What is a VIRTUAL ASSISTANT?
A Virtual Assistant is generally self-employed and provides administrative, technical, or creative assistance to clients remotely from a home. Virtual assistants are independent contractors. Clients are not responsible for any employee-related taxes, insurance or benefits, except in the context that those indirect expenses are included in the VA's fees. Clients also avoid the logistical problem of providing extra office space, equipment or supplies. Clients pay for 100% productive work, and can work with virtual assistants, individually, or in multi-VA firms to meet their exact needs. Virtual assistants usually work for other small businesses.
Common modes of communication and data delivery include the Internet, e-mail and phone-call conferences, online work spaces, and fax machines..Professionals in this business work on a contractual basis and a long-lasting cooperation is standard. Typically 5 years of administrative experience in an office is expected at such positions as executive assistant, office manager/supervisor, secretary, legal assistant, paralegal, legal secretary, real estate assistant, and information technology.
Reasons why VIRTUAL ASSISTANT is the best for small business
Time is a precious resource in the world of business. Each hour you spend should produce the best results to your bottom line. However, overseeing multiple tasks can get tedious. You will have to defer routine activities in favor of the more important ones. You can never separate new technology from your business. As the tools and software continue to evolve, adaptation is necessary to protect your bottom line. Lead generation forms an essential part of your customer acquisition campaign. If you want to grow your client base and generate more revenue, you will need to find potential leads wherever they are. Other than that, you should also find time to nurture your leads and prep them for a possible sales appointment. No business is perfect, but you’ll have to agree that a bad review can put your brand on dire straits. You will have to tread lightly when it comes to handling complaints from clients. In other words, you will have to be careful not to escalate the situation. You can’t have a successful business without running an effective marketing campaign. It involves more than just letting people know you’re offering valuable products and services. Marketing, when done right, can help you enhance your reputation and nurture a loyal audience for your brand.
Reasons Why You Should Hire a VIRTUAL ASSISTANT
1. It’s Cost-Effective
Virtual assistants are most often self-employed. Therefore, you’re not required to offer benefits or foot the bill for necessities such as office space, internet, and utilities. In other words, you’ll spend far less than you’d have to if you decided to hire an employee.
2. Organization and Efficiency Are Priorities
Many virtual assistants have a background in formal business settings. Therefore, they’ve seen firsthand the challenges that disrupt efficiency. In their current roles, then, it’s a primary goal to provide organizational assistance and explore all avenues that could improve workflow efficiency.
3. It Saves You Time
Running a small business is no easy task; it’s hard work and requires a significant time investment. At times, you and your team might feel like you’re spread too thin. That’s what a virtual assistant is for to lighten your load! That way, you’ll have more time and energy to devote to your most important job roles.
4. Flexible Scheduling is Available
Depending on your needs, you may require someone who can work an “alternative” schedule. Let’s say, for example, that you want someone to handle live chat support for your customers overnight. It wouldn’t be hard to find a virtual assistant to accommodate (whether due to preference, availability or time zone).
Skills
can take any unwanted or boring tasks off your hands.
can save you time and help you focus.
can help you brainstorm.
can help you scale your businesses without hiring full-time staff.
can save you tons on infrastructure and other operational costs.
can do some tasks more efficiently and produce better results than you can.
Creating/updating/maintaining databases and CRMs
Collating business cards into an Excel sheet for uploading to CRMs or address books
Data entry
Basic bookkeeping
Data mining / online research
Typing up notes
Video creation/editing/uploading
Social media set up/maintenance/content research/scheduling
Facebook, Twitter or Google ads – creating and optimizing
Setting up/managing webinars and podcasts
Forum commenting/monitoring
Setting up LinkedIn groups
Photoshop work
Transcription
Marketing – creating sales pages/squeeze pages/pop up email boxes
Creating/editing/formatting templates and guides
Event coordination – venue finding and confirmation/collating attendees and documents/on-site support
Chasing outstanding invoices
Diary/calendar management – scheduling meetings, syncing with devices, adding upcoming events
Email management and detox
Writing/editing/formatting reports and presentations
Researching/making travel and accommodation arrangements
Lifestyle management – personal duties inc buying gifts, dry cleaning, booking restaurants and events, house moving, researching cheaper utility companies, paying bills etc
Blog set up/writing/SEO/editing/scheduling
Website set up/writing/SEO/editing/scheduling Newsletter set up/writing/auto responders/editing/maintenance/scheduling
eBook editing/formatting/publishing
Gmail set up, importing and creating labels/filters/folders
Designing/formatting info graphics, logos, banners, social media profile images
