How Virtual Assistants can help your Business in a Digital World
What is a Virtual Assistant?
In a world where everything is digital, where people connect through social media platforms, where jobs, calendars, meetings, and even movies are done through digital platforms - do I need a virtual assistant?
Virtual Assistants are people who are pretty much the same as Executive Assistants. They do everything for you, except your coffee. Because they work remotely. And for a business owner who needs to run the business and think of ways to make the business thrive, especially during this pandemic, a Virtual Assistant is the best option to help them accomplish more tasks.
Depending on the kind of business that you’re putting up, or already have, your needs may vary. If you’re outsourcing your technical support department, you may opt for the BPO service or look for a virtual assistant with technical know-how and skills to do this for you. If you’re looking for someone to do administrative work (ie: manage your emails, meetings, calendar, etc), then you will need a virtual assistant whose skill sets are admin tasks. Again, your needs may vary and for every need, you’ll have to find someone who’ll be able to serve you those needs.
What are the Benefits of Hiring a Virtual Assistant? Is it Worth it?
For a lot of business owners, the question “what’s in it for me?” is always one way to balance the pros and cons of getting something or someone for your business. The same question goes when hiring or considering a virtual assistant. Here are the top 3 reasons why we can say that a virtual assistant is worth every penny.
1. Reduced labor costs.
When you hire another employee, you not only pay for the hours they work but also for their benefits but also taxes, vacation, and sick leaves, medical/dental benefits, and all other benefits that are mandated by law. Hiring a VA especially that one who is part of a company will definitely give you the freedom to work on a specific budget.
2. Time Management.
Getting a virtual assistant and setting the time of when you want or need the task to be done provides more efficiency not just to you but to your entire business. A VA will give you more time to concentrate on growing your business and not worry about the small details.
3. Skills Your Business Needs.
Rather than hiring one person per skill set needed, a virtual assistant can provide you with the different skill sets that you need to get a task done.
How and Where to Find a Virtual Assistant
There are a lot of ways to find a virtual assistant regardless of where in the world you are located. You can find them on different social media apps like Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. Of course, you need to be careful when you are looking into hiring a virtual assistant because you might get scammed or end up paying more than you should have. There are a lot of virtual assistant companies but not all offer a “one-stop-shop”. There are companies that will provide you with 1 VA per task you need and will charge you for that VA. While there are some companies that will provide you with a team of VAs, depending on your needs, and only charge you the plan that you paid for.
Why Virtual Assistants are the next big thing in the Digital World?
Have you looked at the trend? Between 2005 and 2012, the number of remote workers increased by 80%. And with the constant innovations in technology, this is expected to grow even faster.
More and more people are shifting to working remotely because they want to do away with having to commute to and from work every day. This does not only cost them time but also money, either for gas or public transport. As a business owner, it is wise that you start to shift as well because of the following reasons:
1. Save Money on Overhead costs.
There’s no need to pay for office space rental. No utility bills (i.e: internet, phone lines, electricity, water plus free coffee for your employees) Also, with Virtual Assistants, you don’t need to pay for taxes. Aside from saving money on overhead costs, you also reduce Marketing costs. Since everything is done online, even your marketing tools will be online. No need for print ads. Your social media platforms are the best tools for your business to be made known to your target market.
2. Maximize productivity and overall well-being.
Remote work creates a win-win for businesses and virtual assistants. The company gets max production and the workers can make their own schedules to balance work and family.
3. Growth Hacking becomes a breeze.
With a virtual assistant, you can save hours a day. But with a team of virtual assistants, you can shave days out of your week. It’s not uncommon for entrepreneurs to want more out of their business but lack the resources, skill, and manpower to make it happen. But all of these needs are possible with a team of virtual assistants. When implementing growth hacking, it’s essential to have a team you can count on to meet the increased demand.
4. Offer an enhanced customer experience.
Today’s consumers are demanding speedy replies from brands they’re trying to do business with. And if you’re unable to meet this demand, a competitor will surely take your place. Virtual assistants can cover all your bases, providing what your customers want. From communication to announcements on your social media platforms, email marketing and all other tools you’re using to stay on top of the game. Your virtual assistants will be there to reply and assist your customers.
Still not convinced? You can book a call with one of the best virtual assistant providers and learn more about the plans they offer, what plan will actually work for you, and the kind of VA or VAs that you will need for your business. Considering the pandemic that has hit our world for the past 2 years now, a virtual assistant, virtual office, and virtual meetings seem to be the best way to do business nowadays.
It’s not that difficult to transition from a physical business to a virtual business. Whether you’re a start-up or you’re downsizing, you can use a service like SmartVAs to help you start your digital business. Whether you need assistance in setting up your website, or managing your