Address your fears when considering Tasks to Outsource to a Virtual Assistant
It is not unusual to have some concerns if you have never worked with a VA before, but there is no need to worry. When you outsource, you can enlist the help of someone who can free up your time, fill your skill gaps, and generally make your life easier. We have compiled a list of six common fears before you outsource to a virtual assistant, along with the reasons why you do not need to worry. Maybe you have experienced one or more of these fears when considering tasks to outsource to a virtual assistant. If so, we hope you will change your mind by the end of this article and start a beneficial relationship with a VA soon. Honestly, there are so many reasons to outsource, that you will never look back!
Can They Perform the Tasks as Well As I Can?
Professional VAs are trained in a range of skills that are beneficial to your company. They bring a wealth of experience from their previous work to your tasks and carry them out to a high standard. If you are concerned about them not performing duties in the way you would like, mention this at the initial meeting with your VA. They will take the time to understand the way you do business.
Discuss which tasks they will take on and any business-specific ways of working you would like them to adhere to. One of a VA’s skills is to adapt to each client and carry out their tasks as if they were a permanent member of staff, tied to that brand.
If you are on the same page when it comes to which tasks to outsource to a virtual assistant and how you want them completed, the VA will ensure they meet and often surpass your expectations.
The chances are that you will not be an expert at every aspect of running a business so, if you don’t want to trust anyone else with a certain duty, keep hold of that for yourself and charge your VA with performing the roles that don’t fit your skillset as neatly. After all, it is all about teamwork and playing to your strengths.
A VA will take the time to understand the way you do business. Click To Tweet
How Can A VA Be an Expert At So Many Different Tasks?
When you see the sheer number of potential tasks to outsource to a virtual assistant listed on their website, you might be concerned and wonder if they are a “jack of all trades, master of none”. But a good VA surrounds themselves with experts in a range of fields that they can call on when needed.
They may have a content expert, a social media whizz, or a graphic designer, amongst many others, available to carry out their relevant jobs to provide you with the most rounded and full service possible. When you outsource to a virtual assistant, they bring access to all manner of skills that you might not currently have at your disposal. That has to be great for your business, right?
Will it Be Expensive?
Right, we do need to talk about money. Indeed, a VA will probably ask for a higher hourly rate than you would pay an employee. BUT…there are many ways in which outsourcing to a VA pays you back.
Firstly, it frees up your time to invest back into the business. You are the driving force and the more you can concentrate on building your company, the more profit you can make. Secondly, you don’t have any of the associated costs of employing someone.
A VA works remotely so they pay for their computer, internet connection, heating, light, electricity, tea, and coffee. You don’t have to invest in larger premises, provide benefits, sort out tax, pensions, and NI, advertise and interview for their role or pay them sick or holiday pay. All in all, you save money, time, and hassle in the long run by hiring a VA.
To give you an idea of the expenses that you save, the Association of Professional Virtual Assistants (APVA) found in a recent survey that “a VA working 30 hours per week and charging £25 per hour was potentially only ‘taking home’ £18.03 of that hourly rate, as the rest needed to be set aside to cover essential ‘business necessities”.
a VA working 30 hours per week and charging £25 per hour was potentially only ‘taking home’ £18.03 of that hourly rate, as the rest needed to be set aside to cover essential ‘business necessities’. Click To Tweet
Will They Take a Lot of Training and Supervision?
Of course, you will need to spend some time onboarding your VA, but a good virtual assistant can hit the ground running and almost instantly make your life easier. This is a key attribute of a VA, once they know how you like to work, they can blend seamlessly into the business and complete their tasks without fuss.
If you find you have to supervise them more than you had hoped, the chances are that they are not the VA for you. Check reviews and testimonials before you hire a VA to make sure you are working with one of the vast majority of efficient and professional assistants. Also, make sure that they belong to a trade body, such as the APVA. We are proud to be an approved member.
Check reviews and testimonials before you hire a VA to make sure you are working with one of the vast majority of efficient and professional assistants. Click To Tweet
Will I Have to Give Out Confidential Information?
When you have tasks to outsource to a virtual assistant, occasionally they will include private and confidential information, such as your passwords and sensitive data. Whilst this can be a worry initially, ensuring you have a confidentiality clause in the contract is key to easing these fears. No legitimate VA will breach your privacy and betray your trust, but having that legal backing adds an extra layer of confidence for you.
There are programs available to allow you to provide access to sites and accounts, without revealing the actual passwords. We use LastPass with our clients, which works perfectly. The business support site KoffeeKlatch endorses these kinds of programs, referring to them as “a robust and resilient system that you can control.”
No legitimate VA will breach your privacy and betray your trust, but having that legal backing adds an extra layer of confidence for you. Click To Tweet
How Do I Know My Virtual Assistant is Working Efficiently?
Letting a virtual assistant get on with your tasks remotely may seem like a leap of faith, but it needn’t be. You can keep tabs on their work progress using all manner of productivity tools. Programs like Monday, Asana, and Clickup are all designed to keep you up to date on where your projects are and you can use them to set deadlines and check that the VA is sticking to them.
Many virtual assistants also use a timer app to show how long they took to perform their tasks. You might pick a program such as Toggl or Clockify to designate projects and apportion time to them for your VA.
Ready to Outsource to a Virtual Assistant?
If you are ready to outsource to a virtual assistant then contact us for a free consultation. We can tell you more about the wonders of working with a VA and how we can save you time, stress, and money. Let’s chat today.
