| Several clients have come to me and opened up | | | | are someone who likes to deal with your VA on |
| about their individual experiences of working with | | | | the phone, and he or she prefers to deal with |
| VA's - Some great, some not so good at all, and | | | | clients through email, then that VA is not the best |
| some very unfortunate.... | | | | match for you. Generally, when assigning any |
| So where are they going right, and where are | | | | tasks to your VA, delegate only one task at a |
| they going wrong? There may be several reasons | | | | time, for example, send individual emails rather |
| why one arrangement could have been | | | | than 6 tasks on a single email. This way each task |
| considered as "couldn't be better", while another | | | | can be completed, responded to and closed. |
| was simply "stress and aggravation". It could be | | | | A good task assignment should be made up of 3 |
| the VA and it could be the hirer, or the situation | | | | things. 1) A title or reference. 2) A project brief |
| could be caused by both. If you're considering | | | | or task description. 3) A timescale and deadline - |
| hiring your very first VA, definitely follow these | | | | e.g. spend a maximum of 2 hours, to be |
| simple guidelines of survival. | | | | completed on dd/mm. |
| Rule # 1 - Evaluate your work. Start considering | | | | Try to set your deadlines before you begin, and |
| the bigger picture, and ask yourself, what can you | | | | when working with a solo VA, make this your |
| outsource which keeps getting put to the bottom | | | | golden guideline - one person can only do so much. |
| or your 'To Do' list? What bothers you the most? | | | | If you hire a VA who has a small support team, |
| What tasks do you enjoy and what do you | | | | it's more likely that they will have greater flexibility |
| usually avoid? With every task you undertake, | | | | with meeting tighter deadlines. If assigning multiple |
| always ask yourself this question, "Could a VA be | | | | tasks, always set an order of priority. |
| doing this instead of me?" | | | | Rule # 4 - Common fears - and how to |
| For example, if you are marketing your online | | | | overcome them. |
| business and submitting articles, this can be time | | | | - Confidentiality. All good VA's will have a Privacy |
| consuming, and you are far better off outsourcing | | | | Policy and/or Confidentiality Agreement. When |
| this job while personally working on something | | | | dealing with a VA, electronic business is the usual |
| which only you are capable of completing. Other | | | | practice. Make sure your VA has sufficient |
| outsourced tasks may include networking, | | | | security measures in place to keep your valuable |
| managing affiliates, research, web development, | | | | information safe. |
| email marketing, bookkeeping and much more... | | | | - Finance. Never give your VA your debit card for |
| Before hiring, verify that you're absolutely sure | | | | online transactions. Credit card charges can more |
| about what you want to accomplish. Finalise your | | | | often than not be easily reversed, however debit |
| rules and the methods of your work before | | | | cards work slightly differently, resulting in issues |
| bringing a VA into your organisation. | | | | being much harder to resolve. |
| Money Saving Tip: While evaluating, it would be | | | | - Passwords and Logins. If your VA will be |
| wise to consider not only what you can delegate, | | | | accessing websites and online systems on your |
| but also eliminate. Are all of your tasks essential? | | | | behalf, then wherever possible, create a unique |
| Could you potentially automate some of your | | | | login for your VA. Issues can be better identified |
| work? A good VA should be able to assist you | | | | and dealt with from knowing the exact user who |
| with automating your business. I know - as a VA | | | | was logged in. Also, if you're one of those people |
| myself, when dealing with several projects and | | | | who tends to use the same passwords for |
| clients simultaneously, a VA can soon perfect a | | | | various applications, these passwords can remain |
| multi-tasking state of mind! | | | | undisclosed. |
| Rule # 2 - Take the plunge and start hiring (we | | | | - Leap of faith. More often than not, letting go is |
| usually charge by the hour). If you have little or | | | | the hardest thing of all. You understand how you |
| no experience with commanding a virtual worker - | | | | like to get things done, you've perfected your |
| there is no time like today! Most VA's work on a | | | | work methods, and now you're looking at just |
| "pay as you go" hourly rate. Start by assigning | | | | handing it over to someone new. There are only |
| menial or repetitive jobs which need doing, and | | | | so many hours in the day, and unless you want |
| test out at least a few VA's before making any | | | | to spend the entirety of every day working, |
| sort of commitment to one. | | | | outsourcing is the most cost effective way to |
| Rule # 3 - Know how to assign your tasks. Many | | | | stay productive while freeing up your time to do |
| VA's will have their own systems and methods | | | | other things. Hiring a good VA who can |
| for working with their clients. Explore these | | | | understand your business, your work, and above |
| methods in detail from the offset, and make sure | | | | all understand you, can be one of the most |
| their way of working fits in with your plans. If you | | | | rewarding decisions you ever make. |