Has anyone ever heard of a Virtual Assistant?

[Virtual AJ]

Hi there,

I am interested to know how much knowledge, if any, Tulsa business owners have about virtual assistance. If you are a Tulsa resident, small business owner, WAHM, in ministry, or just as curious as I am, please share your knowledge or experience about virtual assistance by answering the following questions:

Have You Ever Heard of a Virtual Assistant?
If no, tell us what you think a virtual assistant is?
If yes, tell us what you know?

I look forward to reading your responses.

Thanks AJ

[Cats Cats Cats]

Never heard of it, but I am sure it is quite horrible.  Why would anybody wants something that didn't actually exist?  I mean, how is a virtual anything going to pack a box for me.

[Conan71]

I had a virtual girlfriend once.

[Gaspar]

Hey, what a coincidence. . .I'm a virtual CEO.  

If you would like a job, I pay in virtual money!

[Gaspar]

I had a virtual girlfriend once.

They're the best.  They have a mute button. 

[Conan71]

Here's their web site.  Interesting concept:

http://yhavirtualadminservices.com/

[Gaspar]

Not a bad idea.

[Ed W]

I had a virtual girlfriend once.

I had a virtuous girlfriend once.  Trust me, the virtual ones are more amenable to...um...suggestions.

[Conan71]

I had a virtuous girlfriend once.  Trust me, the virtual ones are more amenable to...um...suggestions.

Virtue isn't always such a great virtue, is it?

[fotd]

It's virtuous, PC. May explain the "used to have".

[godboko71]

AJ,

You working with Josh? Seems like one of the projects he was talking about. Either way good luck.

[sgrizzle]

I kinda like the concept but the thing is, a virtual assistant can multi-task jobs for different clients. Taking care of emails for one while making phone calls for another. This should lead to a cost savings for the client but I see from the site that the virtual assistant charges $25/hr. While the flexibility has some merit, I can hire someone right now to do that work for $10/hr.. maybe less..  any day of the week. So I can have someone fetching coffee 40 hours a week for $400 or have a "virtual assistant" for $16

I like the concept but they need to change the pricing model. Model it after Seeking Sitters, a tulsa-based national company that is literally RAKING it in. They charge an initial client setup fee (setting up a file with all pertinent phone numbers, addresses, names, contacts, etc. and they charge a monthly fee to "keep you active" but how they stay competitive is that when you use their service they charge $10/hr. So while their hourly rate is comparable to hiring your own babysitter/assistant, the fees make it lucrative for the vendor. If you signed up but never used their services, you would still have paid them $122 in the first year.

[Virtual AJ]

I kinda like the concept but the thing is, a virtual assistant can multi-task jobs for different clients. Taking care of emails for one while making phone calls for another. This should lead to a cost savings for the client but I see from the site that the virtual assistant charges $25/hr. While the flexibility has some merit, I can hire someone right now to do that work for $10/hr.. maybe less..  any day of the week. So I can have someone fetching coffee 40 hours a week for $400 or have a "virtual assistant" for $16

I like the concept but they need to change the pricing model. Model it after Seeking Sitters, a tulsa-based national company that is literally RAKING it in. They charge an initial client setup fee (setting up a file with all pertinent phone numbers, addresses, names, contacts, etc. and they charge a monthly fee to "keep you active" but how they stay competitive is that when you use their service they charge $10/hr. So while their hourly rate is comparable to hiring your own babysitter/assistant, the fees make it lucrative for the vendor. If you signed up but never used their services, you would still have paid them $122 in the first year.

This pricing model works well for multi-va practices, but most virtual assistants are solo-entrepreneurs (or freelancers if you will) and only contract clients on an as needed basis. A virtual assistant will never "rake it in" unless they open a multi-va agency.

The following are cost savings to the client:

1) There is no cost to the client for breaks, lunch, and other downtime (such as mingling with co-workers).

2) No employee related cost, such as benefits and insurance; even if a business owner does not offer medical insurance, they still have to pay worker's comp and unemployment insurance.

3)  No cost for office space and equipment and this is especially ideal for other entrepreneurs who work from home and need some level of admin support.

4) The majority of virtual assistants offer discounts for monthly retainers .

5) The ultimate goal of a virtual assistant is to automate the client's systems so they can perform their own admin functions with very little effort. Once systems are set up and working to the client's satisfaction, there is no longer a need for the virtual assistant.

BTW, virtual assistants don't fetch coffee