Virtually Does It

During a meeting with a client recently I was described as being like a tank of petrol! He had trouble gauging when he was nearly empty and needed more fuel!

I took this in the light hearted spirit in which it was intended, but what he was actually referring to was the way his time was used, and how close he was getting to his hourly quota each month, whether he had room for more work, or whether he was running on empty! He was finding it difficult to equate his monthly support package and the number of hours, into work that I could do.

When I start working with a new client, and even at our initial meetings, it’s important to talk about what they understand about virtual working and what they would like help with. Sometimes clients don’t know what they need help with, they just need help, but nearly always clients are amazed at how much a VA can do. Virtual working is still new, but rapidly expanding, and proving to be extremely efficient.

So, what can a virtual assistant achieve for you in an hour? If you search this question on the internet you will find a few lists of what VAs say they can do in an hour, and it looks impressive, and that might well be the case.  But what can be done will vary depending on the type of support a client wants, and it is difficult to say ‘I can type this letter for you in 20 minutes’.  I may well do that, or in less time, but if the letter needs hyperlinks, tables added, appendices, a change in format to incorporate specific information, it may take longer.

For me, virtual assistance isn’t just about how many spreadsheets I can turn out in an hour, or how long it takes me to do a PowerPoint presentation, it’s about looking at each client’s needs and responding in the most efficient and effective way (both time and cost) to make sure they’re getting what they want in the way of business and administration support.  I keep time sheets for each client, detailing the amount of time it takes to do tasks, so the time I am charging is always traceable.  This also helps at review meetings, so clients can see what is taking the most time, what’s not, and whether there is any room for manoeuvre.

I firmly believe that virtual assistance is the business support of the future. It is cost effective, efficient, unrestrictive and can grow and change as your business does.

Working at 100mph and think you need help? Are your time-tanks running on empty?!  Let me take your to-do list off your hands!

 photo credit: Pat Hawks

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