The State of Virtual Professionalism

Economic pressures, a desire for more flexible lifestyle, and the ready availability of technology have caused an upswing in the number of virtual professionals in the last few years. A virtual professional is an entrepreneur who conducts business remotely with clients using technology. Based on a detailed online survey of 70 virtual professionals conducted last year, virtual professional Eileen Parzek of SOHO It Goes! has compiled a report providing a snapshot of this rapidly expanding trend. The initial survey relied on a combination of statistical questions to determine trends, and open questions in order to gather quotes from virtual professionals. The final covers three areas: demographics, benefits and hazards, and the state of technology in the virtual world.

"Having owned a successful and international virtual business for 9 years now, I feel a strong sense of advocacy towards virtual professionalism," says Parzek. "My goal was to gather both facts and opinions from other virtual professionals, and share what I learned with the business community. I hope that it will encourage other entrepreneurs to consider this way of work and life, and educate people about businesses that operate this way."

A few of the most interesting findings:

- Nearly 50% of virtual professionals work virtually either "because I can" or "because I want to".

- Stabilizing income is the toughest aspect of virtual work.

- Referrals are the #1 source of customers, and even working virtually, live networking is 2nd, slightly ahead of virtual professionals' own web sites.

- The #1 benefit most virtual professionals report is flexibility of time. Ironically, most also work more than 5 days a week and over 8 hours a day. Apparently, as long as they can pick the hours, it's still a perk.

- The desktop PC is, unsurprisingly, the #1 technology used by virtual professionals, with the telephone still a close second. Video conferencing is the least utilized, with less than 20% reporting using it or planning to buy it. 100% use e-mail regularly, and over half use instant messaging with their clients.

One open-ended question asked survey respondents, "If you were a virtual guru on a mountain top and someone crawled up to ask your advice about being a virtual professional, what would you tell them?" The best response, from Renae Bolton of Triple J Business Solutions:

"If you had to come all the way up here to ask me about being a virtual professionals, you aren't ready Junior. Ever hear of e-mail? Instant Messaging? You are invading my private space! Scram!"

If you're considering becoming a virtual professional, read this report first. If you're already one, you will still find it very enlightening and entertaining. Read the full report, "Virtual Professionalism in 2003"