Running an agency is tough no matter the size. Owners must wear all the hats to make it run efficiently and profitably. It is a delicate balance because your time and expertise are valuable. Does it make sense to spend time doing the vital busywork? Maybe it’s time to consider hiring a virtual assistant.
What Are Virtual Assistants?
Virtual assistants are people with a specific set of skills who will work for one or more clients taking those tasks off their plate. Efficiency is key. I am sure I could figure out the formula on an Excel spreadsheet…eventually. Whatever your deadline, they can get things done in a jiffy.
Perks Of A Virtual Assistant
They can help you grow. Despite being virtual, they will get to know your business and can offer a myriad of suggestions to make your agency more efficient or profitable. They are the second set of eyes that you normally might not have.
They have mad talents. From entering data to reconciling accounting books. There is a Virtual Assistant for any task. And because they are experts in that task, their efficiency is through the roof. I hired one for a project to design a new email template for my broadcast emails. I could have done it and it might have taken me a full day. She was able to do it literally in 45 minutes—15 minutes of me explaining what I needed, and 30 of her making it happen.
They save you money. By outsourcing some of the more mundane tasks, you have more time to concentrate on making sales, increasing profits, and negotiating that increased commission for that huge group. Remember, your time is money. And since there is no one in your office, there is no need to spend money on additional workstations, benefits, etc.
They are always there. Since they are virtual, they can be located anywhere in the world. So, when you close that group trip at 10 pm, and no one to help get the papers together, you can call on the assistant and it will be ready to go first thing in the morning.
They only charge when they work. Because they may be working for many others, they will only charge you for the time they were working for you. There is no wasted downtime or water-cooler conversations on the clock. And depending on your needs, you can hire them full-time or part-time. Flexibility is a huge asset.
What Can They Do?
A Virtual Assistant can do anything you throw at them. Consider the tasks that are required to run the business but are taking your time away from growing the business.
- Online Marketing
- Social Media Posting
- Broadcast Emails
- Presentations
- Accounts Payable/Receivable
- Content Writing
- Market Research
- Podcast Editing
- Data Entry
- Call Answering
- Web Development
- Transcription
- Email Management
The list is, pardon the pun, virtually endless, and newer technologies (some of which you may not be aware of) can increase the productivity of everyone.
Now a Virtual Assistant may not be for everyone. Personally, I tend to be a bit of a control freak and for some of the tasks listed above, I am under the firm (but likely misguided) belief that I am the only one that can accomplish that task to my liking. But I do use one to create and send my email broadcasts and schedule my social media posts. As business continues picking up, it might be worth looking into!
