1. Virtual Assistance Linda Melcher i-Assist i-Assist@comcast.net

2. Mary’s Class Clark Community College May 25, 2010

3. Agenda What is Virtual Assistance? What Is a Virtual Assistant A Little About i-Assist AssistU Why, What, Who Tools and Applications Groove

4. What is Virtual Assistance? Foundation - traditional administrative support. Administrative profession. And an art – the art of working in a long-term “partnership” with another successful person or small business.

5. What’s the Difference? Virtual Assistance Relationship built on equality between client and VA Both are business owners Traditional Administrative Support Employer – Employee relationship Not equal

6. What’s a Virtual Assistant? Highly trained administrative professional Provides high level, long-term collaborative administrative assistance Not physically present - virtual Provides variety of services – not a specialist A specialist offers only one service Day-to-day administrative support Plus problem-solving and pro-active thinking of a partner

7. Who is i-Assist ? Linda Melcher V.A. L.L.C. A virtual assistant Used to work in Corporate America Fork In the Road Loss of job that I loved Wanted to do the same type of work Could I do it from home?

8. Entrepreneur? Oh! My Gosh! Learned of Virtual Assistance Started my business Easy to start, but… I had the hard skills, but… What about marketing How to best work with clients Research led to AssistU

9. AssistU http://www.assistu.com Founded by Stacy Brice in 1997 Training Program for Virtual Assistants (the VTP)

10. Why AssistU? Wanted the best training Most comprehensive Community of VAs Online Forum Registry System Thorough 20 week long program

11. What did I learn? Confidence in this emerging career How to run a business from home Setting parameters – standards/boundaries Business Plan How to work with clients

12. What did I learn? Soft skills How to run a business What to expect from clients Not hard skills Like Word, or Excel, etc And the learning continues and continues…

13. Why become a VA? Set your own hours Eliminate a commute Own your own business Pioneer a new profession Choose clients with whom you work Do dynamic work with interesting people

14. Why become a VA? Gain independence and control in your life Spend more quality time with your family Receive compensation that honors the contribution you make No longer be at the mercy of corporate structure

15. How do you find clients? As part of the training, AssistU provides over 100 specific ways for VAs to market themselves. Referrals Law of Attraction Registry

16. How do you apply to AssistU The first step is to submit your application, references, resume, and essays. Go to http://assistu.com/va/va_app.html http://assistu.com/va/va_app.html Then our Admissions Director will conduct a phone interview and, if needed, a second. Everything submitted is reviewed and verified. All of this, combined with what you submit in your application, will help Assistu decide if there’s a fit between your needs and the Assistu program.

17. What do you need to start? A PC Pentium IV or higher CD-ROM drive XP or Vista 256 Megs of Memory 60 gig hard drive 56K modem Word or Word Perfect Internet Access Internet Explorer Up-to-date virus protection A MAC OS 10 128 megs of RAM 56K modem Internet Access Netscape/Safari Up-to-date virus protection Minimum Computer Requirements

18. What do you need to start? 1.Have at least two years recent experience (within the past five years) in an administrative or support role, and can document the types of support performed. 2.Internet access (can be AOL and/or ISP) and the ability to demonstrate above average knowledge of how the Internet works, proficient in using email. 3.Top-notch telephone manner and skills. 4.A home office set up, or resources to set up an office during the course of the Virtual Training Program. AssistU Application Prerequisites

19. What do you need to start? 5.Speak and write English fluently and is able to quickly translate a thought into written word, via email. 6.Highly developed sense of humor. Knows how to show up in cyberspace professionally, yet with an easy-going personality. 7.Be ready to create a successful business outside of a traditional working environment. 8.A commitment to 1 hour of class each week and to 7 to 10 hours of homework and independent study each week. AssistU Application Prerequisites

20. Virtual Assistance works when another successful business person recognizes a gap between where they are now and where they want to be and they accept that they can’t get where they want to go alone.

21. Questions??? Thank You! Linda Melcher i-assist@comcast.net

22. Virtual Assistant Sites http://www.ASSISTU.com http://www.VirtualAssistantNetworking.com http://www.IVAA.org http://sharonbroughtonacademy.com Linda Melcher http://www.i-assistva.com i-assist@comcast.net 360-256-0458

23. List of tools and apps Your handout today includes a list of tools that I use. This is by no means an exhaustive list. All virtual assistants choose their own tools. These are some I use or have used in my practice.

24. Groove Collaboration Sharing Discussions Notes Projects Calendar

25. Groove Launchbar Work Spaces Contact List Tasks

26. Groove Workspace Discussion List Discussion Nav Bar In Workspace

27. Groove Workspace Invite to work Chat Common tools Listing of those in space

28. Nav Bar This particular nav-bar contains files, discussion, notepad, calendar, pictures, and meetings. Over on the far right is a button to create a new tab or to rename existing tabs. New tab or rename tab

29. Nav Bar This particular nav-bar contains files, discussion, notepad, calendar, pictures, and meetings. Over on the far right is a button to create a new tab or to rename existing tabs. New tab or rename tab

30. Files Pane Navigation looks a lot like a folder in Windows with folders and files listed. Drag and drop files from system to Groove here

31. Thank you for having me Linda Melcher i-Assist i-Assist@comcast.net