How do you Respond when Asked – What is a Virtual Assistant?
Guest Article by Sue L Canfield of FindVirtual.com on January 26th, 2010.
The virtual assistance industry is rapidly growing. However, there are many people that still have never heard of the term and do not know what a virtual assistant does . One of the goals here at Chief Virtual Officer is to educate people about what a virtual assistant can do to assist them in their business.
There are several definitions I’ve come across and yet many still do not convey to the solo professional just what a virtual assistant is and how a VA can help them in their business. Part of that may be because there is such a wide variety of tasks that virtual assistants do, while some VAs only do specific tasks.
I like to try to make it as simple as possible for a prospect to understand the term virtual assistant by using terms they are familiar with. Most business people are familiar with the terms administrative assistant, executive assistant, secretary, office manager. A virtual assistant can be one or all of those things from his or her own office. The business person does not need to provide office space, equipment, or benefits. A virtual assistant works as an independent contractor and pays his or her own taxes. If the business person only needs assistance a few hours each month, a virtual assistant can provide those services and the business owner doesn’t have to pay for a part-time employee.
So, how do you respond when asked – what is a virtual assistant? I’d love to read your replies. Help us educate the world about the virtual assistance industry.
Thanks, Sue, great article! I really appreciate your letting me use it here! 
As Sue mentions above, some Virtual Assistants, like ME, specialize. I can do pretty much any office related tasks but know where my strengths lie so pretty much concentrate on providing the services I am not only best AT doing but also LOVE doing.
For example, I do bring a strong grammar and spelling background to my business so the most logical specialty for ME is my proofreading and editing . This is what I would do all day long for free if I won the lottery. I cannot even read a book for pleasure or see a bill-board or street sign or newspaper story without automatically finding spelling or grammar errors!
Also, since I do have a year of training for this service, once I was hired to proofread and edit botched and error laden transcriptions , this seemed another service I could offer that would fit in so well with the previous ones. As part of my transcription service, I also triple proofread each file and edit as needed until I get it as humanly perfect as I can. Then and only then do I consider the assignment ready to send to the client .
I also have been helping some bloggers add posts to their blogs and have pulled content from one site to put on a make-over site. I do not yet have these things designated here on my site but set them up with my Schedule a Project option.
As mentioned in the previous post Continuously Learning as a Virtual Assistant , I am also more than happy to help other VA’s with their duties and assignments and love doing this. I am flexible, easy to work with and really love doing what I do, so this is the perfect “job” for me, though, I must admit, I have never had a harder boss than myself!
Remember, I am a Virtual Assistant who LOVES to do editing, proofreading and transcription assignments! Think of me when you need these services or if you know someone who does.
Spelling & Grammar Errors Are Costing You Business!
Jan Tallent
Tallent Agency Virtual Assistance
573-775-4520 jan@tallentagency.com
