Tips for using VAs and Web Designers

jnapier · 11-11-2008, 10:24 AM

Hello Warriors,

I'm looking for tips that will assist with working with Web Designers and Virtual Assistants:

Things to avoid
Thing to do
Best way to pay

Dangers?

Thanks

Jay NaPier

dvduval · 11-11-2008, 11:03 AM

Don't spend a lot up front, and try a few people til you find one you like.

Maria Gudelis · 11-11-2008, 12:02 PM

Avoid paying upfront alot of funds
Use an escrow account (I use scriptlance or getafreelancer)
Try a few out to then select your best fit
If continual work - set up a monthly rate - that reduces your costs - so instead of $150 here, $200 there, you can say - if you do this for 4 months straight - is $100 acceptable on a 4 month commitment.
Try to select freelancers that have good ratings/feedback
Be tough when needed, if they don't perform - deliverables are too late - then you must communicate that to fix it.
Be careful of the switcheroo - I found a great writer...then after the third month - I noticed the quality of writing had gone down - I emailed and basically asked her to fix it all as it was clear she was no longer writing herself and had hired another person to write...the 'voice' had changed.
Once you find someone you like, that works great for you - don't lose that person!

If a bigger job - release funds as part of work done - create a scope document that everyone sticks to...or if you add more to the job - negotiate a price for that extra work so va doesn't feel like you are ripping them off (or simply puts your project last...)

Cash Blasters Online · 11-11-2008, 02:58 PM

Personally I like to do my own work and have control, I think it pays off in the long run.

dwoodward · 11-11-2008, 03:00 PM

Try multiple people on a small project instead of doing one person at a time. Once you find one you like keep them.

I outsource like crazy and have had great success.

Dave Woodward
Legendary Marketers Host

ecoverartist · 11-12-2008, 09:28 AM

As a web designer, I can give you these tips:

1) Best way to pay - so that you get the results you want without spending a lot of money - is to divide the payment up according to milestones - i.e. when X is finished, X% is due, etc.

2) Have a pretty firm deadline but be flexible - things happen!

3) You get what you pay for. The low-end bidders on freelancing sites can also have low-end customer service too.

dorothydot · 11-13-2008, 01:38 PM

I have a friend who's also a Warrior and she does virtual assistance. And she's really great at it!

You really have to have some terrific, over-the-top skills to make a go of it and get reasonable pay for your time. But the arguments for using a VA are truly compelling: no hour restrictions; no need to pay benefits or wages; fast turn-around no matter what time of year, etc.

A good VA is truly worth their weight in gold.

Hope this helps,
Dot

LivingCovers · 11-13-2008, 10:42 PM

Hey Leisa,

From the discussions above, i pressume you're a virtual
assistance. Who the heck is a Virtual assistance???
What do you function as, i mean what do you do?

Please, i'd like to know.
Olatunde.

11-11-2008, 10:24 AM	#1
jnapier HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Nashville, Tn Posts: 147 Thanks: 10 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Tips for using VAs and Web Designers Hello Warriors, I'm looking for tips that will assist with working with Web Designers and Virtual Assistants: Things to avoid Thing to do Best way to pay Dangers? Thanks Jay NaPier
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11-11-2008, 11:03 AM	#2
dvduval phpLD master War Room Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Silicon Valley Posts: 2,962 Blog Entries: 3 Thanks: 44 Thanked 307 Times in 259 Posts Social Networking	Re: Tips for using VAs and Web Designers Don't spend a lot up front, and try a few people til you find one you like.
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11-11-2008, 12:02 PM	#3
Maria Gudelis Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sarnia, Ontario Posts: 2,642 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,701 Thanked 946 Times in 383 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Tips for using VAs and Web Designers Avoid paying upfront alot of funds Use an escrow account (I use scriptlance or getafreelancer) Try a few out to then select your best fit If continual work - set up a monthly rate - that reduces your costs - so instead of $150 here, $200 there, you can say - if you do this for 4 months straight - is $100 acceptable on a 4 month commitment. Try to select freelancers that have good ratings/feedback Be tough when needed, if they don't perform - deliverables are too late - then you must communicate that to fix it. Be careful of the switcheroo - I found a great writer...then after the third month - I noticed the quality of writing had gone down - I emailed and basically asked her to fix it all as it was clear she was no longer writing herself and had hired another person to write...the 'voice' had changed. Once you find someone you like, that works great for you - don't lose that person! If a bigger job - release funds as part of work done - create a scope document that everyone sticks to...or if you add more to the job - negotiate a price for that extra work so va doesn't feel like you are ripping them off (or simply puts your project last...)

11-11-2008, 02:58 PM	#4
Cash Blasters Online Cash Blasters Online Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Seattle Washington Posts: 246 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Tips for using VAs and Web Designers Personally I like to do my own work and have control, I think it pays off in the long run.
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11-11-2008, 03:00 PM	#5
dwoodward Active Warrior Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: , , . Posts: 41 Thanks: 3 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Tips for using VAs and Web Designers Try multiple people on a small project instead of doing one person at a time. Once you find one you like keep them. I outsource like crazy and have had great success. Dave Woodward Legendary Marketers Host

11-12-2008, 09:28 AM	#6
ecoverartist You need to become a War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: A cave with 47 computers and an internet feed Posts: 1,641 Thanks: 208 Thanked 156 Times in 72 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Tips for using VAs and Web Designers As a web designer, I can give you these tips: 1) Best way to pay - so that you get the results you want without spending a lot of money - is to divide the payment up according to milestones - i.e. when X is finished, X% is due, etc. 2) Have a pretty firm deadline but be flexible - things happen! 3) You get what you pay for. The low-end bidders on freelancing sites can also have low-end customer service too.
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11-13-2008, 01:38 PM	#7
dorothydot Selling with Stories War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 497 Thanks: 289 Thanked 120 Times in 102 Posts	Re: Tips for using VAs and Web Designers I have a friend who's also a Warrior and she does virtual assistance. And she's really great at it! You really have to have some terrific, over-the-top skills to make a go of it and get reasonable pay for your time. But the arguments for using a VA are truly compelling: no hour restrictions; no need to pay benefits or wages; fast turn-around no matter what time of year, etc. A good VA is truly worth their weight in gold. Hope this helps, Dot
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11-13-2008, 10:42 PM	#8
LivingCovers First Among Many. War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lagos, Nigeria. Posts: 716 Thanks: 34 Thanked 57 Times in 20 Posts Contact Info	Re: Tips for using VAs and Web Designers Hey Leisa, From the discussions above, i pressume you're a virtual assistance. Who the heck is a Virtual assistance??? What do you function as, i mean what do you do? Please, i'd like to know. Olatunde.
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