If you're a business owner, you're probably familiar with the challenges of managing a company. From responding to emails, looking after your customers, to bookkeeping and marketing, there's never enough time in the day to complete everything on your to-do list. Fortunately, there's a solution: Virtual Assistants.
What is a Virtual Assistant?
A virtual assistant is a skilled professional who works remotely to provide support services to businesses. They can perform many of the same tasks as a traditional Executive Assistant (EA) or Personal Assistant (PA), such as bookkeeping, event planning, inbox management, document formatting, transcribing, web design and other business marketing, social media management, database maintenance, processing online orders, travel arrangements, booking in jobs, and liaising with customers (to name a few!).
Why Hire a Virtual Assistant?
Hiring a virtual assistant offers several benefits to business owners. First and foremost, a VA can free up your time by taking over tasks that are time-consuming or that you don't enjoy doing. This you can focus on the more important aspects of your business, such as revenue-generating activities or tasks that only you can perform.
Another is the cost-effectiveness of a VA. Unlike a full-time employee, you only pay for the time your VA works for you, and you don't have to provide benefits or office space. This makes it an excellent option for businesses that are just starting or those that need to reduce their overhead costs.
Additionally, virtual assistants that work within larger VA companies can provide access to a vast array of skills, as they'll often have a team with diverse backgrounds and expertise.
How do I Hire a Virtual Assistant?
If you're considering hiring a virtual assistant, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure a successful working relationship:
Determine your needs: Make a list of your daily/weekly/monthly tasks and determine which ones can be outsourced. Outsource anything that you don't like doing, anything that you don't have the skills for, anything that is repetitive, and anything you have been meaning to do but don't have time for.
Do your research: Google ‘Virtual Assistant’ and ‘VA Companies NZ’, check out testimonials and client feedback, and even ask other businesses how they found their superstar VAs. This will help you find a VA that is a good fit for your business.
Ask questions: Once you've found a potential VA, make a list of questions you want to ask. These can be things like:
What experience do you have with (XYZ task/system)?
What hours do you operate?
When would you be available to me?
What is your onboarding process?
What is your turn around time for tasks?
What other services do you provide?
Can you give me an overview of how you work with clients?
What happens if my VA goes on holiday or is sick?
What security measures do you have in place to protect my IP and confidential information?
Be clear and concise: Once you've hired a VA, be clear about your expectations and goals. Provide detailed instructions and feedback, and communicate regularly to ensure that you're both on the same page.
Trust the process: It can take time to build a successful working relationship with a VA, but with patience and communication, you'll be able to find a rhythm that works for both of you.
Want to learn more about how a virtual assistant can help you and your business?
If you’re ready to talk to our award-winning team about how we could help you, book a discovery call here.
