Blog :: Filipino Virtual Assistant

Are Virtual Assistants only for Administrative Support?

by Chel

October 6th, 2010

I tried to join one VA forum and I was declined. Their primary reason was because I was not doing administrative support. They said that the real virtual assistants are those that only do administrative support. Further, on their page it said that it doesn’t mean that you work virtually, you should call yourself as a virtual assistant. Like if you do web design virtually, you’re a web designer. If you do bookkeeping, you’re a bookkeper. A little weird, I must say for thinking such thing.

Why constrict yourself in just doing administrative support? Why not spread your wings and learn to do Internet Marketing or Social Media? Aren’t people who do those type of tasks not called a VA too?

Again, we’ll be going back to my first post. Best to understand it as early as now.

Now I understand why there are some VAs who try to move away from the virtual assistant term itself. They don’t want to be generalized as people who do administrative support. While it’s not bad to do administrative tasks, I feel that there’s more a virtual assistant can offer and not just being a remote secretary. Times have changed and as more business owners shift online, they need help with handling their businesses like marketing and support which is not restricted to administrative tasks. The more skills you have, the higher income potential you could get.

One of the most sought-after skills in the online world is Facebook techie skills. We know how Facebook is dominating the social marketing space and how it has connected many people especially businesses to their consumers. At the end of the year, FB will be changing how its business pages will be delivered and virtual assistants looking into delivering this niche must get ready as early as now in adapting to its changes.

Equipping yourselves with the right skills is essential in providing professional services as a virtual assistant. VAClassroom is one of the online training providers geared to helping virtual assistants be up-to-date with their skills. They provide topnotch training resources and opportunities for VAs to leverage their income potential and gain “in-demand” skills that are highly needed by the online businesses nowadays.

Knowledge in administrative support is important for a virtual assistant but isn’t providing Facebook assistance like helping clients in building their Facebook business pages more exciting?

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Top 3 Tools I Use in my Virtual Assistant Business

by Chel

October 4th, 2010

When I first started out, I didn’t have a clue on what I need to start out to become a virtual assistant. So I’ve come up with a list to show the top 3 tools that a virtual assistant must absolutely have before starting out:

1. Computer – To be able to work virtually, you need to own a computer! I prefer laptops than desktops as they provide you instant mobility. You can work anywhere you want—at home, coffee shop, my in-laws place, beach, basically anywhere! Of course, as long as there’s internet connection… I used to own a 2nd hand Macbook and it got destroyed because of Typhoon Ondoy. This disaster came at the point in my life when I was serving my last 30 days in my previous call center job. Talk about BAD timing! Anyway, I asked around for help and my HS best friend was able to ask a loan from one of his colleagues for me. I borrowed 20k and I was able to buy a brand new Acer Aspire 4736z for about 27k. I was able to repay it in 2 months time. I knew I can do it because I badly need the laptop for my newfound career! Although I so wanted to get a Macbook Pro but at that time, I just needed a laptop for work… to be able to work. Someday I will get my hands on that bloody MB Pro!

2. Internet Connection – You need a fast and reliable internet connection. We used to have Globe Internet (the wired one) when we were still living in San Juan. One of the things I learned from the previous outsourcing company I worked with was always to have a Plan B. So I went out and applied for Plan B with Sun. I got their wireless broadband USB. I even got it a discounted price as I was a postpaid subscriber. When we moved, Globe was out of the picture but I retained my Sun Broadband subscription and up to this day, this is what I use for my internet connection. It’s faster than Globe tattoo I tell you! I even bought their router to be able to work virtually anywhere in our house and of course get wireless connected.

3. Headset – I’ve used and owned a couple of headsets. My primary reason for purchasing one is to be able to easily talk to people online. The right headset makes a whole lot of difference! I strongly recommend you get the USB headset ones as they provide a nicer sound than those with the standard 3.5 mm jacks.

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Word Camp 2010

by Chel

October 4th, 2010

Okay, I must admit.. I was late in attending the Word Camp 2010 held at De Lasalle University – College of Saint Benilde yesterday. What can I do? I had work in the morning.. I had to. My manager was out on vacation for the weekend and I there were a gazillion of tickets waiting for me because of the captcha outage. But hey, that’s okay. That’s life! I need to work and I value this client of mine so much that I’m dead-set on doing the work to the best of my ability.

Anyway, I arrived after lunch and I was soooo hungry! I just ate soup before I left home and there was free-flowing Krispy Kreme and coffee. Uh-oh!

I was able to listen to a couple of talks in the afternoon session held in CSB’s Theater though.

I liked the talk given by Danny Arao. He talked about A Blogger’s Obligation and presented the differences of Journalism & Blogging. I learned that anything that you publish on the Internet is used for public consumption so we have to be careful of what we say. “Responsible bloggers should recognize that they are publishing words publicly, and they have certain ethical obligations to their readers, the people they write about and society in general” (CyberJournalist.net)

I didn’t know that there was a country consultant for Google here in the Philippines. Aileen Apolo-De Jesus provided a short talk about the different Google services and products. Well, I love Google! Google has been my best friend for quite some time now as it helps me get my virtual assistant business right on track!

Matt Mullenweg & Chel Bautista

Matt Mullenweg, the founder of WordPress also graced the event! I was starstruck to say the least! LOL.

I admire his vision of making products open-source. I’m starting to fall in love with WordPress as you can do a lot of amazing things with it even if you really don’t know how to code. Well, I don’t. But I do know basic HTML and I learned how to do basic design. So, it’s something I know I can do. As far as I can tell, you can learn all about it on the Internet and that’s exactly what I’m determined to do. Remember, there’s always Google to help you out!

Here’s the scanned image of my “Certificate of Participation”. I know I missed out on half a day. Nevertheless, I will try to attend the whole day event next year. Fingers crossed… LOL

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6 Must-Have Skills every Virtual Assistant Should Have

by Chel

October 3rd, 2010

Now that you have understood the term virtual assistant, have you ever wondered what skills are required to be a virtual assistant? Virtual Assistant work is very diverse. You can do internet marketing, social media marketing, data entry, research, customer service, web design, virtual events, bookkeeping and the list goes on…

The services that every VA provides may differ but there are 6 must-have skills that every virtual assistant is required to have in order to be successful:

Computer and office skills – Since we’re dealing with online work, it’s a prerequisite that every VA must have the ability to use the computer and internet applications. If you have stumbled upon this post, you can pat yourself on the back. You have just proven to yourself that you’re able to use the computer, Internet, a browser, and most especially the search engine (if you found this article through Google, that is). Knowledge of MS Office or any similar office applications is also a must. Most often than not, a virtual assistant creates documents, spreadsheets and presentations for their clients
Self Discipline– To be successful as a VA, you must have a great deal of self-discipline. Working at home gives you the freedom to work at your own hours but it can also present a whole lot of distractions. That’s why you have to take note that work must be done accordingly. Remember, this is a business. As with any other business, there are deadlines that are set by clients for certain tasks and you need to meet this deadlines to show that you are professional in your work. I believe it would be worthwhile if you set a deadline for yourself to finish the tasks on hand. The faster you can finish a task, the more clients you can accept.
Resourcefulness – Sometimes clients provide you a vague list of tasks that need to be done. Being resourceful is a must-have skill because you need to have the ability to research answers for any kind of problem. Your client will love you if you take the initiative! While it’s not bad to ask the client for a solution, it would spell a whole lot of difference if you look it up yourself. Once you have found the answer, you may verify it with your client to see if you’re on the right track.
Anticipation of Needs – As you get to know your client, you get familiar with the tasks you consistently do. Providing your client the information about possible loopholes or things that would be beneficial to them would bring about trust and respect. I recall a close friend who is working in the hospitality industry saying that their work entails being alert at all times and thinking ahead of possible needs their clients may have. I believe this is an advantageous skill because as a service provider, it means you’ve gotten a good grasp of your client and their business which can make you a valuable asset to them.
Technology Requirements – I admit that working in the VA industry requires you to have the most current and up-to-date knowledge about technology & equipment. If you don’t have the latest and the greatest information, you’ll be left in the dark. Clients that find you online want their VAs to be able to communicate with them in a timely manner. If you have a very slow computer and internet connection, you may lose that client as speed and efficiency in doing tasks is usually one of the main requirements of clients. If you provide internet marketing and social media services, take note that skills for these niches are in demand nowadays and you always have to equip yourself with the latest information because it’s an ever growing and changing niche.
People Skills – A virtual assistant gets to meet a wide range of personalities. From prospective clients to fellow virtual assistants, everybody’s different! Nevertheless, a virtual assistant must know how to deal with different kinds of people. Although you’re working at home, always remember that you must be professional and behave accordingly as this will lead you to success in the future. Clients may recommend you to others if they find you easy to work with.

If you’ve got these six must-have skills, then you’re on your way on becoming a true-blue virtual assistant. Let me know if you have other skills in mind that could bring about more success to being a virtual assistant.

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Understanding the Term Virtual Assistant

by Chel

September 25th, 2010

Before you dive into the wonderful world of working at home, you need to fully understand the term Virtual Assistant.

I found a simple & easy to understand definition for it online:

VAnetworking.com: A Virtual Assistant (VA) is a highly-skilled independent professional who provides remote business support services.

This definition strikes the core of what VAs are and what they can do for businesses.

I’d like to separate the definition into sections for us to better understand it.

Highly-skilled – Virtual assistants are educated and Internet-savvy. They use different kinds of technology to assist clients but primarily they have a computer and Internet connection as a means of communication. Most VAs have worked already in a company but changed careers because of the freedom that the VA industry can provide them.

Independent – VAs are NOT employees. They work as freelancers or contractors for clients and as such, do not receive any benefits.

Professional – Virtual assistants are professionals in their own right. Although it’s a work-at-home job, they constantly deal with clients’ sensitive information. Thus, they adhere to strict moral and ethical standards that gain their clients’ trust. Being a VA provides you an ongoing creative and intellectually challenging work day in and day out.

Remote – Work is done and delivered from the virtual assistant’s location which is not in a regular office setup. Most often than not, VAs work from home. However, they’re not strictly confined to their home office as they can work anywhere they wish. It could be in a coffee shop, friend’s house or while travelling. As long as they have their laptop and internet connection, they can freely work anywhere.

Business Support – VAs are business owners themselves and they understand the problem of their clients which is most often than not, the need to save time and money and generate more income.

Services – Every virtual assistant has a different set of services that they provide their clients which means that the services they offer usually are the skills that they’re good at.

I hope by now you understand what a virtual assistant is. One thing, I would like to reiterate is that virtual assistants are not employees but are partners. They are “self-employed” people and are considered vital to their client’s success in their business.

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