Hire Virtual Assistant

What Is A Virtual Assistant?

A virtual assistant which is widely known as VA, is a professional who provides service, and support from a distance. They mainly work from home or a virtual location though may entail service provision through the internet.

Virtual assistants, as the name suggests, provide all sorts of assistance to their clients through virtual means, in a professional and proficient manner 

A virtual assistant (VA) can help you accomplish a wide range of tasks, including:

1. Administrative Tasks:

• Email and calendar management and organization.

• Organizing appointments and other meetings.

• Data collection and record keeping.

• Managing spreadsheets and word documents.

2. Customer Support:

• Providing answers to customer questions through email or chat.

• Dealing with customers’ complaints and problems.

• Support of customer service activities.

3. Digital Marketing:

• Creating, updating and moderating posts and responding to followers on the social media pages.

• Writing – blog posts, articles, social media content.

• It will include such SEO activities as keyword research, content optimization.

• Handling the advertising campaigns (Google Adwords,  Facebook Adwords).

4. Technical Support:

• Website management and modifications.

• Assistance with IT issues (Help with basic problems, software installation. )

• Establishing and maintaining office and other IT related applications  and technologies.

5. Creative Services:

• Logo design, package design, poster design, social media images, etc.

• Video and film editing and  production.

• Content creation and reproduction (blog and article content, newsletters).

6. Personal Assistance:

• Organisation and scheduling of personal and calendar events and  reminder.

• Others include; Online research in travel (travel planning) and purchase (product research).

• The subject of discussion is the online shopping and order management.

7. Specialized Services:

• Help with bookkeeping and accounting services.

• It can be a legal or medical transcriptionist whose task is to write down what has been said either verbally or recorded.

• Managing and coordinating the project.

Advantages Of Hiring A Virtual Assistant

A virtual assistant (VA), in general, can be of substantial help to anyone be it for private or professional use. Some of the advantages of hiring a virtual assistant are as follows:

Cost-Effective

It will also be beneficial when you are in a position to need a part time or temporary worker since virtual assistant services can be very much cheaper as compared to having a full time hired worker. In this way, it is also not necessary to spend a lot of money on rent or furniture as well as other elements connected with a traditional office space.

Flexibility

Virtual assistance available in work part-time, anytime, project-based, as and when required so, the employee does not necessarily have to be a permanent employee of that firm or company. This can be increased or decreased depending on the amount of work offered at a particular time and is generally an effective way to manage your work.

Access to Global Talent

You can get VAs from almost any country of the world, which is good news for you since you will have access to a wealth of talents with different skills and experience.

Increased Productivity

Some of the advantages of hiring a VA include The following are some of the benefits that may be accorded to a person hiring the services of a VA The use of VAs in hiring a VA means that the person will be free to concentrate on other issues that are key in the running of the business.

Improved Work-Life Balance

It is efficient to delegate tasks to a VA because this will greatly reduce stress and enable one to focus on other personal and optimization issues of business.

Disadvantages Of Getting A Virtual Assistant

Communication Challenges

Generally, there might be some complications in terms of communication or scheduling, misinterpretation due to time difference, language barrier, or communication model. 

Dependency on Technology

This reliance on technology especially in communication and carrying out of tasks makes any technical problems or network issues a stumbling block.

Security Risks

When dealing with remote employees, it is crucial to ensure that the information you share with them is protected because sharing it with them has its risks.

Lack of Direct Supervision

This is because the individuals overseeing the operations cannot be physically present to monitor how the tasks are being done and whether or not they are being done in the right manner.

Cultural and Language Differences

It is possible to encounter cultural differences or language differences between a VA from another country and the employer which can hinder productivity and effective communication.

How Can I Hire A Virtual Assistant?

There are certainly several ways on how to get a virtual assistant or VA. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you:

Define Your Needs:

Please give a detailed description of the tasks and skills that you feel you require assistance with. This will assist you in identification of a VA who is qualified to work with.

Choose a Hiring Platform:

There are numerous sources to find and engage virtual assistants for the work. Some popular ones include:

• Upwork: An online platform for job posting and finding freelancers.

• Fiverr: A website for people who provide their services at a low price, where the starting price is $5.

• OnlineJobs. ph: This particular job board is solely dedicated to the Filipino virtual assistants.

• Freelancer: This is similar to Upwork where one can post a project or job and hire freelancers to work on it.

• Guru: A service that allows users to search for freelancers and work with them on projects online.

Post Your Job Listing:

You should also come up with a clear job description that defines the duties to be performed, the skills to be used and the qualifications that are necessary. Ensure that you state how often you expect the other party to be available, how you will communicate, and when the work is due.

Review Applications and Profiles:

This is because when you begin to receive applications you have to evaluate the work history, skills of the given provider and the feedback from the clients he has provided in the past. Narrow down your search for candidates who you believe are capable of meeting the job description you have posted.

Interview Candidates:

 Have a chat or a video call with the potential employees to get to know more about the position, their experience and what they would do if they are given the job.

Negotiate Terms and Rates:

Explain the amount of the fee, the methods of payment, and conditions of engagement (such as hours per week, schedule). It is wise for both the employer and employee to come to a mutual understanding of the following terms before employment.

Start with a Trial Period:Start with a Trial Period:

Sometimes, it is advisable to first introduce the VA in a trial period in order to find out how effective they are and how much they can help you.

Onboard Your VA:

Once the employee starts working for the organization, offer any training, if required, and tools or systems that the employee will require to perform the job.

Manage and Communicate:

Check on your VA frequently in order to know whether the tasks assigned to her are being done as required. Here are some that can be useful for keeping track of assignments and due dates: project management tools – Asana, Trello, or Slack.

Provide Feedback:

Tell your VA how they may have erred so that they may avoid making the same mistake in the future to ensure they meet your needs better.

How Much Does A Virtual Assistant Cost?

The cost of a virtual assistant varies, this is because it depends on many factors, which include country of location, qualification, experience of the VA, and the kind of work you need to be done. You can hire a virtual assistant at $15 to $50 per hour. 

What Qualities Are Essential For A Virtual Assistant To Possess?

First of all, a good VA is one who has certain qualities that would help him or her in assisting your needs and working from home. Here are important qualities to look for:Here are important qualities to look for:

1. Reliability and Trustworthiness:

The above characteristics show that VAs have to be reliable and credible, as they are supposed to work with valuable data and perform significant operations.

2. Strong Communication Skills:

Good and efficient communication is vital, especially in this case where team members are working from different locations. VAs should be prompt, polite and professional in their communication with their clients.

3. Organizational Skills:

First and foremost, VAs have to be well organized to handle tasks and time as well as set priorities.

4. Time Management Skills:

It is crucial to have an organizational and time management skills to accomplish goals and meet deadlines set for projects.

5. Attention to Detail:

VA should have good observation skills to avoid making mistakes and to make sure that the work being done is done correctly.

How To Work With A Virtual Assistant

1. Define Tasks and Expectations:

Lay down specific expectations that you have for your VA in terms of tasks to be accomplished or errands to be run. Explain all the steps, time lines and specific practices involved and whether there are any specific policies and practices in relation to the work.

2. Use a Project Management System:

If there are a large number of tasks and a fast rate of work, there is nothing better than using a project management system.

You can use project management softwares like Asana, Trello, or Todoist to assign to and from tasks, schedule and track from the same.

3. Establish Communication Channels:

Choose the channels of communication such as email, Slack, and Zoom and schedule a routine check-in. Tell your VA how and when he or she can contact you.

4. Provide Necessary Tools and Access:

Ensure that the VA has access to the tools and resources that they will need to complete the work, such as Google Workspace, project management tools, CRM software, and ensure that they have the correct permission levels.

5. Set Clear Deadlines:

Ensure that the team is informed on the expected time that they should complete activities and assignments. Ensure you provide your VA enough time to work on the tasks that you assign them, especially if they are in a different time zone.