their own business has at least one task that they just hate to do.

So, here I am, Dawson Documents, to complete those tasks that you just screw your nose up at.

The A - Z of Virtual Assistant tasks.

A- Administration, Affordable, Answering queries on behalf of your business, Australian Certified.

B- Banners.

C- Customer Service- SO important in business weather this be on the phone, on email or in person, Confidentiality- you can be assured all your information is kept secure and confidential.

D- Dawson Documents- Virtual Assistant, this is the name you will have to remember. Design (DL designs, Business Cards), Data Entry.

E- Email Answering, Excel Spreadsheets, Event, Conference & Management Research.

F- Forms, if you need one designed or need them to be filled out online, tedious tasks like this, I can complete for you.

Filing- we all hate filing, but organisation is so important in Business.

G-Going Away? Let a Virtual Assistant assist you in the running of your business.

H-Hiring a Virtual Assistant will save you time, money and stress. Hand over your Admin tasks and concentrate more on your business, let me work in it.

I-Invitations, need them created or sent out?

J- Joy is what I get when I am working on your business. Ok so this does sounds corny, but what I am trying to say is this is what I love to do and I will work hard for your business- plus I couldn’t find anything that started with J.

K- Keeping in touch with you- I will always let you know how a task is progressing.

L- Letter Writing,  Lower Prices- you can save hundreds of $$ when hiring a Virtual Assistant compared to hiring a full time employee.

M- Mail Outs.

N- No physical space- as a Virtual Assistant works from their home office, none of your valuable space is taken up.

O- Outsourcing- that’s what you call handing over your tasks that you screw your nose up at.

P- PowerPoint Presentations, Professionalism, Printing, Pay only what you need to.

Q- Question Answering for customers, Quotes.

R- Research, Resumes- I have a GREAT company in mind for this. If I can't do it, I will find you someone who can.

S- Social Networking Management (Facebook, Twitter, Linked In). Sorting, Stationary design.

T- Transcription, Typing, Travel arrangements.

U-Utilising my skills, past experience, certifications and knowledge to ensure the work you need completed is done so efficiently and professionally.

V- Virtual Assistant- your saviour- that’s me- helping you with the tasks you require completing.

W- Word, anything related to Word, I can do it. Website Building- sites I have build include www.dawsondocuments.com.au, www.lettersfromsanta.com.au, www.gibsonwelding.com.au, www.healthylrlife.com

X- XP- this is the system I am using and I believe it works well for the work I complete.

Y-Yesterday, if you need it done yesterday, then bring it to me today.

Z- ZZZzzzzz- ok so I can't do that for you- but how about whilst you are sleeping, I complete your tasks for you.

So for those tasks that you love to hate, let me love and complete them for you- email erin@dawsondocuments.com.au for a quote.

Have you often asked yourself what does a Virtual Assistant do?
Maybe you have heard the term but not given it a second thought?

Now you will know what a Virtual Assistant is, what they can do for you and your business and just how much you will expect to pay for one.

Welcome to 2010. The start of a New Year= a new start, new goals, new business ventures and maybe trying something new to improve your business.

So, what is a Virtual Assistant?
A Virtual Assistant is much like your office employee, though can be more beneficial to your company.

The services provided by a Virtual Assistant are done so from their own office. Hiring a Virtual Assistant is an asset to any company.

It can increase your productivity, save you time, reduce stress and lower your costs, all key factors that are associated with hiring and working with a full time office employee. 

What can a Virtual Assistant do for you?
A Virtual Assistant provides most of the same services as an onsite employee, though without the added expenses.

You can subcontract your work out to  a Virtual Assistant on a job to job basis, only calling on them when you need a particular task completed. Services provided by VA?s can include; Data Entry, PowerPoint Presentations, Word Processing, Design and Printing of Stationary, Mail Outs, Transcription, Website Presentation and Design, Bookkeeping, Event Planning, Travel Arrangements, Diary Arrangements, plus many more. VA?s can also specialise in certain areas such as Legal and Real Estate.

What would you expect to pay for a Virtual Assistant?
The cost of a Virtual Assistant does vary depending on the service required and the time needed to complete certain jobs and projects. Most rates are between $25 and $45 per hour which is a small amount to pay to eliminate those tasks that have been sitting on your to do list, remembering you only pay for the time worked on your task. Also remember that VA?s are trained in Administration so something that may take you a few hours to complete, may only take a couple of hours for a VA to complete, saving you valuable time.

So that in a nutshell is what VA's are all about. Do you have a question about what other services VA's can provide?  Please contact me if you do.

Happy New Year

Erin