Why Should I Hire a Virtual Assistant?

You may ask, what is a Virtual Assistant? And, why should I hire a Virtual Assistant? A Virtual Assistant (VA) is a skilled, independent contractor/professional who works remotely providing administrative, technical, and/or creative business support services.  A VA can help with anything that doesn’t require a physical presence.

Recognizing the importance of time when running a company is of great significance in today’s world. A growing business means a growing workload, which leads to less productivity and more stress. Take the opportunity to focus on the value and growth of your business.

How to tell when you need to hire a Virtual Assistant.

1. Your workload is more than you realistically can handle and you sense you need a helping hand.
2. You need to focus on more important things of the business, but daily tasks are holding you back.
3. Your business is lacking productivity and causing more stress.
4. You know you need help, but you can’t afford someone full time.
5. You’re being pulled in many different directions causing you to lose focus.

A few benefit to having a Virtual Assistant.

1. When hiring a VA you are automatically setting yourself up for business savings. You don’t pay for benefits like health insurance, providing 401k, or vacation pay. Your VA is responsible for their own costs, just like a business owner.
2. When working with a VA you only pay for the time they use. No more paying for coffee breaks, bathroom breaks, or chatting time with colleagues. Let’s be honest, employees don’t work 8 hours a day anyway, so why pay for it?
3. A VA owns their own business, you don’t have to provide software, computers, phones, fax machines, office space, desk, or see those pesky office supply invoices. The VA supplies all their own equipment, and supplies. They know what they need to get the job done.
4. Are you worried about coordinating schedules? Don’t, because you just send them the task and provide a completion date.
5. Each client and VA relationship is protected by a Confidentiality Agreement. This stops the rumor mill in the office at a head. Your VA is responsible for working with you and only you. Anything, they see, or discuss with you is kept 100% confident.
6. VA’s need very little training and start immediately. You don’t have to go through the hiring and firing process with a VA. You connect with them when you need them.

Tasks that a VA performs on a regular basis:

1. Email screening, flagging, filing, response
2. Schedule management, confirm appointments
3. Research
4. Marketing (Blog posts, website updating, social media posting)
5. Create, and manage invoicing
6. Booking travel arrangements

Hiring a Virtual Assistant could be the solution you have been looking for. Outsourcing is a simple part of any business. But, seriously, you can’t do everything. It’s important to remember VA’s are also business owners, who have your upmost interests at heart. Their success depends on your success.

Contributor: Jennifer Payton, President of JD Solutions, LLC, Virtually Supporting you, Virtual Assistant, for more information visit JD Solutions, LLC.