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Partnering with a virtual assistant may not be for everyone. Here are some things to consider before opting in for outsourcing.

* Getting personal: If you’re squeamish about handing over personal information like user IDs and passwords, you may want to think twice about using a VA, or at least limit any personal tasks you hand out.

* Tech issues: You may have to familiarize yourself with programs like ClientSpot or Skype in order to pay and communicate with your VA.

* Time investment: You’ll have to spend some time filling out request forms and signing agreements. You’ll also have to train your assistant, and there will likely be a learning curve before you get your work rhythm down.

* Language barrier: You’ll need the time and patience to be extra clear about your expectations, and keep in mind that slang or shorthand might be lost in translation.

* Time difference: Your VA may not be at your beck and call. If you need someone who’s available during US business hours, make sure he or she can accommodate you.

Some useful sites

* International Virtual Assistants Association (ivaa.org). Allows you to post a free “request for proposals” outlining your needs, to which VAs can respond.

* Find Virtual (findvirtual.com). Offers a virtual assistant directory that you can search according to criteria like pay rate and skill set.

* Alltop (Virtual-Assistant.Alltop.com). An aggregator of virtual assistants’ blogs and Web sites.

* Assistant Match (Assistant

Match.com). An agency that, for a fee, connects clients to assistants who’ve been screened and background-checked.

* Ask Sunday (asksunday.com). One of the largest virtual assistant agencies. Others include Elance.com, GetFriday.com, Brickwork India (b2kcorp.com) and DoMyStuff.com.

By GAIL EISENBERG

• Make a to-do list and stick to it. A to-do list is a great way to outline the work to be done for the day. This list should be prioritized accordingly as well. Chances are that small business owners will deviate from the list from time to time when a pressing situation emerges. However, the list will serve as a focal point to return to once pertinent matters have been addressed.
• Delegate tasks accordingly. Sometimes small business owners just need to relinquish some control and allow employees to assist with getting projects done. It’s better to delegate a critical task to one person who can put a sincere effort into it, rather than try and multitask yourself and generate mediocre results. Recruiting and hiring talented individuals who can take on a great deal of responsibility will alleviate the feeling that small business owners need to be involved in every single facet of business operations.
• Use business process outsourcing. Small business owners can outsource critical tasks – such as payroll and invoicing – to save time and money, and avoid multitasking on a regular basis.

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