Who here uses a VA (Virtual Assistant)?

[Georgia Poker]

I'm looking to hire a company to outsource most of my day to day grind (emails, calendar, research, building Power Point presentations, general admin work). I've looked at a few of the companies on Elance and a few others. I know it's hit or miss at best and I'd rather not spin my wheels.

Any feedback is appreciated.

[dcaissie]

I caution anyone wanting to work with a Virtual Assistant to make sure they get a professional Virtual Assistant and not a wannabe. Ever since the title, Virtual Assistant, was formalized back in 1997, the industry has grown like gang-busters, and as a result, anyone offering services virtually has usurped the title, Virtual Assistant.

Your best bet for finding a Virtual Assistant is to go to the membership sites for Virtual Assistants. Most, if not all, of them have an RFP section where you can post a free ad for a Virtual Assistant.

If you don't want to pay for a professional (upwards of $35/hr.), you can go to the many freelance sites on the Internet and find someone calling herself a Virtual Assistant who will work for <$10/hr., but be aware, you get what you pay for.

If you need a list of the Virtual Assistant membership sites, I'd be happy to email you one.

=>Donna Caissie, Virtual Assistant
ExtraOrdinary Assistance
dcaissie@extra-assist.com

[PokerPie]

there are a bunch of them listed in the book FourHourWorkWeek and im sure on fourhourworkweek.com. great book by the way for anybody who hasn't read it.

no offense donna but paying a membership fee to join a site which will then refer you to a virtual assistant, sounds like a scam.

[pokersqueeze]

I use assistants at Brickwork (http://www.b2kcorp.com). I recommend them highly. You might have to bounce between a few to find one that you can communicate well with.

[Georgia Poker]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. It's interesting that I have two PM's from BRAND NEW members offering their VA services. The timing was incredible. Within hours of my post, I had two people with zero posts offering their services.