The ability to organize is one thing that needs to be integrated into every aspect of a business. If you are a business owner or manager running a small-scale company, chances are you’re struggling with organizing tasks.

Most likely, you’ll prioritize items of utmost importance — but other tasks get set aside, if not ignored altogether. These tasks may tend to pile up for weeks and will only be dealt with once you, as the business owner, receive a final notice.

That is where the idea of getting a virtual assistant comes in. While you focus on the core functions of the business, you need to have someone to handle other relevant tasks and responsibilities. The help you need can come in the form of a virtual assistant.

In this article, we discuss the key roles and responsibilities of a virtual assistant and how he or she can turn your business around.

Employing a Virtual Assistant

Efficiency is paramount in any given business because it translates into productivity. But for a small-scale company with a limited number of employees, it can be challenging to handle a lot of tasks. Chances are you can only attend to the most important ones, but other relevant tasks tend to be missed and fall by the wayside.

Hiring a secretary or a personal assistant can be a viable option, but this can take a toll on your finances — especially if you’re a small, growing business. A better option is to hire a virtual assistant.

A virtual assistant is someone who is contracted to perform a set of duties and responsibilities in a remote location. Thanks to advancements in technology and globalization, people are now able to work for businesses regardless of location and time.

That said, your virtual assistant can perform tasks such as accounting, payroll preparation, data entry, data management, IT support, administrative support, and transcription services. He or she can also do front-end services such as inbound and outbound live calling, email, and chat support.

Why Hire a Virtual Assistant?

There’s a good reason why business owners and managers seek the help of a virtual assistant. At the top of the list is cost-efficiency. When you hire an in-office assistant or secretary, you’ll have to give them benefits and other perks apart from their regular salary.

Meanwhile, a virtual assistant is usually paid according to the number of hours they work. In some cases, compensation is based on an agreed-upon deadline or timetable for the project. Furthermore, the structure of your working relationship with a virtual assistant is not that of an employer-employee; rather it’s that of a client and service provider.

How to Ensure Your VA’s Success

There are plenty of risks involved when dealing with a remote worker. Therefore, you and your virtual assistant need to work together to make things go smoothly. How can you go about doing this? It’s important to consider the following:

Trust — you hired someone to be your virtual assistant because you saw something in that person. This implies that not only is that person reliable, but he or she also has the knowledge and skills that will help your business become successful. That said, you need to trust that the person you hired will be able to do the job.
Engagement — in the initial stages, you have to spend quality time with your assistant and engage them in your business. You have to go through the following with your assistant: scheduling of appointments, managing the calendar, tracking of billing statements from suppliers and creditors, dictation, transcription, and preparation of selected communication. There must be constant engagement between the two of you for your setup to work.
Communication — finally, communication is key. You should conduct regular meetings to assign tasks, bring up issues and concerns, and to keep both of you on the same page. In the end, it’s a collaborative effort. You and your virtual assistant are business partners who have the same objective, which is to ensure the overall success of your business.

If you’re looking for a professional VA to assist you, My BTLR is your best option. Get in touch with us today to see how we can help.