Mature highway

Mature highway

Hidden Workforce: Corporations and Entrepreneurs Succeed By Using Virtual Assistants, Most of Whom Are Moms

U.S and Canada (PRWEB) January 4, 2008 -- Mom and pop businesses and large companies both have a hidden asset: work at home moms. According to a 2007 survey conducted by Tawnya Sutherland, owner of VANA (Virtual Assistant Networking Association), 761 Virtual Assistants globally (96.8 percent women) revealed that 76.1 percent percent are moms.

VAs are self employed contractors who provide administrative, technical and/or creative services to other businesses, usually at a distance using phone, fax and Internet. Most of them will never meet their "employers". And they aren't just glorified secretaries in sweatshirts, they are sometimes highly skilled in areas such as SEO.

According to the survey, 78.7 percent of VAs wanted the flexible hours so they could have the freedom to jet their kids to the hospital when their teeth got knocked out or when some other disaster befell their family.

VAs allow businesses who couldn't otherwise afford them the ease of a full time workforce. Except that the business owners don't need to pay benefits, provide an office or deal with sick days. Since many Virtual Assistants are on different time zones than the businesses they work for, they can get work done while the boss sleeps.

Sutherland established the first free Virtual Assistant Networking Association (VANA) in 2003 as a free service to the community. Today it has the largest free membership base of any VA organization online with over 7,500 registered members.

Aspiring and existing VAs join for support, ideas, camaraderie and to find new clients. Small to large businesses join to submit requests for proposals and find the best VA for their business needs -- worldwide. VAs can find employers and employers can find VAs so this hidden workforce becomes visible and helps small businesses to survive and thrive, and larger businesses manage their bottom line better.

Currently it's estimated that there are about 10,000 VAs globally. Sutherland's survey found that VAs work 31-40 hours a week and earn an average of $31-$40/hour so they are equally affordable for start-ups and established businesses.

Sutherland and VANA have received press in Reader's Digest, the Globe and Mail, The Business Journal, (ACE) Certified Fitness News, StartupNation and WNJC Philadelphia Radio. VANA was also ranked on Dr. Phil's website as one of the top sites to show people how to earn money while working from home. Visit http://www.VAnetworking.com for more information.

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