Virtual PA/Assistant?

bekz09

Hi,
Wondering if someone can help me out here, I would appreciate it. Has anyone heard of Virtual PA's - Assistants? - I was thinking of getting into this line of work part time to earn some extra cash doing admin/PA work from home. My question is - where can i do some research to see if there is a need for it? Or if anyone else has tried this in the past? how did they get on etc.. basically i'm looking for direction... there is a virtual assistant web page but the inital cost of joining there network is €1000 - they help in setting up your own business etc.. sounds good but i don't have €1,000 to risk if its not worth it.. any ideas? I was thinking of trying to advertise myself ie webpage/flyers/mailshots.. but don't know where to start?! should i go it alone or join a network?
any ideas?
thanks!

qwertz

I don't know if you are taking the piss but doesn't that €1000 website look scammy to you?

jhegarty

bekz09 wrote: »

inital cost of joining there network is €1000
!

scam scam scam scam scam scam.... .that will be all....

bekz09

no i wasn't taking the piss - the web page is www.val.ie just wondering if anyone else had used it or something simular they mentioned that the cost included setting up a web page for you and getting you up and running

Hitchhiker's Guide to...

It looks interesting. But, it is a new area and you would want to be sure that your CV will stand out from the crowd. I'd suggest asking them for average earning rates / booking rates for existing clients, what links they have to businesses, and what advertising they do.

Personally, i've never heard of the company before and that would be an important issue if potential business users do not even know that the business exists.

Bear in mind that the €1,000 cost is for a certificate that is not really worth anything. You could probably set up a website, and market it using google adsense and local newspaper adverts for less than they are charging you, and with potentially greater chance of contact with business clients who might use your services.

Or at least it seems like that - they need to prove otherwise to you...

dudara

There was a feature recently on the Sunday Business Show on TodayFM (Sunday Jan 6th) about someone who had set up a franchise business in Ireland providing virtual PA type services.

I just had a look at the TodayFM website, and they don't have the guests listed from that show, but if you get in touch with them, they might be able to help you.

bekz09

Roundtower2 wrote: »

You could probably set up a website, and market it using google adsense and local newspaper adverts for less than they are charging you, and with potentially greater chance of contact with business clients who might use your services."

Thank you so much for the advise - Thats what i thought i might do... I have a friend who can design a web page for me. Plus if i advertise locally i don't have the competition of others from their network. Yes, i had wondered about the certificate and have asked them for more detail on it, but as yet they haven't responded.

Again, thank you for your help.

AARRRGH

The retarded book "Four hour week" (or whatever its called) is being bought up and implemented by imbeciles everywhere. This means there will be a need for virtual assistants and things like that...