The modern world is a busy place, and it’s hard to do everything on your own. As a small business owner, you’re juggling different demands on your time and managing your workload. Luckily, there are lots of aides available for you- one such aide is the virtual assistant. Virtual assistants are usually very inexpensive, so you can find one that fits your budget. Here’s how a virtual assistant can make your life and business easier. Plus this article will go into where to find cheap virtual assistants.
What is a virtual assistant
Virtual assistants are, in essence, online personal secretaries. They are people who work remotely at their own hours and from anywhere in the world. Their job is to take care of menial tasks and make your life easier.
What can a virtual assistant do for you
They can do just about any task they are able to complete on the computer and that doesn’t require specialist knowledge. This includes things like making bookings, doing research, writing letters and emails, scheduling appointments or events, posting on social media, ordering products from suppliers, and more.
What are the benefits of using a virtual assistant
There are lots of benefits to hiring a virtual assistant:
They’re very cheap- you can hire someone for just a few dollars an hour. They don’t need office space or equipment as they would in your office, so the only overhead you have is their salary. This also means they can work from anywhere in the world, which makes hiring a VA much easier than having to interview and hire staff locally. They work on their own schedule- as long as they get all their tasks done, you don’t mind when or where they choose to do them. Virtual assistants return the favor to you by working quickly and efficiently, so they can do many tasks in a small amount of time. They’re always there for you- virtual assistants are available 24/7, so whenever it’s convenient for you is when they’ll get things done. What this means is that if in the middle of the night an inspiration hits you for your next marketing campaign, you don’t have to wait until morning to get it done. They can do anything- contrary to popular belief, virtual assistants can handle just about any task you throw at them. If they have the skills and know-how that are required for a certain job, they’ll be able to do it. They’re available in many different languages also, so if you need someone who speaks a foreign language, they’ll be able to help.
Where can I find cheap virtual assistants
You can find cheap virtual assistants by using an online marketplace such as Fiverr. This site is a hub for freelance services, and you’ll be able to browse profiles of virtual assistants from all over the world. You can contact them and negotiate a price with them for their services, and then hire them for your company. Keep in mind that they’re usually very inexpensive- you can find someone for just a few dollars an hour. These online marketplaces are great because it means you don’t have to go through the process of physically hiring someone: all you need is their contact information and they can start working remotely at your convenience, no matter where in the world they happen to be located.
How much does a virtual assistant cost
The first thing to think about is what you’re going to require your virtual assistant to do for you. If you’re simply looking for someone to post to your Facebook page, it probably won’t cost much. But if you’re looking for a VA to run your entire company and handle all of the admin tasks, it’s going to be more expensive and take up the majority of their time.
Some VAs charge by the hour, other charge by project. Generally speaking, prices can range from $1 per hour to $150+ per hour depending on how many hours they work each week and how skilled they are with different systems. You may also have access fees with some assistants who want a certain number of hours every month or who charge for a trial period.
Generally speaking, you can find someone for just $1 per hour on popular freelancing websites like Fiverr and Elance . More experienced assistants who have higher rates usually work in call centers or are running their own business. So it’s best to stick with the online marketplaces as they offer lower-priced, quality assistants.
How to hire a virtual assistant
You can find your VA by browsing through the different people available on an online marketplace. You should look at their reviews, their recommendations and how long they’ve been a member with that site. If you get along well with them and they have decent reviews, you should consider hiring them for your business. You can negotiate the price with them and see if they’re willing to work on a trial basis for a certain number of hours at a more affordable rate.
Once you’ve found someone, it’s just like hiring an employee in terms of setting up their working environment and explaining what you expect from them. Before you make the arrangement official, ask them to complete a sample task so that you can see how they do it before you hire them. This will serve as an indication if the quality of their work, and help you decide whether or not it’s worth hiring him or her.
Then all you have to do is sit back and let your new VA run your business for you!
How to manage my VA
The best way to manage your virtual assistant is just as you would any other employee. You should set up an email schedule, a meeting schedule and make sure that they’re working on the right projects at all times. Keep in mind that if you give them too much work or don’t provide them with clear tasks, they could leave and you’ll be back to hiring a new assistant. So make sure that you understand what your VA is capable of before assigning him or her too much work.
If there’s an issue with their work, don’t be afraid to point it out and ask them to fix the problem. You should always try as best as possible to be open and honest with your virtual assistants, as that will make working together a lot easier. And if it’s clear they’re not pulling their weight in the office or they have an attitude problem, then you shouldn’t hesitate to fire them and find someone new.
Conclusion
Virtual assistants are aides that small business owners can use to help them manage their time and workload. If you’re looking for a good VA, it’s best to stick with the online marketplaces as they offer lower-priced, quality assistants. You should look at their reviews, their recommendations and how long they’ve been a member with that site before hiring anyone so that you know what kind of worker they’ll be! They will usually charge by project or hour depending on experience level. Some VAs say $5 per hour while others may ask for more than this in order to access certain parts of your company like social media accounts or customer service inquiries. Make sure when you hire someone new that you set up clear tasks and expectations so there won’t be any confusion.
When you’re a small business owner, it can be impossible to do everything yourself. You have to balance different demands on your time and manage the workload of your employees effectively in order to get the business rolling. Fortunately, there are lots of aides available for you that can make this balancing act a lot easier. Finding cheap virtual assistants can be the key to your growing business’s success.
