What is virtual assistance? 
Virtual assistance is a relatively new way of working.  It's working in partnership with busy professionals without having to be physically present.  Work is done offsite (remotely) with the assistance of fax, phone, e-mail, regular and expedited mail.  Those who provide virtual assistance are self-employed professionals who are highly skilled and experts in various disciplines, such as marketing, administrative, and creative services.  

How does virtual assistance differ from consulting?
Traditional consulting brings your organization advice and counsel, but the implementation piece is up to you.  With a virtual assistance firm as your outsourced partner, however, you also get implementation.   Your organization works with specialized service providers who take on activities that your organization may not have the time or the expertise to do.   

What's the advantage for me? 
There are a number of advantages:  lower costs, improved organizational focus, and increased flexibility.  If you're short on staff or your business has peaks and valleys that make it hard to stay staffed for peak capacity, then virtual assistance brings you the flexibility of having expertise just when you need it.  If you're a small business owner, independent professional, or nonprofit, it's often challenging for you to do everything.  The power of virtual assistance is in freeing your time to focus on the things that you do best.  

Wouldn't it be faster if I did the work myself?
While it may be faster for you to do things you do well on your own, what about everything else?  Working with the appropriate outsourcer can result in faster and more effective and cost efficient implementation.  Emphasis is on the word "proper".  It's important to understand what you hope to gain from virtual assistance and to find a provider that brings the best fit for your objectives.

What if my company isn't located near you?
Not a problem.  Long distance business relationships work seamlessly today thanks to modern technology.  With a phone, fax, e-mail, overnight delivery and the Internet, you'll find that working this way is often more efficient than numerous face-to-face meetings.  And, the flexibility of the outsourcer means special arrangements can even be made to accommodate different time zones.

Does it matter if you don't have much experience in my industry?
Marketing and administrative assistance are professional disciplines that are based on principles that can be applied across many different types of business.  What makes your industry different from others will of course impact the solutions; however, the path to those solutions can be determined by a professional with analytical discipline, creativity and technical know-how.

How do you price your services?
Services are typically billed on a per-project basis and are determined by the resources required to complete the project.  Because each client is unique as are their needs, custom quotes are prepared.  Costs associated with your project are are mutually agreed upon before the project begins.