Jaime Lee Mann posted a few days ago the coolest writeup yet about what a VA is and how we help businesses. Short and sweet, but seriously helpful. I've printed it out to share with local networking groups, who have trouble getting it sometimes.

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Mary H. Ruth/Virtual Writing & Communications
http://www.writingVA.com

I love the comparison between a Virtual Assistant and a personal trainer. I never thought of it that way before: that we keep the business healthy.

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Kathy
www.theofficevirtuoso.com

Just starting out in this field, it's good to hear different ways of explaining how a VA can help someone. Thanks.

I love this comparison as well

Stacey

I too love the comparison. Thanks for sharing this.

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Ann Blackburn

Great way of looking at it. Thanks for sharing.

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Truida

Great post! I never looked at it that way! Thanks for sharing this.

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Kelly Minton
MySavvyVA.com

Personally (and I work locally) I find that people know what a VA is as much as they know what a GSD (German Shepherd Dog) is. I bill myself as an Executive Legal Assistant (25 years in those roles) and I throw in the words outsource, partnering, freelance, money saving etc. Once we have contact and I meet with them we get around to the VA aspect. By then I have my foot in the door so to speak. If you click with the prospective client in person, they accept the unknown concept of a VA without a murmur and in fact many get quite excited about it. That's just my experience.

I'm having the same experience. Since tomorrow is tax day, i had to meet with the "investment guy" at the bank for my IRA contribution. He asked me again what I do for a living and when I responded "Virtual Assistant", he said, what's that? I get this all the time. I'm in Southern California (greater Los Angeles area) - is it like this everywhere or just in my neck of the woods? (I figured by now it would be a household word)...

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Kelly Minton
MySavvyVA.com

Kelly, I think the whole world of Virtual Assistant is soon to get the recognition that we all need. This I feel is down to the current economic climate. Businesses are looking for ways to reduce their costs but keep the professionalism that their company needs. What better way to do this than with a Virtual Assistant.

I do, however, feel that there is going to be a lot of bad press created at first as there will inevitably be people wanting to make some quick cash. These will be the people who muscle in on the industry with the cheaper prices per hour to 'get the sale' but the one to one personalism just will not be there.

We need to ride the storm!

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Annette Mercer
www.am-officesolutions.com