10 Ways A Virtual Assistant Can Transform Your Business
Today’s workforce is quickly taking on a new look, and remote working is one of the reasons. Here are our top 10 suggestions of how a virtual assistant can help clear your plate, allowing you to focus on what matters most - your business and your family.
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Email Management
A virtual assistant can help keep your inbox clutter-free, even unsubscribing to junk and spam. They can create email drafts for you, respond on your behalf, and complete tasks they discover in your inbox. If you are utilizing Gmail, check out the extension, Gmail Simple Notes, which allows you and your VA to communicate with each other regarding specific emails.
Calendar Support
Your virtual assistant can easily see requests in your inbox and set up meetings for you. Make sure you have communicated your meeting preferences ahead of time, then record and update these processes for quick and easy reference.
Travel and Expenses
Once you have shared your preferences and processes, turn the planning over to your VA. They can focus on getting that last-minute trip or vacation of a lifetime scheduled so your travel is seamless. They can also handle your expense report when you return. If you have yet to choose a system for saving receipts, check out Expensify, one of our favorites.
Writing and Editing
If you spend time writing blogs, creating processes, or building presentations then you might need a VA skilled in this area. Give them a topic, an outline, or a draft, and let them design, edit, and create the rest. Need a Powerpoint for your next presentation? Provide your assistant with the basic information so they can make you look like a superstar in your next meeting.
Project Management
Choose a project or task management tool that fits your style and let your virtual assistant do the rest. Keeping track of everything is much easier when you have a good system in place and the team knows where they are in the process. There are many tools out there but a couple of our favorites are Teamwork and Trello.
Social Media
Work ahead of the game by creating a rough content plan then let your VA fine-tune the content and schedule posts. Make sure you have a plan to manage the content (we are big fans of Airtable) as well as a scheduling tool such as Buffer.
Newsletter
Managing the newsletter content, graphics, and contacts is a monthly task for any savvy VA and will save you time in the long run. Haven’t started sending a newsletter yet? Your VA can get you started by setting up MailChimp, Constant Contact, or other email marketing services. This is an excellent way to connect with your clients and grow your business.
Invoicing
A virtual assistant can do simple AR/AP tasks and keep your inbox free of invoices and reminders. If you need more in-depth AR/AP such as bill paying and bookkeeping, then it’s probably time to add a remote bookkeeper to your team. Bookkeepers ensure your accounts are reconciled, invoices are up-to-date, and bills are paid on time. They don’t take the place of a CPA but are crucial to the day to day operations of your business as it grows and scales.
Client Support
Engaging your VA to manage simple inquiries, follow-ups, and check-ins is another area in which they can keep your plate cleared. They can respond with handwritten thank-yous, schedule gifts to be delivered for special occasions, and set up touchpoints for you to meet with clients. Handing this over to your Virtual Assistant will keep your clients engaged, develop deeper relationships, and create more business for you.
Research
How often in one day do you hear or say, “Just Google it!”? Engaging in online research is probably one of the biggest wastes of time for business owners. Keep an ongoing list of topics in which you are interested in learning more. Often your virtual assistant is aware of tips and tricks to make their research more efficient and effective while saving you time and money.