What exactly is a Virtual Assistant and why do I need one?

I attend networking events where we usually give thirty-second speeches. I have a pretty good one. Even so, I often get asked during follow up time after the event, "What is it you do again?" I then explain what we do, and some folks still don't seem to understand what a Virtual Assistant is. Remote Worker doesn't capture the essence either. It might sound like we work in a co-working space. Back-Office is too much of a bookkeeping connotation. Back-Office can also seem like an app. or software.

Here is my thirty-second speech:

Hi, my name is David Rockey. My company is Your Office SOS. SOS stands for supported outsourced services. We offer a variety of remote solutions, such as business development and administrative functions. If you're drowning in the waves of the details of your business, you had better send an SOS. We bring one hundred years of experience to the rescue. 

My ideal client is someone you know who would like to recover their life and their time. We can turn their life from crappy to happy. Before you drown in a sea of stress, call Your Office SOS.

With that stated, I am still talking about the Virtual Assitant industry as a whole. The VA industry, as a concept, has been around quite some time. The advent of high-speed internet and other technology breakthroughs has increased the number of VA"s. The boom in entrepreneurship has increased the demand for VA's as well. 

The benefits of a VA today are starting to work powerfully against having a brick and mortar office with a staff of employees. The payroll, taxes, benefit packages as well as all downtime and non-productive time are a few drawbacks.

The one factor that is common in the reaction to having a VA is control. Yes, you may lose a little of the power you have when doing the work that doesn't necessarily have to do with the essentials of your business. We like to say, "We let you do what you do best, we handle the rest." For instance, if you invented a magic widget, you need to be at trade shows, speaking engagements, in front of clients or investors. It would be best if you stayed focused on refining and updating that widget. You do not need to take care of scheduling your appointments, keeping up with social media, sorting through email, booking travel, etc. Some other aspects to consider: market research, blogging, finding images for quotes, 

Some of your valuable time is wasted on tedious and repetitive tasks. In today's world, some of these tasks can be done remotely successfully and effectively by a remote or virtual worker. 

Your Office SOS is unique in this way. My wife and I are a team. She has 50 years' experience as an administrative assistant, most of it at the c-suite level. I have 50 years' experience in sales, marketing, and business development. We have seen the evolution taken place in those fields and have kept up with the latest skills and knowledge in those areas. We bring wisdom acquired from as I like to quote the Farmers Insurance commercial, "We know a thing or two 'cause we've seen a thing or two."

So please give us the work that surrounds the essence of what you do. We will free you to devote your time to what is essential. We give you back the one thing we all possess the limited fixed amount of, and that is 24 hours in a day and 168 hours in a week.