SAHM Writer Blog

How to Make Money Writing: When it’s time to find a VA

19th October, 2009 - Posted by admin - No Comments

Once you learn how to make money writing, you can get so busy that you need admin support. A virtual assistant (VA) is the perfect answer. Of course, the next question is: How do I find one?

Just got that question:

I was wondering where you found your virtual assistant.

Thanks!

Sara

This is a great question, and I know some writers who’ve used my book to get their business going are probably at the point where they could use some virtual assistant magic.

Here’s what I did:

1. Recognize the importance of this position. Your VA will have access to sensitive information about your business, your client list, and probably your Guru/Elance account. Your VA represents you to your clients, so you want to be sure to find someone professional, polished, and who does what they say they’ll do.
2. Recognize your own areas of weakness, and stop trying to “improve” them with practice. I must have missed the day “organization” was handed out. I LOVE being organized, but it’s a herculean effort to get there. If someone creates a system for me, I can usually follow it… but can just as easily let the wheels fall off. It’s important to know what you need and want and lack, and to ask for support in those areas.
3. Recognize the value of your own time. I probably COULD do what my VA does… in fact, I’ve done it. But my time is more profitably spent doing other tasks. One of my mentors is huge on stressing that if I’m doing stuff someone else should be doing, I’m wasting money – and that doesn’t help anyone.
4. Post a job on Guru, being specific about what you want to achieve by having a VA. You don’t have to know HOW they’ll do what you need – that’s where their expertise comes in.
5. Interview SEVERAL candidates. Trust your gut as you talk with them. Do they sound like they’re in it to win it for you? Or are they all about where their next check is coming from? Are they looking for VA work because it’s in line with their strengths and gifts? Or because it seems like an easy way to make money online (it’s not easy, by the way)?
6. Start them off gradually. Handing over control of some tasks isn’t always easy. Handing over too much too soon is a disaster waiting to happen. Take it one task at a time and test the waters. As they prove themselves, you’ll begin to see that you can delegate this and that without tanking your business.
7. Be open to feedback and suggestions. As your VA gets to know the ins and outs of your business, ideas are going to start brewing. Be sure to ask for their ideas for how your systems can be improved. Essentially, you don’t care HOW they do what they do as long as it gets done and your clients are happy.

Hope that helps! If you want to learn how to make money writing (and to eventually need a VA!), get started today. I’m here to help you every step of the way!