Philippians Virtual Assistance Services

Why You Should Set Up a Home Office

May 9, 2019June 12, 2020Leave a comment

There are lots of ways to feel like an office-based employee while working as a virtual assistant. You could start by setting up an area in your home that would serve as your office. In truth, this is a strategy for newbies to cope with their adjustment from being an office staff to a home-based worker easily. Furthermore, there are numerous benefits to consider when it comes to doing so. To give you insights on this matter right away, check out these points:

Maximum Productivity. Did you know that many could attest that setting up a specific area at home as an office helps increase productivity? According to most remote workers, there is this lack of distractions, particularly if you stop placing your computer near the living room or in the bedroom itself. It will appear like you are isolating yourself while working so that your concentration will not be divided.

If your loved ones are often within your sight, you would likely have this uncontrollable urge to check on them once in a while. In contrary, if you are alone in a certain area with minimal disturbance, you would have every reason to make the most out of your time to work.

This is also a way to separate your personal space from your professional one.

Staying Organized. Having a home office means every document or file related to your work could be found in that area. This is a smart way to stay organized. Regardless of how urgent the requirement of your client is, there will no longer be delays since you already know where to go.

Aside from your computer, your home office could also be equipped with a file cabinet or bookshelf, where all your needed materials or references could be found.

Improved Speed in Task Execution. If you could set up an office where all of your necessitated office tools and devices could be found, you would lessen the time to execute certain tasks. For instance, instead of running from one room to another simply to make a call, you could set up a telephone near your desk as well. This goes the same if you are talking about printers, scanners, fax, etc.

Professional Environment for Client Coordination. Most clients, who hire virtual assistants, prefer employees whom they can communicate with minus the disorder and homey feel. This means whenever a call (either voice or video) is initiated, they will not have issues with background noises or cluttered area to see in their monitor. If you would set up a dedicated office, you would no longer have to tell the people around you to shush simply because you are taking a call.

Avoidance of Poor Lighting. If you are used to positioning yourself anywhere at home when working, this could be a risk for your eyes. Without proper lighting, you will likely have an eye strain.

However, if you would find a way to set up a home office, you could decide carefully where to place your computer monitor. This will help you work more safely and longer.

With the points provided above, you are probably highly convinced that now is the right time to start setting up your home office.

Start enjoying your home-based lifestyle more!

Top 5 Research Tips That Every VA Should Learn

April 22, 2019June 12, 2020Leave a comment

Both newbies and experienced virtual assistants are often required to carry out a research task for their clients once in a while, if not, always. This is due to the fact that clients save a lot of time handling their responsibilities when they have all the information necessitated. Relatively, you are aware that research has a lot of advantages for business people, such as in formulating a new marketing strategy, analyzing competitors, and improving products or services.

If you want to step up your game in doing research, you should learn the top five tips to apply when doing the task.

1. Focus on authoritative sites. Always remember that when you say “authoritative,” these are sites that have a good reputation, particularly in releasing facts on their platform. To make it easier for you to identify them, keep in mind that they are often found on the first page of results when searching. There is a typical reason why they are in their positions – their websites are gaining a high level of traffic, which is synonymous to having a lot of visitors.

Avoid using references that are written by random people. For instance, if you are looking for information on health-related topics, it is best to settle with what physicians have to say.

2. Never limit your research into a written output. Your client would prefer that your research is easily readable. Indeed, you may shorten or summarize the topic, but it does not mean that you cannot explore other media in presenting your research. For instance, if you want to show the statistics on the feasibility of developing a real estate business in a certain country, infographics could be a good choice of presentation.

Alternatively, if your client requires assistance in navigating a software application, a video tutorial works best.

3. Do not make yourself a copy-paste researcher. You should never, ever taint your reputation as a good researcher by copying all information from the web. Be reminded that as a virtual assistant, you must be fully aware that it is your responsibility to make your work as concise as possible.

Include the most important facts only and do not put too many examples (which can be a typical thing in some articles). For instance, you need to list the tips in keeping your credit score on track, you may only include the ones that are often advised in most of the articles you found. This only means that such tips are the best ones to follow.

Remember, your client has very limited time to read everything you have researched. In the said short amount of time, he or she should already learn from your output.

4. Always choose up-to-date references. You will encounter various sources online, which are written years before. As much as possible, you select references that are published in your current year. This must be strictly observed if your research involves topics that are constantly being studied by professionals. A good example is the stock market trend, which may change due to the behavior of the players over time and other external factors.

5. Presentation should never be disregarded at all costs. You may have presented your facts right with your research, but all could go downhill if your presentation makes it hard to read. Be reminded that your client values how you present your output.

Ensure that your document is formatted accordingly with the same font style, font size, font color, and spacing all throughout. If you need to use images, ensure that each has a considerable resolution and is resized properly.

With the aforementioned tips, you would have easier means of accomplishing your common task at work. Remember that even if research is a typically manageable activity, it should not be taken lightly. Know that even the busiest clients will see what type of employee you are with your simple research work.

Never Misuse Your Privileges as a Virtual Assistant

April 15, 2019June 12, 2020Leave a comment

You are a virtual assistant, who has the greatest benefit of working at home. Thus, you do not have to socialize with a lot of people while working, helping you focus more on your tasks. Also, your family is near your reach, giving you fewer worries even if you are on duty. This gives you the security to attend to your loved ones, particularly in times of emergencies. Furthermore, you have the convenience of not battling with traffic – simply open your PC or laptop, and you are good to go.

There are many advantages a virtual assistant could have besides the ones mentioned above. Unfortunately, not all seem to take it into account. There are ones, who still end up in the ill-use of their privileges, which should not be the case.

If you are a virtual assistant, you have this benefit of asking for leaves as easily as possible. Simply imagine how less disconcerting it can be to know that you do not have to see the facial expression of your client when asking for approval.

Due to this, there are some, who take advantage of this and make it a habit to be off-duty, stating various reasons relative to the matter. You should never establish such personality, for it will be your peril one day – easy dismissal from your job. Remember, your absence even in a day is already a great loss to your client. Many tasks will be delayed and your client may be off track, for you will not be there to assist him or her.

On the other hand, there are virtual assistants, who tend to abuse their privilege of having stagnant hours in a day. As a result, they do activities unrelated to their work, risking them in missing the urgent requests of their client. Be reminded that even if your client does not provide you work that would fill in your hours for the shift, this does not mean that he or she will never need you at unexpected times. In truth, the said hours are meant for you to stand by, specifically for emergency requirements.

Thus, if your client sends you a missive, you should at least be as responsive as possible. Remind yourself that you do not have work at those idle hours. This means that you have all the time in the world to attend to your client’s concerns.

Another good example of this matter is when a virtual assistant does not even set up a conducive workspace. As a result, whenever he or she speaks with his or her client, the latter would hear unnecessary background noises, resulting in distraction. Be reminded that even if you are home, you should at least keep your environment free from such, especially when communicating with your client. This will appear very unprofessional. Even if they understand you are at home, keep in mind that you are working and you should act like one.

Indeed, there are virtual assistants, who become less appreciative of their benefits as a home-based worker, but this does not mean you should be one. There are many ways to become an effective one, such as by starting to appreciate the advantages you got on hand.

How Understanding Your Client Takes You a Long Way

April 9, 2019June 12, 2020Leave a comment

You need to understand that a relationship between you and your client is two-way. In other words, aside from your employer considering your situation as a whole when it comes to assigning you tasks, you also have to give regards to his or hers as well. This is a bigger picture that some virtual assistants miss.

To make it clearer, one good example is when your client misses providing you a task for your shift. As a result, you kept on waiting during the day and you wasted your hours, which is not a good feeling for you as a virtual assistant who is paid by the hour. This is despite the fact your client does not mind to pay for your stagnant hours.

When the said type of situation arises, you should avoid acting hastily and bother your client repeatedly. Indeed, there will be cases that you should already have the initiative to reach out and ask for tasks, either via message or call. Still, you have to keep it to the minimum. Otherwise, you may end up becoming an annoyance to your client. Why? This is due to the fact that you fail to realize first what should have caused him or her from missing to provide you activities to carry out in a day.

Keep in mind that your client is most likely a person, who is filled with appointments to attend to, not to mention the other tasks he or she has to carry out daily. This is highly applicable if your client is a business person. This only means that there is a big responsibility on his or her shoulders. A simple task (for you) of giving a task may not be the case for him or her, especially now that it would consume his or her valued time.

Another good example of understanding your client’s situation is in terms of analyzing his or her mood. You cannot simply say that a person is not fond of you or having negative feelings towards you due to a simple “short and direct” reply. Be reminded, once again, that your client is a busy person. Thus, you could anticipate that your client will not even have plenty of time to speak with you or elaborate things further when you are inquiring about something. They would be straightforward as much as possible.

Do you know that some virtual assistants even encounter clients, who do not even communicate after sending tasks? Hence, consider yourself fortunate for having a busy client, who still finds time to support you.

By being an understanding virtual assistant to your client, you would have a better approach to dealing with him or her. You would not demand too much for attention or time. Instead, you will do your best to ensure exemplary work delivered to him or her without putting much pressure on his or her highly engaged life.

With a personality as such, your client will be more confident to trust you and work with you going forward. This could also be a ground for him or her to keep you for the long-term.

Why Reporting Your Daily Accomplishments Matters

April 2, 2019June 12, 2020Leave a comment

Communication has always been an essential part of taking the role of a virtual assistant. However, it is not simply a single entity, but is composed of various factors that should be identified individually. One of the essential components of effective communication in virtual assistance is updating the client of your daily accomplishments.

Various virtual assistants tend to make the mistake of not even giving their clients report on the things that were finished for the day. As a result, problems arise. For instance, clients would need to spend extra time simply to check if you have done your work for the day. This will definitely be a bother, especially if he or she is often caught up with tons of appointments daily. Remember, you are a virtual assistant for various reasons, one of which is to lighten the burden of your client.

Moreover, there is a possibility that your client may even doubt if you have done anything for the day. This is normalcy, especially if the virtual assistant simply logs in and leaves work without even considering to update his or her client. This has been experienced surely by a handful of VAs already. The end scenario is always that he or she has to defend his or her end. This is an event that could have been prevented in the first place.

By updating your client, you will also help in keeping him or her aware if he or she is still supplying you tasks as necessary. There are clients, who depend on what you report prior to delegating further activities on your end.

There are various ways to keep your client aware of your daily accomplishments. One good example is to maintain a habit of updating him or her every time you have done an activity. This is regardless of not receiving any response from your client often. As long as you are certain he or she is able to read your updates, this could already work.

On the other hand, you may report at the end of your work day instead. Simply ensure that your report is concise enough, which will keep your client from reaching out to you and clarify things out. Otherwise, this would just make the whole idea of updating him or her useless.

As a virtual assistant, updating your client could also be your opportunity to keep open communication between you two. This is also your chance to ask questions and even propose better means of executing certain activities for him or her. Alternatively, as you exchange words regarding your tasks, you can even learn from your client as he or she shares how things should be done more effectively.

Always keep in mind that even though you are a virtual assistant, this does not imply that you have to alter your work ethics altogether and adopt robotlike manners. Even if you are working home-based, you should still preserve human touch while reporting to your client. You may not be physically present, but you can appear to be such with the way you work.

Communicate continually.