My Virtual Marketing Assistant > FAQ
Welcome to My Virtual Marketing Assistant’s FAQ page!
Below are a few of our most frequently asked questions along with answers to help preempt any questions you may have when it comes to signing up, and working with your VMA.
Why hire a VMA vs. an office employee?
When is it time to hire a VMA?
Who are the VMA’s
Do VMA’s receive any kind of specific training?
Will my VMA be exclusively mine?
How many hours a day does my VMA work for me?
How is this service provided at such an affordable price?
Why can’t I call my VMA?
Are the passwords shared with my VMA secure?
Do I pay my VMA any kind of bonuses or raises?
How long does a VMA subscription last?
Are VMA’s available for individual projects?
How am I billed for my VMA subscription?
How can I cancel the service?
What if services are not delivered as promised?
Why hire a VMA vs. an office employee?
It is more cost effective. A VMA is not an employee so you do not have to provide space and equipment, nor do you have to worry about the costs of payroll taxes or benefits.
When is it time to hire a VMA?
You want to hire a VMA before the time you spend on administrative demands starts hurting your bottom line. You will know you have reached this threshold when the revenue you generate is greater than $20 per hour. When you’ve reached that point, it is counter-productive for you to be performing clerical tasks.
Who are the VMA’s?
They’re a combination of full-time staff and contract bid virtual workers. The staff who monitors the work of your VMA on a daily basis are our employees and work in our offices in Oklahoma.
We go through an agency to find our virtual workers. VMA’s come from all over the world and from all walks of life. Regardless of whether they’re a college student or a stay-at-home Mom, from Iowa or Ireland, these are the requirements for which we screen:
Strong communication skills
High-level data input proficiency
English as their primary language
Available to work 8PM – 8AM CST
Demonstrated skill on:
Word processing
Database management
Desktop Publishing
They are contract bid vs. hourly workers and sign on for the duration of your subscription to MyVirtualMarketingAssistant.com.
Do VMA’s receive any kind of specific training?
Yes. We screen potential VMA candidates based not only on their efficiency, work ethic, and skill level – but once hired, they are sent through a standardized set of training manuals and videos that enable all VMA’s to be at generally the same skill level when paired with their client.
Will I always work with the same VMA?
Yes, your VMA will be dedicated to your account. The only reason a change would be made would be if your VMA left our employ or, for some reason, you were not satisfied with the work your VMA was providing you. In the unlikely event that situation were to occur, all you have to do is let us know and we would pair you with another VMA right away.
How many hours a day does my VMA work for me?
Each VMA works on a flexible part-time night-shift schedule, however, they are required to put in up to 4 hours each day, Monday – Friday, on your behalf.
How is this service provided at such an affordable price?
Due to the economies of scale that our automated technical system provides, coupled with the contract bidding process of virtual workers, we are able to reduce inefficiency as much as possible and control costs. The rigid specifications of how our people are instructed to work within the system boosts their productivity dramatically. For example, you’ll notice in your Client Manual that all communication with your VMA is by email. Just as you could never contact a person who worked in a call center directly, VMA’s are prohibited from taking phone calls or participating in Skype sessions. Why? Because it’s inefficient. Your VMA can be multi-tasking on several projects simultaneously while answering emails for you as opposed to having to stop everything and have a “real world” conversation. That’s just one example, but you get the idea. These people are highly focused data workers who operate at high efficiency within a very rigid system designed to maximize their productivity.
Why can’t I call my VMA?
You have to remember that your Virtual Marketing Assistant is just that…they’re Virtual. They often work from a home setting at all hours of the day and night, frequently with children making noise in the background. To maximize their efficiency, flexibility, and ability to multi-task, only email communication is allowed. Do not ask your VMA to speak with you by phone as that is a violation of their working agreement with us and would result in their immediate termination.
Are the passwords (i.e., your log-in to Facebook, etc.) shared with my VMA secure?
Absolutely! None of your information will ever be shared with anyone outside of MyVirtualMarketingAssistant. For clients who are particularly cautious about sharing their passwords with their VMA – we recommend changing your passwords to ones that are not associated with anything else, so you can feel comfortable sharing them with your VMA.
Do I pay my VMA any kind of bonuses or raises?
No – we take care of all salary, billings and incentives. In fact, talking to your VMA about financial arrangements (salary, bonuses, etc.) is strictly forbidden as discussed in our Client Manual which you will receive upon signing up with MyVirtualMarketingAssistant.
How long does a VMA subscription last?
Regardless of whether you are a charter member, or a standard member – a subscription with VMA, although billed on a monthly basis, runs for 6-months at a time. This is another factor that goes into our pricing. Not having to worry about monthly-turnover enables us to pass those savings on to you.
Are VMA’s available for individual projects?
No, they are not available for individual projects, nor are they available to work outside of your daily allotted time on additional projects for additional payment. VMA’s are employed by MyVirtualMarketingAssistant and approaching them with outside jobs is forbidden. The confines within which they work are VERY specific. Our rigid specifications and procedures are a part of what makes the overall system function so efficiently and what allows us to bring this service to you at such a low cost.
How am I billed for my VMA subscription?
Each month your credit card is billed for your VMA subscription. A subscription lasts for six months and cannot be cancelled until the end of the term.
How can I cancel the service?
Simply notify us in writing at least two weeks prior to the end of your term that you wish to cancel your service.
What if services are not delivered as promised?
If we fail to deliver what we have promised in writing, we will offer you the option of changing to a different VMA or we will refund your money for that month and cancel the remainder of your subscription.