A
accountability, 48, 50, 122
action plans, 146, 220–228
additional resources and miscellaneous links, 261
administrative assistants, 105
AdRoll (Adroll.com), 259
algorithms, 109, 211
Allen, David, 17–18
Amazon (Amazon.com), 224–225
AmyPorterfield.com, 230–231, 262
analytics, 109, 208
Animoto (Animoto.com), 173, 260
app developers, 36–37, 112–114, 161, 175–177
app development tools, 261
articles, 97, 115
Asana (Asana.com), 117, 120, 250, 257
Asian VAs, 249
asking for help, 69
assets, 28, 59, 102, 159–160
Association of Administrative Assistants (AAA.ca), 105
assumptions, 65–69
Audacity (Audacity.sourceforge.net), 260
audio recordings, 77–78, 82
audio/video editors, 161
authority figures, 59
Aweber (Aweber.com), 259
B
Babelverse (Babelverse.com), 258
bad hires, 54, 55
Basecamp (Basecamp.com), 55, 107, 117, 119–120, 250, 257
B2B (business-to-business) Philosophy, 213
B2C (business-to-consumer) Philosophy, 213
Beaumont, Dale, 101
BecomeABlogger (BecomeABlogger.com), 262
being remembered, importance of, 218
benchmarks, 6, 95, 98–100, 117, 182, 191
benefits, 129–130, 181
best practices when training workers, 84–86
Beuckens, Todd, 38–42
bidding, 165
BlogMarketingAcademy (BlogMarketingAcademy.com), 262
blogs. see also specific blogs
3 Lists to Freedom and, 20
analytics of, 17
content creation of, 207, 213–214, 221
GVAs and, 19
posting to, 85
revolving tasks, 115
Bluehost (Bluehost.com), 261
bonuses, 130–132, 182, 248
boundaries, 69
BPO (business-process outsourcing), 244
branding, 80, 182, 213, 262
BreakthroughBlogging (BreakthroughBlogging.com), 259
Breakthrough4Business (Breakthrough4Business.com), 101–103
BuddyPress (BuddyPress.org), 188, 261
burnout, 3–4
business cards, 19
business growth, 22
C
calendars, 17, 19, 115, 117, 120, 122, 182
Campbell, Anita, 65
Camtasia (Techsmith.com/Camtasia), 79, 82, 83, 256
career issues, 201
Case Studies
Fiona Lewis, E-Commerce Business Owner, 144–148
Joshua Van Den Broek, Principal Exercise Physiologist, 214–217
Kyle Zimmerman, Fashion Photographer Turned Studio Owner, 80–84
Nate Ginsburg, Digital Nomad, 178–181
Paul Holland, Online Entrepreneur, 153–156
Steve Dixon, Serial Entrepreneur, 101–103
Todd Beuckens, Online Teacher, 38–42
Tom Libelt, Online Service Provider, 52–55
Tristan King, Location-Independent Entrepreneur, 70–73
challenges, 69, 86–87, 234
check-in points, 69, 95, 98–99
checklists, 205, 225
chief growth officer (CGO), 190–191
“Chief Happiness Officer,” 230
clerical work, 37
Clickonomics (Cliconomics.com), 27
common sense, 68
communication
clarity of, 54–55, 216–217
constant, 71–72
daily reporting and accountability, 48
ease of, 113
face-to-face, 46
lack of proper, 162, 249–250
open line of, 109
proper, 26
respect and, 14
salary and, 128–129
tools of, 257
written instructions, 75–77
company goals, 181–183
compensation, 48, 50, 61, 246–248
competition, 17
confidentiality, 60–62
confrontation, 150
consistency, 203–208
contacts, new, 19
content creation, 200–201, 203–212, 218, 219, 221–224
“content is king,” 211
content writers, 33–34, 110–111, 135–136, 161, 170–172
contracts, 60–62
copy editors, 110, 139
copywriters, 135–136
corporate branding, 213
courses, 71, 105, 201, 256
Craigslist (Craigslist.org), 43, 162, 193, 219, 255
creative skills, 203–208
credit cards, 19, 61
CRM (customer relationship Management) content, 61
Croslow, Jared, 27–28
cultural differences, 8, 137, 140, 248–249
customer relationships, 139, 213
customer service, 72, 143
customer support, 133–134, 140–141
D
Daniel, Joe, 188–189
deadlines, 82, 196
DeMarco, MJ, 80
Design Cubicle (TheDesignCubicle.com), 108
99designs (99designs.com), 108
differences, respect for, 249
Digg (Digg.com), 259
digital nomads, 178–181
direction, 96
discounts, 86
Dixon, Steve, 101–103
Dixon Clothing Group, 101–103
Docstoc (Docstoc.com), 259
document sharing, 257
domestic workers, 134–137, 139, 154, 171, 193, 245
downsizing, 193
Dropbox (Dropbox.com)
minimizing your need for, 119–120
reporting and accountability and, 48
tools and resources, 41–42, 83, 106, 180–181, 257
Dumas, John Lee, 90
E
eaHELP (eaHELP.com), 136, 255
e-books, 223
e-commerce stores, 70
eHarmony, 19
Elance (Elance.com), 43, 99, 107, 159, 164, 255
Elllo (Elllo.org), 38–42
author’s, 236
collaboration via, 184
filtering, 115
interviews and, 60
reporting and accountability, 48
tasks you don’t like doing, 20
as a tool, 104
using all caps in, 150
written instructions and, 75–77
empire-building, 16
Entrepreneur magazine, 105, 109–110
Entrepreneur On Fire, 90
EntrepreneurOnFire (EntrepreneurOnFire.com), 262
environment, 251
equations, 88–90
evaluations, 128
EventualMillionaire (EventualMillionaire.com), 262
evergreen content, 210–211
Evernote (Evernote.com), 111, 258
examples, 95, 97, 165
expectations, 65
experiences, 86, 203
expertise, 65, 87
F
General Virtual Assistants (GVAs) and, 19, 67
marketing and, 230–231
network for your virtual team and, 186–188
referrals and, 206–208
revolving tasks, 115
team-building tools and, 260
face-to-face meetings, 146, 183–186
FAQs, 85, 87
feedback, 72
Ferriss, Tim, 63
Filipino VAs, 133–134, 137, 141–143, 148–152
financial questions, 200–201
finding and hiring, 13–62, 255–256
firing yourself, 4–6
Fitco Health Technologies (Fitco.net.au), 214–217
Fiverr (Fiverr.com), 44, 219, 258
Fizzle (Fizzle.co), 259
Flynn, Pat, 4, 91–92
fonts, 108
Football-Defense.com, 188–189
free products, 248
freedom, 95, 99–101
Freedom Spotlight
Jared Croslow, 27–28
Joe Daniel, 188–189
Justin Fulcher, 125–126
Natalie Sisson, 229–230
Pat Flynn, 91–92
Freelancer (Freelancer.com), 44, 255
freelancer marketplace sites, 44–45
freelancers, 26, 41, 81–83
FreshBooks (FreshBooks.com), 72, 261
Fulcher, Justin, 125–126
full-time workers, 163–176
functional expertise, 65
fundamentals, 14–15, 233
future growth, 252
G
GarageBand (Apple.com/garageband), 260
Garland, David Siteman, 22
General Virtual Assistants (GVAs), 16–19, 29–30, 103–106, 161, 162–164, 192, 195, 234–236
Generation Y, 143
Getting Things Done (Allen), 17–18
gifts, 152
“gig economy,” 193
Ginsburg, Nate, 178–181
goals, 6, 89–90, 115, 181–183
good hires, 57
Google, 168, 211
AdSense, 38, 52
AdWords, 180, 259
algorithms, 109
Analytics, 208
Drive, 48, 104, 106, 117, 119, 147, 172, 257
Google+, 115, 187, 260
Hangouts, 46, 60, 106, 146, 147, 184, 257
Images, 112
Keyword Tool, 259
Sites, 147, 217, 257
Trends, 259
GoToMeeting (GoToMeeting.com), 184, 257
graphic designers, 31, 107–108, 161, 166–168
graphics tools, 261
Great-Web-Design.net, 108
GroupMe (GroupMe.com), 257
growth, 57, 86, 180, 252
Guru.com, 44
H
hardware, 49
health insurance, 129–130
health issues, 200
help, asking for, 69
hierarchy, 196
HireMyMom (HireMyMom.com), 256
hiring
finding and, 13–62, 255–256
guides to, 107, 162, 164–165, 166–167, 171
for the role, 233
salary guidelines and, 129
HiveDesk (HiveDesk.com), 117, 121, 257
holidays, 128–129, 150–152
Holland, Paul, 153–156
home offices, 105
honesty, 115, 143, 197
The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich (Ferriss), 63
Howes, Lewis, 177
HTML color codes, 108
Hubspot (http://blog.hubspot.com), 107
Huddle (Huddle.com), 257
human interaction, 183–186
Hyatt, Michael, 9
I
iBuildApp (iBuildApp.com), 261
IconArchive (IconArchive.com), 108, 261
IconBeast (IconBeast.com), 113–114, 261
IFTTT Cheat Sheet, 85–86
image libraries, 108, 261
Inc. magazine, 107
incentives, 130–132
independents, 81
infographics, 166–167
innovation, 2
Instagram (Instagram.com), 260
insurance, health, 129–130
interaction between virtual
assistants, 160–168
interviews, 54, 55–60, 129, 169, 193–195
introductions, 184
iStock (iStockPhoto.com), 108, 261
J
JamesWedmore.com, 213–214, 262
Jing (Techsmith.com/Jing), 55, 79, 103, 156, 256
job descriptions, 47–51, 61
job titles, 47, 50
job-by-job basis, 81–82
job-posting sites, 43–44, 47, 60
“just in time” model, 27
K
key loggers, 241–242
keywords, 108–109, 115, 169, 170
Kinda IT, 125–126
King, Tristan, 70–73
KPO (knowledge-process outsourcing), 244
Kyle Zimmerman Photography, 80–84
L
LastPass (LastPass.com), 61, 258
lawyers, 60
LeadPages (LeadPages.net), 259
learning from your virtual assistants, 180
legal action, 60–61
Lewis, Fiona, 144–148
LewisHowes.com, 262
Libelt, Tom, 52–55
Libelty SEO (LibeltySEO.com), 52–55
“Life is art” slogan, 80
LinkedIn (LinkedIn.com), 115, 187, 260
Live2Sell, Inc., 3–4
local businesses, 205–206
local events, 17
local workers. See domestic workers
location, choosing the wrong, 244
Location Rebel(LocationRebel.com), 71
Long Tail Pro (LongTailPro.com), 110, 259
loyalty, 59, 182–183
Lynda (Lynda.com), 71, 256
M
Market Samurai (MarketSamurai.com), 110, 259
marketing
“gurus,” 247
Lewis Howes and, 177
Nate Ginsburg and, 179
ongoing, 219, 227–228
online, 21
proofreading and, 171
strategies, 169
tools, 259–260
Mashable (Mashable.com), 113
Match (Match.com), 19
MeetingBurner (MeetingBurner.com), 257
meetings, 115, 184
Mentoring Mums Online, 144
mentorship, 144, 203
MichaelHyatt.com, 262
micromanagement, 4–5, 94–95, 100, 125, 237, 241–243
Microtask (Microtask.com), 258
milestones, 120, 234 The Millionaire Fastlane (DeMarco), 80
Mind Tools (MindTools.com), 105, 256
Mindjet (Mindjet.com), 154, 156, 257
mismanagement, 239–244
mistakes, 72, 93–94, 243
mobile app developers. See app developers
mobile app development tools, 261
MobileDevHQ (MobileDevHQ.com), 113, 261
mockups, 72
money, 18, 139, 152, 196
most valuable commodity (MVC), 18
motivation, 122, 126–132, 139
MumPreneurs Online: Exposed (Lewis), 144
music, 97, 112
MyExercisePhysiologist.com, 215
N
NDAs (Nondisclosure Agreements), 62
needs of virtual assistants, 244–245
The New York Times, 63
ninety-day action plans, 146
99Designs (99designs.com), 258
Ning (Ning.com), 187, 260
O
objectives, 95–96, 98–99
oDesk (oDesk.com), 43, 99, 159, 164, 178, 180, 256
office requirements, 8, 105
Ogle, Sean, 71
online stores, 205–206
Onset LLC (OnsetLLC.com), 178–181
operational guidelines document, 88, 196, 250
order fulfillment, 84
organizations, roles in, 25
outdated material, 211–212
outsourcing
agencies, 146
companies for, 42–43
cost-saving benefits of, 8
Fiona Lewis and, 145
following the wrong model for, 245–246
one-off solutions, 258
Paul Holland and, 153–154
training system for, 24–26
why it may not be for you, 138–140
your understanding and, 253–254
overseas workers, 8, 133–134, 171
P
Parker, Peter, 1
part-time workers, 163, 174
payments, 130, 150, 258–259
PayPal (PayPal.com), 61, 130, 259
payroll, 104, 126–132
personal assistants (PA), 18
personality, 57, 192
Philippines, workers from. See Filipino VAs
Pinterest (Pinterest.com), 260
plagiarism, 111, 259
Plagiarism Checker (PlagiarismChecker.com), 111, 259
Plato, 4
plugins, 106
podcasts, 7, 260–261
Porterfield, Amy, 230–231
portfolios, 166
potential, 57
power, responsibility and, 1–2
PowerPoint, 71
P2P (People-to-People) Philosophy, 212–214, 218, 219
prejudice, 251
press, 17, 207
pricing, 86
priorities, 89, 90
privacy, 120
production, process to, 95–101
productivity, 16–17, 184, 258
profanity, 86
professional videos, 207
professionals, 22
progress, 95
project management, 107, 117–121, 118–121, 194
project-management software, 118–121, 154, 250, 256–257
project managers, 189–197
project-based outsourcing, 25, 43–44, 107, 166
projects, 96, 117–118
promotions, 219, 225–227, 252
publication, 221–224
purchasing, 19, 84, 86
Q
quality of work, 14, 233
quarterly tasks, 49
questionnaires, 73–74
questions, 122, 123, 139
Quick-start SEO, 109–110
R
raises, 248
rapport, 58–59, 78, 129, 149
recommendations, 87
recruitment, 45–46, 192–193, 253
Reddit (Reddit.com), 259
referrals, 183, 206
religious beliefs, 143, 150–152
repetitive tasks, 16–17, 179–180
reporting and accountability, 48, 50, 121–124, 131, 169
reputation, 143
research, 19, 85, 115, 219, 220
resources, 104–108, 111–114, 119–121, 147–148, 156, 255–263, 255–263
respect for workers, 14, 127–128
response time, 38
responsibility, 1–2, 65, 72
reviews, 208
revolving tasks, 114–116
rewards, 181–182, 181–183
RhinoSupport (RhinoSupport.com), 258
Risley, David, 46
role-based outsourcing, 25–26
rush jobs, 82
RyanLee.com, 262
S
salary guidelines, 126–132
app developers, 36
average, 53
content writers, 33
general virtual assistants (GVAs), 29
gifts and, 152
graphic designers, 31
holidays, 128–129
increase in, 128
negotiation of, 60
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)/Internet Marketing VAs, 32
vacation, 128–129
video editors, 35
web developers, 30
Samuel, Leslie, 9 ScheduleOnce (ScheduleOnce.com), 258
Schramko, James, 21
Screencast (Screencast.com), 41, 257
screencasts, 78–79
ScreenFlow (Telestream.net/ScreenFlow), 79, 256
screenshots, 72, 76, 121, 242
scripts, 112
search engines, 168
security, sense of, 59
self-awareness, 243–244
self-employment, 129–130. 193
self-teaching, 203
selling, 20
SEO glossary (SEOBook.com/Glossary), 109
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)/Internet Marketing VA, 31–33, 71, 108–110, 161, 168–170, 235
Shalwick, Gideon, 112
Shopify Ninjas (ShopifyNinjas.com), 70–73
Shopify (Shopify.com), 260
ShoutEm (Shoutem.com), 113, 261
Simplenote (Simplenote.com), 111, 258
Sisson, Natalie, 9, 229–230
six-month timeline, 234–236
skills
attention to, 139
creative, 203–208
daily work description and, 49
difficult, 49–50
hiring and, 57–58, 165
improvement of, 58–59
job descriptions and, 48
new, 87
technical, 203–208
training and, 65
Skype (Skype.com)
communication and, 72, 214–217
feedback and, 73
interviews and, 45–46, 60, 194
language and tone and, 150
meetings on, 184
tools and resources, 55, 83, 106, 156, 180, 257
training and, 78
SlideShare (SlideShare.net), 260
slogans, 80
Small Business Trends (SmallBizTrends.com), 65, 262
small businesses, 133, 157
Smart Passive Income, 4, 91–92
smartphones, 205–206
Snagit (Techsmith.com/Snagit), 147–148, 256
social media, 7, 17, 46, 85, 115–116, 260. see also specific sites
social networks, 186–188
software, 49, 117, 118–121, 167. See also specific software
solopreneurship, 95, 196, 215
solutions, 88
Spider-Man, 1
Splasheo (Splasheo.com), 112, 261
spouses, 19
startups, 133
stores, 205–206
storyboard templates, 112
strengths and weaknesses, 14
structure, 249–250
StumbleUpon (StumbleUpon.com), 260
success, measurement of, 65, 88–90
suggested reading, 262–263
Suitcase Entrepreneur (SuitcaseEntrepreneur.com), 229–230, 262
Super Savvy Business (SuperSavvyBusiness.com), 144–148
SuperFastBusiness (SuperFastBusiness.com), 21, 262
superhero syndrome, 1–3, 5, 7, 18, 94–95, 113, 121, 123, 237
super-VA, 15–16, 233
surveys, 87
syncing, 257
T
talents, 86, 251–253
Tardy, Jaime, 21
tasks
assignment of, 195–196
checklist for, 205
daily work description and, 49, 50–51
freedom from, 20–24
low-level, 22
meaningful, 103
measurement of, 96
mentality of, 159
revolving, 84–85, 114–116
showdown of, 114
you don’t know how to do, 21
you don’t like doing, 20–21
you feel you shouldn’t be doing, 22–23
taxes, 130
teaching, online, 38–42
teambuilding, 160, 197, 260
teams
breaking down, 7
building, 7, 16, 24–25
“company first” mentality and, 181
fitting roles into, 163–177
power of, 191
training, 25
treatment of, 155
Teamwork Project Management (TeamworkPM.net), 103, 120, 257
technical skills, 203–208
TeuxDeux (TeuxDeux.com), 258
TheBestDesigns.com, 108
TheRiseToTheTop.com, 22, 262
ThinkTraffic (ThinkTraffic.net), 263
3 Lists to Freedom, 20–24, 28, 65, 234, 236, 245
throwing a curveball, 86–88
time, 18, 69, 127, 202–203
time zones, 8, 48, 70, 85, 135, 162, 185
TimeandDate (TimeandDate.com/holidays), 258
timelines, 234–236
tone, 150
tools and resources, 104–108, 111–114, 119–121, 147–148, 156, 255–263
training
assumptions and, 65–68
best practices, 84–86
communication and, 71–72, 73
defining the role, 65
failure to properly, 25
for General Virtual Assistants (GVAs), 105
importance of, 89, 90
intentional, 73
investing in, 251
offering opportunities for, 146–147
problems with, 64–65
recorded, 77–79, 82
setting expectations, 65
skill areas, 71
time and money for, 253
tools of, 256
written instructions, 75–77
transcription, 17, 224
treatment of virtual assistants, 155, 216–217
Trello (Trello.com), 72, 217, 258
trial periods, 162
trust, 129
Twitter (Twitter.com), 7, 46, 115, 260
U
Udemy (Udemy.com), 256
understanding your company, 253–254
V
“VA for hire” services, 44
VA Success Equation, 88–90
VA Training Trifecta, 74–75
value of virtual assistants, 103
Van Den Broek, Joshua, 214–217
video creation, 222, 260–261
video editors, 34–36, 111–112, 160, 173–175
video recordings, 78–79, 211
VideoTise, 153–156
virtual assistants
app developers, 36–37, 112–114, 161, 175–177
audio/video editors, 161
best practices when training your, 84–86
clerical work, 37
content writers, 33–34, 110–111, 135–136, 161, 170–172
domestic, 134–137, 139, 154, 171, 193, 245
expertise of, 65
failures with using, 24–25
Filipino, 133–134, 137, 141–143, 148–152
finding and hiring, 13–62, 255–256
General Virtual Assistants (GVAs), 16–19, 29–30, 103–106, 161, 162–164, 192, 195, 234–236
getting to know your, 73–74
graphic designers, 31, 107–108, 161, 166–168
interaction between, 160–168
learning from your, 180
needs of, 244–245
overseas, 8, 133–134, 171
questionnaire for, 73–74
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)/Internet Marketing VA, 31–33, 71, 108–110, 161, 168–170, 235
treatment of, 155, 216–217
types of, 28–36
value of, 103
video editors, 34–36, 111–112, 160, 173–175
web developers, 21, 30–31, 106–107, 161, 164–166
Virtual Business Lifestyle, 5
Virtual CEO, 3–6, 95
virtual courses, 71
Virtual Staff Finder (VirtualStaffFinder.com), 6–7, 15, 45, 50–51, 136–137, 141, 256
Virtual Staff Training Academy
(VirtualStaffTrainingAcademy.com), 256
virtual teams, 8–9
virtual vultures, 94–95, 100
vision, 2, 64, 146, 253
W
web developers, 21, 30–31, 106–107, 161, 164–166
web development tools, 261
webcam trainings, 79
web-design terms, 107
Web2Explosion (Web2Explosion.com), 112
Wedmore, James, 213–214
Western Union, 130, 152
white papers, 221, 223
whiteboards, 184
word counts, 110
word processing, 71
WordPress (WordPress.com), 34, 79, 164, 188, 205, 246, 253, 261
work descriptions, 49
work ethic, 87, 101, 143, 248
work history, 60, 121
workspaces, 105, 149
WPCurve (WPCurve.com), 261
written instructions, 75–77
X
Xero (Xero.com), 262
Y
Yammer (Yammer.com), 186, 187, 188, 260
YouTube (YouTube.com), 7, 19, 97, 170, 213–214, 261
Z
ZenDesk (Zendesk.com), 257
Zimmerman, Kyle, 9, 80–84
Zirtual (Zirtual.com), 136, 256