That is a long title for a book that has useful potential and has been downloaded over 3,000 times! In his bio, Nick Loper tells us that he operates virtualassistantassistant.com as a directory of honest virtual assistant reviews. Loper was an Internet marketer before that was popular! His business ventures led him to investigate the possibility for a Virtual Assistant for himself. His experience led him to write about the ways the relationship between client and virtual assistant can be improved.
The book is intended for the entrepreneur or business person who needs to hire help. Loper talks the reader through evaluations of need and whether an onsite person or an outsource person would be the best choice.
He discusses the options to hiring a virtual assistant, listing tasks that might not ordinarily be considered. Clarification of the term ‘assistant’ is strong throughout the book as is the theory of outsourcing. Everyone ‘outsources’ something, even the water that comes into the house, while ‘assistant’ applies to many more services than the stereotypical secretarial or administrative tasks.
He seems weighted toward using companies who have a ‘stable’ of virtual assistants, but also has worked with individuals. He has worked with and can speak about virtual assistants in many countries; both men and women.
Loper addresses many concerns about security with solid advice as well as certifications and organizations that represent credibility for the virtual assistant. He recommends some that are highly respected, but also cautions that certifications do not measure everything.
Rates: While there is no doubt that rates are important and we all know the differences in standards of living can lead to some lower and higher rates, I wish he hadn’t used numbers. Figures change constantly and the numbers he used can become a ‘standard’ that new business people expect when beginning to work with virtual assistants. Loper also implies it is common to hire someone at low rates, but only barely discusses the point that the lower rate people may also be offering services that have demanded a lower investment in time and equipment for them.
Interview Tactics: He recommends asking the virtual assistant applicants to do some tasks as an experiment. These are not free work, but a test where all applicants have the same tasks. He uses the term resume and most virtual assistants use the term profile, but I believe this isn’t a deal breaker once the need is defined. Virtual assistants must be transparent about experience regardless of the terminology. Clients need to know where and how a virtual assistant has or has not worked.
Policies: It is sweet that he recommends appreciation, bonuses, and fair pay practices for the virtual assistant. Loyalty is fostered by clients who take the time to inform, involve virtual assistants and who respect the person they do not see.
The author wins all five stars for me in other similar reviews because he devotes a large part of the book to ways an entrepreneur can sensibly take charge of business and the virtual assistant relationship. The leadership people I’ve worked with have been other virtual assistants as a subcontractor. Clients right out of the box have not been able or willing to do this and it has left me at a disadvantage more than once. Beginning at the beginning, Loper recommends working out a mission statement for the business, then building a management manual so that the plan is all worked out before the virtual assistant comes on board. The plans are all living and expectations are for change, but there are fewer surprises with a system of some sort in place.
I found the book to be sensibly structured from first learning what a virtual assistant is and that outsourcing is not a dirty word through the analysis of need and the structure of a sound leadership plan that doesn’t leave anyone hanging.
Knowing this book was written for the client, I read it because I wanted some more information that could make my virtual business stronger and help me in better marketing practices. Even as some details may become more dated or obsolete, there is a useful foundation in the book for readers. I’m glad I have it and recommend it as a useful foundation resource. I’m sure I will be referring to parts of it in the future. I will be writing reviews of the book at BarJD.com, GoodReads.com, and at Amazon.com.
Interested in getting your own copy of this book? Check out the ordering link here.
————————————
JudyAnn Lorenz of Bar JD Communications has worked as a virtual professional since 2003. She brings websites and marketing strategy together for clients. “By addressing the desires of customers, search engines and the business/client’s own spirit, I help weave the tapestry of their Internet presence for this Big Three.”
Additionally, JudyAnn is one of The Naked VA’s Intriguing Virtual Professionals. Click here to read her interview.
Thank you for inviting me to review this book. I believe I found some solid ideas that VAs can apply to their end of the relationship with clients and potentlal clients. The virtual relationship thrives on attention and communication, just as does any in-person connection.
I look forward to reading more of your reviews, JudyAnn. Great to have you be a part of this blog. I agree. Communication is key, even more so, when many times virtual assistants and clients don’t get the privilege of meeting in-person – to see an expression, hear an accent, or feel the warmth of a smile as it spreads across someone’s face when they are pleased with the project’s outcome.