Virtual Assistants Add Value to Client’s Business

How do you choose a hairdresser, a landscaper or a nanny? One strategy is to get a few quotes and select the lowest bidder.  But what if, in case of a nanny, the best one – CPR-certified, impeccable references, and a degree in early childhood education – is not the cheapest? The choice you make depends on your circumstances, your budget, and tasklist the service professional will have to perform. In some cases all that matters is the total cost. In others – total value.

Same is true for hiring a virtual assistant. Some charge as low as $3/hr while others – over $50/hr.  What differentiates these virtual assistants is not even so much the type of work that they do, but the value they bring to their clients’ businesses.

Possible differentiation points include

Competency – documented past experience in similar or related projects; related educational background and certification courses.
Availability – on-call, rush and weekend service availability, can take on large projects with tight deadlines, reliable back-up.
Effective project management tools – this includes project tracking, quality control, invoicing and communication tools.
Consistency and dependability – this includes timely delivery, key person and data back-up, high quality standards for each deliverable every time.
Payment options – offering various payment options including credit cards processing.
Communication options – availability via instant messenger, video chat, Skype, etc. in addition to the usual phone, e-mail and fax; consider face-to-face meetings and occasional on-site work for local clients.
Free stuff – consultations , white papers and info-products that are distributed only to the clients, even a promotion like one free hour for each twenty paid hours.
Annual or quarterly reviews – re-evaluating strategic goals, tactics and performance results, preferably done over the phone or face-to-face and at no charge to the client.
Referrals – a virtual assistant might not be able to support every phase or facet of client’s business, but will be able to either refer the client to another reliable qualified and available VA or partner with another virtual assistant directly.

Every single one of these options adds tremendous value to clients’ businesses in a direct and measurable way that completely justifies differences in rates. 

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