The Benefits of Hiring a Virtual Assistant

As a business owner or solo entrepreneur, you most likely wear many hats to maintain the success of your business. Effectively managing your stress and taking time for yourself is important to avoid burn out and ultimately avoid the failure of your business. Overworking, isolation and poor time management all contribute to high levels of stress.

Especially in today’s economy, many business owners are choosing to do all of the work themselves rather than opting to hire onsite staff. An alternative to hiring additional staff is to outsource the extra work to a Virtual Assistant. Hiring a Virtual Assistant can be one of the best decisions you could make to maintain the success of your business. A Virtual Assistant is an independent contractor who is dedicated to helping businesses succeed by providing the same service required from onsite support staff - except a Virtual Assistant works from a remote office and uses his or own equipment and software.

Virtual Assistants are experienced administrative professionals who have decided to work for themselves. Often times, Virtual Assistants have worked not only in administrative roles but in marketing, Information Technology (IT), and Real Estate, depending on their credentials and past experience. Using communication technology such as the internet, phone and fax machine to remain in contact, a Virtual Assistant essentially works as a business partner who can be available as often or as little as required, saving you money and valuable time.

Deciding to hire a Virtual Assistant can save you not only money but resources often associated with hiring onsite staff including: taxes, holiday pay, benefits, equipment and office space.
If you are contemplating the decision, the benefits are endless to hiring a Virtual Assistant. Below are seven main advantages:

Make Time for Yourself
When you hire a Virtual Assistant, you create more time to focus on establishing yourself as a business owner and generating revenue. Your business will no longer be running you. A Virtual Assistant will allow you to take the reins and fully run and concentrate on your business and your future.

Cut the Costs
When you hire a Virtual Assistant, you will only pay for the time used. You do not pay for benefits, taxes, lunch breaks or vacation. Whether you require assistance for one project, one hour or for a couple of months, you only pay a Virtual Assistant on an as needed basis.

Save on Space
When you hire a Virtual Assistant, there is no need to use up valuable office space and provide expensive equipment. A Virtual Assistant works from a remote office and uses his or her own equipment and software.

An All in One Solution
Hiring a Virtual Assistant who provides full business support, will help to create even more time for you to focus on the direction of your business. A Virtual Assistant who provides full business support is essentially your ‘invisible’ business partner; developing marketing campaigns, public relations strategies and managing day to day business operations.

Marketing Know-how
Marketing strategies are quickly expanding to include the use of the internet and social media outlets. A Virtual Assistant, who is aware of and experienced with internet and social media marketing, is one step ahead of the rest! It is difficult to own a thriving business these days without an informative website. And a business present on social media sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter is opening itself up to new possibilities, providing itself with access to vast amounts of information and generating tons of leads and traffic.

You are Hiring a Professional
Keep in mind that when you hire a Virtual Assistant, you are hiring an individual who, prior to working for himself or herself, spent years working in the workforce as an Administrative or Executive Assistant. A high-quality Virtual Assistant is usually tech savvy and will have the necessary skills, knowledge and education to provide your business with top quality service.

Increased Productivity
As a behind-the-scenes partner, your Virtual Assistant will be available to ensure your business runs smoothly. Whether you are on a business trip and require a document emailed or faxed, or require a presentation complete with short notice; your Virtual Assistant will efficiently complete tasks, and enable you to run a productive and prosperous business.

Whether your business has been, or is close to being, launched and requires ‘start up’ assistance, or you find you are running yourself thin by taking on work that can be handled by an assistant; the benefits of hiring a Virtual Assistant, especially a Virtual Assistant who provides full business support, are endless.