Comprehensive VA Industry Study
A 270 page in-depth analysis of the virtual assistance industry as detailed by hundreds of practicing virtual assistant survey participants.
2007 OIVAC Downloads and Announcements
Order informative recorded presentations, edited MP3 files and downloadable give-a-ways from the 2007 OIVAC Online Convention as well as the 2006 Convention.
Business Growth Mastermind Program
The Business Growth Mastermind Program offers confidential sessions among VA group members to brainstorm and discuss issues relating to the growth and development of member businesses.
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VA Mentor Program
The VA Mentor Program allows members to reap the benefits of having a one-on-one relationship with a VA Mentor willing to share their experience and expertise to help you grow your business.
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The Alliance 4VB Annual Online Convention
The only international convention designed for virtual assistants.
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By Dana Wallert It takes money to make money. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. You’ve heard all the clichés.As a small business owner, you know that cliché or not, these adages are often true. Your business life is a constant risk-benefit analysis. There are so many decisions to make. Each decision can be the key to success. On the other hand, each choice can send you right down the track of failure. It’s no wonder small business owners often feel so stressed! One of the major decisions in the world of small business is when to grow and how fast. Do you have more work than your present staff can handle? Is there an area of your business that you’re thinking of expanding but don’t have the required manpower? Maybe you’ve already decided to adopt that new marketing plan, but it’s turning out to be a lot more work than expected. So as a small business owner, what do you do now? Do you call the local newspaper office and start advertising for a new employee? Can you really afford to do that? What about using a temp agency? Could that reduce the risk to your business? Well, you could try either of those options, but have you fully analyzed what the cost to your small business will be. Employees, temporary or not, inherently cost you more than you think. For each employee, you’ve got to worry about so much more than just wages. You’ve got to consider the payroll taxes, the insurance costs, the cost of your time hiring and training this person, extra office space and equipment, etc. What if you’ve done the analysis of these risks vs. the benefits to your small business and found that you just can’t afford the risk right now? Do you give up on all your growth plans? Of course you don’t! You look for other options. Have you ever considered hiring a virtual assistant? Virtual assistants can help in a variety of ways. There are virtual assistants who specialize solely in administrative tasks. You can also find an assistant who focuses more on marketing and advertising plans. Why is hiring a virtual assistant different than taking on an on-site employee? For starters, you will most often hire virtual assistants on a project to project basis. You may also hire them on a retainer basis, but either way they are working on a contract basis for you. This means that you are not going to be dealing with taxes, benefits, or any of the other human resource issues associated with an on-site employee. Also, you need not feel obligated to your virtual assistant. If you are not pleased with their work, you simply don’t hire them again! No need for performance reviews or warnings, just find a new provider. It’s important that you do enough research to make sure you find an assistant who you feel comfortable with and with whom you find communication simple. Also, make sure both of you are clear about the expectations and terms of your agreement. Hiring a virtual assistant may seem like a foray into a strange, new world, but for small business owners trying to get the most bang for their buck, it might just be one option worth checking out. Dana Wallert is the owner of an online virtual assistance company. She has many years experience in retail sales, as well as office management. Find more about Dana and sign up to receive her free monthly newsletter at http://www.dwofficesolutions.com |
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VA Spotlight
Mary Beth Marino comes to the VA industry after years of working in Sales & Marketing in several Fortune 500 Companies.
Read more about Marino, Mary Beth
Industry News
2007 Blog Hopping
& Podcast Tour
Sharon Williams takes 45-day Internet blog & podcast tour, responding to 200+ VA-related questions during an Industry and OIVAC promotion campaign. Click here for the complete, compiled, & informative 145 page hyperlinked Tour PDF & 6 podcasts on sale now! Proceeds to support 2008 OIVAC.
The Alliance is looking for “experts”, virtual assistants and other business owners interested in presenting on topics relevant to virtual assistants. Presentations are free for all members to attend and last approximately 45 minutes with 15 minutes for questions and answers. Are you an expert in your field or know someone who is? Contact the Alliance today!
Read Core Competencies for Emerging VAs: Recommended basic requirements for persons interested in becoming a Virtual Assistant.
The next MasterMind meeting is scheduled for Spring 2008. To learn more and to sign up visit The MasterMind Program.
Basic, Professional and Premiere Members: Be sure to check out the resources available in the members' only areas especially the forum! Discussion is currently centering around goal setting for the new year - there's no better time to get started! If you're a free member, you can easily upgrade.
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| Alternative Virtual Solutions |
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