+ What difference will hiring a Virtual Assistant (VA) make to my life?

Even hiring a VA for a few hours, a month will let you hand over time consuming tasks that are sucking your time and energy and ideally let you concentrate on growth making tasks in your business (networking/delivering your service/product etc). The overall aim is that you feel less overwhelmed, more in control of your time and hopefully have better relationships with family and friends as you will be less stressed and be able to relax and enjoy life more.

+ What makes you different to other VAs?

All of us Virtual Assistants have strengths in different areas. Mine is my breadth and depth of experience from working as an Executive Assistant in a large corporation of 2000 people to a Resort Administrator in a team of 5 in the French Alps. So, I have lots of experience of different systems, tools and understanding how people work. I am a super quick learner and can see the bigger picture easily but also know how to break it down into smaller tasks. In December 2020, I was awarded Virtual Assistant of the Year for Northern Ireland 2020 by the UK VA Awards Body #UKVAawards20.

+ What is the process once we decide to work together?

I will send you a contract with my terms and conditions, my confidentiality agreement and the rate and package we have agreed and the period of time to review and sign.

+ Does it matter that I’m not techie?

Don’t worry I’ve seen it all and the fact you are doing a search , have found me and are reading this proves you are more techie already than you think! If you don’t know how to do something we can talk through a process via phone or Zoom, I can share my screen, or I can make you a video tutorial. We are all constantly learning that’s the joy of being an entrepreneur!

+ How can I trust you with my business information?

Trust is something that can only be built over time, but I promise from the onset to communicate with you as much as possible, ask relevant questions, deliver what we have agreed on to the best of my abilities and make the data you share with me as secure as possible. I am registered with the ICO as a data controller and this is renewed yearly.

+ What are your values?

As a Virtual Assistant, I give you my guarantee that I will offer a very high level of service and bring the same benefits as any full-time member of staff: loyalty, confidentiality, commitment, and a genuine interest in your business.

+ How do you Invoice?

I will send you an electronic invoice which is payable via bank transfer or Stripe payment. I invoice by retainer at the start of our agreement and thereafter every 30-days depending on the package you have purchased.

+ What information do I need to give you to get started?

Once we have signed a contract and decided on what help you need, there will be an on-boarding process. I will ask you to set up a shared folder online (you should be the controller of all data shared with me). We can discuss and share all the relevant information and passwords I need to get started.If you are unsure how to share any information,I can make you a tutorial video.

+ How many hours will I need to book a week/month?

Once you have shared the relevant information with me to get started, I will have a better idea how long the task or project is going to take. Some tasks are more complicated than others.

Sometimes I'm tasked to do something which appears simple but when I start to delve deeper I realise a lot of systems are not set up and more streamlining and integrations is needed. On the flip side as a client you may overestimate the length of time it will take me to complete a task because it takes you a long time to do as you don’t know a simpler way to do things and that’s where I come in.

+ What happens if I’m not satisfied with the service you have provided?

At every step of engagement, I will check with you before completing a task to make sure we are on the right track. If you have a genuine concern with the level of service, I’ve provided please send an email to alison@virtuali.uk within 5 days. You can read my privacy policy HERE.

+ Do you work in my area?

I am based in Co. Down, Northern Ireland but as a Virtual Assistant, I can work virtually anytime, anywhere. Locality really doesn’t make a difference with the speed of technology worldwide.

+ Can I hire a Virtual Assistant for a one-off task?

Yes, I understand that the business needs of each individual business owner vary greatly. If you have a one- off task such as a mail shot/setting up an email marketing platform/doing research/helping for a one-off event etc. I’m happy to help.

+ Can you come to work in my office as well?

I only work virtually ‘remotely'. If we decide to work together, we will have regular client catch up calls over Zoom/Skype/Microsoft Teams. If you need help for example physically de-cluttering your office, I can refer you to other professionals. Or if you are based on the island of Ireland and believe you need administrative assistance that can only be delivered on site, I can refer you to recruitment agencies specialising in administrative staff.

+ What does working virtually mean in real terms?

• as a VA I work from my own office using latest technology and systems
• as location is not an issue, as a VA I can work with clients virtually anywhere, anytime
• as a VA I can provide office support tailored to your business needs so virtually any task can be tackled *virtual may mean I’m not physically located in your office, but it does not mean I'm not available! I’m always only a mouse click or telephone/video conversation away.

+ Why are Virtual Assistants on the Rise?

The Virtual Assistance Industry is rapidly growing and in 2014, 1300 VA’s were recorded working in the UK assisting approx. 7,700 clients. 2020 and the global pandemic forced a large part of the world to start working remotely and VAs have been experienced in doing this for the last 70 years.

+ Why are Virtual Assistants the future?

Internet for all, social media channels, tablets, blogging, cloud-based sharing - all these inventions have occurred just over the last decade. Can you imagine what the next decade will bring? Traditional ways of office-based working and sharing info over CDs and floppy are long extinct. Do you want to move with times or be left in dark ages? They used to say behind every great manager is a fantastic PA (Personal Assistant), soon everyone will be saying behind every great manager or business owner is a fantastic VA (Virtual Assistant).