Virtual Assistant: Definition from Online Information Authorities

A dictionary is a reference book that focuses on defining words and phrases, including multiple meanings. For online businesses, there is also this so-called language dictionary that includes the majority of frequently used words in online business or marketing. Speaking of online business language, one of the most common words we encounter is the term “virtual assistant”. While the term is commonly used online, many of us still wonder what it really is its definition. Going back to business dictionary, there are websites we can call online information authorities where commonly used terms in online business are clearly defined. Let us take a look at how each of them defines the term virtual assistant. Here they go:

A Virtual Assistant (typically abbreviated to VA, also called a virtual office assistant) is an entrepreneur who provides professional administrative, technical, or creative (social) assistance to clients from a home office. Virtual assistants are independent contractors rather than employees, so clients are not responsible for any employee-related taxes, insurance or benefits.

~ Wikipedia

A Virtual Assistant is an independent contractor providing administrative, technical, or sometimes creative assistance to clients–usually to other independent entrepreneurs and solo and small business practices, such as that of a lawyer or realtor. Virtual assistants work from their own office (hence “virtual”), thus making it a fairly popular (and growing) profession.

~ Webster’s Online Dictionary

A Virtual Assistant is a long-distance assistant: somebody who uses a computer and phone links to work from a distance as a personal assistant to somebody else.

~ MSN Encarta

A Virtual Assistant is a solopreneur who specializes in providing ongoing, one-on-one, collaborative-style administrative support. Virtual Assistants are professional service providers who operate remotely from their own places of business and utilize today’s technology to deliver their services and communicate with clients.

~ Virtual Assistant Networking

A Virtual Assistant is a person who helps someone else – usually a business owner or small business – with a variety of tasks from a remote location (thus the word ‘virtual’).

~ About.com

A Virtual Assistant is a highly-skilled, independent professional who remotely provides administrative, technical and/or creative business support services. Virtual assistants are professional service providers who specialize in providing remote administrative office support services as an independent contractor who works with clients in an ongoing, collaborative professional relationship. They work from their own offices and utilize today’s technology to deliver their services and communicate with clients.

~ VA Networking

A Virtual Assistant is an independent entrepreneur providing administrative, creative, and/or technical services. Utilizing advanced technological modes of communication and data delivery, a professional VA assists clients in their area of expertise from their own offices on a contractual basis.

~ Accurate Business Services

A Virtual Assistant is a business owner, typically partnering with multiple clients on an independent contractor basis. A VA is an entrepreneur. VAs provide business services to clients located anywhere in the world, from the VA’s own office, by using various types of technology.

~ VA Secrets Revealed Blog

A Virtual Assistant is a temporary worker who works for businesses over the internet. The employer may be at a great distance from the assistant. All the work is performed remotely.

~ Small Business Notes

A Virtual Assistant is an independent contractor who provides administrative services to clients while operating outside of the client’s office. A virtual assistant typically operates from a home office, but is able to access the necessary planning documents, such as shared calendars, remotely. People employed as virtual assistants typically have several years of secretarial or office management experience.

~ Investopedia

A Virtual Assistant is an individual who works at home performing administrative functions for clients. Virtual assistants (VAs) communicate with clients via phone, e-mail, instant messaging or some other collaborative software. They may do research, scheduling, data entry or any other kind of work an assistant would do on site for an employer.

~ PC Mag

There we have the definitions of the term virtual assistant. So, is the term cleared, is it not? While each website defines the term differently, they just settle to the same thought. If you are in search for further readings or facts about virtual assistant, VirtualAssistant.org is the right place for you.