| What Industry is Growing During the Recession? | | | | The old way of doing business is giving way to |
| The Rise of the Virtual Assistant... | | | | the new dynamic marketplace. As a |
| Small businesses have been hit hard by the | | | | sub-contractor or working independently, there |
| economic downturn, and are changing their | | | | has never been so much abundant support and |
| strategies. Professionals have been laid off and | | | | opportunity for Virtual Assistants. The rise of |
| are leveraging the power of the internet to start | | | | virtual staffing agencies and outsourcing job sites |
| new lucrative careers. With the recession driving | | | | is steadily increasing to meet the demand of the |
| the change, and modern technology supporting | | | | changing workplace, for both the business looking |
| the trend, a fast changing workplace has been | | | | for virtual help, and for the VA. |
| born from both necessity, and creative innovation. | | | | Not only assisting with matching clients with |
| "The flexibility and innovation available by | | | | assistants, online communities for Virtual |
| integrating virtual workforce solutions is | | | | Assistants are flourishing with professional |
| unmatched in corporate North America. During this | | | | expertise, forums to support the solopreneur |
| challenging economic climate, the types of | | | | marketing mindset, incredible e-learning and training |
| business services offered by qualified, professional | | | | opportunities, dedicated to the professional |
| virtual workers is a welcome resource for small | | | | development of VA's in the industry. Increasingly, |
| to medium businesses." Karen Bowman, West | | | | Virtual Assistants are respected in the |
| Coast Way Consulting, Inc. (Virtual Personnel | | | | professional world as vital support and crucial |
| Specialists) | | | | partners to the success of businesses, |
| Working from home was a growing trend before, | | | | corporations and organizations all over the globe. |
| and but has now kicked into overdrive. We are | | | | Industry standards are being established with a |
| witnessing this exploding movement all around us. | | | | growing number of accreditation and niche training |
| With hundreds of publications on the outsourcing | | | | programs to reflect the skills needed in today's |
| industry, such as Michael J. Russer's new book, | | | | business world. |
| "The Obsolete Employee: How Businesses | | | | The Most In-Demand Services in 2009 |
| Succeed Without Employees and Love It!", virtual | | | | Virtual Assistants are carving out specialized |
| assistance along with many other industries | | | | niches with staggering work opportunities, and |
| flourishing online is a sign of the times we're in. | | | | many are growing their businesses so fast they |
| Filling the Gap of Downsized Employees | | | | are bringing on additional help! Areas such as |
| An editorial was published January 2009 on | | | | internet marketing, copywriting and the HOTTEST |
| entitled "Down economy a boon to virtual | | | | niche service, Social Media Marketing are bringing |
| assistants". The interview with virtual recruiter | | | | VA's big rewards from their home office. With |
| Gayle Buske of "Team Double-Click", stated, | | | | Social Networking and online marketing continuing |
| "Demand for our services has actually gone up," | | | | to explode at staggering rates, there is no doubt |
| says Buske. "A lot of clients are replacing their | | | | that outsourcing professional help with a solid |
| brick-and-mortar offices with virtual offices. | | | | presence in Web 2.0 will be the most beneficial |
| They're staffing virtually." | | | | activity businesses could do in 2009. |
| Virtual staffing is quickly becoming a lifeline for | | | | Recession or not, many businesses are |
| businesses struggling to weather out the | | | | discovering new prosperity with the focused |
| recession and keep up with the rapid | | | | assistance from a Virtual Assistant. This is |
| advancements of the new marketplace in Web | | | | certainly one industry that won't be downsized! |
| 2.0. There is indeed ample opportunity for any | | | | Want a higher level of career fulfillment, flexible |
| business to grow during this economic slump, and | | | | hours, a dynamic roster of clients all over the |
| with so many online professionals armed with a | | | | world, higher earnings and tax write-offs? |
| wide variety of specialized skills, partnering with a | | | | There is NO better time to get the training you |
| outsourced professional is an attractive, and | | | | need to get started right away. Businesses |
| potentially very lucrative solution. | | | | everywhere need Virtual Assistants with skills to |
| Virtual Staffing Agencies and Supportive | | | | help them establish a strong presence in the world |
| Communities | | | | of Web 2.0. |