Are you looking for someone to manage your business that doesn’t cost a fortune? Are you tired of the sound of your own voice yet? If so, virtual personal assistants can help. Here are 10 tips to help you hire a virtual assistant and get more done faster.
Know What You Need
Before hiring a VA, take stock of all the tasks that keep you from focusing on revenue-generating activities. Then prioritize those tasks and determine how much time each one takes up in a typical week. If a task isn’t generating revenue or isn’t something only you can do well, it’s best to delegate it. You may also want to consider hiring multiple VAs, each working on different projects so that no single person has too many responsibilities at once.
What Is Your Budget?
The first question you should ask yourself is how much you can afford to pay for this position. Virtual assistants charge different rates based on their experience and skill level. You can expect to pay anywhere from $10 to $100 per hour for a basic VA, while more experienced VAs may cost as much as $200 an hour or more. Be sure to choose one that fits in with your budget so that you don’t overspend or underspend on their services.
Have A Trial Period
It’s always smart to try out new things before committing to them. When hiring a VPA, this means having them work with you on one or two projects before signing on long-term. This way, if something goes wrong or they don’t meet your expectations, then there aren’t any hard feelings involved when parting ways (plus, it will save both parties time).
Check Their Work History
It might be difficult to verify the work history of your potential virtual assistant since they won’t be working in an office with you every day. However, there are ways around this obstacle by asking for samples of their past work (e.g., emails) or speaking with past clients who have hired them before. This will give you an idea of what kind of results they achieve with their clients and whether or not they’re a good fit for your team!
Ask About Their Skillset
When hiring a Virtual Personal Assistant, it’s important to make sure they have the right skill set for the job. If you need someone who can write blog posts or manage social media accounts, make sure those are among their core competencies before making an offer.
Be Available & Responsive
Next, ask how often they’re available and how quickly they respond to emails and phone calls. If they need at least 24 hours’ notice to schedule time around other clients’ schedules but rarely respond within 24 hours themselves, it’s likely not going to be a good fit. The same goes if they don’t seem very responsive when dealing with urgent matters — those are the kinds of things you’ll want someone who can take care of immediately so that it doesn’t become an issue later on down the road.
Be Specific
Your VA should be able to understand what you want and then deliver it in a timely manner. If they don’t know exactly what needs to be done, it’s unlikely they’ll get it right the first time around — which could lead to mistakes that could cost you money or time spent fixing them later on down the road. A good VPA will know what you want them to do, but they need clear instructions on when and how they should do it. If you’re asking them to schedule a meeting or make travel arrangements for you, being specific about the details is key. If possible, provide examples of previous projects that were successful so your new employee can get an idea of what works best for you.
Give Positive Feedback
It’s important to remember that while your assistant may be working for you, they are also giving up their time for you. In order to keep them motivated and help them improve their skills, it’s important that you give them positive feedback when they do an exceptional job on something or solve a problem for you quickly and efficiently.
Conclusion:
Depending on the size of your business, you may need to think about outsourcing some of your work to a professional virtual personal assistant. These tips are helpful when searching for a professional assistant. If you do not have an “in” with someone who can refer them, then make sure that they are asking the questions that you want to be asked in an interview. If it’s not clear why you need a VA, then you should not be hiring anyone.
