A virtual assistant is like a secretary or personal assistant that you communicate with online. Virtual assistants are normally independent contractors who work from home. Some work independently and some work through various websites in order to more easily find clients. Hours and tasks are typically flexible, and services offered vary among personal assistants. They can charge by the hour, by the task, or can charge a monthly fee for services. Many virtual assistants are willing to work with you to come up with a pay structure that you’re both comfortable with, especially if they work independently.
Virtual assistants can do a variety tasks to help you in your business including administrative tasks, content creation, and networking. You can find virtual assistants that specialize in one area and those that do well in multiple areas. Each virtual assistant can give you a list of tasks they can perform, and if you have something different in mind, it never hurts to ask. Many seasoned virtual assistants can give you references if needed, but don’t pass over a virtual assistant just because they’re new.
Some administrative tasks a virtual assistant can perform are financial such as record keeping, managing payouts, and keeping track of income sources. They can manage incoming and outgoing email, forwarding specific types of email to you when your attention is needed. They can also schedule meetings, webinars, or phone calls for you or help you plan your work week. This is especially helpful if you struggle with time management.
Content creation is another way a virtual assistant can help you manage your business. They can write blog posts, newsletters, emails, press releases, and social media posts. They can also create reports or e-books for you. Some virtual assistants are great copywriters and have experience writing sales letters and sales pages. Outsourcing writing services can save you a lot of time, especially if writing takes you a long time, or if you struggle to bring your ideas together.
Sometimes the best use of a virtual assistant is to have them handle your social media and networking tasks. Social media can be a huge time suck if you’re not familiar with the sites, or have trouble managing the time you spend on them. Virtual assistants can manage your social media campaigns, conduct research on what campaigns are effective, and they can network with potential clients, readers, and business associates. You can also have them set up a social media schedule or have them automate your social media process.
When it comes to utilizing a personal assistant, you’re limited only by your imagination. You can start by making a list of all of the tasks you do each day, and consider which tasks you can have someone else do for you. Virtual assistants can save you time and money by freeing you up to do the most important tasks for your business. They can also make it possible for you to put in the time to grow your business, rather than just maintaining your current level of success.
