While I respect and hear your comments, I have to tell you that my clients ARE experiencing their VA closing up shop, especially in this economy.

Three times this year (2009) different clients have told me that their VA or website designer went out of business and they were having a hard time getting the information they needed about their website. Twice this year we’ve had to work with VAs and website designers to get the login information and website files of our clients. In the third instance, the client got the information directly from the VA without our assistance. In 2008, we had to help five clients get their information from either a VA or a website designer, as the VA or website designer did not reply to phone calls or emails from the client.

In all these instances, the VA and/or website designer had been running an honest, respectful and sincere business. These were not fly-by-night companies or below-par moonlighters.

Closing up shop isn’t always about values and standards. Sometimes the economy hits a VA, website designer, or any other small business owner very hard, or they have personal reasons for closing their business quickly (illness, family responsibilities, better job offer, etc.). Most business owners are serious about their business and their clients, and most business owners will not leave their clients high-and-dry if they have to close down their business. But occassionally a business owner needs to close their business quickly, and does not reply to phone calls or emails for weeks at a time.

Even if the VA or website designer doesn’t close their business quickly, it’s important for the business owner to have all the pertinent information about the website (logins, files, copyrights, etc.).

Many VAs manage the day-to-day maintenance of a website. In some cases, the original website designer is no longer in the picture and the only person with this important data is the VA.

I recognize that most VAs and website designers WILL do everything in their power to provide all important information to clients before closing their business. However, on the chance that this does not occur, or the business owner is aware that the VA or website designer is closing the business, the above list helps the business owner to know what information they need to get from the person who maintains their website.

Warmly,
Karyn

I am a professional virtual assistant and have benefitted from your classes and products. Thank you!

Your article clearly addresses a situation for those who use web designers. However, putting virtual assistants in the same article is truly wrong. A professional virtual assistant is a business partner who doesn’t just close up shop and disappear. We have strong values and standards which govern how we terminate our business relationships.

There are a lot of ‘virtual workers’ who claim to be virtual assistants, charging below market rates. It’s the old adage ‘you get what you pay for’. When you talk about shopping for a virtual assistant business partner, or online business manager, please feel free to reference the FREE Registry at Assist University at http://www.assistu.com.

Thank you for your amazing workshops and products.

Emerging VA

Karyn