101+ Ways to Use a Virtual Assistant - by Jackie Love, provided by OnlineOrganizing.com

Since 1997, Loose Ends has been honored to feature columns by talented guest contributors with something to say! If you'd like to share your ideas, contact me for guidelines, or read more here.

101+ Ways to Use a Virtual Assistant

By Jackie Love (made available for reprint here by OnlineOrganizing.com.)

BOOKKEEPING
• preparing and sending invoices to clients
• entering monthly transactions into bookkeeping software
• reconciling bank, credit card, and other account statements
• sending reminders for paying bills on their due dates
• writing and preparing checks to be signed to pay bills

DATABASE MANAGEMENT
• entering business card data into a database
• sending an introductory letter to new prospect leads
• sending scheduled marketing pieces to clients and prospects
• tracking marketing efforts and summarizing the results in a report
• sending regular follow-ups, reminders, and communications to clients
• calling people for missing contact information
• sending fax and email broadcasts

DESKTOP PUBLISHING
• designing and printing brochures and business cards
• creating flyers, price lists, and other marketing documents
• laying out, printing, and mailing regular client newsletters
• preparing professional-looking certificates for seminar participants
• printing labels using company logos or clip art

INTERNET SERVICES
• maintaining a newsletter subscription database
• posting announcements and newsletter issues to the list
• performing an internet search for an item or piece of information
• editing or uploading new information to a website

MAIL AND EMAIL SERVICES
• retrieving email and mail, sorting, and getting rid of junk
• responding to routine email requests
• forwarding items of importance to the client for attention
• tracking and forwarding urgent issues while client is out of town
• preparing packages and mailing out products as orders arrive

MARKETING SERVICES
• sending out the appropriate sales brochures for inquiries
• creating and mailing a customer feedback questionnaire
• tracking the responses to this questionnaire
• summarizing the responses and suggestions in a report

PERSONNEL SERVICES
• sending reminders for annual performance reviews
• preparing or updating resumes and introduction letters
• reviewing resumes and summarizing each in a short biography
• sorting resumes for a job according to pre-arranged criteria

PRESENTATIONS
• preparing PowerPoint slides from sketches of diagrams and charts
• sending questionnaires to seminar participants before the talk
• tracking completed questionnaires and calling non-responders
• summarizing the questionnaire results in a report

RESEARCH
• researching potential locations for an upcoming seminar
• finding which locations have the appropriate dates available
• finding which can accommodate the size and type of event
• researching the services available (decorating, food, entertainment)
• obtaining written quotes and specifications from each location
• monitoring periodicals and clipping articles of interest
• visiting the library to copy specific articles

SECRETARIAL SERVICES
• confirming upcoming appointments
• scheduling or rescheduling appointments
• getting directions for a meeting or appointment
• storing back-up computer tapes for safekeeping
• tracking birthdays, anniversaries, and other important dates
• sending out the appropriate cards or gifts for special events
• managing lists of necessary office supplies and ordering refills
• coordinating air travel, car rental, and hotel reservations

TELEPHONE AND FAX SERVICES
• receiving phone calls while a client is out of town
• forwarding important messages that require immediate attention
• retrieving voice messages and responding to routine requests
• receiving and handling faxes while a client is out of town

TRANSCRIPTION SERVICES
• typing letters and memos from tape or handwritten notes
• typing legal transcripts from cassette tape
• typing medical reports from tape or handwritten notes

WORD PROCESSING
• typing handwritten notes from a meeting or seminar
• typing letters, printing on stationery, addressing, and mailing
• proofreading, editing, and checking spelling / grammar
• laying out larger documents

~~~~~~~~~

Jackie is a Virtual Assistant with Type4U. Visit her website at www.type4u.com or contact Jackie at jackie@type4u.com.

Content provided by Ramona Creel of OnlineOrganizing.com. Ramona Creel is a Professional Organizer and the founder of OnlineOrganizing.com -- offering "a world of organizing solutions!" Visit www.onlineorganizing.com for organizing products, free tips, a speakers bureau, get a referral for a Professional Organizer near you, or get some help starting and running your own organizing business. You may contact Ramona at comments@onlineorganizing.com.




		On The Mark: Guest Column Since 1997, Loose Ends has been honored to feature columns by talented guest contributors with something to say! If you'd like to share your ideas, contact me for guidelines, or read more here. 101+ Ways to Use a Virtual Assistant By Jackie Love (made available for reprint here by OnlineOrganizing.com.) BOOKKEEPING • preparing and sending invoices to clients • entering monthly transactions into bookkeeping software • reconciling bank, credit card, and other account statements • sending reminders for paying bills on their due dates • writing and preparing checks to be signed to pay bills DATABASE MANAGEMENT • entering business card data into a database • sending an introductory letter to new prospect leads • sending scheduled marketing pieces to clients and prospects • tracking marketing efforts and summarizing the results in a report • sending regular follow-ups, reminders, and communications to clients • calling people for missing contact information • sending fax and email broadcasts DESKTOP PUBLISHING • designing and printing brochures and business cards • creating flyers, price lists, and other marketing documents • laying out, printing, and mailing regular client newsletters • preparing professional-looking certificates for seminar participants • printing labels using company logos or clip art INTERNET SERVICES • maintaining a newsletter subscription database • posting announcements and newsletter issues to the list • performing an internet search for an item or piece of information • editing or uploading new information to a website MAIL AND EMAIL SERVICES • retrieving email and mail, sorting, and getting rid of junk • responding to routine email requests • forwarding items of importance to the client for attention • tracking and forwarding urgent issues while client is out of town • preparing packages and mailing out products as orders arrive MARKETING SERVICES • sending out the appropriate sales brochures for inquiries • creating and mailing a customer feedback questionnaire • tracking the responses to this questionnaire • summarizing the responses and suggestions in a report PERSONNEL SERVICES • sending reminders for annual performance reviews • preparing or updating resumes and introduction letters • reviewing resumes and summarizing each in a short biography • sorting resumes for a job according to pre-arranged criteria PRESENTATIONS • preparing PowerPoint slides from sketches of diagrams and charts • sending questionnaires to seminar participants before the talk • tracking completed questionnaires and calling non-responders • summarizing the questionnaire results in a report RESEARCH • researching potential locations for an upcoming seminar • finding which locations have the appropriate dates available • finding which can accommodate the size and type of event • researching the services available (decorating, food, entertainment) • obtaining written quotes and specifications from each location • monitoring periodicals and clipping articles of interest • visiting the library to copy specific articles SECRETARIAL SERVICES • confirming upcoming appointments • scheduling or rescheduling appointments • getting directions for a meeting or appointment • storing back-up computer tapes for safekeeping • tracking birthdays, anniversaries, and other important dates • sending out the appropriate cards or gifts for special events • managing lists of necessary office supplies and ordering refills • coordinating air travel, car rental, and hotel reservations TELEPHONE AND FAX SERVICES • receiving phone calls while a client is out of town • forwarding important messages that require immediate attention • retrieving voice messages and responding to routine requests • receiving and handling faxes while a client is out of town TRANSCRIPTION SERVICES • typing letters and memos from tape or handwritten notes • typing legal transcripts from cassette tape • typing medical reports from tape or handwritten notes WORD PROCESSING • typing handwritten notes from a meeting or seminar • typing letters, printing on stationery, addressing, and mailing • proofreading, editing, and checking spelling / grammar • laying out larger documents ~~~~~~~~~ Jackie is a Virtual Assistant with Type4U. Visit her website at www.type4u.com or contact Jackie at jackie@type4u.com. Content provided by Ramona Creel of OnlineOrganizing.com. Ramona Creel is a Professional Organizer and the founder of OnlineOrganizing.com -- offering "a world of organizing solutions!" Visit www.onlineorganizing.com for organizing products, free tips, a speakers bureau, get a referral for a Professional Organizer near you, or get some help starting and running your own organizing business. You may contact Ramona at comments@onlineorganizing.com.

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