Virtual Assistants and better time management

Anonymous Affiliate · 06-09-2009, 12:44 PM

Hey warriors!

My online biz is the typical one-man show: I create my videos, I create my squeeze pages (I do outsource design though), I set up my clickbank hoplinks redirects, I manage my mailing list, I answer customer support emails, etc.

As a result, my time management is rather shaky at best: some days I have little to do, some others I put 12 hours straight at the computer. Needless to say, I need to find a solution to it and I figured that hiring a full time Virtual Assistant might help me now that I can somewhat afford paying the salary of an outsourced employee.

However, I just cant find how he/she would be able to help me. For example, let's assume I want to create a squeeze page with a video, an aweber form and some type of tracking script on it. I reckon I can spend more time explaining what I want to the VA than actually doing myself, and at least I know I will get exactly what I want the first time around. So I dont really see how would an outsourced VA help me with my work load.

Does anyone of you some first hand experience with VAs, especially as far as time management and workload relief goes?

Thanks!

dvduval · 06-09-2009, 12:52 PM

From my experience, VAs need training to learn how YOU work. It takes time to develop them, as well as assess how effective they are in helping you. You just sort have to try it out and see what you can do with the person.

Anonymous Affiliate · 06-09-2009, 03:09 PM

Is there such as thing as an agency for VAs familiar with IM? quite frankly, I am not going to hire someone and then having to spend an hour every day teaching him how to do a Meta Refresh redirect, how to insert an aweber opt-in, etc.

Anonymous Affiliate · 06-10-2009, 03:21 AM

So no one here has first hand experiences on VAs and how they can ease down your workload flow?

ladysuccesstips · 06-10-2009, 06:43 AM

Well, I have one from the Phil. and I think she delivers excellent work. Yes, it involves proper training for them to finally grasp the work subject but some of them also has significant knowledge already because of working with the same task with their previous clients. As for training I use Camtasia video recording so I give step by step ways with the subject.

ikontent · 06-10-2009, 07:14 AM

Anonymous Affiliate :

1) Trained and hosted VA's : Some IM'ers do offer outsourced VA services - Ian Del Carmen has a wide range of services, IIRC Raamakant also had a similar such offer. Check out Ian's 1virtualstaff.com and 1customersupport.com for more info. Another option is to go to the VANetworking forum and look for people who've got the knowledge already.

These are likely to be more expensive than the DIY VA training - on the other hand, you have people who are up to speed, and also the option to get a basket of services instead, thereby making it easier for you.

2) Having a VA will help if you have multiple repetitive jobs that you need done; especially if it takes time to do it. Sure, you'll do the squeeze page faster, the first time; but if you take the time to train someone, from about the 10th onwards you don't spend ANY time at all.

Before you start outsourcing though, take the time to think through, automate and simplify your processes.

Example - you mentioned customer support. Have you already set up a support desk, with canned responses? Once you have this, your support time drops drastically - as well as being simpler for the VA to handle it, once you've trained him or her.

3) Instead of going for one full time VA, you may well find it more beneficial to have a part time VA for the routine / repetitive chores, plus going with specific freelancers for other activities.

There are quite a few Warriors here who can create videos for you; or do minisites, or backlink building etc.

This is the approach I've followed - I have a couple of part-time VA's for routine tasks like uploading articles to blogs, searching online, some backlink building, and routine site development / maintenance. I supplement that with occasional WSO buys or even interacting through PM with warriors who seem to have services that I'd like to have...

The key to success is to plan your VA's time as well as your own. Don't leave it to chance, or assume that he/she knows what you want; document down EVERY step including the silliest ones, and have them follow it through.

Hope this helps

Anonymous Affiliate · 06-10-2009, 08:05 AM

Thanks a lot for the feedback guys. It seems like without the automation+training part the whole VA thing might not be useful for me. I will think it through on how I could make my workload as automated as possible so I can outsource those bits to a VA.

Thanks!

pearlydean · 06-10-2009, 08:20 AM

Hi there - I have a book by Micheal E Gerber called The E-Myth revisited which explains fully how to build a business from scratch either online or offline. Most businesses fail within the first 5 years and then 80% of the rest fail in the next 5 years which is scary to say the least! This book explains how to set up your business based on the McDonalds franchise model. So basically you document everything you do so that anyone else you recruit can also do the same. It's then easy to replicate these tasks and multiply your efforts by hiring staff to do the basics whilst you concentrate on the stuff you like to do!

Hope that helps....my description may not do it justice though so it is well worth reading the book...have a look online for e-myth and I think there are details there.

Best of luck
Keith

06-09-2009, 12:44 PM	#1
Anonymous Affiliate Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 1,886 Thanks: 256 Thanked 332 Times in 244 Posts	Virtual Assistants and better time management Hey warriors! My online biz is the typical one-man show: I create my videos, I create my squeeze pages (I do outsource design though), I set up my clickbank hoplinks redirects, I manage my mailing list, I answer customer support emails, etc. As a result, my time management is rather shaky at best: some days I have little to do, some others I put 12 hours straight at the computer. Needless to say, I need to find a solution to it and I figured that hiring a full time Virtual Assistant might help me now that I can somewhat afford paying the salary of an outsourced employee. However, I just cant find how he/she would be able to help me. For example, let's assume I want to create a squeeze page with a video, an aweber form and some type of tracking script on it. I reckon I can spend more time explaining what I want to the VA than actually doing myself, and at least I know I will get exactly what I want the first time around. So I dont really see how would an outsourced VA help me with my work load. Does anyone of you some first hand experience with VAs, especially as far as time management and workload relief goes? Thanks!

06-09-2009, 12:52 PM	#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: Virtual Assistants and better time management From my experience, VAs need training to learn how YOU work. It takes time to develop them, as well as assess how effective they are in helping you. You just sort have to try it out and see what you can do with the person.
	PHP Link Directory Script - a great addition to ANY website and much more than just a directory. templates for phpLD - phpLD Templates (hundreds!) Article Directory Script - Video Directory Script Get our Product Free - Through this exclusive WSO!!!

06-09-2009, 03:09 PM	#3
Anonymous Affiliate Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 1,886 Thanks: 256 Thanked 332 Times in 244 Posts	Re: Virtual Assistants and better time management Is there such as thing as an agency for VAs familiar with IM? quite frankly, I am not going to hire someone and then having to spend an hour every day teaching him how to do a Meta Refresh redirect, how to insert an aweber opt-in, etc.

06-10-2009, 03:21 AM	#4
Anonymous Affiliate Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 1,886 Thanks: 256 Thanked 332 Times in 244 Posts	Re: Virtual Assistants and better time management So no one here has first hand experiences on VAs and how they can ease down your workload flow?

06-10-2009, 06:43 AM	#5
ladysuccesstips Hannah J Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Virtual Assistants and better time management Well, I have one from the Phil. and I think she delivers excellent work. Yes, it involves proper training for them to finally grasp the work subject but some of them also has significant knowledge already because of working with the same task with their previous clients. As for training I use Camtasia video recording so I give step by step ways with the subject.

06-10-2009, 07:14 AM	#6
ikontent HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: , , . Posts: 399 Thanks: 25 Thanked 26 Times in 23 Posts	Re: Virtual Assistants and better time management Anonymous Affiliate : 1) Trained and hosted VA's : Some IM'ers do offer outsourced VA services - Ian Del Carmen has a wide range of services, IIRC Raamakant also had a similar such offer. Check out Ian's 1virtualstaff.com and 1customersupport.com for more info. Another option is to go to the VANetworking forum and look for people who've got the knowledge already. These are likely to be more expensive than the DIY VA training - on the other hand, you have people who are up to speed, and also the option to get a basket of services instead, thereby making it easier for you. 2) Having a VA will help if you have multiple repetitive jobs that you need done; especially if it takes time to do it. Sure, you'll do the squeeze page faster, the first time; but if you take the time to train someone, from about the 10th onwards you don't spend ANY time at all. Before you start outsourcing though, take the time to think through, automate and simplify your processes. Example - you mentioned customer support. Have you already set up a support desk, with canned responses? Once you have this, your support time drops drastically - as well as being simpler for the VA to handle it, once you've trained him or her. 3) Instead of going for one full time VA, you may well find it more beneficial to have a part time VA for the routine / repetitive chores, plus going with specific freelancers for other activities. There are quite a few Warriors here who can create videos for you; or do minisites, or backlink building etc. This is the approach I've followed - I have a couple of part-time VA's for routine tasks like uploading articles to blogs, searching online, some backlink building, and routine site development / maintenance. I supplement that with occasional WSO buys or even interacting through PM with warriors who seem to have services that I'd like to have... The key to success is to plan your VA's time as well as your own. Don't leave it to chance, or assume that he/she knows what you want; document down EVERY step including the silliest ones, and have them follow it through. Hope this helps
	When I have something good to say, you'll see it here first. Connect on Google + : http://gplus.to/ikontent

06-10-2009, 08:05 AM	#7
Anonymous Affiliate Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 1,886 Thanks: 256 Thanked 332 Times in 244 Posts	Re: Virtual Assistants and better time management Thanks a lot for the feedback guys. It seems like without the automation+training part the whole VA thing might not be useful for me. I will think it through on how I could make my workload as automated as possible so I can outsource those bits to a VA. Thanks!

06-10-2009, 08:20 AM	#8
pearlydean Article Mercenary War Room Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Derby, UK Posts: 329 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 188 Thanked 260 Times in 64 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Virtual Assistants and better time management Hi there - I have a book by Micheal E Gerber called The E-Myth revisited which explains fully how to build a business from scratch either online or offline. Most businesses fail within the first 5 years and then 80% of the rest fail in the next 5 years which is scary to say the least! This book explains how to set up your business based on the McDonalds franchise model. So basically you document everything you do so that anyone else you recruit can also do the same. It's then easy to replicate these tasks and multiply your efforts by hiring staff to do the basics whilst you concentrate on the stuff you like to do! Hope that helps....my description may not do it justice though so it is well worth reading the book...have a look online for e-myth and I think there are details there. Best of luck Keith