FAQs

How does the “virtual” process work?

The foundation of the “virtual” process is communication between the client and the virtual assistant.  That communication begins during the initial consultation when we discuss the work to be done, your preferred method of communication, and continues with me providing periodic updates.  It is very important to the process that we communicate whenever necessary so that you will be satisfied with my work product.  To that end, I ask that you alert me to any changes to your project needs and/or deadlines. 

Do you have a private office space?

I work from my home office, which is set up specifically for my VA business.  My home office includes a large desk, office chair, computer, printer, copier, file cabinets, and all the usual office supplies.  Although I do share the space with my cat Lucy, I still consider it my private office space.

What would you do if you have a deadline and your computer suddenly crashed?

As I work on a project, I save it to my computer as well as Dropbox.  At the end of the day, I save all of my work to an external hard drive.  Both of these backups allow me to access my work from another computer.  I have a second laptop that I would be able to use to finish the project and meet the deadline.

What if I ask you to do something that you don’t know how to do?

I enjoy learning new things and will gladly accommodate any requests, as long as I am certain that I can provide the best results to a client.  If I am not able to honor a client’s project request, I will do what I can to find other options for the client’s consideration. 

What type of software and computer programs do you use?

I use Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and Adobe Acrobat.  I also use Dropbox (cloud storage), Google Docs and Drive (word processing and cloud storage), Toggl (time-tracking), LastPass (password management), Trello (project management), and TeamViewer (remote control).  Most of these programs are suitable for collaborating with clients, and clients will never incur any fees related to my use of these programs.

What kind of computer security measures do you use?

I have up-to-date anti-virus software on my computer that auto-renews, so I’m never without computer protection.

Will you sign a confidentiality agreement?

A Privacy and Confidentiality paragraph is included in my Policies and Procedures because client confidentiality is very important to me.  Even though Efficient E‑ssistant’s paperwork includes confidentiality language, I will also sign your company’s agreement if you’d like.

What are my payment options?

Payments can be made via PayPal (preferred) or check.  If you wish to pay using a different method, please let me know, and I will do my best to accommodate your request.

What are the payment terms?

My payment terms are 14 days from the invoice date.