What is a Virtual Assistant
It seems like the term Virtual Assistant has popped up everywhere. You might ask, what exactly is a virtual assistant?
What is a Virtual Assistant?
A Virtual Assistant (VA) is someone that offers a range of professional services to businesses. This may sound like a typical administrative job but, it is quite different. The duties of a VA are completed from an off-site location. Working off-site is also referred to as working remotely.
What does a Virtual Assistant do?
Virtual Assistants provide administrative and technical support to clients. A VA offers the same type of support that employees are able to provide in a traditional office environment. However, these tasks are completed off-site rather than in an office.
The duties of a VA are not limited to clerical duties. Many Virtual Assistants provide additional services like graphic design, web design, social media marketing, as well as other services. Some other basic services might include, but are not strictly limited to:
- Appointment setting
- Travel arrangements
- Customer service
- Website management
- Email management
- Calendar management
- Social media management
- Project management
- Research
- Writing
- Bookkeeping
- Graphic design
Some VA’s also specialize in a specific area of expertise. For example, a social media VA may only provide Pinterest or Instagram management services. While others may offer a variety of services within a specific industry. For instance, a medical virtual assistant provides services for clients in the medical field, while a real estate virtual assistant provides services to those in the real estate industry.
Most Virtual Assistants are independent contractors running their own business that is based at home. This allows for flexibility in their work schedule, while still allowing them to provide support to the client.
Who does a Virtual Assitant help?
Virtual Assistants can help individuals, small businesses, and large corporations. In fact, working off-site affords a VA the ability to be available outside normal business hours of most traditional office jobs.
Being a business owner is very demanding and time is a precious commodity. Hiring a VA to manage the administrative tasks in a business is essential to save time and grow a business.
Could your business benefit from tasks provided by a VA? Consider hiring a Virtual Assistant today.