How a virtual assistant can help freelancers to free up time for business

The way people turn to Google or Siri to answer their questions, the same way business owners will turn to virtual assistants when they need support. If you are serious about growing your business, the first thing you need to consider is what of your current workload you can delegate to handle more business.

That's where the virtual assistant steps in. A lot of independents are real heroes in doing what they do best. It is usually the reason why they started their business. However, keeping a business up and running always demands a lot of administrative or repetitive tasks as well. If you are not feeling happy doing them, they will drain you of your energy and take all the fun away. It doesn't have to be like that.

That's exactly what a virtual assistant loves doing most! It feels great helping others achieve their goals!

A virtual assistant can help you with almost anything! Some are specialised in administration, others prefer to help you out with customer service or even sales. Some prefer marketing and bookkeeping, others enjoy engaging on social media.

If you are looking for help with a certain item on your task list, don't hesitate to ask your virtual assistant if she/he can help you out. If not, she/he might be able to direct you to someone else.

Your virtual assistant is a business owner herself/himself, and she/he knows what it takes to be one. Not only does a virtual assistant support you by taking over tasks, she/he will also help you decide and brainstorm with you how to reach your goals.

Additional benefit of working with an assistant is that you have found yourself a business partner who is interested in your business the way you are and wants you to move forward.

Flexibility is a top asset! You can contact your virtual assistant for a small project, one or a few hours per week, to deliver a certain job or as long or short you deem necessary. A virtual assistant offers you that kind of freedom! No strings attached!

Becoming a business owner is something that develops itself out of your passion, your drive to help your customers with the value you have to offer. Or because you felt the need to have more freedom and to be independent to do whatever you love doing most. Being your own boss is challenging but fun!

But… before you realise, you are drowning in all the tasks that come along with being independent. The laws and rules are very strict and you need to keep track of them all. Soon you feel overwhelmed and you seem to not have any time left to keep your business growing. So do you keep on swimming and trying to keep your head above water level? Or do you seek help?

Think about a virtual assistant. You have found yourself someone to offer you time and expertise. That's how we can help each other! Your assistant will relieve you of the chores you dislike or you are not good at. By investing in a virtual assistant, you are investing in your own business freeing up time that you used to spend on your administration.

Step 1. Start writing down daily what kind of tasks you are occupied with.
Step 2. Make a checklist of tasks that can easily be taken over online.
Step 3. From that check list define which skills your personal virtual assistant needs to have and from there you can start looking for a virtual assistant who can help.

A typical list of tasks a virtual assistant can help you with.

1. WEBSITE

• Website design and website maintenance
• Creating landing page or event page,
• Posting new content
• Checking and fixing non-working links,
• Tracking of your website traffic,
• Optimising your website for SEO purposes.

2. CONTENT

• Creating and sending a digital newsletter,
• Copywriting for websites, brochures and mailings, design of brochures, folders, business cards
• Creation and redaction of content,
• Correction of texts,
• Proofreading and Writing of (SEO-proof) blog posts,
• Creating, editing and uploading of visuals for e-books, blogs, articles, websites, Searching for suitable copyright free visuals / pictures,
• Keyword research for SEO,
• Research for content for blogs or articles,
• SEO-proof product descriptions for your e-shop.

3. SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT

• Creation of your business profile on Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Instagram
• Use of social media in your name
• Creating visuals to go with the content
• Banner creation for your profile on Facebook, LinkedIn, Google My Business
• Planning of social media posts
• Social media follow-up
• Design and editing of visuals for social media.

4. ADMINISTRATION

• E-mailmanagement
• Updating and segmenting of your mailing database list
• Creation of business cards, folders, brochures, letters, etc.
• Creating surveys, sending them, collecting results, follow up and preparing graphical display of the results
• Customer content inquiries
• Taking notes and writing reports at online meetings
• Preparing of offers
• Making comparative studies (f.e. of prices for a new purchase)
• Transcribing of audio or video material (f.e. voice recordings, subtitles, etc. )
• General support: booking of tickets, restaurant reservations, etc.
• File management in the cloud: Dropbox, Google Drive and other
• Digital organisation and archiving
• Setting up a database
• Data entry
• Keeping database entries up-to-date: articles, clients, suppliers
• Translations

5. ORGANISATION

• Organisation and coordination of (online) meetings
• Booking of business trips: flights, hotels, taxis, rental cars
• Making a travel itinerary
• Creating invites
• Booking of locations, venues
• Help with attendees registration and coordination
• Finding business relation gifts and ordering them
• Preparation of the necessary documents: attendee lists, certificates, etc.

6. OFFICE MANAGEMENT TASKS

• Typing of letters, e-mails, invoices
• Creating spreadsheets and graphics
• Creating forms
• Creating templates
• Business presentations in your house style
• Putting processes and systems in order
• Listing of incoming invoices
• Creating and sending invoices (digital)
• Preparing your accounting books before you submit them to an accountant.

Do you see any of the tasks that take lots of your time and thinking of having them outsourced? Then you should definitely try working with an assistant.

Do you have any more questions you would like to see answered?

Don't hesitate and book an online meeting with Astrid Van den Maagdenberg - aka Online Octopus, your virtual assistant to be.