The first known Virtual Assistant network was started by Kathie Thomas in Australia, who founded “A Clayton’s Secretary” in 1994. Soon after that many more began to emerge since technology made it possible for VAs to operate from a home office and reach out a larger audience.

Virtual Assistants have a wide ranges of services from internet research and phone answering to spreadsheets and business documents. Like having an on-demand secretary, using a VAs services can enable entrepreneurs to focus on the areas that they add value while the repetitive business tasks still get done by somebody else.

Brianna Young loves doing the mundane tasks that a lot of entrepreneurs hate at her VA business VirtualSolutions, and has experience in a wide range of areas including massage therapy, photography, journalism, business networking at Biznik, life coaching and management.

How can a busy entrepreneur work with a virtual assistant? How practical is a VA?

Most entrepreneurs are focused on growing a new business, networking, and selling their ideas. Most entrepreneurs begin as a one-man show. They generally have very little office space and no time or money to train an administrative person, so they end up doing the administrative work themselves. However, these tasks often cut deeply into the business owner’s selling time…and time is money! A virtual assistant can take on those administrative tasks, saving the business owner money, and, ultimately, helping them grow their business.

Many VA’s also offering desktop publishing, marketing, and web design services, often making the VA a one-stop-shop for a busy business owner.

Because of current technology, a VA is uber-practical. Email, desktop sharing, instant messaging, and web conferencing make communication simple. Also, small businesses and entrepreneurs often can’t afford to pay for benefits and insurance so contracting a VA is their answer. The issue of taxes and other withholdings is also in the VA’s hands, thus removing another worry from the business owner’s plate. Most VA’s are available during normal business hours and beyond, so working with them is as simple as a phone call or email.

When your daughter Lily arrived you thought that would mean putting your career on hold but that didn’t happen. What is the biggest challenge that being a Momtrepreneur has brought to you?

Yes, Lily’s presence in my life changed my outlook dramatically. Knowing that raising my child was priorite number one was actually what inspired me to start a business at home.

My biggest challenge as a Momtrepreneur is time management. Although that has been a helpful positive aspect! All the trial and error I went through to find a balance when I first began makes me feel qualified to help others manage their time and keep their sanity.

How are you involved with business networking online and offline, and does it work for you?

Online business networking has played the biggest part in my business growth so far. I think being virtual makes this type of networking work well for me. Biznik is the online group I am most heavily involved in, and I have yet to attend a face-to-face event because the Tulsa group is small at the moment. Yes, Biznik has worked for me. I offer advice when I can, and built solid relationships within the Seattle community. I fully support what they do and I hope to help them grow in Oklahoma.

Offline networking is a powerful tool that I have yet to take advantage of. Being a new mother, it is difficult to get to Chamber of Commerce events and such. I do, however, tell everyone I meet about what I do, hoping they’ll spread the word or pass on a business card. I’ve seen offline networking build some amazing relationships in past positions I’ve held. Face-to-face contact builds trust that takes much longer to develop online.

On your blog you mentioned that Duct Tape Marketing can be very effective but can take a lot of time to follow through with. As somebody who can use these strategies on behalf of business owners what is your definition of Duct Tape Marketing and what are the most effective ideas?

Duct Tape Marketing is low budget advertising. Low budget (to me) means “do it yourself.” “Do it yourself” means that it’s time to get creative!

One of the most effective marketing tools I have in my repertoire is “follow up.” I follow up with everyone. This includes someone commenting on a blog (I write for several.), sending a request on a business networking website, someone asking for advice, etc. Anyone and everyone who sends me an email will get a response. I will often shoot a note to check in and say hello not long after I connect with someone new. This follow up contains no selling, no plugs, no pitches. It is pure and genuine interest in what that person has been doing lately.

Another marketing technique I use is to post on forums where my potential clients hang out. When I post, I do not plug my services or sell anything. I offer advice and tips, simply putting my name out there. I always include my email and/or link to my site in my signature line (This goes for everything I send from my business email address.)

You have spent over 300 hours producing a training and coaching program for people who want to get started as a virtual assistant. It sounds like a great combination. How did you decide to pair ongoing coaching with a training program?

A support system is vital for any business owner. Something new will happen everyday, questions come up, and sometimes a business owner needs outside help. Pairing coaching with the VA Training Program helps the aspiring VA build her support system from the very beginning. I decided to design the program this way because of how important my support system is to me. I couldn’t do it without them!

Virtual Assistance is also a fairly new concept, so it can be difficult to navigate through all the information. I decided a more personal approach to training would help the VA find her niche market and feel more confident before launching her business.

Where can entrepreneurs find the right VA for their business?

Simply Googling “virtual assistant” will bring up hundreds of virtual assistant websites, but it’s important for business owners to find a VA that specializes in the services they need. It is also important that the VA’s work style and the business owner’s expectations work well together. Business owners should ask the VA specific questions about their skills and ask to see examples, if necessary.

There are several organizations that offer virtual assistant directories, as well as help finding the right VA. The International Virtual Assistants Association, The International Association of Virtual Office Assistants, The Virtual Assistant Chamber of Commerce, and the Virtual Assistant Networking Association are just a few. There are also VA agencies that help match VA’s with business owners. A Virtual Staff, Inc. is one such agency.

Thanks for talking to us Brianna. You can visit Brianna at VirtualSolutions.

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Posted on July 18th, 2007 by Ross