Busy business owners and even celebrities find it beneficial today to hire a virtual assistant or VA to help them with varied administrative tasks they could no longer manage. By having somebody to take care of minor work, they are able to better focus on the more important aspects of their business.
Thankfully, the internet has made possible the availability of personal or admin assistants working for people in other countries. This enables business owners to save on overhead costs and lets virtual assistants as well to earn higher pay. It’s a win-win situation that has led to a growing number of companies specializing in matching clients with the right VAs.
When to Get a VA?
You don’t have to be the jack of all trade all the time because it can take away your focus and drive. Small business owners can decide to get a virtual assistant if they’re too busy running their business and feel the need to delegate admin tasks to a trustworthy person. It’s a case to case basis.
If you are no longer be able to schedule meetings, make and receive calls and check emails regularly, then it’s time to consider getting an assistant.
Another situation would be if you dislike doing clerical tasks because you feel it’s more vital to focus on the major work that you really love doing. If you’re not happy doing admin work at all because you find them repetitive and not challenging, then by all means get a virtual assistant who would love to do those tasks.
Business owners who manage blogs might also want to consider hiring a VA. Writing blog posts can be demanding particularly if you want to keep your site updated a few times each week. In this case, a virtual assistant who also knows how to research and write blog posts can be a great addition to your business. This position is alo one of the many blogging jobs that pay today regardless of your geographical location.
How to Hire a VA
To find a good VA, check out several trusted sites in your country or one based in other countries that cater to virtual assistants from anywhere in the world. The former oDesk online platform, which is now Uptown, had 25,000 postings for VA jobs in 2012.
Depending on your location and budget, you can choose to hire a VA who is based in your home country or one situated in another country. Virtual assistants based in the U.S. normally charge a higher rate compared to those based in India or in the Philippines.
VA agencies usually act as a third party and do the search for a suitable VA for their clients. They are also the ones who pay the salaries of the virtual assistant either through direct bank deposit or via PayPal.
If you use online platforms offering freelance jobs such as Upwork, you will have to do the search and interview on your own. This could be a cost effective solution as you work directly with the VA although you will be charge a small percentage.