Welcome!
3Rs Business Solutions provides administrative business support to entrepreneurs and consultants. This lens will provide insight, advice and information about virtual assistance and the benefits it can provided for the small business owner.
Virtual Assistance can be defined as a business which provides administrative and personal support while working in long-term collaborative relationships with only a handful of clients. Using phone, fax and email, Vas support their clients without having ever step foot inside the clients' office.
Come back often as I build the lens, there will be lots to learn.
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3Rs Business Solutions
We manage the details so you don't have to...
What would a lens be without some shameless promotion.
- 3Rs Business Solutions
- My site will provide you with more information about my virtual assistance practice.
- Virtual Assistant Musings
- My blog
Defining a Professional Virtual Assistant
Provided by the Virtual Assistant Chamber of Commerce
A Virtual Assistant (or VA) is a professional service provider who specializes in providing remote administrative office support services as an independent contractor who works with clients in an ongoing, collaborative professional relationship.Virtual Assistants work from their own offices and utilize today's technology to deliver their services and communicate with clients.
A Virtual Assistant's support isfoundationy administrative, secretarial and clerical in nature. However, many Virtual Assistants offer additional specialties that fall under creative and technical services. Virtual Assistants come from a variety of business backgrounds, but the single-most important qualification to become a Virtual Assistant is at least five (5) years administrative experience earned in the real (non-virtual) business world working in upper level capacities such as administrative assistant, executive assistant, secretary, legal assistant,perilouslyl, legal secretary, real estate assistant, office manager, etc.
From this level of experience, a VA is expected to possess the skill sets, training and business knowledge which are the hallmark of a truly qualified Virtual Assistant.
Benefits of using a Virtual Assistant
The virtual assistant industry is relatively new and the importance of educating everyone about the industry is first and formost. Here I offer a definition of what I feel virtual Assistance is (thank you Stacy Brice) and some of the benefits to an entrepreneur for using a Virtual Assistant.
- Definition - Virtual assistance can be defined as a business which provides administrative and personal support while working in long-term collaborative relationships with only a handful of terrific clients. Using phone, fax and email, VAs support their clients without having to ever step foot inside the clients' offices.
- Benefit - They are orientated to meet your personal needs
- Benefit - They treat your business as if it was their own i.e. become very involved
- Benefit - You only pay for their time and materials used: you are not liable to pay tax, insurance costs and benefits, as you would when taking on a new employee
- Benefit - You have the peace of mind that any deadlines will be met
- Benefit - You will not have to make room in the office for an extra person, or relocate completely if it was necessary!
How can a Virtual Assistant help me?
Read on to learn how useful a Virtual Assistan can be...
- You generally need a personal assistant
- You need to 'free' some of your own time to concentrate on other areas of the business
- Your premises does not have enough space to accommodate another person
- You have limited funds to purchase equipment (e.g. PC's) to complete certain tasks
- You need a contact person for times when you are away
- Delegating work to existing staff will affect their ability to meet current deadlines
- Your current staff does not have the skills to complete the task(s) in question
Services
Curious how I can assist you, here's a sampling of the services provided...
Here's a list of some of the services I provide. This is certainly not exhaustive, but will give you an idea of how I might be able to assist you and your business.
- Schedule Management
No longer be concerned about your next appointment, when something is due at the printers to ensure its created in time for your next speaking engagement or seminar. Seem to miss key dates, no longer a concern we can create a system for you that will provide you with the information you need to know when something is coming up or needs your personal follow-up. - Project & Life Management
Along with your business you have a life to live and likely being a independent entrepreneur you likely have many people as part of your team to assist in managing all the various aspects of your business and life. We can work with you to manage all of those various aspects, we can coordinate the cat-sitter for your next business trip, ensure the paperwork is forwarded to your accountant, the training materials are sent to the printers, the gift is mailed for your niece's birthday who lives across the country, arrange for the rental of a tuxedo for your partner at the next black tie event.
Whatever it might be, the more collaborative our relationship the better your life and business can function. - Desktop Publishing
While on your trip you want to ensure that you have everything you need and that you're presenting your best for prospective clients. 3Rs BUSINESS SOLUTIONS can develop and create a presentation that will give you that edge you are seeking. Working with you to ensure all the details are right, the presentation can be full automated to run as a slide show or to be used as a presentation to your clients. The details are up to you. - Meeting/Event/Seminar Planning & Management
Whether you have clients coming to town, or you want to give them the trip to remember. 3Rs BUSINESS SOLUTIONS can manage all of the details to make your meeting just what you want. From handling the booking of the trip for you and your clients or booking the conference room at a local hotel. Every detail can be managed by 3Rs BUSINESS SOLUTIONS! - Travel Management
Whether it's a quick business trip across the country or a 14 day trade show road trip 3Rs BUSINESS SOLUTIONS can manage all of the details of the trip from booking the flight, hotels and car to mapping out the travel routes. We can even arrange your meeting schedule or bookings! - Online Research & Fact Checking
Knowing your client is important to making a presentation the best it can be. 3Rs BUSINESS SOLUTIONS can provide the research and seek out the details needed to make sure you have all you need to be fully prepared for the presentation, tradeshow or meeting. - Personal Travel Planning
Who better to plan your personal travel than the person who already knows your preferences. 3Rs BUSINESS SOLUTIONS can work with you and your family to plan your next vacation. Need information on a particular part of Canada you want to travel to, need to know the best route? Whether you're traveling to visit Family in New Brunswick or want to head to Disneyworld with the family, maybe to Aruba? What ever the plan, 3Rs BUSINESS SOLUTIONS can manage the travel details for you!
Check out these
- Virtual Moxie
- A great blog about Virtual Assistance by Stacy Brice.
- The Virtual Wire
- Another blog by Stacy Brice offering insight for the Virtual Assistant and Client.
- Office Organiser
- How to Have Less Mess, Less Stress and More Success.
- Thinking Big
- A blog for small business owners to inspire them to think big.
Check out the useful stuff at Amazon
Virtual Assistant, The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA (Virtual Assistant)
Amazon Price: $19.77 (as of 07/09/2008)
The 2-Second Commute: Join the Exploding Ranks of Freelance Virtual Assistants
Amazon Price: $10.19 (as of 07/09/2008)
The Virtual Assistant's Guide to Marketing, 2nd Edition
Amazon Price: $25.00 (as of 07/09/2008)
Reader Feedback
I'd love to hear what you think. Or if you have a question about virtual assistance post it and I'll get an answer for you and the world.
