I have on my VA website a Job Request form for prospective clients to fill out, asking them the questions that we need answers to, to know what kind of support they require. Two of those questions ask if they need local support and where the job is located if local support is required. However, not all answer those two questions and we end up with some interesting exercises to ensure that the right VA contacts them for their needs.
For example: If a client is based in the US and indicates that they do not need local support and that the location is ‘virtual’, that would mean to the team that it doesn’t matter where the VA is located and that the work can be carried out virtually. However, it seems that this is misinterpreted sometimes by the person filling out the form, or perhaps they do not realise that ‘not local’ can mean in another country, rather than not their state.
So, working virtually can mean different things to different people. I carry out duties mainly for clients in my own state and country – but it’s almost all virtual and I rarely see them face-to-face or in their offices. However, virtual can also mean carrying out duties for someone on the other side of the world, so it’s important to convey exactly what is meant by ‘virtual’. Perhaps I need to rethink my form so it’s clear to all those who choose to fill it out. KMT
Thea says
Hi Kathie,
I wonder if your US clients require you to call them too? Who shoulders the phone bills? Or
Do you use Skype or other mode of communication?
Your blog is so organized 🙂
Thea
kathiemt says
Thanks re the comment about being organized Thea. I like being able to find things easily so thought it would help others too.
Re communication – the majority of communication with all our clients is via email and only the occasional client requires phone communication. For clients that are local, yes we would use the phone periodically – although I have one client who lives 5 mins away from me and we use email around 95% of the time.
Skype is a good option and when I’m communicating with others in another country we do use Skype or web conferencing. But when a client is requesting work to be done, generally they fill out the form and indicate their needs – few want/ask for phone answering or phone calls to be made.