Battle Between VA’s and Their Clients?
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I was reading a post today on the Click Newz blog regarding Virtual Assistants. Basically, it’s a rant about VA’s leaving you high and dry. It’s nothing new really .. one day you’re an Avon Lady and the next day you’re not, so your old Avon clients have to find a new Avon Lady. This happens in just about every business, every day, for one reason or another.
The curious thing is that Lynn is obviously striking a chord with her post given some of the comments that have been left. What it looks like it’s coming down to is that the clients feel that the VA’s are at fault and the VA’s blame the clients…. so which is it?
Well, that’s certainly not for me to decide 
Lynn comments that in the past she has paid local employee’s to come in to her office and assist her for $7.00 per hour. These employee’s seem to come and go - could be due to a better offer, or simply that their situation changes and for whatever reason decide not to remain employed - ok, everyone is entitled. But then the post goes on to mention that Lynn has also worked with Virtual Assistants for much higher rates, yet she still has the same problems - the VA’s come and go or the quality of their work declines.
The main problem being finding people that show up, stay on task, complete their work… and continue to do so.
But is the problem the VA or is it the Client? Personally, my feeling is that if you’re a Virtual Assistant and you are not 100% committed to each and every client, then you really have no place calling yourself a VA or hiring out your services. That sounds really harsh doesn’t it?
Perhaps it is.. but I have the same opinion regardless of the business type. If you are a business owner or any kind, you must be completely committed to your customers.
Outsourcing is becoming increasingly popular, with good reason - no one can claim to be an expert in absolutely everything. We all need help sometimes and when we find that we’re getting overwhelmed by everyday tasks that someone else is fully qualified to do, or special projects that have been sitting on the back burner where do we turn? We look for a Virtual Assistant and regardless of their credentials, we are still taking a risk on trusting that person with our business.
On the flipside, clients come and clients go. I can totally understand that a VA may be relying on their customers for work to provide for their family and when one customer doesn’t fulfill that need, they have to look for other clients. However, what happens if the VA then takes on new clients and doesn’t have any time for my work when I do send it?
It’s a catch 22 me thinks. There really are no right or wrong answers here, but I will stick to my conviction that if you take on a client you must be 100% committed to that client.
I’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions on this subject!
“Personally, my feeling is that if you’re a Virtual Assistant and you are not 100% committed to each and every client, then you really have no place calling yourself a VA or hiring out your services.”
I happen to agree with you on this one. I really have great respect for VA’s. I used to be one. I use them all of the time. But, I’ve had my fair share of issues with VA’s not being professional, reliable, committed to their clients.
Not all, mind you. There are really great ones out there. Being a VA is a big deal. It isn’t some easy as pie business. You work hard for your money. It takes a special person to provide a service business.
If you aren’t ready to devote yourself wholly to every client, work hourly for your income, and put your other businesses (if you have any) on the backburner when your clients have work to be completed then you really shouldn’t become a VA.
Hi Nell! Thanks for the comment
I completely agree - there are some really great VA’s out there, but finding those great ones can be like finding a needle in a haystack lol. I too have had my fair share of bad experiences with VA’s, and unfortunately it tends to leave a bad taste in your mouth when it happens time and time again, so I really understand where Lynn was coming from with her post.
I can also kind of see the situation from the VA side of things too, as an independant contractor of several services where I’m dealing one on one with the client in order to help them build a business.
Thanks again Nell! It’s obvious that Lynn’s post really hit a sore spot on the net but it’s terrific to see issues such as this come to light where we can discuss it on open forums like our blogs
Sorry to butt in again, but I had a couple more thoughs. LOL
I also believe it’s important for VA’s to never take the route of blaming the client for their raising prices, being unreliable, or whatever else might be blamed on the client.
And that’s coming from a former VA and a current client. I never once blamed my clients for any of my issues or choices as a VA. It’s a little disturbing to me to see VA’s trying to pass the buck.
I guess I come from the old school way of thinking where it’s the “customers always right”…even if they really aren’t
And as a VA your customer is your client.
I agree with you that having a bad expeirence can leave a bad taste in your mouth. I have been there, done that. Especially with those who’ve written for me. Anyway, I’ll get off my rant now. lol
I do understand how hard VA’s work and how difficult it is to balance everything. I’m certainly not un-sympathetic whatesoever…but in the end there isn’t anyone else to blame for the way you do business but you.
No apologies necessary!! I totally agree Nell, every business owner has to be responsible for their own business. Blaming the clients for your problems is definitely not the right thing to do
That was one thing that got me when I was reading the comments on Lynn’s post - more than once the client was blamed. And Lynn also mentioned that she’d been told more than once that it’s the client who is at fault. Ok, so as a web designer I’m going to blame my client if she doesn’t like the design and I have to start over? Uhhh.. no lol. That fault would lie on my shoulders for not understanding my clients needs prior to taking on the work.
It’s easy to pass the buck, but it’s not the right thing to do.
[...] Battle Between VA’s and Their Clients? [...]
I think some of the posts on Lynn’s blog were misunderstood. No one was blaming a particular client for a VA to become difficult to work with. What we are trying to say is that the instability of clients in general effects the work of the VA from time to time. Clients quit without notice even though they signed a contract, they don’t pay or they run out of money and you’re left with a huge gap in your client base that requires you to spend a great deal of time marketing.
Just because you’re a VA doesn’t mean that you know how to run a business. There has got to be a balance between continuously marketing your business and satisfying clients and keeping up with work.
Perhaps the VA trade groups should focus on training their members on the nitty gritty of running a business!
Hi Bonnie! I agree.. no one should be blaming anyone in particular, I’ve dealt with difficult clients in the past, and I’m sure I will again - I’ve had clients disappear without a trace after telling me how much they loved my work etc, etc. This is definitely not specific to the VA industry by any means.
When you’re hired by a brick and mortar business, you’re provided training. When you’re in business, you’re ‘expected’ to know how to run your business - bottom line is that very few people who start a home business - again - VA or otherwise - know all the ins and outs of being a business owner.
You raise a great point about the VA trade groups - though I do know that several groups exist, I have no idea how they train their VA’s. Unfortunately we never know exactly what kind of work ethics anyone has until we deal directly with them.
Wow, this sure has opened a big can of worms LOL, but I love the discussion
Could not agee with you more..