Is all that grunt work holding you back from completing your important tasks? It can be difficult to manage your core business when emails start piling up, the phone rings, leads need to be sought, and invoices need to be sent and tracked. Your main business is where you make money, but there are also these other tasks to be done.
You really need an assistant, but getting a full-time assistant might be overkill. Why not try a virtual assistant instead? A virtual assistant can help you answer your emails, send and catch up on invoices, find and qualify leads, complete research, manage your projects and much more. They will give you the time you need to make money from your core business while they take care of the administrative tasks.
Hiring a virtual assistant on Virtual Associate is easy and affordable. You can choose to hire on an hourly basis or you can hire for specific projects, making it easy to find the right assistant for you. There's no point in wasting money because you're stuck reading emails, hire a virtual assistant and focus on your core business today!
What is a virtual assistant?
So what does a virtual assistant do? A virtual assistant is an independent contractor who offers remote company administrative services. The term "virtual assistant" emerged in the 1990s to describe the growing trend of virtual work - thanks to major technological innovations, workers could start sharing documents and taking important business calls outside of their offices.
Virtual assistants have seen an increase in popularity in recent decades due to the evolving nature of business. Many companies are choosing to save money on large office spaces and overcrowded teams and instead invest in flexible work arrangements and schedules.
Types of virtual assistants
Virtual assistants come with different skills and specializations. Each of them can help you with a specific function or department of your business. Below are just a few examples of the different types of virtual assistants available:
1. Accountant – Great with accounting and tracking budgets for various projects.
2. Administrative Assistant - Schedules meetings, completes routine reporting and ensures communication between executives and external entities.
3. Scribe - writes notes during meetings or presentations.
4. Social Media Manager – Manages the company's various social accounts.
6. Designer – Designs presentations, infographics, logos, flyers and other visual materials.
7. Research Analyst – Conducts research assignments or interviews and analyzes business data.
The role of a virtual assistant can also change depending on the business. Some companies may even hire virtual assistants to handle multiple duties at once.
4 advantages of a virtual assistant
Reduce operating costs
Virtual assistants can provide your company with inexpensive but invaluable services that will allow your operations to reduce costs. They may also allow you to hire a freelance assistant on an as-needed basis, rather than full-time or part-time.
Save time on initiatives and projects
Many tasks performed by virtual assistants tend to be somewhat tactical or repetitive, such as taking notes or submitting weekly or monthly expense reports. These tasks can take away from more pressing issues such as meeting with clients or generating leads. When leaders delegate time-consuming tasks to virtual assistants, they can focus on the more important tasks on their agenda.
Higher work efficiency
Leaders aren't the only ones who benefit – other team members may also have a lot on their plate and need either temporary or more regular help. For example, social media managers are most effective when they can assign writing, research, or graphic design to assistants, allowing them to focus on editing and delivery.
A healthier and more flexible work environment
Remote working has the potential to change the culture of your company. Allowing your team members to work from anywhere can have a huge impact on employee health. Consider the pregnant mother who needs some time away from the office, or the digital native who prefers to work on the go. Both of these employees can do their jobs like anyone else, but the ability to work remotely can give them more satisfaction because they more easily balance other demands or desires.
