8 Things You Should Know About Virtual Assistants

by | Aug 25, 2017 | Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurs, Virtual Assistant |

8 Things You Should Know About Virtual Assistants

We all know that Virtual Assistants are the saviours of entrepreneurs and small business owners, but do we really know what they’re about and what they can do?

We posed this question to 50 entrepreneurs to see whether they really understood the concept of a Virtual Assistant. Here are the results:

  • 60% Think that Virtual Assistants are merely admin personnel
  • 20% Feel they’re unqualified or inexperienced
  • 10% Believe that Virtual Assistants cost way too much money
  • 15% Feel that they cannot trust a Virtual Assistant

To dispel these myths, here are 8 things you should know about Virtual Assistants!

1.  You get what you pay for

Virtual Assistants are extremely flexible. When you hire a VA, you can expect him/her to work flexible hours. You can work with your VA to decide which hours they should work and you pay them only for those hours worked.

Worried about your staff not being available during the holidays? Well, VA’s can sort that problem out for you. Hiring a seasonal assistant can help you maximise on seasonal sales.

2.  Most Virtual Assistants can do much more

It’s common that business owners think that VA’s are only suitable for admin or clerical tasks – they can do so much more.

You can hire a Virtual Assistant for:

  • Financial Statements
  • Customer Service
  • Web Design
  • Content Creation
  • Social Media Management
  • Consulting and Strategy
  • And much more

In fact, you can outsource almost any task to a VA!

3.  Virtual Assistants are affordable

VA’s are much more affordable than full-time, office-based employees for two reasons:

  • You pay them only for work completed
  • You avoid office costs

Studies also showed that because VA’s work from home, they will charge you much less than if they had to travel to work daily.

4.  They are resourceful

VA’s often wear many hats and therefore, are powered with so much knowledge, tips and tricks to get the work done. Also, the fact that they don’t rely on a Manager pushes them to find answers on their own.

5.  Oftentimes Virtual Assistants have impressive CV’s

The VA demographic tends to comprise of people who have already worked a fulfilling office career and now are looking for a work-life balance. They are highly qualified individuals who just prefer the benefits of not having to physically go to an office.

6.  Virtual Assistants are disciplined

The mere fact that they are responsible for their income forces them to practice discipline. They know that if they don’t work, or if they provide mediocre work, they will not be hired again.

7.  They wear many hats

Most VA’s possess experience from working on many different projects. Hence, this gives them an upper hand over individuals who work with one employer for a long period of time. They can deal with

8.  Virtual Assistants are hustlers

Have you ever heard the saying, “Hustle like a New Yorker”? Well, that’s what VA’s are like. If they can’t do something, they won’t wait for you to tell them what to do, instead, they will search the internet or find other ways to complete the work.

They also have more pride in their work because most people become VA’s due to a passion for what they do. So, if someone tells you that VA’s are lazy, expensive and untrustworthy, send them this blog!