What is a virtual Assistant?
A Virtual Assistant (AV) is an administrative assistant or independent staff who works remotely (usually at home) for various clients. The term came into being in the 1990s when the ability to work virtually through technological improvements, such as high-speed Internet, document sharing, and other advances, made remote work a reality.
A virtual assistant, or personal assistant, is a person who will work remotely for a company or an independent. Thanks to the growth of digital communication means, employing a virtual assistant is becoming more numerous: indeed, hiring someone from a distance is sometimes easier for the company, especially when the work to be done is a job that can quite to be done at a distance! For example, the virtual assistant may be in another country than the company that employs him, and both parties may never see each other physically. VAGUYS111 this will be useful for getting more tips about Virtual Assistant.
When most people hear “virtual assistant”, they assume that it is a secretary who works at home. But concretely, the virtual assistant performs tasks such as:
- From the secretariat, such as writing letters, filing files, creating PowerPoint presentations,
- Writing blog articles,
- Text translation,
- Management of the company’s social network accounts,
- Sending newsletters by email,
- Transcribe voice memos, conference calls and more,
- Run your calendar and plan your trip,
- Various research,
- Compile data into organized spreadsheets
- Manage transferred phone calls when you’re not available or when you’re out of town,
- All the long or repetitive tasks,
- Help you hire other employees by doing preliminary research on the candidates,
- Write and distribute standard business communications.
For example, a virtual marketing or public relations assistant is only doing marketing or public relations work. Other virtual assistants perform a variety of functions, but within a particular industry. For example, a virtual real estate assistant does a lot of tasks, but only for the real estate agent’s clients.
Many AVs use independent sites or micro travail sites, such as 5euros for Francophones or Fiverr for Anglophones, to find quick and time-limited projects. They are generally not well paid, but they can serve as a starting point for their activity.
How to Hire A Virtual Assistant?
As an entrepreneur, there comes a time when it is impossible to do everything, at least well enough to be effective and efficient. Hiring a virtual assistant frees up time so you can focus on the work that will earn you money. In addition, many virtual assistants are better than you for certain tasks. It is always faster and cheaper in the long run to hire people who are not competent.
The first step in hiring a virtual assistant is to draw up a list of the tasks you want to delegate. Make a complete list, prioritizing the activities you want to do first. For example, if email management is time consuming and time consuming, put it at the top of your list. Or maybe the technical problems take too much time, you can outsource the management of the website.
The next step is to determine who to hire. You can use an AV service that hires and trains the AV, then assigns one to you depending on the services you need. You can go through an independent service such as Upwork. Although you can advertise for a virtual assistant, finding someone who is competent will save you time and headaches.
What Are the Benefits of a Virtual Assistant for Your Business?
If the virtual assistant is more and more coveted by companies, it’s not for nothing! Here are the main benefits that a virtual assistant can bring to a company:
The virtual assistant does not require an indefinite employment contract. The virtual assistant is often a Freelancer, who works independently for several companies. He is employed as an external collaborator by the company and therefore does not require the elaboration of an employment contract of indefinite duration. A relief for the company that hires it!
Indeed, if the virtual assistant does not suit you, you will not need to give notice and can terminate your contract with him when you want, without wasting time and energy with the legislation!
The Virtual Assistant Saves Money
In addition, the virtual assistant costs much less than a full-time employee, for tasks that do not always justify opening a position. Indeed, using a virtual assistant can save hundreds or even thousands of euros per year!
The Virtual Assistant Allows More Flexibility
Businesses often optimize for virtual assistants on an ad hoc basis, for example to support them in times of peak activity, or to produce a lot of content that will be redistributed later in the year. Thus, employing a virtual assistant allows more flexibility since the company will call on him only when he needs him! For virtual assistants who work by subscription, it is indeed possible to suspend the subscription and come back when you need it again.
The Virtual Assistant Is Compatible with Mobility
If you are a start up and do not have premises, or if you are an international company and you move constantly, the virtual assistant is a good solution because it will not need to follow you in all your displacements! For example, small businesses that work with outsourcing contracts can save the cost of a local or head office, and save themselves the paperwork involved in moving an employee.
