I often get a basic question about who the virtual assistant is. Sometimes a person even knows it approximately, other times he imagines Siri, or on the contrary, he cannot imagine anything under it. Read 10 reasons to work with a virtual assistant.
Who is a virtual assistant?
It is a person – a freelancer or business that works online and facilitates or manages multiple activities for multiple clients. Physically, VA can work from different corners of the world and cities, but must have access to the network (internet, signal) and have a mobile phone and a laptop available.
Diversification of clients and services
VA provides various remote/external services to entrepreneurs or companies.
From digital marketing tasks, meeting planning, event and project management to anything that doesn't need to be done physically on site.
Of course, both men and women can do VA, so that we have a gender balance and do not discriminate against anyone.
Delegation of tasks
You can make better use of your internal staff. By handing over the easier tasks that must be solved and corrected to the VA, the internal employee will be able to solve more complex and complex tasks, or those for which he was specially trained. The main difference is that some tasks must be performed physically on site (eg in an office). That internal employee must be there. Those tasks that do not need to be handled in the office are suitable as VA tasks.
There are exceptions where VAs will agree to physically stand in for someone for a short period of time (eg your in-house employee) in the event of illness or vacation. However, it must be assumed that the price would then be higher than under normal circumstances.
You can save on costs
One of the main reasons why entrepreneurs and companies "buy" someone externally is because of lower costs.
For "small" work, you just need to pay someone, e.g. for a watch. When working on employment relationship lasted, the employer would essentially recalculate if he did not have so much work for the employee, and therefore would rather be at a loss. Of course, the customer's budget is also important at this point.
In this case it is cooperation with VA is flexible and possible at any time during the year.
At the same time, an entrepreneur or company can save costs for the training process. Because when hiring a person, it is necessary to integrate/train the person.
At that point in time, that VA may already be capable and skilled. Alternatively, if there are companies with a unique procedure, it is always possible to get into it faster if you already have the experience (or similar).
TIP for the customer: Look at the references of virtual assistants or companies offering such services! If you want to check their quality at the beginning of the cooperation, give them easier tasks to begin with. Subsequently, with greater confidence, you can give them bigger and more difficult tasks.
VA already has its history and works
We are not complete newcomers and unknowns. They have known us since 1990, when the term VIRTUAL ASSISTANT was adopted, as the ability to work virtually. Thanks to technology: sharing documents using high-speed Internet and the Cloud.
Although some people do not yet know or are not personified with this term, or with the VA function, but that doesn't mean it doesn't work or won't work in the future. I think it's just the opposite, because there is a very big prospect of using such services, and more and more every year.
Flexibility and multitasking
Virtual assistant he mostly works as a freelancer, usually as a sole trader. He can offer his services to several clients at once, it depends on the nature and volume of work.
Virtual assistant she usually works from home and at a time that suits her, or he can agree with the client on when and what he needs (on the deadline). That's why it is a great option for women on maternity leave or with small children, for pensioners or older women, which have difficulty applying to the labor market. But we are already talking about the advantages for those people who want to work as a VA.
So let's move on…
Everything is possible when you want it
Cooperation with VA can "fill" the hole of your ignorance. However, if you would like, he can also teach you with the help of a consultation, a webinar or a seminar 🙂
If you are not the technical type, VA can help you with your virtual workplace: from project management and file sharing to technical information storage and communication.
Scope of services and offer
It can cover several services. What kind?
It all depends on a number of things such as: demand, experience, skills, interests and previous career. Accordingly, each VA offers different services.
Between TOP 30 "most offered" belongs to:
- Creation, updating, transcription and maintenance of databases and CRM. So that it doesn't happen that you could potentially lose something.
- Export of business cards to Excel tables, addressees, CRM systems. If you have a lot of business cards, they can get lost or destroyed, so it's a good idea to save them elsewhere (e.g. in TAB/Excel) and then work with the data.
- Data entry. Don't have all the data filled in? VA will supplement them.
- Basic accounting. Easily create invoices or enter financial records.
- Data acquisition / online research. Do you want to find out/search something? It can be delegated…
- Writing notes. Either from online or offline meetings, but it can be done. When you don't want to lose, but record/write down something important.
- Video creation, editing and recording.
- Social media management / planning. VA will add or schedule posts to be published on various social networks.
- FB, IG, Google ads. VA will set up ads to promote your business, posts, services, etc.
- Creating webinars and podcasts / recording.
- Forum monitoring / commenting. VA will monitor the market that is interesting to you for comparison. He will comment/advertise your services and thus you will achieve a certain type of "advertisement".
- Creating and setting up, managing a LinkedIn group. The group requires care and appropriate settings according to the discretion and function of the group. The VA can take care of the running of the group on a regular basis.
- Working with Photoshop. When you need to edit photos or graphics of an infographic.
- Transcription.
- Creating, editing and formatting templates and manuals.
- Coordination of events.
- Video production and camera work.
- Calendar management – management of meetings, events, etc.
- Sending emails. Do you have a lot of emails waiting for you, but do you want to save time for something else? Just call and make an agreement with the VA. After all, the ALIAS function on Gmail works.
- Creation, editing and modification of the presentation.
- Research / management or preparation of business or private travel and accommodation. Are you going somewhere and do you have the conditions for what it should look like there? Because there are so many offers, VA can research it and send you tips. This will save you time and at the same time you will be satisfied with the accommodation.
- Lifestyle management – buying gifts, booking restaurants, etc. Can't make it, but want to please your partner, child or someone else with a gift? VA can order, select or give tips according to the current market situation. Of course you pay for it, plus for the service :))
- Writing, editing, content planning for the blog, SEO.
- Creation and editing of websites.
- Ebook editing, formatting and publication.
- Creating a Google and Gmail account, sorting emails into folders. The overview in the e-mail box is important. This is a smaller task for a VA, but it definitely takes some time, especially if you want more of those Google and email accounts.
- Designing and formatting infographics, logos, banners, profile and cover photos.
- Calling.
- Translation. VA translates from/to different languages. There you always have to find out what languages are offered, at what level.
- Product photography. Do you have an e-shop or a store with products? Good photos - good business 🙂
A virtual assistant is a separate working member
If you hire another employee on the TPP, in addition to the salary, you will also have to pay other fees/circumstances:
- Taxes.
- Sick days.
- Vacation.
- Rewards.
- Dental hygiene (benefits...)
The VA must handle all of its own expenses, including taxes and insurance. This means that you as an employer/manager/entrepreneur can save money for other expenses.
Time flexibility and substitution
Increased flexibility: As part of working with a VA, you are not tied to working days and hours (as would normally be the case with an employee). It can also be very beneficial when you are in a different time zone. For example, Slovakia and the USA.
It may sound terrible, but if you are not satisfied with your current VA, you can easily change it. As for the employee, it's more complicated (paperwork or even legal proceedings, difficult to find a replacement, training, etc.).
Extreme VA usability
It is used in TOP 5 business segments:
- Real estate. Mainly when managing appointments/meetings, calling clients or checking the condition of the property. Then also when transcribing documents or proposals.
- Legal. As with real estate, except that many law offices in Slovakia do not yet use VA.
- IT. VA will assist in updating, editing and entering data.
- Accounting and financial. They prepare documents for accounting, check the client's budget.
- Marketing. Here the usefulness of VA is huge, whether in marketing itself or administration...
Note: There is a lack of industry, but VA does not figure much there.
Short summary
In conclusion, just that everyone according to their taste and needs. Someone needs to physically (on site) have a person doing the given service, but there are several segments (including the ones I have listed) for which it can have an extra benefit.