Print this list off and tape it to your desk. You just never know when you might have to turn down another opportunity to grow:

1. I’m really not a planner. If I hire a virtual assistant I will have to think about why I have a business and what I want to achieve this year and even 5 five years from now. Otherwise I’m just wasting her time and my money. And that just wouldn’t be fair to either of us.
2. How can I trust a VA with my business? I mean, I’m over here and she’s over there, way over there. How these VAs get any work done without someone looking over their shoulder is beyond me. It’s just not good management. Besides, if I can’t micromanage the details what will I do all day?
3. No one could possibly do it as well as I can. (And the way I do it is quite unlike anything you’ve ever seen.) I started this business because I have something unique and special to offer my adoring public. To think a virtual assistant could step in and competently assist with anything related to marketing or administration is, well, it’s crazy talk.
4. I don’t have time to explain everything to a VA. I’m too mired in paperwork and marketing and answering emails and God-knows-what-else to actually waste an hour or two a month with something as tedious as delegating. And like I said, what I do is complicated. Mysterious in fact.
5. I can’t afford to hire a virtual assistant. Nope, not a single dollar left in my budget for getting the right things done at the right time. Heck, this computer system alone cost me thousands. I’d be nuts to spend another three hundred bucks this month on administration when I could just do it myself for nothing. I mean, the sales aren’t exactly pouring in right now. (Though I’m not sure why.)
6. Bonus Excuse: Maybe next year I’ll think about hiring a VA and getting ahead with my business. Right now I’ve just got too much to do.

There you have it. Six of the most widely used and abused excuses for not outsourcing all the crap that’s getting in your way. Why choose silly things like productivity and purpose when you can defer to much easier choices like chasing your tail and working yourself to the bone?

Don’t let a VA stop you from getting what you really want out of your business. It’s just not worth it.

                          

A couple of months ago, I was on the phone with a potential client who came around to the rate question and when I responded with a figure, I was told that my rate sounded fair and that he refused to work with VAs who charged too little.

Things didn’t work out with that client for different reasons, but that’s the right attitude to have. (I hope that both VAs and clients of VAs really think about this!)

Still think you would rather work with the cheapest VA you can find?

There are a couple of things you should think about. First of all, a little disclaimer: I’m not in any way-shape-or-form saying that less expensive VAs turn out a lower quality of work, and if you need a one-off project completed, by all means, go for the lowest bidder.

But here’s where you have to be careful. Pretend for a moment that you found a wonderful VA to help you out with a couple of small projects. She charges $30 less per hour than the industry average and you are feeling very good about your investment. You’re getting such a good deal that you decide to enter into a retainer agreement with her, and your rate gets even lower! Good deal for you! Right? Well…

You are loving this arrangement. She’s at your every beck and call, she’s efficient, she’s learning all about your business. You increase her hours – you’re making more money with her help! This is working! You are becoming dependent on this VA. You have evenings and weekends free while she works hard to keep you on top of everything. What would you do without her?

Meanwhile, your VA realizes that she’s charging too little. She’s very busy with your projects, in fact, she’s busy enough that she decides to raise her rates for new clients since she doesn’t really need that much more work. Then she gets a project at that higher rate and it feels good to get paid closer to what other VAs make. So, she decides to market a bit more so she can get more projects at her new rate, and they start coming to her.

The new rate she’s charging is closer to what she’s worth, and she’s attracting clients who will pay that rate.

How long do you think your perfect VA can stay with you without a rate increase when her other clients pay twice as much as you’re paying?

Or…if she never raises her rate and is booked solid on that lower rate, how long will she be able to afford to stay in business? Probably until her taxes are due and she realizes how expensive and time consuming it is to operate a business and she doesn’t have enough hours in a day to make what she has to at that rate.

Partnering with the lowest bidder is absolutely your decision of course, but it’s not without its risks and I hope you think about that when you decide to start working with a VA.

                          

Recession is no longer “looming.” It’s at the forefront of everyone’s mind pretty much all of the time now. The uncertainty is manifesting itself all over the place and the Internet is not immune. Ask anyone working online right now and they’ll tell you the fear is palpable. Prospective clients are taking two steps backward for every one step forward. It’s both frustrating and understandable. Hey, we all have budgets to mind, and knowing you can Google just about any thing or service you want for your business is an ever present temptation. Now it feels downright necessary. As if you’re somehow being irresponsible if you don’t shop a quote around before settling on one virtual assistant or consultant.

I’ve said it so often it’s become a mantra I’m known for by my colleagues. When I say “it’s never about price” I’m saying that you cannot evaluate how much is too much without first looking beyond the piece of paper the quote is written on (okay, or the email it’s typed in). Some services are worth more than others for sure. The point is, think about not only what you’re paying but what you’re getting in exchange for your money. Is it time, peace of mind, a sense of organization and focus, or a very straightforward task finished and delivered, no strings attached?

Then ask yourself how much you charge per hour and decide if the exchange is a profitable one. If it’s not, maybe there’s wiggle room on either the rate (some VAs do not negotiate and that’s completely acceptable by the way), or how many hours a month you want to begin with (most VAs are reasonable and don’t want to commit long term any more than you do until you’ve had a chance to test each other out).

If you already know the exchange could be a profitable one, then take action and hire the VA you’ve got your sites on. I’m not trying to spend your money by saying this either. I’m saying this is not the time to wind down your marketing effort or let administration slide. This is the time to be proactive, whichever side of the VA-Client equation you’re on. We all want to make money and as such, we’re in this together.

So go take a look at the strategies I ask you to consider at Search Engine Guide, even if you don’t sell widgets, you probably have a service you deeply want to sell and profit from. But chances are you’ve been a wee bit too hung up on the price.

                          

I’d like to address a couple things you should keep in mind after you have submitted an RFP (Request for Proposal).

If you submit an RFP (Request for Proposal) for a virtual assistant at a place like VAnetworking.com, you will probably get dozens of responses. How do you even begin to weed through them?

First of all, check out the overall professionalism of each proposal. Keep an eye out for glaring typos. This might not be as important to you if you want someone to help you with desktop publishing and graphic design, but if you’re searching for someone that can proofread and edit documents ignore any proposals with multipal grammatikle errors and spelling misteaks! ;)

Many people that submit RFPs for VA services choose the lowest ‘bidder’ but that doesn’t mean they’re getting a deal. Rates will vary from country to country where the cost of living differs, but within North America the lower end rates will start around $25/hour and can go up to $100/hour depending on the services you require.

If you decide to go with the lowest rate just because it’s so low, you might end up regretting that decision. If the least expensive VA who responded to your RFP and they also have the skills and experience you require that’s one thing. But if you choose someone solely because they’re ‘cheap’ and without taking anything else into consideration, it could cost you in the long run if you end up turning to a higher priced VA to fix mistakes that were made the first time around.

The bottom line, and biggest thing to consider is the overall impression you get based upon the proposals you receive. A VA should pull out all the stops when they respond to your RFP. A proposal should be an example of some of their best, most professional work.

Remember that as you review the proposals sent in response to your RFP.