Welcome to our May Blog Hop!
This month we are so excited to help you in your business and life. You’ll find fabulous articles, how-to’s and resources for you today that have helped each consultant, blogger and business owner on the hop in their own lives and businesses. Get ready to be inspired for a wonderful month ahead of you as you move along through the blog hop.
You may just be starting the blog hop or may have come from Kim McDaniels at iBiz Design Duchess on Natalie Bradley’s Blog Hop. If you get off track at any time, the full lineup below will help you move along from blog to blog so you make sure to see and learn from all of the articles featured here today.
It’s really important that you take the time to get on the phone with a prospective Virtual Assistant. By talking to them, you’re going to be able to tell if there’s a ‘connection’ or not. And asking these questions will give you a better idea of where they stand on different things and whether they love what they do or not.
Here are 25 questions to ask a Virtual Assistant before hiring them:
1. How long have you been in business?
2. What target market do you serve?
3. Where are you located? (What time zone more specifically)
4. What hours do you work?
5. Do you work after hours or on the weekends?
6. Is there an extra charge for rush projects?
7. What is considered a rush job?
8. What is the turnaround time on projects I send?
9. Do you have others on your team? (More specifically, what if you get sick , go on vacation, or your computer crashes – do you have a backup plan so my work will still get done on time?)
10. Do you have client references? May I contact them?
11. How soon can I expect you will respond to an email/voicemail from me?
12. How do you do your invoicing? (specific day of month?)
13. What payments do you accept?
14. Do you require me to sign a contract? If so, what does it entail? (Specifically, does that ‘bind’ you to working with them for at least 3 months before being able to end the working relationship?)
15. What is your preferred form of communication?
16. Out of everything you do for clients, what is your favorite?
17. Do you charge for time we spend emailing or on the phone?
18. What is your availability?
19. Do you invoice upfront or after projects are completed?
20. What software/computer programs do you use and are experienced in? (MS Word, Adobe, Google Docs, Aweber, Infusionsoft, WordPress, etc.)
21. Do you have a confidentiality agreement?
22. Will my work be sub-contracted to someone else?
23. Do you have a non-compete contract? May I look at it?
24. What security measures do you have in place? (protecting passwords, backing up files, project management system, etc.)
25. What do you charge? (How is time billed – 15 minute increments, hourly, per project, etc.)
You might be thinking, wow that’s a lot to ask. But keep in mind you have every right to ask these questions and 
even more. It’s not only for your benefit, but the virtual assistant’s as well. Just as you’re ‘interviewing’ her to see if she will be a good fit for you and your business, she’ll also be able to get a feel for whether you would be a good fit for her. And you don’t have to ask them all if you don’t want to. Maybe after a few questions you’ll know right away if she’s a fit or not. Ask as many or as few questions as you feel you need to, to be able to get a good feel for who she is and how she does business.
Also keep in mind that you don’t have to tell the assistant yes or no once you’re done with the free consultation. Let her know you’ll be in touch within 24 hours (or however long you feel you need to finish the rest of your calls and to make a decision). Of course, follow your gut and if you talk to someone that you gel well with, whose personality you love, and whose skills are exactly what you’re looking for, then by all means go ahead and sign up right away. Just don’t feel pressured to sign on the dotted line immediately.
Also, consider it takes from one month to two months to get in a flow with your new VA. It takes time for you two to learn to communicate with each other and understand the needs. So be patient and be sure to communicate clearly with your VA, that will lead to an amazing relationship!
The next stop is Heidi Kleine at Worth it Woman on Natalie Bradley’s Blog Hop! Thanks for visiting and I hope to see you again next month!
Blog Hop participants lineup:
- Natalie Bradley at Natalie Bradley Consulting
- Rochelle Togo-Figa at RTF Coaching
- M. Shannon Hernandez at The Writing Whisperer
- Jill Russo at JillRussoFoster.com
- Deb Brown at Touch Your Client’s Heart
- Vicki Heise at Vicki Heise ~ Live Your Healthy Life
- Kim McDaniels at iBiz Design Duchess
- Robin Hardy at Integrity Virtual Services <<– you are here!
- Heidi Kleine at Worth it Woman
- Ronda Neufeld at Ronda Neufeld Relationship & Life Coach
