Now in her final year of studying for an online BA degree in business through Bellevue University, Major is ready to begin marketing her ability to assist small- to medium-sized businesses who look to outsource certain types of work, especially non-revenue generating work, that she can do with her computer.
The Internet allows her to generate a revenue stream for her household, while working primarily at home and being there with her two pre-school-aged sons. The bulk of her business transactions would be accomplished through e-mail and fax transmission.
The idea is that using her skills as an administrative assistant, small business owners will be able to turn their own energies to generating income.
"I work as an independent contractor," she said. "This keeps their cost low by not paying benefits for a new employee and they don't have to 'let me go' when they no longer need my services. They simply just don't come to me anymore," which avoids the unemployment payments for her clients.
Major's virtual assistant business is her yearlong "capstone" project through Bellevue University. She is marketing her services primarily throughout southeast Iowa, wanting to keep within the region.
"I think it's good for them to be able to meet me personally if they want to," she said, "and I can't do that if they are outside the area."
Her range of services for a client can include creating business cards, letterheads and brochures, generating company logos, transcribing documents, data entry, managing websites and online advertising campaigns, composing and submitting press releases, designing power point presentations that incorporate graphics and sound, and writing resumes.
Jessica and her husband David Major are members of the Iowa Army National Guard, both attached to the 2133rd Transportation Co., based in Centerville. They met while they were deployed in Iraq four years ago. She will be taking her discharge next July, fearing that if she remains in the Guard, another Middle East deployment is inevitable. "I don't want to deploy with two little kids," she said.
Although she is uncertain if there are other virtual assistants at work in the region, Jessica noted, "Virtual assisting is the fastest growing industry because there are so many people who want to out-source work."
She started her business degree work through William Penn University in Oskaloosa and is finishing online through Bellevue, which is based in Bellevue, Neb.
She started her home business two years ago with a wedding and event planning service, but with two small children, the second with multiple disabilities, she discovered that that line of work wasn't practical. Event planning is an on-the-go kind of business and aside from childcare costs eating through any profits; she wouldn't be with the boys at a time in their lives when they need her most.
Looking around for another way to use her skills and talents, as well as her home-based technology, she discovered the virtual assistant industry. "I started buying tons of books," she said. "I enjoy absorbing a lot of information."
She is set to complete the business course requirements next fall, but her services are available now. Once a business contacts her, she'll provide a free quote, discuss specific expectations, draw up a contract and get to work.
Her mission statement reads: To provide reliable administrative services to small- and medium-size businesses without the endless expense of hiring an employee.
A member of the International Virtual Assistants Association, she can be reached through her website at: www.practicalassistance.com or call 800-393-6126.
|
|
