Think of all the times in life that you wish someone was right there to help or assist you. And think of the lengths we go to at times to try and get that situation to become a reality.

Fact is we could fill a book with measures people have gone too to have help at the ready. Well thanks to the Internet we can add another. It is called a virtual assistant (or a VA).

Practically speaking, the reality is there are a number of applications related to being a virtual assistant. Just like there are red peppers, green peppers, and yellow peppers. We will consider a prime example of a VA application for this article. It is transcribing or transcription. This can apply to legal matters, corporate applications, or in our example a medical scenario.

The beauty of VA and other Internet businesses is that you can usually do it right from your own home. In fact a good number of the VA’s out there are staying at home moms.

Naturally you have already determined that you are qualified to take on these types of assignments and you have yourself equipped with a capable computer with quality Internet access. Now you need to get some work.

You have a few options here. One option may be that you are struggling to work out of an office taking care of some of the administrative duties we have mentioned above. Why not sit down with your boss and discuss the possibility of you doing this from your home. Setting that up from there is relatively easy. And everything can be sent across the web right back to the office. And thanks to the web you are always “just a ring of the bell” away.

A second option is finding an independent company that supplies the assignments for their staff. And their staff is not cooped up in an office they are spread across the Internet easily reached via the Internet or phone.

The third option is starting your own independent VA service and contracting your own assignments. For example I know a talented gal who set up a transcription service from her home with a local Doctor. He and/or his staff dictates data for her and she has the training and skills to transcribe that onto electronic media. All she needs, aside form the training, is a reliable computer, the necessary programs, and a dictation machine to play back the dictation tapes that are mailed to her. When complete she simple mails the dictation tapes back, a printed copy of the transcriptions and electronically mails a copy of the transcriptions.

This started out as a side job to supplement her day job. However it quickly grew to being contacted by other Doctors. A couple of them hundreds of miles away! Why would Doctor’s want to do this?

For one as we mentioned at the outset, we all love it when dependable help is right there, whenever we need it. Secondly and very important, this is often more cost effective. The job does not require the VA to deal with customer/patient needs so they do not need to be “there”. Also this means the Doctor is not paying them or for their salary, benefits, workman’s compensation, vacation, sick days, and a space to work. And what the Doctor pays them for their services is a tax write off (At least in the USA). It’s a win / win situation for the Doctor and the VA.
Have you decided what type of peppers you are going to plant? Because once you have the steps that follow are much the same as they would be with whatever you planted. And so it is with your VA business.

You have narrowed down what area of the VA world you want to conquer now you need to do some gardening or cultivating. As far as soliciting and acquiring jobs you will need to conjure up and prepare a professional resume to present to potential clients. I believe for those who have taken transcribing courses they offer tips on how to nail down some work. Some I have been told have gotten leads and/or a supportive reference from their course provider. Obviously any hands on experience you have will go a long way in helping you land a project.

Remember in these times of economic difficulties the idea of using VA’s is rapidly growing. Go back a couple paragraphs and re-read why that is the case. If a Doctor, Lawyer, or corporate manager can get the same quality work and not have to take on the operative costs of housing staff that is very inviting. Again it is truly a win / win situation. And don’t kid yourself; this is going to be the pattern for years to come.

What are you waiting for then? Do you possess these skills already? Then get started by taking on some side projects and grow your VA “plant” from there. Need some education to do this? Check out the courses available in the local schools in your area. You would be surprised how accommodating the schedule can be. Take your classes around your schedule and go from there. Now go!

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