eCommerce is all the rage nowadays—it’s an easy-to-open business, one where you can dabble from the comforts of your home. You’re not tied to a physical office, and you have an expanding consumer market waiting for you to tap into. It couldn’t get any better than that.
But while all these attractions offer endless opportunities, managing your e-commerce business is an entirely different story. There are certainly a lot of things to deal with to keep your online store afloat that are rather time-consuming.
This is why online sellers on numerous marketplaces are looking for ways to lighten up the workload—without breaking the bank. Who are they turning to? An eCommerce virtual assistant.
How could this remote professional from the other side of the world help you? That’s what we’re going to talk about in this blog post.
We know you’re excited about sharing your entrepreneurial craft with the world and jumpstarting your career. So, keep reading and learn how to be successful in this journey with the support of a virtual assistant.
Virtual Assistants for E-Commerce are in Demand!
Is e-commerce a booming industry? Heck, yeah!
E-commerce is thriving and is expected to grow four times higher by 2025, cashing in as much as $12 billion.
More and more customers are shifting to shop from their homes rather than go outside to hit the malls and brace for traffic-induced commutes.
But with the boom, the pressure to provide a smooth shopping experience and a strong online presence is quickly snowballing.
This is where an e-commerce virtual assistant steps in to save the day, making sure that your business doesn’t only survive the competitive world of e-commerce but also thrives.
What is an E-Commerce Virtual Assistant?
An e-commerce virtual assistant is a remote professional who manages various types of essential e-commerce tasks, keeping the business running smoothly.
These are real professionals who have the experience and skills to support online store owners and sellers on marketplaces like eBay, Etsy, Shopify, Amazon and more.
By working with a VA, you free up more time for the more important stuff in your business. You get to be the boss and run the company without worrying about who’s taking care of this and that.
What Can an E-Commerce Virtual Assistant Do for You?
An e-commerce VA is loaded with a myriad of admin chores every day. However, the responsibilities of a virtual assistant vary from one e-commerce platform to another. For example, a Shopify virtual assistant takes on unique duties completely separate from those of Amazon or eBay.
Nevertheless, every single one of them is surefire to make an impact on your online store, taking charge of the following tasks:
- Website Management
Sure, your job is to sell more products and services, not manage a website. Then again, you’re not reaching any sales goals any time soon without a well-managed website. Your site is basically your business outpost or your digital business card; therefore, keeping it in tip-top shape is a must.
A virtual assistant for e-commerce is skilled in optimizing your web pages. They will help you make an impression on your customers by providing them with a seamless browsing and shopping experience.
- Content Marketing
To maximize the potential of your e-commerce site, it must be updated regularly—products, prices, discounts and more. Though you can do this randomly, keeping content fresh helps your site perform better.
A virtual assistant can update these regular changes with more efficiency. This way, you can earn more time and save resources.
- Graphic Design
eCommerce is a fast-paced business where first impressions are very important. That’s why graphic design is often considered your virtual key. From logos to promotional product images, these visual representations are critical to establishing a strong brand and driving sales.
With an e-commerce virtual assistant, you’ll get quality graphics tailored to your brand's ideals and have them at the time you need them.
- Online Store Management
Your online store is going to be buzzing with activity. There are orders coming in and customer requests to attend to, and you need to address all that as quickly as possible.
Having an e-commerce virtual assistant on your side will sort out all these tasks professionally and promptly. They can help you make your clients happy by offering convenience on each transaction.
- Customer Service
To complete an order, about 83% of online shoppers will need your assistance. This is what makes customer service such a driving force in e-commerce. If you fail to come to your customer’s aid, you’ll lose sales.
Thankfully, a virtual assistant is great at providing customer support. From the first contact to closing a sale, they will ensure your clients are well taken care of, thus leaving your store happy and satisfied.
- Inventory Management
Another task to delegate to your virtual assistant is inventory management. They can create a product listing, edit and upload photos for your online store and remove items that are no longer sold.
VAs can practically manage your inventory so efficiently that you don’t have to worry about not having enough stocks to meet the demands of your market. You’ll know “which” and “how much” stock to order at “what time.”
The Right Time to Hire an E-Commerce Virtual Assistant
Knowing when to call in an e-commerce virtual assistant is just as important as knowing the reasons why you’re hiring them.
So, when exactly is the right time to holler a VA?
When you’re working each day, juggling tasks and having a hard time keeping up with maintaining an online presence and answering customer queries, that’s the time to hire a virtual assistant.
Or when you need time to concentrate on strategic business growth but don’t have extra hours to do so, that’s the time to bring in outside help.
Remember, the goal is to navigate your entrepreneurial life smoothly and successfully.
The Cost-Effectiveness of a VA E-Commerce
E-commerce virtual assistants are mostly located in countries with lower costs of living. Outsourcing in these areas means saving up to 78% of operational costs.
Unlike traditional workers, VAs don’t need office space or equipment. They typically work independently and take care of the requirements to deliver their service. They have flexible schedules, working and getting paid by the hour.
What Skills Does a Virtual Assistant Bring to Your E-Commerce Business?
By having the following skills, your virtual assistant for e-commerce can contribute massively to increasing online sales and growing your business to the next level.
- Flexibility
As we’ve said, e-commerce is a pretty hectic affair, so you need a virtual assistant who won’t let panic or fear get the best of them. They have to be resilient and agile to the sudden changes in the work.
By being flexible, they can keep an open mind and accommodate customers superbly. Thus, you’re building a collaboration that can create meaningful work.
- Creativity
Your virtual assistant is going to face a variety of challenges in managing aspects of your online store. What happens then if you’re not there to solve these issues?
You need a VA who can find solutions to challenges. Someone who can think innovatively and give your business a competitive edge over competitors.
- Interpersonal Skills
This is perhaps the most crucial skill of an e-commerce virtual assistant. Since these remote professionals will be working closely with you and your team, they must maintain a meaningful and healthy relationship with colleagues.
By doing so, you can work better as a team and achieve efficiency. After all, the last thing you want in your online store is total chaos, prompted by an uncooperative VA who doesn’t listen and constantly argues with coworkers and customers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Can an E-Commerce Virtual Assistant Grow Your Business?
A virtual assistant manages your daily tasks, freeing up your time to focus on running the business. They are skilled and experienced, offering insights on the market and industry trends and making suggestions on how to improve your business processes.
When Choosing a VA for E-Commerce, What Are the Things That You Should Consider?
First of all, find someone who has the skills that we mentioned above and match that up with experience in e-commerce and you’ve got yourself a knockout virtual assistant.
Apart from that, you should hire a VA who has flexibility in terms of availability. They must be there when you need them, especially since you’re working in different time zones.
Conclusion
An e-commerce virtual assistant is invaluable support for your online store. They excel in not just processing orders but also in web design, content marketing and public relations, getting you a brand and sales boost in a saturated market.
Simply put, virtual assistants are your powerful means to ensure productivity and sustainable growth.