Opportunities Abound for the Administrative Assistant To Work From Home

Administrative assistants are moving from the office back into their homes as the opportunities for working in a home-based environment are growing daily. As modern technology allows for the transfer of information quickly and easily, administrative professionals are finding it has never been easier to do the office work at home. Letters, memos and reports are just a click away. Web conferencing, marketing, publicity, and even bookkeeping can be accomplished from virtually anywhere.

Businesses are also realizing that the same work done at the office can easily be outsourced to a home-based administrative professional. In fact, many businesses find they are not only getting the same work done, but also experiencing better results. The home-based administrative professional is highly qualified and trained in the services they offer and therefore excel at these tasks.

These administrative assistants utilize their skills as a virtual assistant—virtual being the operative word. Being able to do work virtually enables these administrative professionals to do all those tasks normally done in the office. With all the downsizing and layoffs, businesses are thrilled to be able to have the support they need at a cost they can afford.

The services being offered by these independent business owners are varied and can be found to suit the job. The descriptions that follow are just a few of the services they can provide:

Press Release Writing & Distribution: Most businesses today could benefit from a great press release, especially when that press release is distributed to their targeted audience. Many publicity virtual assistants offer this service in addition to other marketing tasks.

Transcription services: Definitely in high demand today. Doctors, specialists, hospitals, chiropractors and many more use outside sources to transcribe their files. Lawyers also require this type of assistance in legal transcription.

Document formatting, data input, correspondence, and report writing: Work can be typed and sent via email, file sharing, fax, Skype—you name it. Keeping up with social networking, answering phone calls, managing email messages, and customer relations are more services that can be handled from a home office.

Event Management: Organizing conferences or workshops from beginning to end,is just another thing that can be done from a home office

Writing effective resumes: Resumes that get the attention of potential employers is a skill that is very useful, especially in the job markets of today. With downsizing, layoffs and business closures, landing that new job for many is so very important. On the employer side, a virtual assistant can set up screening of resumes from their home office.

Researching information: Research can be a task that few can spare the time for. With the amount of information available on the Internet, finding pertinent articles and company information can be very time consuming. There are home-based administrative assistants who enjoy this type of work and have developed methods of finding useful information effectively.


Article Marketing: Submitting how-to and informational articles on the Internet is fast becoming a great marketing tool. Articles are included in ezines and newsletters are often picked up by online news outlets.

For more information on partnering with a Virtual Assistant visit Another8hours.com and VirtualWordPublishing.com where you can also get a free informational PR package.

Kelly Poelker of Another8Hours, http://www.another8hours.com and Diana Ennen of Virtual Word Publishing http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com are the co-authors of numerous books including Virtual Assistant – The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA, and its accompanying Workbook. For complete information on starting your own VA business or if you need a virtual assistant visit http://www.va-theseries.com. Article is free to be reprinted as long as the author’s bio remains intact.

Virtual Assistants Top List of of Work at Home Jobs AGAIN!

Once again, I was delighted to see our Industry mentioned in a List of Top Home-Based Businesses. This time it was on AOL -in an article -- 10 More Jobs You Can Have at Home.

http://jobs.aol.com/article/_a/10-more-jobs-you-can-have-at-home/20050808184809990053?ncid=AOLCOMMjobsDYNLprim0001

Here's what it said:

Administrative Assistant -- Also known as virtual assistants, home-based administrative assistants use office experience and computer skills as support personnel. Many skills easily transition into this position, which offers many part-time and temporary opportunities.

YES!!! I'm THRILLED!! I truly believe with the right skills, experience and passion that if you want to become a VA, and you do the right things to become a good VA, you absolutely can.

Here are some of the services that a VA can provide. I know for many regulars of my blog, you already know this, but fortunately, I'm having some new VAs and this is more for them. (This is from our Virtual Assistant The Series Book).


· Publicity, Marketing, Writing: Business, technical, academic, resume, and ghost writing. Includes formatting papers and manuscripts, as well as business plans and reports.
· Competitive Research: Research clients’ competitors and report findings.
· Editing/Proofreading: Editing and proofreading client documents.
· File Conversion: Convert files from one format to the other. Example: Word to PDF format.
· Digital Imaging: Digital photography, graphic design, scanning of documents, photographs, etc.
· Graphic Design: Designing images for use on the web or in print.
· Interpreting: Translate from one language to another.
· Web Design, Development and Maintenance: Design client websites. May include development of copy and ongoing maintenance.
· Word Processing: Many of the chapters in this book deal with this including Legal Transcription, Medical Transcription, Targeting Writers, etc.
· Desktop Publishing: Design and layout of business cards, newsletters, flyers, catalogs, brochures, menus.
· Transcription: Transcribing standard and micro-cassette tapes. Medical, legal and general transcription.
· General bookkeeping: Process and mail invoices and statements. Bill paying, checkbook balancing, collection calls, bookkeeping, etc.
· Meeting Planning: Organizing all or various aspects of a meeting. This might include arranging meeting space, A/V requirements, speakers, food and beverage, sleeping rooms, contract negotiations, and transportation.
· Event Planning: Organizing all or various aspects of an event. This might include arranging for a venue, food and beverage or catering, contract negotiations, special transportation, security, and entertainment.
· Presentations: Preparing slide presentations in a program such as Microsoft PowerPoint. Requires knowledge of the application, as well as presentation techniques. Might also include preparation of handouts and transparencies. Slides can show birthdays, business/marketing, graduations, weddings, etc.
· Realtor Support: Includes desktop publishing, bulk mailings, database management, letter writing, thank-you card writing, and making phone calls. See also, Transaction Coordinator.
· Information Processing: Combination of word processing, data processing, database management, spreadsheets, and resume preparation.
· Internet Research: Research and report findings on specific topics. You can do academic research, business and marketing research, locator services (alumni, family, military, etc.)
· Photocopying: Black and white or color copies, including transparencies.
· Association Management: Meeting minute transcription, meeting reminder cards or calls, database management, meeting agendas, meeting and convention planning, newsletters, mailing services, bookkeeping, and banking services.
· Concierge Services: Dinner recommendations and reservations, tickets, travel research and arrangements, transportation arrangements, directions, gift buying, car rentals, general errand running.
· Organizing Consultant: Rearrange office space, plan and pack for relocation, develop procedures, set up filing systems, time management, and office automation.
· Contact Management: Maintain client database of contacts using a variety of applications like ACT, Goldmine, Lotus Organizer, Outlook and Maximizer.
· Public Relations: Writing and submitting press releases. Arranging interviews with the media. Promote the general “image” of the company.
· Systems Management: Manage system network.
· Reminder Service: Remind clients of important dates and events.
· Executive Personal Assistant: Combination of duties with a high level of decision-making, coordination, purchase authority, on behalf of the company executive(s).
· Scheduling: Arrange and manage schedule for meetings, deadlines, appointments, and possibly personal activities.
· Technical Support: Hardware and software installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and tutoring.
· Internet Administration: Administration of chat rooms, message boards, and online groups.

If anyone would like information on starting a virtual assistant business, please do email me, at diana@virtualwordpublishing.com. I have a VA Informational Package and a PR informational Package that I'd be happy to send you. The VA Informational Package includes a sample of our book Virtual Assistant the Series.

Thanks!

Diana Ennen, President
Virtual Word Publishing
www.virtualwordpublishing.com