A Virtual Assistant works to support your business, performing tasks such as Social Media Management, Bookkeeping, Customer Service Support, and Personal Assistant Services. A VA can come from many industries, but most importantly they run their own business from their own home to help your business thrive and grow.
About 90% of the time, when I say I work as a Virtual Assistant, people ask “What is that!?”
For most people the explanation is logical and makes sense, for others, it immediately conjures images of robotic online chat responders. The beauty of the industry is no matter what your business is, you can find a VA that is the exact fit. Some businesses have more than one VA, each taking care of their own department where their talents can truly shine. If you’re unsure what tasks you can outsource, please check out my previous blog post on Top 10 Tasks you should be outsourcing NOW.
There really isn't a task too big or too small to outsource if you find the right assistance, and no 2 VAs are created the same. They come from all walks of life with a variety of career backgrounds and skillsets. Once your start your search for a VA you will possibly be overwhelmed with all of the information there is out there so I am going to give you a quick guide on the best ways to find a VA.
So how exactly can a Virtual Assistant help you? Well, it is entirely dependant on your needs in your business, do you have dreams of re-doing your website but lack the skills? Do you wish you could grow your online presence through amazing Social Media posts? Do you want a Customer Service superstar to handle the demanding workload of answering customer enquiries? This is absolutely the first question you have to answer if you don’t really know what you need it would be easy to get lost in thought and not take action.
My first recommendation is that you use a reputable place to find a VA. My recommendations are www.findava.com.au and www.virtuallyyours.com.au, post a job lead, be as detailed as possible, and wait for the responses to roll in. These directories are all Australian based Virtual Assistants. If it suits you better, you can go through their directory and look at the Virtual Assistants profiles and reach out to them directly from there.
Secondly, please don’t price shop. If money is the absolute main issue for you then you will really struggle. What you need to focus on are the tasks you want to be completed and finding the right person to work with. If you hire someone is cheaper then there is a very good chance the tasks will take longer and may not be done right (if you find a VA who is charging cheap rates and they do wonderful work - pay them more). Prices for Australian Virtual Assistants start at $30 per hour and go upwards from there depending on the tasks and skills required.
Another option is to ask around your circle of friends networking groups and contacts especially other business people you can reach out to them and ask for their advice on Virtual Assistants that have helped them previously or that they have heard of. You might be surprised how many people have the contacts you need to compliment your business. Oftentimes you feel so much more at ease hiring the services of someone if they come highly recommended.
I really hope this has shed some light on what a Virtual Assistant can do for you and how to start the process rolling. As always if you have any questions, please let me know.