Last Updated on July 26, 2024
We received an email recently from a potential client in the States. The question he asked was, “What does a virtual assistant do? Also, how can a virtual assistant help my business? I own and manage a small eCommerce business.
We have been around for nearly three years, but since last year, the COVID-10 pandemic has jumpstarted our growth, and our inbox and customer inquiries have exploded.
My girlfriend and I are the only people running the business, and it’s getting to the point where staying organized is a challenge. However, I can’t afford to pay for full-time help or resources like an office manager.
Also, we run our business from home, and I don’t want to move to an office yet since even that would be too expensive. We want to stay as a home business, but space is an issue.
Can you help with some advice, especially about virtual assistants’ tasks and how they can work for us?”
We are receiving more and more of this type of question, and this is great—it means that people are reexamining traditional staffing solutions: there is a need to create a business focused on their lifestyle rather than mold a company to traditional norms that do not offer a work-life balance.
But let’s begin with the basics and explain what a virtual assistant or VA is.
Then, we will look at the benefits of a virtual assistant, Sam, for you and your business.
What is a Virtual Assistant?
In simple terms, a virtual assistant, also known as a remote assistant or sometimes as a consultant if in a higher-skilled position, is a person who works independently.
Such an assistant usually works from a home office, which could be in a remote location.
There are two types of virtual assistants. First, the less-skilled workers assist with mundane and time-consuming tasks.
Such tasks are vital to running your company, helping you stay organized, and assisting your clients.
They will fill your administrative, social media, customer relationship, data entry, marketing, and business development tasks.
These virtual assistants are essential if you lack the hands to complete tasks and feel overwhelmed by the pressure.
VAs can be delegated to complete tasks, meaning you and your managers will have more time to focus on growing the business.
The second group of VAs is assistants who are more highly skilled or consultants who will offer business services and skills that the company lacks, such as graphic design, software deployment, or even transcription or content-writing services.
Here, the business owners benefit from their skills and can drive growth faster.
However, like the less skilled, VA work can cost you less.
A virtual assistant commands less money in wages.
Also, the average cash outlay for hiring on-site staff is reduced or eliminated, including the cost of workstations, computers, insurance, office space, etc.
Virtual assistants have become popular since they offer flexibility to businesses, from small startups to large international corporations.
VAs also increase the ability to scale up businesses based on the company’s needs.
Remote assistants can work part-time or full-time, depending on your needs.
Also, a VA can be handy for seasonal needs, giving you that help only when needed.
What are the benefits of hiring a virtual assistant?
Besides the financial benefits (you can save up to 70% on labor costs), the significant advantage is that you are freed up, time-wise.
Time is a precious commodity. As the company owner, you will gain time to spend with your family and accomplish your tasks.
Why would you hire yourself to do tasks if you can have these banal chores conducted by someone else for less than it would cost you in time?
Additional benefits include instant skills to complete projects, and outsourcing can be a game-changer (which means you can beat your competition).
To devote time to high-value tasks, spending less time on lower-value activities is critical. For this reason, many companies have now started hiring virtual assistants.
Often, within six months, such companies have expanded sufficiently to hire more virtual staff.
We also recommend that you read the following:
- Startups Using Virtual Assistants [a Practical Guide]
- Clever Thinking for Your Home Business – Hire a Virtual Assistant.
These articles will give you more details and some practical advice.
However, book a free consultation session for a more personal discussion based on your needs.
This chat takes only 30 minutes. At that time, our expert outsourcing agent can guide you through the most suitable hiring method, and you are one step away from hiring your virtual assistant, Sam.
A new process can always seem overwhelming, even a bit strange.
However, once you grasp the potential of this innovative business idea, you will risk a plunge into new waters.
Once you see the results, you will wish you had taken the plunge much earlier.