Virtual Assistance in the News
Lately, virtual assistance has been getting a considerable amount of media attention. As a fairly new way of doing things that not many people are aware of, it is great that the media is helping to spread the word! This post is simply a round-up of some of the coverage: Esquire – My Outsourced Life by A.J. Jacobs > U.S. News & World Report – How to Find a Virtual Assistant > CNN – More Firms Use Virtual Assistance > The Wall Street Journal – Outsourcing Your Life by Ellen Gamerman > CNN Europe –...
read moreA Virtual Assistant is the Ultimate Productivity Booster
High performers are always in search of a way to squeeze extra productivity out of their day. They consume blogs, books, planners, gadgets, and hacks to produce the optimal workflow and maximize their efficiency. Inevitably, they experience a point of diminishing returns — having an organized to-do list, a prioritization system, a calendar, and a smartphone account for the 20% of productivity practices that make 80% of the difference. After that, you are basically fine-tuning an already well oiled machine. At this point, you’ve hit the...
read moreTips for Managing a Virtual Assistant
Set expectations up front: It’s okay to set ground rules and communicate what is important to you – your virtual assistant will appreciate knowing how to keep you happy. Just be sure that it is done tactfully, as the person you are working with (like anyone else in the world) will be put off if they are being talked down to. Help them see the big picture: Rather than assigning random work to your virtual assistant, tell them how it fits into your business. With this information, they can do a better job on your task – and...
read moreIs Virtual Assistance Just a Trend?
In a virtual assistant article by r3r.com, the author raises an excellent point: the low barrier to entry means that the market is becoming flooded with people that have little training or experience – and the client is ultimately the one who suffers. This is unfortunate because virtual assistance as an “industry” is new, and the public’s overall opinion of its usefulness and practicality is still being decided. He also states the opinion (which I agree with) that eventually, the cream will rise to the top. The barrier...
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