I was talking to a friend the other day and as we conversed, I realized that she had no idea what I do for a living. I’ll admit that I was a little offended that she didn’t know what a Virtual Assistant was (even after I’m sure I’ve explained it at least 10 times).
As the conversation went deeper, I was shocked to find out that in 2014 people are still lumping Virtual Assistants into one category. Let me begin by saying that I have tons of respect for Virtual Assistants that provide administrative services as their core offering, but there are Virtual Assistants out there that have other skill sets.
A Virtual Assistant (by my own definition of course) is an individual or team of individuals that provide professional services primarily to business owners, professionals and entrepreneurs. These services are completed using the VA’s own equipment and resources. The client gets professional support without taking on the additional costs associated with having a full or part-time employee. These costs include vacation time, employee taxes, employee benefits, sick time and worker’s compensation to name a few.
So what does a VA offer? There is really no right or wrong answer to this question. A virtual assistant can offer anything they want to because in most instances they’re the boss. Here is a short list of the different types of virtual assistance available today for people on the go!
The Administrative Expert
We all know that back office support is vital to the success of any business. Administrative Virtual Assistants are responsible for helping you get your business organized on the back-end. Some of the projecst this type of support can provide includes:
- Organizing your online calendar or email system
- Helping you manage your customers
- Creating and editing company forms and manuals
- Appointment scheduling and confirmations
- Virtual document management
- General transcription
The Tech Guru
Yes, there are Virtual Assistants out there that are ultimate techies! Services can vary depending on which company you’re talking to. Some of the tasks these experts can provide include:
- Website design and maintenance
- Custom graphics
- Setting up and managing email marketing software
The Bookkeeper
This type of professional specializes in bookkeeping services. They often perform tasks like managing client expenses, online bill pay, company payroll, etc.
The Real Estate Assistant
I bet this one caught you by surprise. Yes, VA’s can have a niche like real estate. Professionals in this industry tend to work solely with companies or individuals in the real estate industry. They perform tasks like:
- Adding and updating property listings
- Marketing new listings
- Blogging
- Setting up virtual tours
Online Marketers
Marketing is the lifeline of every business, without it growing a business can be tough. There are virtual assistants that come from a marketing background. These professionals can be a great ally in helping you generate additional income from your business. Some of the marketing tasks they can perform include:
- Creating and implementing content marketing strategies
- Managing your Pay Per Click campaigns
- Search engine optimization
- Managing your social media accounts
- Create and execute email marketing campaigns
Now of course these are not the only type of niches that VA’s can have, I just wanted to show you the diversity of the industry. So the next time you hear the term VA, dig a little deeper and get an understanding of what they bring to the table.
Do you have any experience working with a Virtual Assistant? Are you a VA that would like to join in on the conversation? I’d love to connect with you!
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All the best,
