Where to Start: Hire Freelancers or Virtual Assistants?
The challenge for most managers is often how best to allocate resources, time, and attention. The goal is to not waste our resources on failed projects while growing successful ones.
If you’re a CEO of a small & medium business, or an entrepreneur, you know that juggling work and life can be difficult. Have you ever had to complete a project, but the deadlines aren’t met by your team? Employees would say “need more time” or “no mental capacity” to pick up the needed pace to stay profitable.
Over 13 years ago, I learned how to finally ERASE this problem. How? With a virtual assistant (VA), take tasks off your plate + increase team productivity.
This article covers:
- How having a VA increases freelancing productivity
- What an efficient day looks like when you have a virtual assistant
- The benefits
- Increased freelancer accountability with a virtual assistant project manager
- How to find the right VA for your needs
Freelancers vs Virtual Assistants
Original Story: Link
When balancing managing lots of freelancers, odd jobs, and projects at once — delegate your entire task management and support all to a virtual assistant. Your local team can free up their time and focus on higher-level results.
See also: Who Do I Hire? New Employee, Freelancer or Virtual Assistant? — PROS & CONS
How having a VA increases freelancing productivity
When balancing managing lots of freelancers, odd jobs, and projects at once — you need to ensure that your team is being productive.
The thought process that a virtual assistant brings to the table allows for better-quality work to get done in less time. This is something that is crucial to freelancers who are always working under a deadline. Having a VA on your team will allow you the time and space to not need to hand-hold freelancers. Your team can work on more important tasks for your business.
What does an efficient day look like when a team has a virtual assistant?
The first thing the virtual assistant (VA) does is check in with everyone on the team. The VA checks to see if they have completed any of the tasks they were told or asked to complete yesterday or today. This might assistant also lets them know what still needs to be done and what’s on their schedule for the next day(s).
For example, let’s say you have a meeting at 3 PM, and you need to prepare for it. You share the details and special instructions with your VA ahead of time so that they can prepare for you. When you get to your meeting, the VA is already prepared with any files or information you need. If a situation arises during the day that requires immediate action, then the VA immediately handles it.
The entire day goes by with little to no interruption on your part. All because the team has a reliable virtual assistant to work behind-the-scenes and handle all tasks as expected.
Virtual Assistant Roles
Virtual assistants can perform any task for you, whether it’s personal or business-related. You can assign your virtual assistants a variety of tasks, limited only by your imagination. They can take care of tasks such as:
- Client & Customer Service: process support, task management, email & call support
- Sales Development: Cold calling, lead generation, nurturing, onboarding & retention.
- Administrative Support: Collection & accounting support, office operations & tasks.
- Content Creation: Graphics, media, and other collateral support.
- Accounts & Marketing Support: Managing campaigns & client accounts, updating social media pages, web updates, news & article sharing.
They help save money & free up time for local employees to work on:
- More advanced tasks,
- Closing more deals,
- Growing the business,
- More dollar-productive work.
[Considering a Virtual Assistant?]
Having a Virtual Assistant: How does it work for efficient management of projects & scope of work?
It works like this: Whatever tasks you want delegated, the VA takes the initiative to delegate those tasks to individual team members. For example, If you need a marketing presentation prepared, share it with the VA. So they can coordinate with your staff on your behalf. Your VA might lead them through the process of research and then have them complete sections of a final presentation for you.
Or, let’s say you work in the IT field and you want someone to work on a software improvement. The VA will set up the whole thing for you. They will manage the requirements gathering, the communication of feedback from your team to your Dev department, and more.
We find that this process reduces anxiety on both your part and theirs. They’re not left having to figure out how is this supposed to be done or what do they need to do next. Nor are you left wondering if your local team will properly deliver the necessary information.
How does a VA benefit my team?
Having a VA on your team who can give you the time you need to focus on high-level results is beneficial on many levels. It allows you to reduce your stress levels. It also gives your employees more time to work on projects that are more meaningful, sustainable, and essential for your company’s long-term health.
And then there’s this. When a VA is involved in the process, freelancers know that this person is going to follow up with them regularly. This gives them more accountability and better productivity, which translates to better results for you.
How can I find the right VA for my needs?
Hiring a virtual assistant can be a bit tricky. Make sure you find someone who is a perfect fit for your particular business. Your virtual assistant represents you and your brand, so it’s important that they’re well-versed in what it is you do. This way, they can be as effective as possible in their role.
Add a new hire to your team. At up 70% less than a traditional employee — WITHOUT the headaches of payroll, taxes, insurance, retirement, office & equipment costs.
Keep a smooth-running office with an Administrative Virtual Assistant
- Crunch numbers for reports and prepare any documents that you need
- Administrator website, CRM, IT systems + technologies
- Phone receptionist + address customer service tickets
Ramp up your virtual operations with a Marketing Virtual Assistant
- Full-time social media & email campaigns
- Improve Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Manage media appearances & coordinate live virtual events
Your local team can spend more time on the dollar-productive activities for your business to outperform the competition & close more deals!
What’s Included: No-sweat + thorough talent-matching process. FBI-grade background checks. Remote team productivity tracking software. Business strategy guides. Remote work action plans. Unparalleled customer service … and much more!
“Outsourcing makes the hustle better — because you’re not burdened with many/growing expenses that you’ll need to figure out how to cover and hit profit”
Focus on your growth & scale your operations
ENVISIONING OF A NEW REALITY FOR YOUR BUSINESS
Simply put, MyOutDesk equips entrepreneurs & business owners with tools, strategies, and virtual employees — and when combined, businesses have a competitive edge and find growth while efficient systems and processes are put in place.
MyOutDesk proudly provides additional free business growth guides, books, and strategy calls.
See what we are about, and schedule a free consultation with us. We’ll take the time to learn more about your business and offer solutions to foster top talent and lower operational costs for your company.
Experience The Difference
MyOutDesk can save you up to 70% on employment cost
Claim a free business strategy consultation & ‘Grow Virtual’ Guide
Did You Know? MyOutDesk’s origin story is set during the last global financial crisis of 2008. Yes, that’s right — our business started by scaling businesses with virtual assistants during a recession! Our first client in 2008 went from five to seventeen VAs with a completely revamped organizational model in short order, and he told MyOutDesk, “Our virtual professionals have shaved $250,000 off our monthly overhead.”
