In this blog, you will learn why you should hire a virtual assistant. You don’t want to pay someone to learn on the job. That is to say, not all VAs are made equal. Some are new to the field and have a lot to learn about assisting a business owner who is self-employed. In addition, some people have exceptional technical abilities, while others struggle to use a computer or the internet. Others struggle to get in touch with you regarding the status of your projects, while some have excellent customer service abilities. Some people work part-time and are only available for a certain number of hours each week. Apart from why you should hire a virtual assistant, you will also learn how to choose a VA in detail. But keep in mind that it is up to you to interview and see if their skills fit your needs.
Some people instruct their VAs to work as partners in their company, while some prefer their VAs to take the time to obtain their approval before doing something that could harm their business. Many businesses don’t want someone to take over their business; instead, they want a professional to help them with specific tasks and projects. That is to say, VAs can help you in a variety of ways. Whether you are still starting or have an established business, VAs are vital additions. Here are some reasons why you should hire a virtual assistant:
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Savings
Who doesn’t like savings? Start-ups may not have the capacity yet to hire full-time employees to help with routine tasks. This is where VAs come in. They are cheaper than full-time employees and help you lessen your load.
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More Time For Strategic Thinking
As the leader in your business, you might have a need to be in control of everything that goes on in your business. It is nice to do everything by yourself and claim that you built your business from the ground up. But this reluctance to delegate non-core tasks can actually impede business growth. VAs take care of the routine tasks to free up your time. You can now focus more on how to take advantage of opportunities that drive business growth.
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Maintain & Nurture The Entrepreneurial Genius In You
Getting non-core tasks off your plate frees your mind so you can come up with more creative and innovative ideas. Bright ideas come when you are less preoccupied with mundane tasks.
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They Can Fill In The Gaps In Your Business
Being a jack-of-all-trades is nice, but it wouldn’t work out in the end. Juggling all the roles you need to assume to keep your business afloat will cause more harm than anything. And, as they say, a jack-of-all-trades but a master of none. So it is better to stick to one thing that you are good at instead of stretching yourself thin. That is to say, let the VA take care of the rest.
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A Healthier Work-Life Balance
Now that someone will be working on the non-core tasks of your business, you can have some time off to rest and relax.
What Should You Think About When Hiring A Virtual Assistant?
Now that we have covered why you should hire a virtual assistant, let us move on to what you should consider when hiring one. A VA is someone who will be helping you with your business a lot. This is why you can not hire just anyone. There are a lot of things that you need to take into consideration first. Some of these things are mentioned below:
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Click
The first thing that you need to look for in a VA is their personality. Did the VA and the employer click? If you want someone who is warm, eager, and detail-oriented, and who can provide excellent customer service and follow-up. That is to say, your VA should be self-assured but not arrogant, articulate, a good listener, and easy to talk to.
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Project Management
In addition, it also helps if the VA has experience with project management. You will be assigning them a large number of projects over time, and you will need to know that they can manage all of them, and understand priorities and deadlines while also handling the needs of their other clients.
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Professionalism
Is the VA prompt in returning their voicemails and emails? Are they a professional when it comes to answering the phone? Are they putting you on hold while they take another call? Do they keep their word when they say that they will send you something? Are they respectful towards you? If they treat you well throughout your first talks, they will probably serve your customers well as well.
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Set Of Abilities
You may have to delegate a number of chores to your VA. As a result, it helps if you have a list of duties you want your VA to complete, and make sure you go through that list with a possible VA during the interview process to see if they can complete all of them. Are they equipped with the talents you require to complete the task?
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Skill To Use Technology
The majority of owners rely on technology to help them operate their businesses. That is to say, using technology in your office can help it run more smoothly and save you time and money. With this in mind, it is vital that your new VA be technically proficient. Ask them about the software packages they are familiar with and how well they understand them. Check to see if your new VA utilises the same software as you do so that you can share files.
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Image
Take a look at the website of the VA. Is every word spelt correctly? Is the grammar correct? Does it have a nice and consistent appearance? A VA who doesn’t pay attention to their own website is unlikely to pay attention to your work.
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Availability
Is the VA a full-time or part-time employee? Are they available during the hours you work? In what time zone does the VA operate? Every busy business needs someone who works during the regular working hours.
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Experience
It is crucial to find out how long the VA has been performing this type of service. While knowing how long they have been a VA is useful, learning how long they have done the tasks you want them to accomplish is more crucial. They could have done them for years for a prior employer. There will always be a learning curve when a VA learns your specific business, but you shouldn’t be paying them to learn new skills unless they are specifically tailored to you and your company.
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References
Finally, can they provide you with a list of people who can tell you about dealing with them?
How Much Should You Pay For A Virtual Assistant?
Our final stop on why you should hire a virtual assistant is how much you should pay for one. VAs charge in a variety of ways. Some bill by the hour, while others operate on a monthly retainer. Some bill on a sliding scale, with a lower hourly rate for routine administrative tasks and a higher hourly rate for high-end tasks such as website maintenance or database management. That is to say, you should consider hiring many VAs with different skill sets.
