Important Benefits from Working with a Virtual Assistant
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Sometimes as good as the idea of hiring a virtual assistant sounds, you may be wondering what are the benefits of working with a virtual assistant. Well, I would like to share some important benefits I know by working with a virtual assistant. You may be saying, well, of course you are going to say that Teresa….however, I have experienced these things as well when I utilize a virtual assistant to help me in my business.
Increased Productivity – When you are able to focus on your main money generating activities in your business, you will become more productive. You can ask your virtual assistant to take over those tasks that you don’t enjoy doing or just do not have the time to do.
More Flexible Schedule – With having another person to help you with a variety of tasks, from administrative to technical or marketing, you will not have to put in as many hours. You will be able to create a flexible schedule for yourself as well because you can go to a meeting attend a conference, or go on vacation, while your virtual assistant is working on your business projects.
Less Stress – By allowing your virtual assistant to handle the administrative tasks and those tasks you are not strong at, you aren’t as stressed to try and have to figure out how to get certain things done. You won’t be the only one to have to solve the problems in your business. Virtual assistants are great for brainstorming sessions as well.
Learn New Skills- While working with a virtual assistant, you can have your new business team member to teach you how to do this tasks at a pace convenient for you and in the meanwhile you will increase your skill level as well. It is very helpful to any business owner to know how to do these tasks, just in case of illness or other unforeseen occurrences.
Improve Customer Relationships – When you have a virtual assistant, your customer relations will likely become better due to the fact that you have someone who handles these interactions for you and when you do interact with you clients, you generate a better professional image to your customer.
Expand your Reach - You may find that by working with a virtual assistant you make additional connections by association. Now, I wouldn’t say this is a given, however, I know that for my business (and I think this is good business), if there are two of my clients that I feel with make successful cross promotions for each other.
And to me… the most important benefit is a given, however, I will add it here….increased profits for your business. Think about this. Not having to worry about handling tasks you don’t have time for or don’t want to do, that makes you happier, which results in less stress.
Once you hire your new business partner (virtual assistant) and you don’t have to do the various administrative tasks, these things are still getting done for your business. So if you have a meeting with a potential client or a business conference you would like to attend, while you are gone, your business is still running because you have someone who cares about your business.
Also, a virtual assistant is someone you can turn to help with problems, issues or for brainstorming sessions. The infamous saying comes to mind….”two minds are better than one”, right?
Next, now that you have created openings in your schedule, you get to fill those times with those business tasks you want to do and concentrate on your strengths.
For your customers, they will recognize the organization of your business and thus improving your customer relations. When customers have a great business experience, they will tell others about it. And that means…you got it, more customers for your business.
Teresa Morrow is on Board of Advisors with The WECAI Network ™ (http://www.wecai.org) and Editor at Large at WE Magazine for Women ™ (http://www.wemagazineforwomen). She has over 15 years working with various industries to include property management, landscape architecture and financial planning firms in executive administrative positions. In 2007, Teresa started Key Business Partners, a virtual assistance & online promotional company for coaches, speakers and writers. She cares about her clients and is available for 20 minute free consultation. You can contact her via email at keybusinesspartners @ verizon.net or visit her website at http://www.keybusinesspartners.com.
Sparkplugging Founder Wendy Piersall is dang passionate about helping people start & grow a business while maintaining life balance (somehow).
Dawud Miracle has one focus: to help you get it. The it? How your website, and blog, can change the way you do business. You can find out more at 
All of these do sound like great benefits, but to me it’s the downside of a virtual assistant that is my greatest stumbling block.
Maybe it’s an issue of trust, but the idea of opening up, not just my business, but my personal live to someone I can’t see/feel/touch scares me. I don’t know, but I really like my assistant to be in the same room with me.
How do I get over this?
Dane Carlson’s last blog post..Running A Company From Home
Thanks for writing this piece.
I had heard about Virtual Assistants, of course, but this post really helps me see the benefits of using one.
I especially liked the angle of cross-promotion. It’s something that I hadn’t thought about, but it only makes sense.
Laura Spencer’s last blog post..How Will the Economic Stimulus Package Affect You?
I’m doing some experiments working with a remote assistant. One thing I’ve learned, is that you need to allow plenty of time to get up to speed. It takes awhile to get someone to the point that they are useful and at first it might even take you more time than it saves.
Mark - Productivity501’s last blog post..Reader Question - Organized Work Desk
Mark, it’s no different to training a PA in the corporate world and showing them what’s needed to support you in the best possible way. A truly professional VA will come to the task already very skilled and experienced and will know what questions to ask and how to show you to get the best out of the support they provide you.
Kathie Thomas, A Claytons Secretary’s last blog post..If my Virtual Assistant happens to quit?
I concur with Kathie on that point Mark. Most of the time when you hire a VA you can ask the questions to ensure that they are skilled in those areas that you need them to be skilled in. Also, if you would like, you can ask the virtual assistant for client references to ensure the skills you are needing have been completed with other clients.
Yes, there are sometimes the situations where someone is new and they want to receive clients so much, they may say they know how to do a skill even though they may not possess the skills you require.
Also, I would like to add that when you hire a VA (at least I know for me) they are wishing to create a long lasting relationship and if you have the patience and give them the time to learn new skills, you may get rewards in return.
Thanks for your input Mark.
And thank you Kathie for your response too.
Sincerely,
Teresa
Teresa Morrow’s last blog post..5 Factors to Think About Before Searching for a Virtual Assistant
Thank you Laura for your kind response. I am glad you enjoyed the post.
Teresa
Teresa Morrow’s last blog post..5 Factors to Think About Before Searching for a Virtual Assistant
In my situation, I didn’t realize how long it took me to gain the specialized knowledge that I’m trying to pass on to my remote assistant. The type of stuff I’m needing isn’t the type of thing any VA is likely to have encountered before so it has taken about 1.5 months to really get into a groove.
For the things that were routine my assistant has been incredibly efficient once she understood what was needed.
Mark - Productivity501’s last blog post..Reader Question - Organized Work Desk
My husband hired a virtual assistant last year. In addition to assisting him with some contract work, when we were considering moving overseas we had her research several countries we were considering. It was great and really affordable.
Shannanb aka Mommy Bits’s last blog post..Kellogg’s + Girls on the Run Int’l = Sucsess
I have received a few nice referrals from my virtual office in a short amount of time (I have only been there two months). It wound up being a a nice resource because most of the office fits my target market.
Beset wishes.
Dane, having a Virtual Assistant does not mean they have to be in another country, or even another state. My longest term client literally lives only 5 mins away from me and we have built a strong business relationship and a friendship over the past 11 years.
Although I’m sure many VAs from everywhere would love to provide you support and show you their abilities, there are sometimes jobs that need to be done where the VA needs to be local for various reasons.
My long-term client and I speak periodically on the phone but most of the time we email each other. We often attend networking events together, because our ideal client target market is almost the same, so we go out and network together too.
But if your chosen VA is truly virtual, i.e. never face-to-face, then you can start off with small tasks and as you get to know each other, you can build that up.
I do service clients I’ve never met because they are interstate and/or overseas - they have mainly come via referral from others who know me and have experienced my support. Do you know anyone who could refer a VA to you that they have personal experience of?
Kathie Thomas, A Claytons Secretary’s last blog post..Do you want to succeed as a VA?
@ Dane Carlson:
Hey Dane - thanks so much for stopping by!!
Sorry nobody responded to you earlier, I just found your comment had been stuck in Akismet for several days.
In fact, Lorelle from Wordpress just turned me on to a fantastic script that made it actually possible to find your comment in the first place - will be posting about it soon! I found 5+ others along with yours!
I’ve never heard of Virtual Assistants before, but I think I want one. Is the only difference between a Personal Assistant and a Virtual Assistant, the connection through the internet? Secondly, where does one start looking for a VA? My business is still growing, but I could see that 6 months from now a VA could really help.
Megapixelss last blog post..Really Good Reasons To Buy A Digital Camera Online
Megapixels, you can Google ‘Virtual Assistant’ and find many VA networks and associations out there. Or you can go to http://vanetworknews.com/va-organisations/ and contact some of the organisations there who will assist you with finding the right VA. And yes, a VA is like a PA, only virtual. I’ve been one for over 14 years.