5 Reasons To Hire A Virtual Assistant For Your Business
Making the decision to outsource to a Virtual Assistant is a huge step in growing your business and claiming back control of your time.
Now it’s time for you to find the best VA for the job.
The good news is that with so many VAs available there’s guaranteed to be the perfect one for you. The bad news… it can be overwhelming finding out exactly who that is.
Putting out a post on social media asking for VA recommendations is only going to result in you being bombarded with options, most of which aren’t what you need.
So, to make the process as easy and as stress-free as possible, here’s my top tips to make sure you find the right VA for your business.
1. Be clear on what you need support with
Unless you want an inbox full of messages that are pretty much useless to you – you need to have absolute clarity on the type of support you’re looking for.
To do this, the first thing you need to do is to identify all the tasks you don’t like doing or spend too much time on. Tools like the Urgent vs. Important Matrix help you sort through you’re daily tasks and figure out exactly what can be outsourced.
2. Know what skills you are looking for
Once you’re clear on what you need, you should have a good idea of what skills are required. Are they going to manage your social media? Do they need marketing experience? Will they be handling invoices? Do they need to understand Xero?
…you get the idea.
Write down everything they need and include this in your search. But remember, no one knows everything, and certain systems or skills can be learnt
3. Set expectations
Virtual Assistant’s usually set their own work hours, and many differ from the standard nine-to-five routine. If you need work doing on specific days or want your VA to be available at certain times, make this clear before you take them onboard.
This ensures you find the right Virtual Assistant for your needs, manages expectations, and ensures a compatible work relationship from the start.
4. You get what you pay for
I’ll admit cheap doesn’t always mean bad, but when it comes to hiring a Virtual Assistant you should look at it as an investment rather than a cost.
The standard rate for UK VAs at the moment is £25 per hour, but rates can vary depending on what you’re outsourcing.
Although international VA’s may offer cheaper rates, it’s important to consider the logistics. Time zones can play a huge role. If your VA lives on the other side of the world, your day probably starts as theirs is coming to an end. Which means there would be a delay in most communications, no opportunity for quick questions and setting up calls would be difficult.
Experience comes at a cost but usually means they can get things done in a fraction of the time. Which in most cases means you end up saving money by outsourcing when you compare it with the time you spent.
5. Check for feedback
Do they come recommended to you? References from past clients allow a simple yet effective insight into a prospective VA’s work, personality, and skills.
I’m not suggesting you run for the hills if they don’t have any testimonials, but I do recommend you proceed with caution.
Keep in mind that finding, hiring, and training a VA is a process. Things don’t always go to plan and mistakes can be made, especially in the beginning.
But if you’ve took the above points into account whilst choosing your VA, you have the foundations you need – and it won’t be long until you’re seeing a return on your investment!
Follow me on social media to find out more about the services I offer or check out my own testimonials here