5 Benefits of Virtual Assistants

As many businesses have adapted to a fully online model in 2020 and continue to remain steadfast in working remotely for 2021, virtual assistants are now commonplace. Before the pandemic, it seemed most assistants had to be in-person at a physical location or around the person they were helping. Things changed where companies now see that it is unnecessary and that an assistant can do much of this work solely from home. Whether you already have a virtual assistant (VA) or are looking to hire one, here are five reasons you need to in 2021 and beyond.

Why You Need to Consider a VA

As businesses go online, it’s easy and imperative to hire a VA to help manage your business. You can hire VA’s based on specific skill sets to meet your needs. They can help you do everything from placing orders, managing correspondence on your behalf, shipping items, ordering supplies, tracking finances and expenses, creating reports and analyses, managing a cloud-based storage system, setting appointments and calls, and so much more so you can focus on what matters.

How to Find One

Freelance sites are booming, and with it comes a plethora of individuals who post themselves readily available to help you with VA gigs. Each of the following websites has pre-vetted qualified applicants. Many sites also allow previous clients to leave honest reviews, so you know what you’re getting before you hire someone, which is a massive advantage over hiring someone in person where a rating system does not exist.

Here are a few of the top places to find VA’s:

Tasks VA’s Can Do

There are a seemingly unlimited amount of tasks your VA can do on your behalf to help keep your business running smoothly. Some of those tasks include but are not limited to:

Social media management

Managing communication, internal and external

Prepare reports

Digital marketing

Personal help such as booking hotel reservations, restaurant reservations, doctor’s appointments, and more

Booking flights and travel for business

Managing expenses

Setting calls and virtual meetings

Benefits of a VA

There are many benefits to hiring a virtual assistant as opposed to hiring a full-time employee. When you work with a VA, you can pay them on an as-needed basis rather than shelling out a set salary when you might not need them to work half of the time. VA’s are also more cost-effective because you do not have to pay for their health benefits, retirement, unemployment, or severance should the person not work out long-term. Even better? Many VA’s set their rates, so upon hire, you will agree with upfront to their hourly rate, and they will feel respected and happy working for you and not having to go through negotiation or several rounds of interviews to not get the job due to pay. Everything is transparent and upfront, which is a win/win for all parties.

Conclusion

Whether you’re an entrepreneur flying solo or a budding business, anyone can benefit from some extra help in our ever-evolving virtual world. Hire a VA today and watch your stress melt and your productivity increase.