Virtual Secretariat

With the Information Age in full swing, the need for assistants is growing rapidly. Thanks to cheap phone rates and the Internet, it’s easy to set yourself up as a virtual office assistant without ever having to leave your home. Your main asset is initiative and a willingness to always push forward. Those same skills are what your clients seek in a good assistant as well. They want someone who is going to push through any barrier to get things done and not take a few obstacles as a sign of defeat.

The Internet has numerous directories where you can list yourself as a virtual assistant and there are also sites like Craigslist where you can post ads for your services. One of the best tools you may ever have for your business is a telephone. Start calling people you know and network to find those who need your services and are ready to pay for them.

Create profiles on LinkedIn.com and VisualCV.com to network with others and to display your qualifications and intent to get hired. Sites like these are free and provide an essential way to get yourself in the search engines in case anyone tries to “Google you” and perform a mini background check before hiring you. While you’re at it create a Face book “Fan Page” around your professional services. Unlike profiles, these pages are indexed by the search engines and serve to provide you with more “virtual real estate” where you can advertise and promote yourself.

Along with initiative, a great assistant is organized and is an effective communicator. Constantly seek to sharpen your skills in these areas. The more you improve, the more you can earn as you rise above others in skill.
Above all remember that a client is defined as someone under your care and protection. Your customers are more than a source of money. They are people you’re committed to take care of. Keeping that mindset, when working for your clients, will help you keep a context which leads to excellent service and long-term and happy clients and their referrals.