A virtual assistant can be defined as an individual that offers different services from a distant location to businesses or startups. They can be accessed from any place around the globe and are paid on a per-need basis. Unlike an employee, a VA does not receive a wage, benefit, or health benefits. However, a VA can enjoy benefits such as medical and dental, paid time off, paid holidays, and paid vacation leave.
If you’re wondering why there is a need for a virtual assistant, the answer is simple – cost efficiency. With the advent of social media, it has been found that most businesses do not fully maximize their resources in order to achieve top-notch business operations. In fact, the main reason why most companies do not hire and invest in the services of a full-time employee is because they lack a dedicated, competent, and knowledgeable workforce. By outsourcing their tasks to a virtual assistant, businesses can focus their limited marketing budget to other core business operations. When done effectively, this approach can result in substantial cost savings over traditional hiring of in-house staff.
To effectively use a VA, it is first important to identify the services they offer. Perhaps you are looking for assistance with client search, website maintenance, blogging and article writing, social media management, or search engine optimization (SEO). The type of task a VA would be good at is best determined by your business needs. Virtual assistants work best in tasks that are easy to perform and add value to your business’s bottom line. They can often complete tasks faster than your employees and can resolve issues more quickly because of their experienced approach to project management, communication, and technology.
There are some tasks, however, that most virtual assistants are not adept at. This is why you will need to determine what your particular needs are, and how you can best hire a VA to accomplish those tasks. In many instances, businesses are forced to outsource tasks such as SEO, blogging, social media management, and data entry. While some VA’s are skilled at all three, there are virtual assistants who only have experience with a specific niche of web-based projects.
If your current company employs a full-time employee, hiring a VA is a great option. Even though many virtual assistants work for the same employer, they are not all on the same payroll. You need to make sure you have a contract with a VA that specifies the level of access and responsibility each employee has when hiring a VA. Some VAs will work remotely from their home office, while others will need to physically be in the office to provide customer service and assistance on projects.
If you are a small business with one or two full-time employees, hiring a VA is an excellent idea. Typically, virtual assistants work around 40 hours per week on average. However, you do not have to pay a fee per hour for these services, since many’s charges by the project. If you are looking for someone to complete small but crucial tasks around the office, this could be the perfect solution.
