Optimise efficiency, minimise costs, gain broader support, and arguably most importantly – save time.
What are virtual assistants? Who needs a virtual assistant? What do they do?
Well, virtual assistants have been up and coming for a couple of years now, making their way into the business world to help all kinds of operations for loads of different types of businesses. If there was anything good to come out of Covid it was how we proved that virtual work – works. As it turns out, we can maximise efficiency just as much, if not more, with Work From Home (WFH) schemes, virtual employees, and now, virtual assistants.
How do you know if you even need a virtual assistant? The short story is anyone looking to streamline tasks, improve efficiency, and free up time for more critical activities can benefit from incorporating virtual assistants into their operations. It’s kind of just like a more specialised form of customer service, or back office outsourcing.
The specific needs and use cases may vary, but the versatility of virtual assistants makes them adaptable to a wide range of individuals and businesses.
What does a virtual assistant do?
The main reason businesses hire virtual assistants is to help with a wide range of day-to-day tasks.
Here are just some of them:
Sick of spending all day answering the phone? Well, a virtual assistant can free up a tonne of time by answering calls, dealing with enquiries, and getting back to clients so you don’t have to.
Finding managing your meetings increasingly difficult? That’s normal as you get busier! Well, your virtual assistant can take over comms between you and your clients/customers so that your meetings are all scheduled for you.
Emails, admin, and time-keeping are all part of the nitty gritty that becomes harder as your days become more full. With a virtual assistant on hand, you don’t have to deal with any of it directly. As well as managing email comms, virtual assistants can help in managing email marketing campaigns, from drafting and scheduling emails to analysing campaign performance.
Travelling for work? Moving around a lot? Well, a virtual assistant can act as your partial travel agent, helping you with travel arrangements, from booking flights, hotels, and rental cars, to creating itineraries for business or personal trips.
Virtual assistants can research industry trends, competitors, and market conditions, providing valuable insights that can aid in strategic decision-making.
A virtual assistant can also significantly enhance customer support by providing instant responses to common inquiries, ensuring 24/7 availability for diverse time zones and schedules. They can efficiently handle routine tasks, such as order status updates, appointment scheduling, and basic issue resolution, allowing human agents to focus on more complex customer needs. Approximately 64% of businesses have reported an improvement in customer service levels after implementing virtual assistants.
Your virtual assistant can be responsible for handling basic financial tasks, such as creating invoices, tracking expenses, and managing receipts, as well as assisting businesses in maintaining accurate financial records. These are tasks usually deemed tedious by most business owners, so having it all handled externally can be a great way to save time.
How a virtual assistant can help your business
As a company grows (woohoo!), it can be increasingly difficult to keep on top of day-to-day tasks.
Where a virtual assistant comes in, is to be your right-hand man, and ensure everything is taken care of and managed for you.
Picture this: no more drowning in emails or juggling your schedule like a circus act. Your virtual assistant’s got your back – 24/7. Tackling administrative tasks, organising your calendar, and even sorting out customer inquiries.
They’re like your business clone but designed to handle the nitty-gritty details so you can focus on the big picture. Need a hand with research, content creation, or travel plans? They’ve got it covered. It’s like having a super-efficient team member who never needs a coffee break. Plus, they’re not just business-focused; they can help with personal tasks too, making life a bit easier all around. Consider them your right-hand human, giving you the freedom to steer the ship without getting bogged down in the small stuff.
How to hire a virtual assistant
In our opinion, it’s important to choose a virtual assistant company that truly has your back.
If you want to get the most out of it, it should be like a business partnership, like you’ve got someone on hand all day, every day, to not only make sure everything’s under control but to watch your business grow and support you through the process.
3 tips for hiring the perfect virtual assistant:
1. Clearly Define Your Needs
Clearly outline your business needs and goals before approaching virtual assistant companies. Whether you require assistance with customer support, administrative tasks, or specialised projects, having a detailed understanding of your requirements will help you communicate effectively with potential partners. This clarity ensures that the virtual assistant company you choose can tailor their services to meet your specific needs.
2. Evaluate Expertise and Track Record
Look for a virtual assistant company with a proven track record of success. Assess their expertise in the areas that matter most to your business. Request case studies, client testimonials, or references to gauge their past performance. A company with experience in your industry or with similar tasks is more likely to provide effective support and seamlessly integrate with your business processes.
3. Communication and Accessibility
Communication is vital when working with a virtual assistant. Ensure that they have clear communication channels and are responsive to your inquiries. Evaluate their accessibility, considering factors like time zone differences and response times. A company that aligns with your preferred communication style and maintains open lines of dialogue will contribute to a smoother and more productive collaboration.
The future of business assistants
According to Business Wire, the virtual assistant market will reach $25.6 billion by 2025, and in 2020, the global enterprise virtual assistant market was anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 25% from 2021 to 2028.
To wrap up
So to summarise, if there’s going to be any time to hire a virtual assistant to help your business, it’s now. Whether you’re a startup that needs extra help organising things while you scale or a long-standing business that doesn’t want to hire in-house, a virtual assistant can be a huge helping hand and can help you grow.
