In January Laura Calfayan
found herself overwhelmed by a long to-do list. The principal of
Calfayan Construction Associates, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., didn't want
to hire someone full time, so through the recommendation of a
marketing consultant Calfayan discovered outsourcing in the form of
virtual assistant Deanne Splear, owner of AdminiSource Now.
Splear, located 60 miles south
of Chicago, works for Calfayan on an as-needed basis but also has
several other clients on retainer, including two other noncompeting
remodelers. For Calfayan, Splear does tasks such as research, bulk
mailings, helping with sales presentation materials, and sending
follow-up and warranty letters. “Anything that can be delegated, I
help with — day-to-day and big-picture operations,” says Splear, who
has a background in human resources, and, coincidentally, comes from a
family that owns a remodeling company.
“The thing I value most so
far,” Calfayan says, “is that Deanne created my dream direct-mail
database. It would have taken me forever to do that. She did it in a
day. It's made our lives so easy.”
According to Sharon Williams
at the Alliance for Virtual Businesses, which represents most of the
nation's virtual assistant associations, there are more than 5,000
virtual assistants worldwide. They are independent entrepreneurs, and
although V.A.s (as they are called) don't need to be licensed or
bonded, the associations set standards and work to maintain a high
level of professionalism. Most V.A.s are paid anywhere from $20 to
$100 per hour, depending on their skills and experience. AVB's Web
site,
www.allianceforvirtualbiz.com, as well as sites such as the
International Virtual Assistant Association,
www.ivaa.org, have sections on their
sites for helping people find a V.A.
Says Splear, an IVAA member,
“look for a good match in skill set and personality. From a
remodeler's point of view, look for someone you can delegate to. You
want to free up your time. One of the goals of most V.A.s is to take
the daily burden off someone's shoulders so they can focus on their
business.”
