Last Updated on August 30, 2024
Despite that, you have an extended business order to attend to; you cannot squeeze everything into one day. As a result, some aspects are sidelined, and others rushed. This is not how to run a business effectively. You need help. A virtual assistant is someone who can benefit you.
However, what tasks can you delegate, and which functions should you retain? This is the focus of this article. The value of this article is that after reading it through, you will know better about what to outsource to a virtual assistant. Let’s begin.
Core Tasks to Delegate to a Virtual Assistant
One of the most straightforward tasks to add to your outsourcing list is admin-related tasks. Because this type of work is time-consuming and repetitive, a remote assistant can undertake it for much less than if you did it all yourself.
Handling Emails [Task 1]
Emails are perhaps one of the main time-wasters for many entrepreneurs. On average, a person spends 28% of their time on emails. That is, people check their emails roughly 11 times per hour. Most of all, 84% of emails are opened while people try to multitask. This means that emails can be a distraction from their core work. The result is lowered productivity and time wasted.
It might seem odd to hand over your emails to another, but it’s one of the most popular tasks delegated to virtual assistants. As a result, managers and business owners can save about 11 hours per week, allowing them to focus on more important work.
Responding to Phone Calls [Task 2]
Business and personal phone calls can disturb you as much as emails can. Delegating this task to your virtual assistant can help you to stay focused. It is also advisable to have a person answer a call instead of having the call go to voicemail. A remote assistant can quickly take over this role and work during periods as agreed.
Appointment Setting [Task 3]
Arranging an appointment via email is inefficient. All that will manifest is a back-and-forth of emails. A virtual assistant can assist in managing your schedule. This will involve scheduling appointments, rescheduling appointments, and more.
Data Entry [Task 4]
Data entry is a highly repetitive and tiresome type of labor. Although everyone can conduct such work, there is no reason business owners should waste their time on it. Instead, this mind-numbing task can be delegated to a virtual assistant.
Moreover, it can be given to a remote assistant who can rapidly and cost-effectively achieve it. The assistant can gather, sort, and input the data with software so that the data is digitally accessible.
Bookkeeping [Task 5]
You do not require an accountant to manage your accounts. You can hire a virtual assistant to assist you with your bookkeeping tasks.
An assistant can reconcile your transactional accounts and manage your financial records. They can pay bills, send invoices, and follow up on overdue bills.
Conduct Online Research [Task 6]
There are many reasons to undertake research. It can be used for sales presentations, business development, new partnerships, and even for your marketing team.
The virtual assistant can research contemporary trends and apps that can resolve a marketing idea. They can also analyze your competition.
Client Relationship Management [Task 7]
If your client falls in a high economic bracket, you would want to spend more time on them to retain them. One way of doing this is by offering a personal touch, which can also be extended to most clients.
This could involve sending your clients a birthday message, a thank you note or gifts for Christmas or Eid. Here, the virtual assistant can ensure that skills are delivered and the correct type of gift (which should also be branded) is delivered on time.
Travel Planning [Task 8]
You might not think that travel planning would be time-consuming; however, finding flights, booking a rental car, and making hotel bookings take some time. More so, if you need to make any changes, it could mean that other aspects will also need to be changed.
A remote assistant can easily take care of this type of work. Additionally, they can make dinner arrangements, and if for a business meeting, they can present the invitations and gain confirmation from your guests.
Social Media Management [Task 9]
Social media is a modern-day evil. On the one side, it is an excellent tool for connecting and engaging with your audience. However, it also takes time to draft content, schedule posts, and respond to clients.
Such tasks can be offboarded to a virtual assistant. You can also decide which accounts you want to delegate to a virtual assistant here. If the workload is heavy, it is best to allocate your social media to a dedicated virtual social media assistant to complete social media management.
This type of assistant will focus solely on your social media channels. All you need to remember is to provide your assistant with a design bible so that they can align all your content with your brand identity.
Content Writing [Task 10]
Writing is not for everyone. If you lack time, your virtual assistant can quickly complete this task. The writing would include content for your blog, press releases, white papers, case studies, newsletters, and emails. Additionally, the assistant can write content for your website.
Customer Support [Task 11]
Offering customer support can be good for business. Spending your time on it, well, not so much. Outsource your customer support.
This would include responding to clients via email, phone, or social media channels. By offering customer support, you can prevent an issue from exploding online and damaging your brand.
Time to Hire Your Virtual Assistant
If you have decided to hire a virtual assistant, the best idea is to seek great advice. At Aristo Sourcing, we offer expert advice from our outsourcing experts. Our decade of experience working with large international outsourcing companies will provide you with the best advice, and more so, this service is offered free of charge.
However, before you call, write down the main tasks you want to delegate. Above, we suggested merely admin tasks.
However, should you want more specialized functions such as graphic design software development, or if you have a niche sector like law or human resources, provide us with these details.
Our outsourcing expert can craft a solution that is unique to your needs. We can suggest a plan for scaling over time, thereby reducing costs and gaining maximum returns. Book your free consultation today!
3 Key Takeaways
Here are three key takeaways from the article:
- Virtual assistants can help you save time and focus on more important tasks by handling various administrative tasks. These tasks include managing emails, scheduling appointments, data entry, bookkeeping, and travel planning.
- Virtual assistants can also be used for specialized assignments like social media management, content writing, and customer support. This can be especially helpful if you lack the time or skills to do these tasks yourself.
- Before hiring a virtual assistant, it’s essential to identify the specific tasks you want to delegate. Various virtual assistant services are available, so you can find one that meets your needs.