Virtual Assistants… what do they do? 

Feb 17, 2021

Do I need one? Do I want to become one?

“So, what does a virtual assistant actually do?”

Simply put, a virtual assistant is someone who helps a business manage its everyday tasks online. Many VA’s have different specialties. Some are generalists, some are tech specialists, some are super marketing savvy, and some are more creative, just to name a few. 

Do you want to hire a VA or are you interested in being a VA? Read below for some helpful hints on both.

Make sure you have an idea of the tasks you’d like to outsource or are interested in learning how to do. This list does not have to be set in stone, but it can be helpful when you’re trying to narrow down your options for hiring or becoming a virtual assistant. Being specific with what you need from a VA so you can focus on what you are good at can only end in better results for your business and becoming a VA with a specialization you enjoy doing can only make your day and tasks that much more enjoyable.

Here is a list of some tasks you can think about outsourcing to a virtual assistant or focus on if you are thinking of becoming a VA? 

Different Types of Virtual Assistant Specialization (Some, but certainly not all listed below)

Blogging

  • Proofreading
  • Editing
  • Coming up with blog topics
  • Finding sources
  • Interviewing sources
  • Formatting & Scheduling 
  • Tagging and organizing
  • Hiding pins in posts
  • Monitoring comments for spam
  • Responding to comments

Graphics

  • Social media graphics 
  • Flyers 
  • Website banners 
  • Postcards 
  • Workbooks 
  • Ebooks 
  • Presentations 
  • Photo editing 
  • Newsletter headers + layout 
  • Sourcing stock photos

eCommerce 

  • eCommerce product data entry
  • Deal with transactions
  • Manage the inventory on a daily basis
  • Write SEO-friendly product descriptions on the client’s website
  • Provide 24/7 customer service support through email & live chat
  • Make and manage order processing
  • Edit product images
  • Manage product categories
  • Coupon data entry
  • Help with product returns and exchange

 Administrative Assistant

  • Bookkeeping
  • Travel arrangement
  • Schedule management
  • Customer management
  • Manage emails, calls, and text
  • Keep up with the latest industry trends
  • Manage a contact list in CRM
  • Manage calendar and set up meetings
  • Format and manage documents and contracts

Social Media 

  • Create business’ Facebook, LinkedIn, Google + pages
  • Form social media profiles on various platforms
  • Research fresh content for social media posts
  • Schedule posts using social media tools
  • Grow & engage the audience on various social channels
  • Set up performance metrics and measuring analytics
  • Monitor competitors

Website

  • Adding new pages
  • Updating pages
  • Theme + plugin updates
  • Setting up opt-ins
  • Creating landing pages
  • Managing membership sites
  • Website setup
  • Maintaining websites

Research Assistant

  • Compile research data
  • Search for guest blogging opportunities
  • Search for important business-specific statistics
  • Identify growth opportunities 
  • Compare prices to determine the right vendor
  • Present the researched data in simple, clear & concise format
  • Search for credible sites for accurate information based on needs

Data Entry 

  • Review data for accuracy
  • Prepare, compile, and sort the data for entry
  • Keep a track record of your activities and tasks
  • Generate reports and enter data into the CRM system
  • Perform data management – update data and delete unnecessary files

Bookkeeping Assistant

  • Payroll processing
  • Inventory management
  • Manage revenue expenditure
  • Excel bookkeeping
  • Bank and credit card reconciliation
  • Budgeting and year-end bookkeeping
  • Project cash flow and account reconciliation
  • QuickBooks management
  • Follow through record keeping and bookkeeping procedures

Marketing Assistant

  • Social media marketing
  • Conduct keyword research
  • Create and run campaigns
  • Promote blog post on the company website
  • Develop fresh innovative content for all social media channels
  • Research and identify new business leads 
  • Manage and set up mail merges 

Email

  • Newsletter design
  • List management
  • Tag management
  • Importing subscribers
  • Creating email funnels
  • Creating opt-in forms
  • Monitoring inboxes
  • Setting up email systems
  • Writing copy for emails

If this is piquing your interest or think you need help in some of those areas, here’s the list of desirable qualities in a V.A. …look for these if you are hiring a virtual assistant or ask yourself if you have these and want to be a virtual assistant.

  • Good communication both verbally and in written form
  • Resourceful 
  • Manage expectations and instill confidence
  • Work independently without supervision
  • Resilient, versatile, and flexible enough to adapt to any changes
  • Be understanding, empathetic, tolerant, and patient
  • Make sure you’re reliable, dependable, and consistent
  • Add real value to your client’s business
  • Manage your time wisely
  • You are or can be confident, organized, trustworthy/honest, professional, accessible, approachable, a problem solver, self-motivated and proactive

If you’re in the market for a VA, make sure you ask them what kind of tasks they like to do and are best at, and also make sure to ask if there are any specific tasks they do not offer. If you’re a VA, keep a list of the stuff you love doing. Do you have a specialty? That way when potential clients ask you what you primarily do, you have an idea of how to answer.

Virtual Assistants University

Looking for a VA or want to become one? Look no further, Buying Time has what you need.

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Everything you need to get your work-from-home life started so that you can live the life that you want (& deserve). https://virtualassistantsuniversity.com/