Virtual Staffing Assistant ( VA ) Jobs

I wrote a short post about virtual staffing companies sometime back. Last couple of weeks, I have been pretty much focused only on freelance writing and writers. Sorta playing to the base, you know. You keep your base happy, and you can govern with a 51% majority. Unless reality intrudes and your virtual concepts and mandate get washed away by a tidal wave of democratic reality.


Never before have I have felt so totally like an ignorant klutz on visiting a website. So am I living in a virtual world or are they?

Anyway, that's another story. From now on, I promise to make posts keeping not only the base ( starving writers ), but all sectors of freelancers on the net in mind - Transcriptionists, translators, data entry typists, virtual staffing assistants, CSR's and even good-for-nothing bloggers. So, here's today's listings solely for virtual staffing assistant jobs, contracts and freelance gigs, VA directories, etc. In short, all the tools you need to start your own virtual staffing business.

Virtual Staffing Jobs :

Craigslist virtual staffing assistant jobs - Even though these posts get filled up very fast and you might be reading backdated entries, these are mostly companies who keep hiring virtual assistants. So it wouldn't do any harm to send off an email application.

What you will need to get a real virtual assistant job ( Huh! ):

1. An internet phone software which allows you to recieve and make calls inside the United States from your PC ( if possible for free ).
2. A virtual fax number which allows you to send and recieve documents from and to fax machines.
3. Fast typing speed.
4. This one is optional, but does give you a lot of credibility, which you might need if you don't have prior experience as a virtual assistant. Get yourself certified by the "The International Virtual Assistants Association" (www.IVAA.org).

Do some googling, set yourself up the right software ( don't spend money on it just yet ), maybe get certified. Then start sending applications to companies and employers in the list above and in the previous post about virtual staffing companies.

Successfull VA's seem to call it their business rather than a job or a gig or a contract. They are certified, have a website which lists their experience, expertise and references. In short, a website is good way to sell yourself as a VA to prospective employers. You may find the employer through job boards, in which case you just refer him to your website, instread of sending a resume or the employer may find you through search engines. Hence the term "Start your own virtual assistant business".

Here's a couple of examples which might give you a good idea of what you need to do:

www.allisonlane.com
www.wilsonva.com

And once you have a good website, you might want to add your link to a few directories which list virtual assistants:

IVAA members directory ( It costs money to be a member. You decide whether it's worth it or not. )
UK virtual assistants directory
Canadian Virtual Assistant Connection
Virtual Assistant Directory

Blogger Jobs Nov 2006

So is it a weblog or web log or we blog? And if it's just a blog, what happened to the we? Guess when you're talking to yourself, there is no we, huh?

But even if you get one of the paid blogging gigs, it's better than talking to yourself on your own blog. What? I don't fall into that category. See, if you're reading this, I ain't talking to myself and if you're not, then you don't know that I'm talking to myself. Uh...Maybe I need to get some therapy....

There's not enough blogger jobs for a weekly post, let alone daily posts. So I'm starting this monthly blogger jobs post, in addition to posting any available blogging gigs in the daily freelance jobs posts.

Most visitors and posters on blogs are bloggers themselves. I don't see how scratching each others' backs will help anyone go pro other than trying to trick Google and Yahoo into throwing you a few bones.

Take a look at these jobs. You never know...

Blogger wanted for online chat meeting ( Craigslist SF Bay )
Movie blogger wanted ProBlogger Jobs Board
Looking for fashion blogger Craigslist SF Bay
Alternative energy blogger needed Craigslist SF Bay
Freelance blogger wanted Craigslist Miami
Blog and forum poster Craigslist SF Bay
Honeymoon blogger Craigslist Honolulu
Political blogger wanted Craigslist DC
Political and tech blogger Craigslist Orangecounty
Asian mag looking for bloggers Craigslist Manilla

Obviously, some of these blogger jobs might not be available by the time you click on the links. But still...happy blogging.

Freelance Jobs 18th Nov

Get paid to watch videos ( website posting )


News and Analysis, Technoscience and Cyberculture, Celebrities and Cyborg Anthropology. Uhh...ok. Let's get on with the jobs...

Web content writer

Article writer wanted

Web content writer for online radio station

Bloggers for music news

Freelance tech writer wanted

Keyword optimization for articles

New York city blogger job

Freelance copywriter wanted

Writer to write about and for writers

Strategery for Staying The Course

Even if you're doin a heckuva job, doesn't mean that you ain't goin to get a thumpin. Uh...What do I mean? Nothing much. Just wanted to use some Bushisms and make a whole sentence which makes some sense. Obviously the strategery ain't working, but you got to stay the course. Maybe it'll make adsense®, even if doesn't make sense.

Is strategery an actual Bushism? Meaning, did President Bush invent the word strategery? Nope! It was a comedian who did.

Anyway, what I do mean is that there's a couple of things you can learn from President Bush and his Iraq adventure:
A - You're doing a lot of things. Some of them work and some of them don't. What you need to do is work out which one is working, dump the rest which are not working and focus all your time and money on the one which is working.
B - It needs a lot of perseverance and staying the course. Some days it'll work, other days you'll feel like you're an insignificant speck of dust in the scheme of things, but you put your head down, stay the course and follow the strategery. Course, you have to be sure that the strategry is sound, and it's gonna hit the bullseye, sooner or later.

What's all this bloviatin got to do with freelance writers? I refer you to this post "A Penny For Your Prose". First time I read the article, it just seemed like sound advice. After Madonna, the author of the article, posted a comment, I re-read the entire piece, and it's astonishing how many things I missed in the first read.

For one, she mentions a bunch of publishers who pay budding writers and authors. I did a bit of googling and a couple of useful links are posted below. Secondly, and the main point of all this bloviating, is that you have to write and submit. Write and submit. Write and submit. Every time your article is published, you get paid in some form - whether it's three jars of honey, a linkback to your site or in hard cash. In the end, it all adds up. So what I'm going to do is change a few gears and increase my writing output. If it looks good, I'll be looking for cash. If it's crap, I'll sell it for chocolate or a linkback. So either I get cash or traffic, which in the end make for good adsense®. How's that for strategery?

Thank you Madonna and thank you President Bush, for the inspiration for this post.

Ok. Here's the links:

Writers Resource - TheMarketlist Online

Thema - Submissions

Freelance Jobs 16th Nov

Web link description writer - Click Here
Writer for Technical User Manual - Click Here

Translator ( English to English ) - Click Here
Comment: That's US english to UK english.

Computer needs human web content writer - Click Here
Comment: I knew machines couldn't win the war!

Literary journal looking for submissions - Click Here
Article writer for working women - Click Here
Another mag looking for submissions - Click Here
Freelance Technology Writer - Click Here
Trailer Park Cooking Show Writer - Click Here

Write For Cash

I know that most of you are already freelance writers, probably much better than me. But there's so many publishers and site networks and portals and vertical portals and blog networks and paid content and article sellers on the web, that I thought it might be a good thing to list all of them in one place. It's not possible that you're writing for all of them ( you might be if you you're one of those aliens from a Spielberg film with a couple of heads and a few dozen hands ), so this list might come in handy in case you're looking for new freelance or contract writing jobs.


www.twoheadedblog.com deserves a link because firstly, he's the only writer with two heads ( sorta ) and secondly, he's also a tree hugging librul ( at least for the next 5 years ), when at age 35, he plans to become a conservative. Nice timing, huh? He'll be a conservative just in time to see Jeb Bush become the Prez.

Anyway, I'll list here all the places on the net where you can get paid to write ( some of whom have paid me a lot over the last few years and some of whom I'd like to see pay me a lot over the next few years.) So, here goes nothing:

About.com - Be A Guide
Pays upwards of $500 USD per month. Hard work, hard to get, hard to maintain and ferocious competition. But once you get the hang of it, you can get sweet checks worth $1000-1500 USD every month. The company was recently acquired by the New york Times company, so you'll be part of a very prestigious network.

Adapt, Inc. - Get Paid to Blog
Graded pay based on the word count of your blog post. $300 USD cap per month ( not that you'll make that much...). Still, it's good money for blog posts.

Suite101 - Freelance Writers
Get paid for your articles based on the number of page views. Pays $2 USD for 1000 page views. Again, it's debatable how much you can make. Far as I know, they ain't paying so much now. But still, if you can generate traffic to your own articles....

Wisegeek - Contact Wisegeek

I'll have to complete this post later. Got a few pending "works of art" to take care of. If you have any links to add, be my guest.

Update: Ok. Let's get on with it.

WriteForUs - Uhh..Login?
Yeah. Yeah. I'll update the link if / when I find it. But don't hold your breath.

ExpertVillage - Become An Expert
There's a bit of history and background information about this one. Personally I haven't signed up, but that's only because I'm not an expert. Neither do I do videos. All I can do is type, and then some. Anyway, it's your call.

HowToDoThings - Become An Expert
At first glance, it may not seem like something you want to do. But it gets really interesting later on. Believe me.

Bloviatin

Taking a break today from the usual schedule. No articles, no emails, nothing except pure blogging. And since I'm free, I'm going to take the chance to catch up on the news. Been reading all the news and bloviations on the net for a few hours. Rove flunked Math, Bush took a thumpin and Nancy Pelosi is measuring drapes ( BTW, did ya know that Pelosi and Steny Hoyer were going Salsa dancing together in 1991? ). Meanwhile, 150 people were kidnapped in Iraq and Japan is quaking after a quake set off a Tsunami warning. So what's new? I have only one question - When does Rumsfeld get his Medal of Honor?
Silly twits that they are, the Yahoo answer guys deleted the question. But Google being what it is, there's always the cache.



It's really very, very funny. Have a look - Ironic Times

Update: Having nothing to do is a pain in the butt. I don't feel like going out, and I've read Newsweek, WashingtonPost, NYTimes, Time, Salon, sundry blogs and TownHall ( just in case some conservatives are feeling unloved ). Plus I've been refreshing Google news like every 5 minutes. Finally I'm back here and so here's some of today's freelance jobs:

Transcription gig - Click Here
Website Editor and Copywriter - Click Here
Comment: Nice gig. If you have the experience and time. I'm gonna apply.
Online retail firm looking for copywriter - Click Here
Writers, Photographers and Cartoonists Needed - Click Here
Blogger and Editor for Video blogs ( vblogs )- Click Here
SEO copywriting - Click Here
Comment: Application sent!
Uh..Blogger wanted...I think...Cause they say if you have done blogging before, that's a plus..Whatever... - Click Here
Book researcher ( writing assistant ) - Click Here
Comment: The book writer sounds like he's been in the sun too long, but if he's gonna pay you...


If you're "witty, prolific, positive, creative, articulate, intelligent, innovative, captivating, unique style, detail oriented, engage reader, picture painting, fresh perspective, able to work with deadlines, peek peoples interest (cliff hanger), willing to, ethically/legally, do what ever it takes type attitude, passionate about our company and its drive+mission+motivation, willing to collaborate/mastermind within/outside the team to come up with fresh ideas, able to move people emotionally into a space of immediate action through their writing"...
then you can Click Here.
Comment: How do you "peek" peoples interest ? They really need a writer, huh?

Freelance Jobs 15th Nov

Writing ain't beans. You need to sweat on it. You write. Then you rewrite. Then you look at your brand new masterpiece. Then you tear it up. Smoke a cigarette. Take a break. Work up the courage to start again. Then you take the first draft, make a few changes here and there and it looks pretty good now. Then you send it off and you're feelin pretty good.


http://www.literaryagent.co.uk - Expert help for newbie writers. How to get published and advertise your writing services.

Time goes by and these small, tiny niggling doubts begin popping up. Did you do a spell check? Never mind, let's do it again. While doing the spell check, you realise the last paragraph on the last page of your masterpiece might as well fit in just below the first paragraph on the first page. After around 20 minutes of hacking and ripping and cutting and pasting, you have no friggin idea where your article starts and where it ends. So you give up on it, and let the chips fall where they may. Where's that cigarette?

Here's today's freelance jobs:

Political, legal and international relations writers - Click Here
Comment: I know for sure I could crack this gig. But I'm afraid I don't want to mix blogging and politics - Not any more. Very toxic combination.

Writer for Latin mag - Click Here

A model, who's a writer herself, wants you to write about her for a writing gig she got to write about herself. If you can figure that out, Click Here

Quips writer wanted - Click Here

Web content writer - Click Here
Comment: It says editor, but I don't see it. Looks like a simple writing gig.

Entertainment Magazine seeks Freelance Writers - Click Here

Wanna write about and for writers? Click Here

Commercail fishing writer? Click Here

Freelance writers - Click Here
Comment: Ad seems normal, but somehow seems a little above board. Sending an email won't hurt, but...

Copywriters needed - Click Here

Online mag looking for contributing writers - Click Here

Blue Blistering Barnacles

Dunno why I just remembered Tintin and captain Whatshisname, but that's what I feel like. I have never, ever done so much research for a single article. I must have scanned wikipedia, google and God knows how many other sites and directories for tiny tidbits.


Uhh...I dunno what it says on the site about the Captain, but I'm sure it ain't pretty. If you know French, you might want to read for some comic relief.

And, that's not all - The more I search, the more I realize that I'm way outta my depth. I'm just beginning to understand the subject matter and write on my own without referring to other sites for spelling, dates and other stuff which an expert on the subject would know offhand.

I also finished writing the article ( just need to go through all of it again ), and what I'm doing now is basically reading other similar articles on the web and I realize how amateurish my article sounds. Really needs more time, but since I blew 4 days, I have no choice but to submit as is. And hope for the best. And pray. And worry.

Crap. How do I manage to get myself into these impossible situations? If my article is accepted, that only means Groundhog day week-in and week-out. If the article is rejected, I'm probably gonna end up drunk. So take a pick.

On to today's freelance jobs:

If you can do Chinese translation, but do not want money, but you want a massage which is not sexual in any way, you might want to Click Here.

All right. All right. That was the first job I bumped into. Not my fault.

Typist wanted ( data entry gig ) - Click Here

Tech / Internet / Business Writer wanted - Click Here

Web copywriter wanted - Click Here

Beauty, style, fashion, shopping, etc. article writers wanted - Click Here

Academic Writing / Research Assistance Needed - Click Here

Prolific Writer wanted - Click Here

Freelance Jobs 12th Nov

I'm gonna get screwed. I've been procrastinating everyday about writing an article for which I had one week. Got 2 days left now. It's funny how your mind can come up with up highly plausible arguments for postponing things which you find you don't want to do - First you want to update your blog, then you're sick, then you're recovering, then you have to do some urgent shopping......I'm thinking of bailing out. It's a highly lucrative writing assignment, but if the first one is causing so much heartburn, I wonder if I can do it week in and week out. Appreciate your 2 cents on this. I'm leaning towards bailing out, but I'm scared I'll regret it afterwards.


WordsOFWellness.com - Vertical portals or vortals on topics related to wellness - Physical, spiritual, financial and lots more.

On to today's freelance jobs ( mostly for freelance writers with a couple of translation and transcription gigs ):

Humanist magazine seeks articles and book reviews - Click Here
Comment: Nice mag. Nice gig. If you can get it.
Short Story Writers - Click Here
Writers wanted - Click Here
Web Writers Needed - Click Here
Freelance content writers - Click Here
Transcription gig ( handwritten to digital ) - Click Here
Outdoor Bloggers - Click Here
Comment: Doesn't mean you blog with your laptop sitting in a cave next to Osama. Means you blog about things outdoor.
Writers wanted for leadership and career articles - Click Here
Website Monitor / Maintenance Job ( Work at home ) - Click Here
Nice gig: No pressure and not much to do. But I reckon the position will be filled up very fast.
Translators wanted ( many languages ) - Click Here
Article writers wanted - Click Here
Comment: Seems a bit fishy, but if you're getting paid....