how to choose a virtual assistant company
TRANSCRIPT
How to Choose The Right VIRTUAL ASSISTANT COMPANY
Why does it matter?
There are a lot of virtual assistants out there.
and when you think you are hiring this
sometimes you are really hiring this
or this!
understanding the virtual assistant market will help you save time
and avoid costly mistakes.
main types of VA company
THERE ARE
4
The One Person Band
The Offshore Solution
One Size Fits All Approach
The Business-Grade Approach
Let’s look at the pros and cons of each type of VA company
Pros The One Person Band
1 Dedicated
Lower overhead 2
Cons The One Person Band
It can be hard to find a good one
Their time and skills may be limited
No guarantees or backup
1
2
3
Pros The Offshore Solution
Lower hourly rates
Different timezone so can complete work overnight
1
2
Cons The Offshore Solution
Non native English speakers
Lower quality standards
Cultural differences can make it harder to relate
1
2
3
Pros One Size Fits All
Standardized offering
Mainstream companies
1
2
Cons One Size Fits All
Can only handle simple admin tasks
Often use ‘task-based’ approach
No personalized matching with the right assistant
1
2
3
Pros Business-Class
Personalized service
Skilled assistants who can take on complex business tasks
Satisfaction guarantees
1
2
3
Cons Business-Class
You pay more for skilled assistants Business class VA companies are more selective about who they accept as clients
1
2
Decision Factors
Will my assistant be talking to my customers?
Some key things to decide
Do I have tasks that need to be done beyond basic admin?
Is quality important to me? Do I want a guarantee?
Is it important that I speak to the assistant that will be assigned to me before deciding?
1
2
3
4
Does my assistant need to be in my timezone?
And a few more!
Do I want my assistant to fit in and become an integral part of my team?
What’s my budget?
Do I want access to additional resources in case I need to scale suddenly?
1
2
3
4
• How do you choose the assistants that work for you? • How to you ensure the quality of your assistants’ work? • What types of tasks will my assistant be able to do? • Do you offer a satisfaction guarantee? • How do you assign your assistants? • Will I have a dedicated assistant? • Can I interview the assistant you will assign me by Skype
before making a final decision? • Do you have an extended team for more complex tasks
like design or web development? • Can my assistant use my company email? Is there a
charge? • How will I track the number of hours my assistant has
worked?
When you speak to companies ask lots of questions
• How will my information be protected? • What happens if my assistant gets sick? Is there a
backup trained in how my work should be done? • Where will my assistant be based? • Will my assistant be able to use all my cloud-based
software? • Will my colleagues also be able to assign tasks to the
assistant? Is there an added charge for extra users? • Will my assistant be able to take inbound calls on my
behalf? • Do you provide multi-lingual services? • Do you provide any additional perks?
Keep asking!
Need someone who can represent you with customers? May be best to stay onshore.
Your questions and decisions will help you eliminate options
e.g.
On a very tight budget? May be best to consider offshore.
Quality and complex skillset required? Consider business-grade.
Do I need the ability to scale? Choose a company that can provide an extended team.
e.g.
e.g.
e.g.
No right answers. Just what works
best for your business.
THERE ARE
BUT…
There is a great impartial resource to help you explore and review
VA companies
http://virtualassistantassistant.com
can transform your way of working, and be an invaluable long-term
partner.
THE RIGHT VA COMPANY
Its worth taking the time to make an informed decision.