I regularly have clients contacting me via my website asking for a Virtual Assistant to support them. The work is quite wide and varied, with some jobs being one-offs and others being short- or long-term commitments. Most of the time I introduce the client to a Virtual Assistant team member and I don't hear from them again, unless it's to thank me for my assistance in connecting them - but very few clients do that. However, on odd occasions a client will come back to me to ask for a new VA and … [Read more...]
Client Communication Styles
Over the years as my business has developed I find myself leaning more and more towards email communication and less towards phone communication. Why? Because I find that written communication helps define what needs to be done and what a client's plans are. It helps create a task list for me and I can keep referring back to it instead of wondering 'what did they say again?' However, some clients prefer spoken communication, rather than email. This may because they don't feel confident in … [Read more...]
I think I need a VA – what do I do now?
I had a new prospective client contact me overnight. He feels he now needs a VA and has read through my blog but wasn't sure what the next step was. Ooops! Didn't I tell anyone? My oversight. I have a link in the right-hand menu of this blog but for those who read this via email or RSS, then just simply go to http://www.vadirectory.net/jobrequest.htm and fill out the form giving the details of what you want done. Don't forget to include any software programs that are relevant. The results … [Read more...]
How important is the?
A long term client recently asked me to set up a new website for him. He showed me examples of what he was looking for, sent me the copy for it, I researched royalty free images and set up the web hosting after registering the domain he requested. But when he started asking me when was I going to get the website up and timing was getting urgent I kept wondering why he couldn't see the site? I'd done the work, uploaded the new site and sent him the link. We went round in circles for a couple … [Read more...]
It pays to be cautious
I recently had a request on my website for some research to be done relating to photographs of people wearing jewellery and to report back to the client. One of my team queried that wondering just what the guy might have been up to - I suggested she investigate him to make sure he was a legitimate jeweller - he is and he just wants to be able to let his clients know who is seen wearing his jewellery. Her cautious approach was correct though and it is always best we check things if something … [Read more...]
Time zone vs Cost
I was recently reading a discussion amongst a group of people about their experiences in using a Virtual Assistant company in an Asian country. Some were giving praise and others were vocal about the poor experience they'd had. One of the last commenters said that he was disappointed with the service and that they were closing up shop at 6pm their time just when he was getting into his work for the day. He also made comment that they couldn't be found on Fridays and was thinking he might shift … [Read more...]
VA Saves the Day!
I'm usually up early checking for messages that have come in overnight via email, whilst having my breakfast and first coffee for the day. However, it's rare I answer client emails early, preferring to keep them within business hours, so I can spend time networking with forums and friends during my reading time instead. However this morning proved an exception as I received a 'help' message from a client at 6.46am. He's a business coach and speaker and he'd left home without his memory … [Read more...]
Help, I’ve got the wrong VA!
I was attending a meeting one evening and it was brought to the attention of the audience from the stage that I run a VA network. I was thrilled and got a number of people asking for my business card afterward and wanting to know more about the services we (VAs) offer. Then one lady sought me out before I left the room to tell me she had three VAs but it wasn't working for her and she wondered if she just had the wrong VAs supporting her. Her concern was that all claim they can do everything … [Read more...]
When a new client doesn’t respond
Recently one of my VAs asked me what to do when she'd responded to a job request and hadn't heard back from the client. This is something I get asked periodically. They don't want to make a nuisance of themselves but don't want to lose a potential client either. I was asked if that is a normal occurrence and I had to answer yes, unfortunately for two reasons: Sometimes the client is so overwhelmed with stuff to do that they lose sight of where they're up to next - which is why they need … [Read more...]
