So you are a business owner and now feel it is the right time to hire a Virtual Assistant. Here are some things to consider when taking on a VA and what the benefits are to you.
First and foremost, costs!
Hiring a Virtual Assistant isn't the same as hiring an employee. Hiring a Virtual Assistant can often save you money in the long run as you don't have the following costs to consider;
- National Insurance contributions
- Pension contributions
- Running PAYE payroll for them
- Supplying them with office space, desk, telephone, pc etc.
What can you outsource to a Virtual Assistant?
Virtual Assistants hold a vast array of skills and experience, the most common types of tasks outsourced to a Virtual Assistant are;
General adminstration/PA related duties
This can be anything from typing up or formatting documents to managing your email or booking travel and accomodation.
Social media and marketing
An essential part of any business now is social media marketing, this can be a time consuming element to your business and if you don't have the knowledge or skills it may be more effecitve to hire a Virtual Assistant who specilaises in this area. They will ensure you get the best results out of each campaign whilst also supplying you with critical feedback and analytics on how your campaigns have performed.
Anything else!
Any tasks that you constantly keep putting to the bottom of your to do list because you never seem to have the time to complete them. Make your VA aware of these tasks, you never know, they may be able to take on more than you think.
Essentially, it is best to outsource any tasks that are required to be done on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. These are the tasks that will be the most effective in helping to free up your time.
What to check a Virtual Assistant has in place before you take them on
Professional Indemnity insurance
Virtual Assistants have access to personal data, contact details, intellectual property, cloud storage, bank accounts, social media accounts and even homes so having the required insurance in place is key.
Data Protection
Every Virtual Assistant should be registered with the ICO (Information Commissioners Office). This is to show that they comply with the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations) when it comes to handling client's sensitve data.
Turnaround times and availability
Many of the tasks you require a VA to carry out will have some sort of deadline, ensure you agree with the VA when they will be able to complete the task or project and more importantly when they can start!
Rates
The average hourly rate for a VA in the UK is between £15 and £35 per hour. Ensure you ask what is included in this charge i.e. telephone calls, postage, use of particular systems.
Security
As VAs work remotely they must have standard security featues in place such as, up-to-date antivirus software and secure off-site data back ups.
Hiring a Virtual Assistant can be so beneficial to any business, from freeing up your time to helping to come up with ideas to help grow your business, why not book a discovery call today to find out how I can help you.
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