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eBooks
A Day in the Life of a Virtual Assistant
ebook still needs article submissions
for your 'Day' and profile. We'll take
one 8-1/2" x 11" page document.
We want your input if you are a new,
a few years in the business, and seasoned
VAs who are looking for "What's
Next." Please send an email to ebooks@TheVirtualNation.com.
"What's Next?"
Sharon recently attended a "What's
Next" weekend retreat with her
mentor, Stacy Brice from AssistU.
The setting included six seasoned VAs
together for a weekend of brainstorming
and connection. The end result (for
Sharon , at least) was a clarity that
had eluded her. She walked away with
friendships that will last a lifetime
and business ideas that gave her some
great "aha" moments. One
of the biggest ideas was having monthly
strategy calls with clients (as opposed
to weekly "to do" calls).
If clients need more phone time in
between, then laser focused sessions
will be scheduled. So far, several
of the clients have been very receptive.
The bottom line for GOS is that we
will spend more time strategizing and
thinking about the big picture for
our clients and then managing the "stuff" to
move them forward. All in all, it was
a great weekend and it made a profound
impact on Sharon's life. We highly
recommend getting away once a year
and really thinking strategically about
your business. How can you move forward?
What is holding you back? What is missing?
So, when are you going on your retreat?
Featured
Article:Managing Your Own Virtual
Assistance Team
- Part 2
By
Patty Benton
www.moretime4u.org
In Part 1, we explored
how to find quality Virtual Assistants
(VAs), work with them, and ensure quality
work is produced on behalf of your
client. Part 1 of this article can
be viewed at: http://www.virtualvacoach.com/workingwithsubs1.html.
This article will continue this discussion
and explore the following questions:
- How can a subcontracting
VA be trusted with another VAs client?
- What
if a VA that is subcontracted tries
to steal the client?
- How are subcontracting
VAs paid?
How can
a subcontracting VA be trusted with
another VAs client? What if they try
to steal them?
First of all, it is
imperative that a contract is written
before any subcontracts work begins.
That contract should include a non-complete
section as well as a confidentiality
agreement in it. In addition, it is
important that the subcontracting VA
is educated on the non-compete and
confidentiality agreement verbiage
before it is sent to them. The VA should
allow the subcontracting VA the opportunity
to ask questions so there are no hidden
questions or concerns. Once the subcontracting
VA has proven themselves (e.g. work
ethics, quality of work, quantity of
work, etc.) and the relationship proves
to be a good fit, the VA may choose
to give the subcontracting VA projects
that put them in direct contact with
the client. However, it is important
that they have a similar communication
style and they are trustworthy. This
will give the client a higher comfort
level when working with the subcontracting
VA instead of the VA they were used
to working with. One way for a VA to
keep track of correspondence between
the client and subcontracting VA teams
is to create an email address for each
team member through the VA's company.
This email address should be configured
to forward all reply emails to the
main VA (business owner).
Additionally,
the VA should train his/her team to
carbon copy him/her on all correspondence
that is sent. It will help the VA keep
his/her finger on the pulse of the
business and know what is happening
on each project in a proactive manner,
instead of reactive. This is especially
important if a client should call them
directly with questions and/or concerns.
How are subcontracting
VAs paid?
First, it is important
to remember that the lead VA is the
individual that is responsible for
the marketing and negotiations that
were completed in process of landing
the client. In addition, they are also
responsible for the final outcome of
the project. There have been several
times where the lead VA must fix a
project or finish an incomplete project
without charging the client, as it
would have made the charged time excessive
and possibly resulted in a client leaving.
Therefore, the lead VA needs to make
sure he/she is fairly compensated for
the time spent building the relationship
with the client and managing the project.
Some VAs keep a percentage of each
client rate. It is sometimes recommended,
at the minimum, that the lead VA keep
25% and 50% for the more difficult
clients since they require additional
time to be spent on managing the project.
Some subcontracting VAs have a set
rate they charge other VAs. Typically,
this amount is less than what they
charge their non-VA clients.
Lead VAs
usually factor in the subcontracting
VAs rate and bills the client accordingly
(with a small profit). For example,
if the subcontracting VA charges $25,
the lead VA would charge the client
at least $35. Another way to figure
out the rate to charge is by looking
at several factors, such as client
rate, the workload of the client, time
to manage the project, the skill set
the VA needs to have, etc. Once this
is determined, the lead VA can set
a subcontractor rate. The subcontracting
VA decides if he/she wants to take
the project at that rate or not.
The
other consideration to be made is if
the lead VA will be paying the subcontracting
VA out-of-pocket or if they will wait
to pay the subcontracting VA once the
lead VAs client has paid. This scenario
depends on the volume of work the lead
VA has coming and if they can afford
to pay the subcontractor up front.
Whatever the case, it is important
that this is clearly documented and
communicated with the subcontracting
VA (e.g. hourly/project rate, when
payment will be sent, etc.) It is important
for the lead VA to remember, he/she
is the VA who has the client. If a
subcontracting VA wants to subcontract
work under a lead VA, agreeing to his/her
terms is a great way to work, especially
for new VAs who need a mentor.
The
most important thing for the lead VA
to remember is that, as a project manager,
they are in charge. They need to be
sure to set clear boundaries of what
is expected from subcontractors, what
they can expect from the lead VA, and
what the client expects from the project.
Part 3 of our series
will explore the question, "If I have too many
projects going on, how do I track them?"
You
have permission to reprint this article
electronically or in print, as long
as the text and byline remain unedited.
A courtesy copy of your publication
would be appreciated.
© 2006 JERPAT
Virtual Assistant. All Rights Reserved
About the author: Patty Benton is the
owner of JERPAT Virtual Assistants
and JERPAT Web Design, www.moretime4u.org
, which provides affordable administrative
and Web design support to coaches,
small businesses, religious organizations,
and realtors. Additionally, Patty is
a coach for new entrepreneurs interested
in venturing into the virtual assistance
industry that is affordable to all,
and she has also written an e-book
that takes virtual assistants through
the process of setting up their business.
Visit her coaching site at http://www.virtualvacoach.com
for program details and great business
resources. She has also partnered to
establish the ministry Acknowledging
Christ Together at Work www.actatwork.com
. If you would like to receive Patty's
articles and other tips in your mailbox
every month, you can sign up at http://www.mortime4u.org/home.html.
Upcoming
Events
The Virtual Nation Mastermind Group
WHEN: Saturday, October
21, 2006 from 11 am - 2 pm
WHERE: 5707 Marconi
Avenue, Suite C, Carmichael, CA 95608
- (916) 484-6945
WHAT to Bring: pad
of paper, pen, your burning questions,
comments, puzzles, and quandaries
COST: $20.00 per
person, including lunch and discussion
of long-term Mastermind Group (what
do you want to gain from a Mastermind
Group?)
REGISTER: Registration
is required - Space is Limited
Registration is limited to 8 people. Send
us an email to mastermind@thevirtualnation.com and
we'll send you an assessment to be
sure you are a good fit with our group. The
Mastermind group will be held in person
on a quarterly basis.
We'll have more information available
next week.
7 Deadly Sins in Selling!
The end of the third quarter is here.
Are you on track in meeting your sales
objectives? Do you have some room for
improvement? Why not learn what mistakes
you may be making . Please join us
for an Executive Seminar on
The Seven Deadly Sins in Selling.
Our Sacramento Partner with Conselleo,
Rick Cooper, will share insights that
can help you get back on track this
year and exceed your sales objectives.
Conselleo transforms sales organizations
by changing the behavior of sales people
increasing their effectiveness while
accelerating their results. Increased
results, accurate forecasting, behavioral
change, sales effectiveness and consultative
selling are all words our clients have
used when describing how Conselleo
has helped them increase their revenue.
WHEN: Thursday, October
18, 2006 12:00 - 1:30 pm
WHERE: Zigato's Bar & Grille
1910 Canterbury Road, Sacramento, CA
COST: $39, including
lunch
REGISTER: Send email
to RickCooper@Conselleo.com.
http://www.thepdapro.com/SellingSins.asp
Consultative Selling - Professional
Program
Conselleo is an international sales
effectiveness firm, founded in 1994.
Their methodology is delivered through
a series of integrated services that
includes; sales process training, coaching
and software.
In the Consultative Selling program,
you will:
- Learn a powerful sales
process
- Increase your sales
effectiveness
- Plan activities to
fill your pipeline
- Manage accounts for
repeat business
- Play the Conselleo-style "Apprentice" game
where no one gets fired!
WHEN: Wed. - Thurs.,
Nov. 8-9, 2006 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
WHERE: Zigato's
Bar & Grille
1910 Canterbury Road, Sacramento, CA
COST: $1,495 - the
two-day program
REGISTER: Call Rick
Cooper at 800.677.6708
Email Rick
Cooper at RickCooper@Conselleo.com
Or register online at the URL below:
http://www.consultativesalestraining.com
Resources
TVN has a lot of other incredible resources
to choose from. If you are in need of forms, templates,
information on starting a business in California,
where to go to find great books, printers, and more,
it's all on the website. Click
here to have a look.
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With Gratitude,
Michelle Ulrich
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