Hiring a virtual assistant can be a time-consuming and engaging task. You must be armed with all the information so that you make the right decision from the onset.
If you do this accordingly and hire the right virtual assistant, then you are bound to enjoy their services.
On the contrary, if you do not get it right then, you may not enjoy their services. For this reason, you need to be aware of the dos and dont’s of hiring a virtual assistant.
A virtual assistant is a person that offers a wide range of services remotely.
Most virtual assistants are freelancers and therefore they are able to offer their time optimally thus helping you to grow your business in a short to medium-term time span.
A VA is different from an in-person assistant because the latter has to be physically available and requires some amenities to perform their tasks.
They may need:
- An office
- Equipment
- Internet connection
- Reimbursements and much more
On the contrary, a VA works remotely and provides all the above.
If you need a virtual assistant, this guide will offer you all the information that you may need as you undertake this important hiring aspect.
There is so much a Virtual Assistant can do for you as a small owner or entrepreneur. Are you ready to hire a VA?
Below we share with you great tips and a detailed and comprehensive guide on hiring the best virtual assistant.
Advantages of hiring a Virtual Assitant
Before we proceed, let us share with you some advantages of hiring the right virtual assistant.
The right VA will help you to:
- Reduce costs
- Increase productivity
- Scale your business
- Offer you more flexibility
- Provide you with advanced skills
- Better and improved work-life balance
- Offer your business expertise
Below are some other important factors to consider before you engage in this process…
Decide which tasks and processes you want to delegate to your virtual assistant
If you are being honest, I am sure that there are some tasks that you really, really hate doing and wish that you could delegate to someone else.
Considering you have been an entrepreneur for a while now, it is imperative that you decide which tasks and processes you will delegate.
At Virtually by Noelle we can help you with administrative tasks, Content Creation, Transcription, and Research, among other virtual services.
Equally important, you must have Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which you will share with your Virtual Assistant so that they know how to complete their newly delegated tasks.
Decide how, where, and when you will start accepting applications
As a business owner, you have the autonomy to decide how you will put the word out there that you are looking for a VA.
Will you talk to your networks and tell them about your need for a VA? Will you create a job description and post it on various online platforms?
There are various platforms from where you can get a great VA. Some of them are:
- Online Job Boards
- VA agencies
- Referrals
- Social Media – among others
If you decide to create a job description, you will need to decide the length, background information about your business, the soft and hard skills you are looking for in a VA, duties, and responsibilities, and the work…
You have to then get ready for an avalanche of applicants (if you post online).
You will determine how to schedule, interview, and select the best fit for your business.
Then celebrate…no scratch that. Onboard the new VA.
Expectations, Goals, and Relationship
After you are done with the above process and have gotten the right VA, you will need to discuss with them your expectations.
Be clear with them from the word go on what you expect from them. Talk to them about what you expect from them in regard to communication, task management, and working hours, among others.
You should also consider asking them what they would expect from you…
After you share and agree on the expectations, it is time to set goals. Be open to short, medium, and long-term goals so that both of you are reading from the same script.
On this, discuss the need and importance of developing and maintaining a good and successful business relationship with your VA.
You can offer them tips on how to build a great and long-lasting business relationship for the benefit of the two parties…
Onboarding Your Virtual Assistant
The Client-VA onboarding process is a two-way process and should not be rushed.
You as the business owner should have a contract that the VA signs, outlining the expectations of tasks and duties, confidentiality, payments, non-disclosure agreements, etc.
Most VAs also have a contract that you as the client will sign.
Contracts are important for you as the business owner and also for the VA because they make sure that your business is covered legally.
During onboarding you will both decide how you will communicate, will you use email, text, or another platform?
How will you as the business owner manage projects etc?
During onboarding, you will also discuss how you will pay the VA. There are many platforms that can be used for a minimal fee, and some are free of charge.
If you already have a team in place, introduce the new VA and be prepared to train them.
Once they are properly trained and fully onboarded, sit back and start scaling your business!
Managing Your Virtual Assitant
This is another critical aspect of hiring a virtual assistant. You will need to put in place a mechanism for managing your VA.
You can have a project and time management tool for these two aspects. Additionally, regular feedback and setting goals are methods you can utilize to achieve the same.
Bottom Line
Now that you have successfully hired your VA, it is time to sit back and attend to other business-related aspects that may need your extra attention.
Meetings, financial planning, and scaling, among other aspects, may need more of your attention – and with a VA, you will now be able to attend to these without compromising on other aspects.
Hiring a VA will offer you more benefits – and more so, saving you time and energy so that you can be on top of your business.
Other benefits as mentioned above are costs, being able to balance your work-life, and getting advanced skills, among others.
With us, you don’t have to look elsewhere for a virtual assistant – we are right here and ready to work with and for you.
Kindly contact us or book a free consultation session and we shall respond to you ASAP…