Power cuts, weak signal and running out of data are everyday realities for many people working online in Ghana, especially outside the big cities. They do not have to stop you from being a dependable assistant. The difference between a VA who loses clients and one who keeps them is usually planning.
Plan for power
- Charge whenever power is on. Make it a habit to charge your phone, laptop and power bank fully, not just when they are low.
- Keep a power bank big enough to charge your phone at least once. If you use a laptop, learn how long its battery lasts doing your normal work.
- Lower your power use when on battery: dim the screen, close apps you are not using, and turn off Bluetooth and location if you do not need them.
- Know your backup places, such as a library, school lab, community centre or a shop with a generator, and how long it takes to get there.
Plan for data and signal
- Have a second network. A SIM from a different mobile network helps when one network is down or weak in your area.
- Work offline when you can. Google Docs, Sheets and Slides can be made available offline, and Gmail can save drafts. Edits sync when you reconnect.
- Save data. Turn off automatic video play and app updates on mobile data, download large files on Wi Fi, join video calls with the camera off when you are not speaking, and send compressed images.