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Let's talk Virtual!

Welcome to this brand new group on Active Rain!

My hope is to provide a group for virtual assistants and those looking to or currently work with a virtual assistant.

Many VAs specialize in working with Realtors and agents.

I am curious how many contract processors or other loan processors have ever thought about becoming a Virtual Assistant.

How many know that thery are a virtual assistant? I know I didn't. I started out as a loan processor and after a few years, I opened a contract loan processing business. What I didn't know then was that much of what I was doing was exactly what a Virtual Assistant does.

For more information about me, visit my website at Above & Beyond Administration.

Tell us about you, who you are, what you do, and so on and so forth.

Let's make this Networking at its best!

Virtually yours,

Anita Bruton

Marketing Support Services

Posted by Anita Bruton on 05/22/2007 09:01 AM

Comments (5)

5 Comments on Let's talk Virtual!

MAY

2007

What a great idea Anita. I have been a virtual assistant as an emplyee for an interpreting and translating company for the past 12 years and never realized it. As an empoyee, I didn't realize that there was a name for what I was doing. Now that I have opened my own business as a virtual assistant and my services are geared towards Real Estate Brokers and Agents I have come to see that there is an entire network of people in this industry. Real Estate is an industry that recognizes a virtual assistant for how beneficial we can be. If a Real Estate Agent has to tend to hours of administrative paperwork in the office on a daily basis they can't be listing houses and making the money they set out to make as an Agent. It is quite relieving for an Agent to be able to pull up their calendar that the virtual assistant has set for them for the day, grab the listing presentation that has been prepared and attend the the appointment. In addition, when all the documents have been prepared and have been securely put online for a closing it saves the agent many hours in a day. In my opinion the virtual assistant industry will continue to flourish as many employers continue to learn how much time and money can be saved by hiring one or several.

Wenda Rogers
Around The Clock Solutions
Aroundtheclockva@comcast.net
http://www.aroundtheclocksolutions.com/ Awesome book from Michael Russer "Mr. Internet"
For the employee and employer - get away from the employee mindset.
http://www.theobsoleteemployee.com/thankyou.php?s=1&a=191

MAY

2007

I too have been working virtually for a while now, but never put a name to it. Although I'm located in Indiana, I can be "virtually" anywhere! It seems that unless you have referrals, it is very difficult to get jobs by bidding on virtual websites. I'm sorry, but I can't compete with the overseas bids of $3-4 per hour. I guess you get what you pay for!

Kathy Worthington
Virtual Answers
kworthington@VirtualAnswers.net
www.VirtualAnswers.net

MAY

2007

Hi Kathy,

I took a peak at your website and I do see that you show Active Rain as one of your memberships. I am curious if you are part of any other virtual assistant memberships.

One of the hottest around is the Virtual Assistants Networking Association (VANA). Membership is totally free and with well over 5300 members to network with, you will find all kinds of answers to any question you may have. Many VAs network with one another and often, quite often, referrals take place as well as subcontractiong. We also have a whole section for RFP's. There are plenty of ways to find work through VANA in one way or another.

We also have an article directory which is a huge resource. And there is also a directory to which you can add you business too.

So if you aren't a member there, I recommend you try it out.

I totally understand what you are saying with the overseas bids. They do work very cheaply compared to US dollars. But don't let that discourage you. There is plenty of work elsewhere. I really haven't heard of anyone losing work because of the overseas outsourcing.

Do what you love, love what you do and the rest will come.

Virtually yours,

Anita Bruton

Thanks for the encouragement! I have checked out the VANA stuff, but haven't joined yet. I know networking is a big key, so here I am!

I just need to find a way to get my name out there locally for some close-to-home work. I know the need is there, I just have to find a way to tap into it.

Kathy

SEP

Hey Kathy - I've been a Real Estate Virtual Assistant for over 12 years now. A realtor friend of mine asked if I had ever thought about being a VA and promptly handed me several articles and hired me to be her VA.

In the beginning, when I was asked what I did for a living, I got deer-in-the-headlights look and had to explain it. Fortunately, VAs have gained a lot of ground. More realtors than not now know what a VA is and how important they can be to their business.

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