Running a business is a full-throttle, no-brake job. Well, that’s what you think.

Apparently, you can build your own company while cruising—hire a virtual assistant.

Virtual assistant? What is it?

These are virtual professionals who are masters of every task challenge. They can schedule appointments and manage projects in various fields.

If you’ve been contemplating how to get out of the bind, this is your sign to work with a VA.

Explore what virtual assistants usually do and how their services can move your business forward.

What Is a Virtual Assistant?

A virtual assistant is a professional who provides various remote business-related services to a client. This includes administrative, customer service and content creation.

VAs operate from a remote location and use different digital tools to deliver their service on time. They are usually hired on an as-needed basis, allowing you to employ their expertise on a project or an hourly basis—or whenever the need arises.

Essentially, these virtual professionals support business owners and entrepreneurs in their day-to-day work to free up their time for core functions.

What a Virtual Assistant Does

As mentioned earlier, virtual assistants collaborate with you from a remote location outside of a central office. They handle all kinds of activities that typically crowd your task list for the day, such as data entry and email management.

A virtual assistant’s contribution to streaming operations is way beyond the mundane activities. They can also take charge of specialised tasks like social media management, video editing and content writing. Basically, they’ve got everything covered, thanks to their limitless skills.

Even when they’re not physical with you and unable to bring coffee to your office, they can still carry out their roles efficiently. They don’t work on a strict 9-to-5 schedule but rather operate with a more flexible time straight from their homes.

Does that sound like the kind of assistant you want to be a part of your team? VAV can help you kick things off.

What Virtual Assistants Usually Do

So, what can a virtual assistant help you with?

Before you start outsourcing your endless to-do list to a virtual assistant, you must know what responsibilities to delegate.

Administrative Tasks

All types of time-consuming organisational tasks you can find in your office—pass them all to a remote assistant.

Email Management

A virtual assistant can declutter your messy inbox. They can keep the emails in neat folders—all categorised—so they’re much easier to find. They can also dump junk emails and respond to messages, helping you prevent an information overload.

Scheduling and Calendar Management

Tired of your chaotic schedule that often leads to overbooking and untimely report submission? A virtual assistant can help you orchestrate your calendar so all marked dates are set up perfectly. They can schedule meetings and book appointments, making sure you’re doing the most impactful tasks first.

Phone Support

How many times have you missed a phone call this month? About 10 times? You’ve probably lost count of the many times you let the ring go unanswered. Let a virtual assistant deal with the calls with their professionalism and cordiality, impressing your clients on the line.

Travel Arrangements

When it comes to travel planning, the devil is in the details. Catering to an expanding list of travel logistics can be really time-draining; it’s best to leave it all to a virtual professional. They can plan and create an itinerary, book the best flight deals, and provide emergency support, so you can travel in comfort.

Data Entry

Sure, data entry is manageable enough to handle on your own, but it’s not what a busy boss like you should be spending time on. Your attention is needed elsewhere—in the strategic planning department.

Hire a remote assistant to take care of the company’s data so it stays accurate and available whenever you need it.

Document Preparation and Management

Remember that avalanche of paperwork on your desk? You can finally climb on top of it and begin your day at a table with space on it. Remote professionals can take over the duty of creating, editing and organising your reports and presentations.

Project Management Support

With more and more tasks, it has become harder to manage projects and meet deadlines. Well, you don’t have to do it on your own; this job can be handed on to a virtual assistant. They can structure tasks efficiently and get the team on the same page, so no delay can plague your project.

Bookkeeping and Accounting

If you’re one of those entrepreneurs who crack under the pressure of ledgers and financial statements, delegate.

Bookkeeping and accounting are the perfect jobs to entrust to skilled VAs. They can look after your financial health and make sure your company is financially robust.

Customer Service

About 93% of customers are likely to buy from you again if they’re impressed by your superb customer service. In that case, you really should be putting in the effort to treat customers like VIPs.

The problem is that you’re completely doing the opposite: unread messages and delayed responses to complaints.

Get back in your customers' good graces with a virtual assistant who can provide high-quality customer support to improve customer experience.

Social Media Management

You have real power with social media if you just know how to wield it. It is a free digital marketing platform after all, with over 5 billion daily visitors who make a habit of scrolling for new products.

A virtual assistant can enhance your online presence so you can stand out from the crowd. They can create content, proactively interact with followers, and analyse performance metrics. In short, they can expand your reach and attract more people, and turn them into buying customers.

Other Specialised Tasks

• Research: Your VA can conduct all the necessary research your company needs to gain a competitive advantage—from market research and surveys to sales research.
• Website Management: Don’t leave your website hanging; keep it relevant and functional with a remote assistant.
• Event Planning: This task requires attention and some out-of-this-world organisational skills to handle the crazy logistics. Thankfully, a remote professional has both.
• Software Testing: There are so many tech virtual assistants who can ensure the technology in your company is working optimally. They can offer feedback on software applications and websites.

How Can a Virtual Assistant Help You Spread Your Wings and Fly?

Now that you know what virtual assistants are used for, it’s time to list the benefits that await you.

Cost Savings

First on the list is the money that you will save by choosing to collaborate with a VA. These remote workers operate offshore, which means the removal of the overhead costs such as space, rent and equipment. No extras—you only get charged for the services you used.

Better Time Management

With virtual assistants managing your backend job, you can win more time to concentrate on the work that only you can do.

Improved Productivity

By streamlining time-consuming operations, you can enhance overall productivity. To maximise the productivity of your VA, you can integrate tools and software to speed up processes and create a more effortless structure.

Reduced Stress and a Healthier Work-Life Balance

When you decide to let some of your menial tasks go, you lighten your workload and gain more time on your hands. As such, you can triumph in both aspects of your life, supporting your overall wellness.

Effortlessly Scale Operations

The great thing about remote professionals is that you can hire them when the occasion calls for it. Christmas surge? No problem, you can recruit a virtual assistant for the holiday and cater to the skyrocketing demand of the season. As soon as it settles, you can reduce their involvement without financial consequences.

Greater Reach

A virtual professional thrives in all various places on the map with an internet connection. Hiring VAs opens up a vast talent pool with a larger assortment of expertise.

Strengthened Customer Support

Since remote assistants operate remotely from everywhere, they can accommodate clients in different time zones. That’s right, they can respond to their needs quickly, no matter the time.

How to Hire a Talented VA

It can be scary to hire someone from across the globe. How do you even begin that process?

At VAV, we can accelerate VA recruitment using our 3-step strategy.

Project Analysis

What part of your business do you really need assistance with? By understanding your needs and expectations, we can narrow down the list of candidates who can fulfil your requirements.

Interview

We will speak with the top candidates who have the right skills and experience for the position. We will ensure that they also have the traits that align with your organisation’ vision and culture. This way, you can work with no drama and reach the epitome of team dynamics.

Training and Onboarding

Connecting you with your assistant is important. We will help integrate them into your workflow and train them so they can perform at their very best. This includes sharing access to relevant tools and establishing communication channels.

With our straightforward system, we can hire the most suitable virtual assistant who can achieve your goals.

Conclusion

What a virtual assistant is all about is giving you the power to take your business to the next level. They can save you money, offer flexibility and increase your productivity. They can also handle different types of tasks—from administrative and software development to accounting.

Thus, if you ever need assistance with any of those tasks, we can help.

VAV is a trusted recruitment agency for virtual assistants that has been in the business for more than a decade. By partnering with us, you have extensive access to reliable and skilled VAs who can improve your business operations.

If you’d like to know more, schedule a free consultation today and explore our services.