Bells Are Ringing, a musical opened in 1956 followed by a motion picture in 1960, depicts an answering service for organizations and individuals. I thought of this answering service which found itself in financial problems when I read about a virtual assistant in the January 23, 2011, edition of The Dallas Morning News on page 1J.
I remember in Bells Are Ringing that booking bets was a major service. The News article by Christine Durst and Michael Haaren of Creators Syndicate suggests that “virtual assistants” should provide their services to small business and sole professional using e-mail, telephone, courier, and the Internet. The article suggests that VAs provide word processing, transcription service, daily schedules, correspondence, concierge services, social-networking, and perhaps order taking (not bets).
While the cost of establishing a VA home-based business can be less than $1,000, the article provides these admonitions:
1. Do the necessary self-assessment – Operating your own business is not like being an employee. You are your own boss and have to actually run a business rather than taking orders from a supervisor.
2. Make sure your family is on board - Working at home means working not just being a dad or mom and watching TV.
3. Be prepared to market your business - My experience in sales is that you have to market your products and services. Waiting for someone to call in an order may be a long wait and lonely time.
Please share your feelings about becoming a VA in this blog. I would like to read some success stories.
Thanks! Glyn
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