| In these lean economic times, businesses are striving | | | | means they don't loose privacy or space. |
| more than ever to streamline and increase profitability. | | | | As more and more businesses move their marketing |
| In order to achieve this some business owners make | | | | and communications to the Internet, Virtual Assistants |
| the mistake of trying to do everything themselves, but | | | | are becoming the obvious solution to staffing issues. |
| is this wise? | | | | For an hourly fee often less than the cost of temps or |
| The business owner is responsible for generating new | | | | the real cost of employees, businesses can take |
| revenue for their business. As the business grows, so | | | | advantage of professional assistance and a variety of |
| do administrative tasks. The more time spent IN the | | | | skills at the click of a mouse. |
| business on administrative tasks, the less time spent | | | | Work assignments are communicated through email. |
| ON the business generating more sales and planning its | | | | The use of telephone, fax or post and web-based |
| growth. | | | | tools is also a means of keeping in touch. |
| The business owner's time is not best spent on all the | | | | Typical tasks outsourced include returning telephone |
| small (but important) administrative tasks necessary in | | | | calls, answering e-mails and drafting letters. They also |
| running a successfully business. More and more | | | | run their diaries, manage event bookings, run marketing |
| prudent business owners are delegating the less | | | | and email campaigns, design presentations, source and |
| profitable tasks by hiring a virtual assistant, whose | | | | book flights, proof-read and beautify documentation. |
| hourly rate is somewhat less than the business | | | | Some virtual assistants are highly specialised in |
| owner's real financial worth. | | | | particular areas including marketing support, |
| Virtual assistants are the 21st Century equivalent of | | | | e-newsletters, web design, squeeze pages and |
| the personal assistant of the 20th Century. They | | | | e-commerce. |
| provide administrative and secretarial assistance, when | | | | There's no doubt that having virtual assistance is a |
| required. they are self-employed, so there are no | | | | time-management tool. With the support of a good |
| employer's responsibilities like PAYE, National Insurance, | | | | one, business image is enhanced, the business runs |
| tax, sick pay, maternity leave, paid holiday or benefits | | | | smoother and more efficiently which means greater |
| packages. Best of all, because they work from their | | | | productivity. Business owners can focus on what is |
| own premises, there's no need to provide virtual | | | | important, rather than urgent, leaving them more time |
| assistants with any office space, desk or equipment, | | | | to work ON their business rather than IN it. For some it |
| ideal for small business owners and entrepreneurs | | | | means regaining their evenings and weekends. |
| who operate their business from their home which | | | | |