How a Virtual Assistant could Benefit you and your Business
I have heard it a million times before, and I am sure I will hear it a million times more, ‘what is a Virtual Assistant anyway?!’ I am here to enlighten you!
If you don’t know what a Virtual Assistant is, you’re not alone. I had no idea there was such thing until a couple of years ago. I was approached by a company who place VA’s with businesses. I received an interview with one of their clients, and the client actually ended up hiring me as their HR Officer. As I was obviously more familiar with this area of work, I jumped at the chance. However, at the time I researched all about the role of a VA and knew that this would be a path to follow down in the future. Fast forward, here I am!
So, let’s get to the point, you want to know what a Virtual Assistant is, and I am happily here to tell you.
A Virtual Assistant (or a VA) is generally a person who provides remote business (or personal) support, and are self employed.
A Virtual Assistant is usually most beneficial to small businesses, entrepreneurs and online businesses. This however, is not an exhausted list of groups who may use a VA. Plenty of mid-size and large businesses find huge benefits of getting a VA on board, more so for specific projects.
Virtual Assistant’s come in all shapes and sizes, with many different specialties and niches to offer your business. For example, my background is HR. Although I am definitely not a consultant, I am extremely familiar with HR Administration which I could offer as my niche, but I have fingers in many other business support pies from just working in an office environment for over 10 years. I am hoping to work with varied clients, not just to use my HR knowledge.
Are you a photographer who needs help with queries, diary management, email correspondence, invoicing, etc? Your area of expertise is to be taking photos, why not consider letting a VA take on the rest so you can book in more shoots! The same goes with online businesses, freelance Hairdressers, Makeup Artist’s, Mentors, Coaches, the list goes on!
Or are you in charge of a very busy household, and staying on top of family admin just isn’t happening? A Virtual Assistant can help with that too!
My point is, think about the core of your business/life and where the money is for you. Then consider if outsourcing the rest will help you spend more time on what really matters and increase earning potential. I can almost guarantee it can.
More great benefits of outsourcing to a VA is the fact that they are not your employee, meaning no holiday pay, sick pay or office space. You just choose how many hours you think you might need to enlist their help for, either on a retainer (committing to a certain amount each month), by projects or flexible hours. You just need to remember that a VA works with a number of clients, and also on their own business, they can’t always be at your service if your time isn’t booked, but ensure strong communication in order to make full use of the time you are being charged for.
A Virtual Assistant’s list of services isn’t always exhaustive, book in your discovery call and discuss what you’re looking and hoping for from your VA. They will always tell you if there is something they are not familiar with, or just can’t offer you.
Now go away and put your thinking caps on, can you benefit from outsourcing to a VA like me?? Some homework, make a list of everything you do in your business, consider how much earning potential is in the tasks that don’t earn, then really consider the options.