You’re faced with the reality that there isn’t enough time for everything. Now, you found yourself asking, “Should I do this alone?” No, you don’t.
If you’re looking for additional help, you might want to consider a virtual assistant. These skilled and experienced remote workers can alleviate your massive workload so you can start seeing the bigger picture.
Get to know what a VA is, what they do and how they can make the difference in your organisation.
What Is a Virtual Assistant?
A virtual assistant is a contractual worker who offers business-related services to clients from a remote location. They typically operate from a home office using modern tools to access documents and collaborate with the team seamlessly.
Now, there are various roles that VAs can step into, like graphic designers, software developers and content writers.
Due to COVID-19, the working-from-home setup has become widely accepted as the new norm in doing business. This has boosted the demand for virtual assistant services.
What Do Virtual Assistants Do?
These remote professionals are well-rounded and can handle any task you throw at them. Unfortunately, we can’t break down all the tasks that you can delegate to your virtual assistant—there are just too many to mention.
We’re going to look at the most mainstream VA services that many entrepreneurs are utilising.
Administrative
The most basic support that a virtual assistant can offer is administrative. This includes document preparation, phone call answering and calendar management. Although these tasks are menial, they are necessary to ensure seamless office operation.
Customer Support
Another position that virtual assistants fill in is being the company’s first point of contact. They cater to clients by collecting feedback and providing workable solutions to issues. They also help in passing on complex matters to the higher management within the company to promptly address concerns.
Social Media Management
Today’s world makes social media the new town square. It has become the public place for social interaction, finding products and other events that require attention.
That’s why VAs for social media management are sought-after in the virtual assistant market. These virtual professionals can manage all your social media channels. They can post and schedule content and interact with your target audience to enhance brand awareness.
Email Marketing
You can rely on your virtual assistant to carry out your email marketing campaigns. They can send abandoned cart emails or craft email newsletters for a new product launch. They can also respond to customer questions, track the performance of your campaigns and make a comprehensive report.
Bookkeeping
Virtual assistants who have a background in accounting can perform basic bookkeeping duties. They can file financial documents, track expenses, create financial reports and manage your budget. They will keep accurate and complete tabs of all financial transactions so you can make better financial decisions.
Event Planning
With a virtual assistant’s impressive multitasking abilities, they’ll be perfect for event planning. They can design events, handle the logistics and manage the budget.
Whatever occasion you’re hosting, they can get into the details and address all the components to throw a successful function.
Marketing
Marketing is how you introduce your product or service to the world and let it be known.
A remote professional who has a knack for marketing can effectively market your goods to consumers. They have plenty of creative marketing tactics to grab the attention of your target market and retain it.
Research
If your remote assistant has data analysis skills, you can have them research topics. They can gather valuable data on the market or your competitors and make sense of the information. You can use the knowledge to identify areas of improvement and make adjustments.
Website Management
Don’t make the mistake of forgetting about your website after you’ve worked hard to create one. Your company site needs attention. If you can’t give it, enlist the expertise of a virtual assistant. They can perform updates, design the layout and functionality and post content.
Content Management
Virtual helpers can handle your content. They can amplify your content efforts by writing relevant blogs for your website and overseeing your production calendar. They can write themed content to draw the attention of readers and have them scheduled to maximise your reach.
How Do Virtual Assistants Operate?
As you can see, the duties and responsibilities of your remote assistant depend on your needs. Some create content while others do clerical work. These remote professionals adapt to your changing needs so you can receive the support your business requires.
VAs are becoming more important for small business owners and startups that don’t have enough resources.
One thing that you have to understand is that virtual assistants are different from your typical in-house employees. These workers function offsite and pay for their own computer and internet to deliver their service. They don’t demand compensation benefits, rental space or office equipment at all.
What’s It Like Working with a Virtual Assistant in 2025?
The best.
One of the strongest benefits of hiring a virtual assistant is flexible contracts. You can hire and pay them only for the services you used.
Depending on the terms, you can compensate them by the hour or project. Compared to remote workers, office employees are paid on a fixed monthly salary.
For a growing business, like yours, signing up for a virtual assistant can free up your valuable time to focus on high-yielding ventures.
To put it plainly, it’s simpler and more cost-effective to delegate repetitive tasks to a skilled remote assistant.
What are the Main Distinctions of a VA and an EA?
Let’s clear the air by saying that not all virtual assistants are the same.
Sure, they may operate remotely and juggle various tasks, but that doesn’t make them similar or interchangeable. It all comes down to the task and the trust you place in their capable hands.
Now, picking between a virtual assistant or executive assistant is entirely up to you—what’s your strategic move? What do you need?
Before making a decision, let’s define and look at the key differences between a VA and an EA.
As mentioned, virtual assistants are remote workers who mainly offer low-cost administrative services to clients. They are the “people in the cloud,” easily scalable without drama. Because of that, they are ideal for completing routine tasks or one-off projects with consistency.
On the other hand, remote executive assistants are the right-hand person of the boss—that’s you. As your second brain, they can anticipate your needs before you even say them. They understand you and are more involved in confidential matters.
EAs manage your schedule and inbox and other complex tasks. They will do all that while figuring out the best use of your time to enhance your efficiency as the leader of the company.
How Can You Get Started with Hiring a Virtual Assistant?
There are more than 40 million remote professionals in the world. That many people working from anywhere results in the increasing number of web-based companies that serve as go-betweens for VAs and clients.
Online Marketplaces
Online marketplaces like Upwork and Onlinejobs.ph house freelancers across the globe with a full scope of expertise and experience.
On these sites, you have to create a clear and detailed job description and post it on the platform. Remote workers may then make a proposal and provide their resumes and portfolios for the clients to review.
Unfortunately, you will do the legwork, from recruitment to onboarding. You can set up a video interview so you can talk to your prospects and carefully assess them before you make a decision.
Virtual Assistant Company
In truth, the best way to recruit a virtual assistant is through a VA company like us.
VAV will do all the groundwork. We will track down your remote assistant from our vast pool of remote talents.
From hiring to integration, our team of experts will ensure your virtual experience is smooth sailing. We even provide continuous support, allowing you to prioritise your business without disruption.
Special Considerations When Hiring
Before you decide to work with a remote assistant, make sure that you’re remote-work ready.
Do you already have the project management tools? Do you have the detailed guidelines for the tasks to be performed? Do you have a flexible environment?
By being prepared, you can reduce the risks of misunderstanding and ensure a healthy and positive remote working relationship.
The Bottom Line
So, what is a virtual assistant? The help that you need to realise your business goals.
Remote professionals tackle a broad range of tasks so you can do the more important work that counts. From bookkeeping to content creation, they can do it all to clear the growth path, despite not being physically there.
And what makes it even better is that they’re affordable, which means a startup like you can access their services.
As the boss, you should work hard, but only on the things that truly matter.