Up Close & Virtual: A Practical Guide to Starting Your Own Virtual Assistant Business, Second Edition - Softcover

Ennen, Diana; Poelker, Kelly

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0974279021 ISBN 13: 9780974279022

Publisher: Self-Published, 2003

Synopsis

Up Close and Virtual, 2nd Edition is a complete reference guide to starting a successful and PROFITABLE virtual assistant business. Virtual assistants provide business support services to a broad range of clientele worldwide. Virtual assistants specialize in web design/graphic design, word processing, transcription, Internet research, event planning, coaching, editing/writing, meeting planning, concierge services, real estate transaction coordination, etc. Our detailed book covers all the how tos of starting a business including business and financial planning, determining rates, specialty services, VA training, etc. Plus it offers information on domain registration, creating your web site, and most importantly, how and where to find clients. All the latest information, links, resources, and tools are available for you!

Along with our personal experiences, (which covers over 20 years) we've also included recommendations from virtual assistants worldwide. This enables readers to see how others are making their businesses successful and provide them with a blueprint on how to do the same with theirs.

Cited as the book of choice for the VA industry, Up Close and Virtual is currently used as training material for VA courses including being the primary textbook for Red Deer College’s VA Certification Program (in Canada) and required reading for students of Virtual Assistance U, an online training center for virtual professionals. It truly leaves no stone overturned and is a MUST for anyone wanted to start this type of business.

About this title

About the Author

Diana Ennen and Kelly Poelker are the authors of Up Close and Virtual, 1st & 2nd Edition and the Bizymoms Cookbook (available at Bizymoms.com). Diana is also the author of Success From Home: The Word Publishing Business (published by Adams-Blake Publishing), and Words From Home: How To Start and Operate a Home-Based Word Processing Business. With a combined history of working at home of over 20 years, these two women have contributed to the success of many word processors and virtual assistants alike. Additionally, they have been included in a number of books, articles and interviews by Mompreneurs®, Lisa Roberts, Jan Melnik, Liz Folger, Maria Bailey, Priscilla Y. Huff, Woman’s World, Home Office Computing, USA Today, Entrepreneur Magazine, MomsTown.com Internet Talk Radio and many others.

Both are active in the virtual assistant community, not only as business owners, but as mentors, message board managers and chat hosts. Together they remain on top of the latest developments in the virtual assistant (VA) industry.

As a leader in the work-at-home word processor world, Diana Ennen has been in the forefront of the work-at-home word processor world since opening her practice, Ennen’s Computer Services, in 1985. She has also excelled in the virtual industry as well. Kelly Poelker, one of the VA industry leaders, has been operating Another 8 Hours, Inc. since 2000. Another 8 Hours is co-host to the first ever VA Conference.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Introduction

Virtual assistants are an extremely proud group. Many of us endured years of office politics, constantly ringing phones, demanding bosses, hours upon hours of endless office work, long commutes to work, and precious time spent away from those dearest to us, our families.

Now we are among the growing number of home-based entrepreneurs. Never in history has it been more prevalent; it was reported in the August 2003 issue of Female Entrepreneur Magazine that one in eleven women in the U.S. is a business owner for a new total high of 10.1 million. Astonishing, isn t it? No longer are we sitting behind the desk taking orders. We are aspiring to be leaders. We are teaching our children that no dream is beyond their reach. We embraced the future and welcomed all the challenges of the new technology. The advent of the Internet was but a beginning to a world of hope and opportunity. We seized the challenge and we never plan on letting it go. The more we learn the more eager we are for more.

As Lesley Spencer, founder of Home-Based Working Moms, states, "Working at home has become a popular choice for moms in the millennium. Not only does a home business give moms the opportunity to be at home with their children and earn additional income; it also gives stay-at-home parents a new sense of accomplishment and self-worth. Working from home enables parents to gain more self-respect while taking charge of their future."

You can change your destiny. You can make it happen. We are here to guide you along the way. We share our own personal experiences and also we ve added recommendations from real pros in the industry. These are the best of the best. Read take notes dream. Then Aspire To Be The Best That You Can Be. We look forward to seeing you in Up Close and Virtual - 3rd Edition.

What is a Virtual Assistant?

A virtual assistant, or VA, is a highly skilled professional who provides administrative support and other specialized services to businesses, entrepreneurs, executives, sales professionals, and others who have more work to do than time to do it.

VAs work as independent contractors, most from their own home, some from outside the home. VAs use leading edge technology to communicate work assignments via the Internet, e-mail, disk transfer or such traditional methods as regular mail, overnight shipping, and even pick-up and delivery in local areas. A VA s services typically include Internet research, word processing, medical or legal transcription, database management, e-mail handling, reminder service, bulk mailings, information processing, and any other tasks typically given to the office secretary. Many VAs also provide web development, design and maintenance; meeting and event planning; desktop publishing; bookkeeping; and business start-up consultations. The services are endless, depending upon the VA s knowledge, skills and creativity.

Edition details

• Publisher: Self-Published
• Publication date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0974279021
• ISBN 13: 9780974279022
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 242