No doubt you have clients, competitors, or suppliers who rave about their awesome new Virtual Assistant, and sure, it’s never been easier to hire remote professionals to up your A-game!
However, we’re well aware that every business is unique. Your staffing structure isn’t going to look the same as anyone else’s, nor should it. That begs the question; how can a Virtual Assistant help my business, and what advantages would I receive?
Here we’ll explore some of the benefits that come from hiring a VA and help you decide whether you want in on the virtual trend.
What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Virtual Assistant?
Virtual Assistants can come with a dazzling array of skills, talents, and specialities, which is why it’s not just about the admin benefits you’ll get with them.
There are three primary advantages to having a VA on your team:
1. Increased Time
Time is the one resource we never have enough of, and unfortunately, we can’t pick up more on our next shopping spree! A Virtual Assistant is the ultimate asset to help you get your time back.
They’ll deal with the little tasks, the annoyingly repetitive scheduling, and the time-consuming admin responsibilities that detract your focus from what you’re there for – running your business.
2. Improved Customer Experiences
Next up, hiring a remote VA is a great way to streamline everything you do and ultimately make your business better for your customers.
Virtual Assistants embrace automation, technology, and remote communication functions that allow them to accomplish tasks faster.
All told, an experienced VA offers a competitive advantage, freeing up time to interact with your clients, improving the speed of your processes, and weeding out the time-wasters and inquiries that don’t need your attention.
3. Enhanced Accountability
Lastly, accountability might not be your all-time favorite part of the business – but it’s always going to be important!
An accomplished VA becomes like a friendly aunt who’s always on your case, with the best of intentions. They’ll chase up deadlines, remind you of appointments, check in on progress, and contribute to planning sessions.
The value of your Virtual Assistant depends heavily on their skills and expertise – but find a great VA with whom you have an excellent rapport, and you’ll quickly level up to meet your assistant’s pace.
What Tasks Can a Virtual Assistant Take Over?
As we’ve said, VA’s cover a wide range of professional roles, so it’s vital for you to assign them tasks and use that to whittle down your shortlist.
We’d also recommend having a list of crucial questions to ask a Virtual Assistant before hiring them on, so you’re confident they’re the right person for the role.
Typical Virtual Assistant Tasks
- Managing your diary – booking appointments, travel arrangements, accommodation, and scheduling.
- Communications – answering the phone, filtering through email correspondence, following up on meetings, or liaising between colleagues to follow up on projects.
- Digital management – updating your website, dealing with social media, posting blogs, and creating content.
- Administration – word processing, creating reports, proofing presentations, and filing documents.
While all of these are common VA tasks, there isn’t a single task list covering everything a VA can do. For example, if you’re a business in the digital space as compared to a creative industry, your ideal Virtual Assistant would have different abilities that align more closely with the relevant tasks required.
How Do I Know If I Need a Virtual Assistant?
Say you’re up to your neck in paperwork, keep dropping the ball, forgetting to call people back, and are three months late with your tax return – you NEED an assistant!
Most business owners or entrepreneurs reach this decision when they’re overwhelmed with admin tasks or have big ideas, without the capacity to turn them into reality.
However, there’s a toss-up between hiring an assistant who’s going to clock in at 9 am every day and someone who works remotely for you.
Advantages of a Virtual Assistant Over an In-House Hire
Let’s run through a quick list of reasons companies decide they want a remote assistant rather than a permanent team member.
- Not having physical space for another employee – remote staff won’t need a desk, PC, or anything but your guidance.
- Budgetary constraints – serious cost efficiencies are available through freelancers who don’t incur extra expenses associated with permanent employment.
- There is a more comprehensive choice of professional candidates, with some exceptional VA’s working across time zones or focusing on a specific business niche.
- Flexibility, with Virtual Assistants able to turn their hand to a vast range of tasks as the need arises.
- Immediacy – taking on a full-time worker invariably means training, line management meetings, induction processes, and workplace tours. VA’s with experience are ready to go from day one, bringing benefits to your business faster.
If you need an extra set of hands, help with secretarial or admin tasks, or another brain to help you concentrate on achieving your business goals, a Virtual Assistant might be the answer.
