So you may have the burning question, What can your VA do for you? Virtual Assistants. This is a term used more and more frequently. Virtual Assistants, or VA's, are people that can provide you with time. In the simplest terms, you hire a person to do tasks that you would either not be able to do yourself, don't want to do yourself, or to assist as part of a group in completing a project or mission.
Common office work is the most common use for VA's to be tasked with, Emails are typically most common in this category, scheduling meetings and arranging meetings are next on the list of to-do. Other things to consider with regards to the VA are to phone clients or receive calls when you can't.. Minutes of meetings are normally given to VA's, transcribing of voicemail, videos, podcasts and other such activities can be handed over allowing you to have much more time to get on with the business. When you choose your VA, choose one that fits your mould. They work for you, and will be handling your work, so you need to be able to trust that they will get it done the way you want it done.
Following up with clients is another major opportunity to utilise your VA, it can be a headache to have to deal with meetings, conferences or events and still remember to follow up with clients to thank them for their business and such. This is the perfect time to deploy your VA.
Researching topics that are relevant to your business or even just interesting to you. Your VA can do these things for you. Give them some topics and let them go wild, if you want to know what to do to bring in business or you can just ask them what places around town have good coffee shops to have meetings.
Creating reports of sales, staff attendance, slideshows, email accounts, social media account and the maintenance there of. Blogs and forums can also form part of this but a caution should be given to anyone allowing this for the VA as it may affect your business negatively. VA's should be coached effectively when given the power to represent the company.
If you prefer, tasks with less responsibility a VA can be utilised for simple errands such as booking fights/hotels and purchasing gifts for clients or personally.
Your VA should be hired on the abilities and needs imposed. If they are being paid per hour then it may be a good idea to find someone that is proficient in the job you require of them. Make sure that if you are going to hire a VA that you are upfront with them about their responsibilities and break down the payments they should receive for the work they do. Each VA will work slightly differently, and it's important you both know expectations from the outset. Don't be afraid to use more than one VA if your work is specialised, and you need experts in what you want completed. You may need a Graphic Designer for one job, and IT guru for another job, and an admin expert for another. You may want to find a project manager' VA to sort out and manage all your outsourcing!
Once you start outsourcing, you'll wonder how you ever coped without it!
