Virtual assistant (VA) is a term that is still foreign to a lot of people. When I’ve mentioned it to a few of my friends, the response I’ve got is ‘What do you mean like Siri or Alexa virtual assistant?’
I was having a conversation with a friend not so long ago and we were chatting about life, work and other things as we normally do on our catch ups.
I mentioned to my friend that I was going through a career transition and planning to go full time as a VA with my business support services. My friend then asked me what I meant by VA. She runs her own fashion business and shortly after I explained what a virtual assistant does, she said she actually uses virtual assistants from time to time in her business. Isn’t that interesting.
Although the idea of a virtual assistant is still unknown to many, its a rapidly growing industry as more and more professionals transition into a more flexible way of working. Technology and new software being launched every minute has also enabled more people to work remotely.
Virtual assistant is the wider term used to describe online professionals who serve different types of businesses in different niche markets.
A virtual assistant (VA) is a highly skilled independent professional who provides a variety of tasks to clients in multiple industries, some of which may include creative design services, admin support, social media management, project management and technical services.
A virtual assistant works remotely from their own office for a business on a contract basis. A VA works as an independent contractor and is not an employee of a company, therefore a VA is responsible for their own taxes, office equipment, insurance and other business expenses.
With the recent rise of online businesses, the demand for virtual working continues to grow as corporations, small businesses and even start-ups focus on alternative ways of saving costs and generating revenue.
Most virtual assistants work to build long-term relationships with a client and provide ongoing services for that client’s business. Although there is a good number of virtual assistants providing general admin tasks, you’ll also find VAs who tailor their services to fit a client’s specific needs, i.e graphic design, web development, social media management etc.
At VA Thrive, we specialise in website support, project management and business administration services. Our services are geared toward businesses owners and entrepreneurs in the wellbeing and personal development space who need support with their day-to-day operations in their business.
VA Thrive provides online business support services that help clients stay organized and on track of their business objectives. We do this by managing the areas in your business that consume alot of yout time. For example, supporting your teams, drafting contracts and agreements, stakeholder correspondence, work-flow efficiency etc. All this and more to keep you organised and focused on the things that really matter in your business.
To find out more about our services, click here.
Things to consider before hiring virtual support
Before you consider hiring a virtual assistant, first ask yourself if you really do need one.
- What tasks are hindering your progress that you could delegate to someone else?
- Do you have a budget for outsourcing these tasks? I don’t mean the $2 -$5 per hr budget, but a budget to hire a highly skilled VA who will take the time to understand your business needs and bring you results.
- Do you want to work with an independent virtual assistant or a virtual assistant company? This again will depend on your type of business and your business needs. Keep in mind that the top virtual assistant companies tend to charge a premium. My advice is to do your due diligence and choose what works best for you.(Source: smallbiztrends.com)
Whatever your choice may be, think about the benefits outsourcing will provide in the long term. You may be doing yourself and your business a huge favour by making a small investment that will end up bringing you higher returns.
