Posts Tagged ‘attention’

Recently I have been trying to decide as to whether or not I want to continue being a virtual assistant.  Not because of lack of work but because of lack of ethics, customer service and personal attention that other VA’s are displaying.  I’m totally appalled and in shock.

I must say not all virtual assistants are only interested in the paycheck and not the client.  In fact, there are several who do have great work ethics and really listen to their clients and enjoy the work they do, not just for the paycheck but for the sound in their clients’ voices when they have dropped their stress level significantly. To them, I say thank you for overcoming the challenges that bad virtual assistants are causing us.

Just this week I have seen numerous people complaining about their virtual assistants.  One person hired a VA and fired her within 4 days.  Another person is not getting the personal attention and the customer service that they should be getting from their VA and he is so fed up with it that he is willing to give up on virtual assistants all together.

What the heck are virtual assistants who really in truly look out for our clients supposed to do when so many VAs are giving us a bad name? I have seen virtual assistants talking about requirements for VAs such as schooling but even that isn’t going to help. Schools can not teach virtual assistants how to implement good ethics into their business.  That is something that needs to be learned on their own.  They need to learn the finer point of skills such as defining and applying good ethics, and to put the client first instead of the paycheck.

One of the reasons that I think so many people are becoming virtual assistants is because it has been advertised that all you need to be a good virtual assistant is a computer, internet connection, printer, and telephone.  Amazingly enough I just saw a blog post today that said “Earn Big Bucks (right now) by becoming a virtual assistant.” While computer, internet, printer and telephone is all you need to become a virtual assistant it is not all you need to become a GOOD virtual assistant.

I can also guarantee that just by saying you are a virtual assistant and opening your “doors” will not earn you big bucks. Becoming a good virtual assistant means not just saying you do, but actually implementing the following, listening to clients, finding out their needs, going that extra mile instead of taking shortcuts. If they desperately need your help but can’t afford the $40 per hour that you charge, then why not work out a plan so you can give them the help they need without breaking their bank.  Maybe when they say I need help with this, and this, and this but I can only afford to pay you this, don’t kick them to the curb, instead sit down and figure out what should be their priority and handle that project.

One of the complaints that I have been hearing is I only need a part time person but nobody is willing to work part time.  Doing part time work may not sound appealing but that is the reality of being a VA. You work for many clients, a little here and a little there. Full time work is the exception, not the rule, and it comes as a result of doing piece-work. Once you do part time work for somebody and then with the passing of time your client begins to rely on you and trust you, it may turn into full-time work. Not to mention the fact that if they are satisfied they will tell their friends, which means more business for you.

What’s sad is that a lot of the bad VAs are complaining about the competition from virtual assistants over in the Philippines, China, India charging $5 per hour when they shouldn’t because if clients get the kind of customer service that I have been hearing about over here in the states, who can blame them for going overseas.  At least if they are only paying $5 per hour, they expect bad customer service.

When a VA gives good service, overseas competition ceases to be a threat. Good service consists of competent performance of required tasks, combined with a willingness to go the extra mile, and to look out for the best interests of the client. The VA industry needs more VAs willing to do that, and fewer who think it is just about the money. When it ISN’T just about the money, earnings go up!

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