Generally, the difference is in the scale and scope of the relationship. The main difference between a secretarial service operator and a virtual assistant is that while secretarial services are typically providers of typing, word processing, data entry and other office support services, Virtual Assistants often provide specialized services in addition to general secretarial and clerical work. These services may include graphic design, web design, bookkeeping, writing, event planning, and programming.
A Virtual Assistant works on a relationship bases. By maintaining a good relationship, your relationship with your virtual assistant becomes ongoing. You tend to work together with the same person on a daily basis. A Virtual Assistant works with relatively small number of clients because of the nature of the relationship. Whereas, a home based secretary does pieces of work. They have several clients, as each of these clients may need assistance only once or twice a year. There is no partnership or relationship involved.
As you can see a Virtual Assistant can truly do anything that a secretary can do, but unlike a home based secretary, a virtual assistant being a fellow business owner, understand his client, his business, his customer and his life very well. Virtual Assistants have a personal stake in your business success. They can help your business blossom into the beautiful flower it is meant to become. But a home based secretary does not feel it’s important to know his client’s business well. Only task-oriented work is given to them, so the level of trust does not need to be high.
Virtual Assistant gets secretarial work done just like as partner. They support the clients at a personal as well as professional level. They know exactly what the client requirement is. On the other hand, a home based secretary provides a value, which is commodity, based through a select set of secretarial services offered.
Through dynamic learning process, virtual assistant creates value for his/her clients. The more they learn about the client, his business and his customers, the more he/ she is able to support and create value to his business.
Are you looking for a virtual assistant or personal assistant? Then visit one of our websites and see how an assistant can make the difference!