Personally I don't feel that Craig's List, elance or any of those others are genuine competition for us. They're filled up with hobbyists and people keen to make an extra buck here and there, or those who live in a much lower economic area than us, and are therefore, not native English speaking, reading and writing in most cases.

Unfortunately there are always going to be the 'tyre-kickers' looking for the cheapest job possible so they can get maximum return on what they themselves are doing.

I engage a 15 year old part-timer in my office and even she gets paid more than $10 an hour. I also pay her tax.

There is room for the professionals in this industry and that is those of us who operate genuine businesses and hone our skills. And then there will always be those who do it for a hobby or a bit of extra cash and therefore, do not look upon being a VA in the same way we do. It is disconcerting when the public out there get us mixed up and do not see the difference and it is our role to continue educating the public.

There is a document currently being put together by a group of 'senior' VAs at the moment that will be available for use by the VA networks and VA training organisations very soon which will also help in that regard. When I say 'senior' VAs I don't mean so much in age (although some of us are over 40) but more those who have been VAs and in the industry for several years.

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Kathie M. Thomas, VA Coach
A Clayton's Secretary, VA Blog