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Virtual Assistants

Virtual Assistant Cost: Factors, Plans & Pricing Insights

Virtual Assistant Cost: Factors, Plans & Pricing Insights

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Wanting to know common virtual assistant rates?

In general, virtual assistant rates vary between $3 per hour up to $20+ per hour.

My name is Connor Gillivan. I’m an entrepreneur and I’ve been hiring virtual assistants for the past 10 years. I’ve hired 100s of VAs for scaling my companies to 6, 7, and 8 figures with an exit in 2019.

When I first started hiring VAs, I too wondered:

How much does a virtual assistant cost?

What virtual assistant rates should I expect to pay?

In this article, we’ll dive into everything you need to know about virtual assistants and the rates associated with them.

Here’s what we’ll cover: 

  • The Rise of Virtual Assistants
  • What Services Do Virtual Assistants Offer?
  • Average Cost of Virtual Assistants
  • Virtual Assistant Package Examples
  • Factors Influencing Virtual Assistant Pricing
  • What to Consider When Comparing Virtual Assistant Packages
  • How to Negotiate Virtual Assistant Rates
  • Maximizing Your Virtual Assistant Partnership
  • Is Hiring a Virtual Assistant Worth It?

The Rise of Virtual Assistants

The demand for virtual assistants has grown rapidly in recent years.

According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, the number of virtual assistants in the United States alone has increased by an average of 10% every year since 2016.

The growth rate is expected to continue over the next decade, with virtual assistants becoming increasingly more sought-after and in-demand.

The rise of virtual assistants is due to the increasing need for businesses to streamline their operations and reduce costs.

Virtual assistants can provide a range of services, from customer service and data entry to more complex tasks such as scheduling and project management.

They can also be used to automate mundane tasks, freeing up time for employees to focus on more important tasks.

The 2020 pandemic also caused more business owners to look for remote talent, instead of only being focused on talent that could work in a local office.

Needless to say, virtual assistants are on the rise and it’s important to learn how to incorporate them into your business.

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What Services Do Virtual Assistants Offer?

The range of services that are offered by virtual assistants is vast and varied, but certainly not limited.

They can be hired for:

  • administrative support
  • customer service
  • technical support
  • project management
  • marketing
  • sales support
  • data entry
  • online research
  • content management

They can also provide creative services, such as:

  • web design
  • logo design
  • video editing
  • animation
  • graphic design.

Finally, virtual assistants can also handle: 

  • virtual event planning
  • social media management
  • virtual bookkeeping
  • virtual receptionist services
  • scheduling appointments
  • managing calendars
  • creating reports.

With the right virtual assistant, businesses can save time and money while still getting the help they need.

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Average Cost of Virtual Assistants

Factors like their location and specialization impact exactly how much your VA will charge you (more on these later).

Note, too, that the VA industry is booming, with a projected value of $19.27 billion by 2032, a 22.3% growth from 2023. This means the demand for VAs worldwide is increasing, which consequently causes an uptick in VA rates.

The reason is simple: the higher the demand, the higher the rates.

Let’s break down how much you’re expected to spend when you hire a VA:

Virtual Assistant Cost per Hour

On average, virtual assistants charge anywhere from $10 to $20 per hour, according to freelance marketplaces like Upwork.

Hourly arrangements work best for VAs that cover routine tasks daily (like administrative services) rather than output-focused projects (such as software development). For the latter, a per-project or per-milestone arrangement is typically more appropriate.

Keep in mind, too, that hiring through an agency can be more expensive than getting an independent contractor on board.

Philippine Virtual Assistant Cost

Filipino virtual assistants charge an average of $7 per hour. On a monthly basis, rates range from $400 to $1,200, depending on their type of services, expertise, and experience.

You may also find VAs that charge as low as $3 per hour (usually by entry-level VAs or very basic services) or as high as $20 per hour.

Be mindful of offering extremely low rates, though. That’s one of the most common outsourcing mistakes that can turn off potential candidates.

Hint: Offering $3 per hour or lower is considered lowballing and is frowned upon in the freelance marketplace.

Virtual Assistant From India Cost

Similar to VAs from the Philippines, VAs from India charge an average of $7 per hour. However, the pendulum can swing from $1.2 (101 INR) to $10, depending on the type of services you require.

Again–beware of lowballing, though. Always match the complexity of the services you need with the rates you’re going to offer.

Also, considering that the average VA from the US costs $26.80 per hour, hiring from India is a more cost-effective option. If you need work covered round-the-clock, the difference in time zone can also help cover the hours you’re not online.

Not sure where to start? Download our free hiring packet to access our case study, VA calculator, outsourcing tips, and more.

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Virtual Assistant Package Examples

Another option you can consider is hiring through virtual assistant packages. These are a set of deliverables that you expect your VA to fulfill within a set timeline.

This applies to per-project arrangements where you’re looking to hire an independent contractor for their expertise instead of on an hourly basis. It also helps ensure you’re hiring for the right virtual assistant skills.

For example:

Content Strategy Package: $499 per month

  • SEO strategy
  • Outline creation
  • Up to 5 long-form articles (Topics provided by you)

Email Marketing Package: $500 per month

  • Email marketing strategy
  • Up to 2 email marketing campaigns
  • Branded templates
  • Analytics and reporting

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Factors Influencing Virtual Assistant Pricing

The rate a virtual assistant charges for their services will depend on a variety of factors:

  1. experience level
  2. skill set
  3. the complexity of the services being provided
  4. the amount of time required to complete the task
  5. the geographical location of the client

Virtual assistants with more experience and specialized skills will tend to charge higher rates than those who are just starting out.

In addition, the type of services being provided can also affect the rate.

For example, virtual assistants who provide administrative services such as data entry, scheduling, and customer service may charge lower rates than those who provide more specialized services such as web design, graphic design, or software development.

Furthermore, virtual assistants who are able to provide services on a short-term or project basis may also be able to negotiate lower rates than those who are hired for long-term contracts.

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What to Consider When Comparing Virtual Assistant Packages

When deciding between VA packages, examine things like:

  • Budget: Does their rate match your budget? Is it fair to both parties?
  • Service coverage: Which package covers all the tasks you need?

It also helps to consider factors outside the packages themselves, such as:

  • Demonstrated skills: What does their track record look like? Ask for previous work that will help you gauge their skill level and expertise.
  • Schedule: Do you need the deliverables ASAP? In that case, the rates are expected to go higher.
  • Focus: How many clients are they handling at the moment? Juggling multiple clients means they may not be able to provide dedicated support.
  • Language and culture fit: From your interview, try to determine culture fit and language fluency to avoid miscommunications in the future. Follow these video interviewing tips to identify top candidates remotely.

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How to Negotiate Virtual Assistant Rates

When negotiating rates with a virtual assistant, it’s important to be upfront about your budget and expectations.

Be sure to ask questions about the services they provide and what types of tasks they are comfortable with completing.

If there are certain tasks you require that they are not comfortable with, ask if they can recommend someone who may be able to help.

Don’t be afraid to negotiate on price as most virtual assistants are willing to work with you on their price. Just make sure to be respectful and not negotiate too low to where it offends the virtual assistant.

Also, consider the virtual assistant’s experience and qualifications when negotiating a rate.

Ask for references and look for reviews online to ensure that the virtual assistant is reliable and trustworthy.

Additionally, make sure to discuss payment terms and any additional fees that may be associated with the services. This will help you to avoid any surprises down the line.

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Maximizing Your Virtual Assistant Partnership

If you find the right VA, you could be working together for years and scaling your business faster than you could on your own.

But as they say, it takes two to tango. To make the most of your partnership, you need to know how to nurture it. Here are some tips:

  • Cultivate a good working relationship: It pays to treat people with respect. This translates to practical things like paying them on time, making good on promises like raises and perks, and being fair on the amount of workload you delegate.
  • Give timely feedback: Even the best VA has the potential for improvement. Providing feedback is an investment in their growth, which will also help them work more effectively.
  • Compensate fairly: Check industry standards to ensure you’re paying them a fair rate for the services they provide. Also, discuss payment arrangements and other fees early on to avoid issues popping up later.
  • Trust their expertise: Try to avoid micro-managing them or you’ll defeat the purpose of hiring a VA. (This is also why it’s so important to hire top VAs.)

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do you have any more questions? These FAQs might help:

Are There Additional Costs Beyond the Hourly Rate of a Virtual Assistant?

These are potential additional costs when hiring a VA such as:

  • Client fees on freelance marketplaces
  • Training
  • Benefits
  • Tools

Are There  Hidden Costs of Hiring a Virtual Assistant?

Expenses outside the hourly or project rate may be considered hidden costs since they aren’t usually factored in when considering hiring a VA.

For example, it costs time and resources to train and onboard new staff. If you use tools that require a premium subscription, you may also need to shoulder the cost of those.

How Do I Calculate the Total Cost of a Virtual Assistant for My Business?

You can use our free VA calculator to know how much hiring a VA costs.

This is a handy tool for planning your budget, determining your outsource team size, and projecting expenses as you scale your business.

What Is Outsource School?

Outsource School is a hiring system that has helped 1,000+ students hire 2,000+ virtual assistants and freelancers.

Outsource School teaches you how to interview, onboard, train, and manage virtual assistants for your business.

You also gain access to Outsource School’s private community, Monthly Coaching Calls, and on-demand support from Outsource School’s founders.

If you need some more advice regarding VA rates, here’s a video which could give you a simple rundown of How Virtual Assistants Rate Themselves:

Conclusion: Is Hiring a Virtual Assistant Worth It?

Hiring a virtual assistant can be a great way to increase productivity and reduce costs associated with additional office staff or third-party vendors.

However, it’s important to find the right person for the job as this will ensure that you get the best results possible.

With the right person in place and an understanding of best practices when working with a virtual assistant, hiring a virtual assistant can be well worth it.

When considering hiring a virtual assistant, it is important to consider the cost of the service, the skillset of the virtual assistant, and the amount of time and effort that will be required to manage the relationship.

Categories
Virtual Assistants

Digital Marketing Virtual Assistant: Skills, Services & Benefits of Hiring

Are you in need of a digital marketing virtual assistant?

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Online marketing has given so many small businesses a chance to thrive. The online audience is so big that it could arguably be the main place to advertise in the near future. 

In this article, we will go through several ways digital marketing VA can help your business. With proper digital marketing, we know it can reach greater success. 

What is a Digital Marketing Virtual Assistant?

A digital marketing virtual assistant is any VA who helps you advertise your business. They will have your target audience in mind and use a variety of methods. 

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19 Digital Marketing Virtual Assistant Services

Here are the top 19 VA services that can revolutionize your business today:

1. Social Media Management

These platforms get a ton of users every day. If your business doesn’t have a social media account, you should get at least one. Otherwise, you can’t reap the benefits of getting your brand out to more people. 

Social media managers help you schedule content and post it. They make sure also that the content you post matches the aesthetic, tone, and message of your brand. They can create many types of social media ads from reels, shorts, and other graphics and videos. 

2. Email Marketing

This type of marketing uses one of the most popular forms of online correspondence. An email marketing assistant can help create and categorize contact lists. These are lists of people who have expressed interest in your products and/or services and have given their details. They can send targeted mass emails to segments of this audience. The type of content sent includes: 

  • newsletters
  • promotional materials
  • welcome series emails
  • abandoned cart reminders
  • transaction emails

They also make use of email marketing automation like Mailchimp. 

3. Content Marketing

This is all about how to put your content out so it’s available and attractive to your targets. The aim is to create engaging content that people are drawn to. This includes copywriting, blog-post writing, and other strategies that leverage content.

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4. Search Engine Optimization

SEO refers to a list of factors that determine your search engine rankings. If you want organic traffic to your website, you need a strong SEO strategy. This involves keyword bidding, linking, on and off-page optimization, and more. 

5. Sales Funnel Creation

A sales funnel comes in many forms.‌ Though it typically has 5 stages: Discovery, Interest, Comparison, Decision and Action.  It functions to help businesses understand how customers think and plan around that. A funnel shows the customer journey from awareness of your brand to considering purchasing to becoming a paying customer. To encourage repeat sales, businesses can offer loyalty programs during the post-purchase stage.

6. PPC Campaign Management

If SEO was organic search engine marketing, PPC is paid SEM. PPC stands for pay-per-click. It is a campaign where you pay a certain amount every time a visitor clicks your ad. This type of paid advertising also involves keyword bidding, testing ad copy, and creating a landing page with a strong call to action.

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7. Graphic Design

Whether it’s a company logo, website, or social media graphics, a graphic designer is a necessity. These individuals are responsible for creating attractive visuals. This can be for grabbing attention, communicating a message, or conveying your brand visually. 

8. Affiliate Management

Affiliate marketing is where third parties promote another brand’s products. They usually get a percentage of the profits from sales from their advertising. Alternatively, they can accept other benefits, depending on the arrangement.

Affiliate managers are responsible for affiliate recruitment. They also maintain relationships and improve the performance of affiliate relationships. They communicate with those in the network and ensure they are well-equipped. 

9. Partnership Management

This is a step above affiliate marketing where two companies combine their efforts and promote each other’s products.  Partnership management is similar to affiliate management. They communicate with partners to ensure mutual and respective goals are being met on both sides. 

10. Analytics and Reporting

Whatever the campaign, your digital marketing virtual assistant can run reports and analytics to gauge its effectiveness. Your virtual assistant for digital marketing tracks crucial metrics and notes any changes after trying out different tactics.

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11. Website Management

Your website is essentially the face of your brand. Therefore, you must ensure that everything on your website is well-organized, enhances the customer journey, and represents your brand effectively. A website manager’s duties involve:

  • Handling content on a website blog. This includes sourcing engaging images and videos.
  • Editing, updating, or removing outdated content 
  • Formulating strategies to improve web traffic. They typically have some SEO knowledge to improve web rankings. 
  • Making sure all pages are working properly. They conduct website tests and try to improve performance. 
  • Hosting and server management
  • Coding and other technical duties

12. Video Editing

Video is probably the most engaging form of ads out there. With the advent and popularity of short-form content, a video editor must know how to grab attention immediately. They naturally must be proficient in editing software like Adobe Premiere and Final Cut Pro. These people must know how to adapt to short and long form formats for social media. 

13. Mobile Advertising

This is marketing aimed at targeting mobile users. More than half of website traffic comes from mobile users in 2023. That’s small compared to the fact that over 90% of net users access the web through a mobile device. This is why this form is popular. Your internet marketing virtual assistant can help you reach these users through:

  • Social media
  • SMS/text marketing 
  • Location-based marketing 
  • Ads in mobile apps
  • Mobile app push notifications 

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14. Lead Generation

Lead generation is a key element to consider when outsourcing sales and marketing. This process involves grabbing the attention of a potential customer (lead). This is near the top of your sales funnel. It involves using the various marketing methods discussed to attract prospects.

15. CRM Management

Customer relationship management involves improving your business’s relations with its customer base. This includes creating and implementing strategies to improve customer experience, satisfaction, and retention.  

16. Marketing Automation

Your digital marketing virtual assistant can help you save time and increase productivity via automation. These marketing technologies enable you to automate campaigns based on certain conditions. You can run multiple campaigns across multiple channels simultaneously with ease. These allow you to use customer data in the system and create automatic delivery systems for promotional campaign material.

17. Strategy Building

Maybe you’re happy with the platform you’ve chosen for your marketing. However, maybe you aren’t getting the results you want. Your VA can help you reformulate and reimagine your campaigns. They can lend a fresh perspective and provide helpful insights and tactics. They can improve lead generation, lead nurturing, sales funnel optimization, retargeting campaigns, and more. 

18. Promotions

These refer to certain announcements or tactics implemented by businesses about their products or services. They include commonly known tactics such as:

  • product sales
  • free samples or free trials
  • coupons
  • discounts
  • limited time offers
  • bundles
  • membership exclusive deals (loyalty rewards programs) 

These can also include publicity posts for a new product launch or a restock of a popular item.

19. Market Research

Hoping to build your audience? Maybe you want to know which platforms or techniques will be most effective. You want to reach those audiences, right?

Want to know customer behavior, trends within your demographic, and popular marketing tactics? Perhaps you want to peak at your competition in the market and learn from them. 

A digital marketing virtual assistant can actually accomplish all this and more!

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What Skills Does a Digital Marketing Virtual Assistant Need to Have?

Excited to have a VA on board? You’ll know you’ve found the one when they demonstrate these skills:

Ability to Work Well Under Pressure

The world of digital marketing can be a high-stress, fast-paced environment. Someone who can handle a variety of tasks and marketing campaigns all at once is a valuable asset. With multiple platforms often involved, they need to schedule tasks well so they don’t get overwhelmed. 

Strong Work Ethic

Advertising and marketing management is no simple task. The digital space is ever evolving. With attention spans at an all-time low, businesses must stay on top of their game. If they don’t, they won’t catch their targets’ attention. And they’ll also lose their chances to engage with their audience. So, businesses need to post on multiple platforms practically every day. Your VA needs to juggle these.

Effective Communication Skills

Digital marketers need to communicate their ideas and strategies effectively. This is not only so that the rest of the team can implement it. It’s also so that the company can get behind the idea and give it their full support. The members can also contribute their own ideas. 

Research Skills

A digital marketer needs to know how to find relevant information related to their duties. They must stay current on the latest trends and platforms. They will be researching audiences, competitors, and new advertising opportunities. 

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Benefits of Hiring a Digital Marketing VA

Here are some benefits of working with a digital marketing VA:

  • Faster business growth: Having a VA lets you focus on scaling your business. You can delegate tasks that normally consume your time, like content marketing and market research.
  • Cost-effectiveness: You get a dedicated VA without investing in full-time staff. That means you don’t have to think about compliance issues (like taxes) or the resources (such as equipment or office space) required to have someone working on-site full-time.

Tip: Use our free VA calculator to determine how much hiring a VA costs.

  • Specialized services: A digital marketing VA is equipped with the specialized skills needed to run and manage marketing campaigns. You can even choose someone with a hyper-niched focus, like someone specializing in influencer marketing, rather than a generalist.
  • Better customer relationships: As you scale, it will be much more challenging to stay on top of what’s going on with each customer. A VA can take that off your plate by managing your social media accounts, newsletter, and website.

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How to Hire a Virtual Assistant for Digital Marketing

Consider these hiring tips to hire the right digital marketing VA:

  • Clarify your needs: As mentioned earlier, digital marketing VAs can offer a wide range of services. Chances are, you don’t need all of them, or you only need a VA with a specific set of skills. Determine what your business really needs and align that with who you’re looking for.
  • Develop a compelling job ad: Next, write a job description that will attract the right people. If you’re after top talent, you also need a top-tier job ad. That means you need a complete job description and an appealing offer (rates and perks).
  • Post on reputable platforms: Once your job ad is ready, you can advertise on freelance marketplaces or social media groups.
  • Shortlist candidates: Narrow your list of potential candidates down to two or three based on their level of expertise, experience, and culture match. Then, set up an online interview to get to know your candidates better.
  • Proceed to onboarding: Once you’ve decided whom to hire, prepare for onboarding. By providing the right training and using effective onboarding tools, you can help your VA ease into the new role as smoothly as possible.

Want to master the art of outsourcing to the right people? Download our free hiring packet to access our case study, video training, VA calculator, and more.

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Digital Marketing Virtual Assistant Interview Questions

To get to know your VA candidates better, it’s best to ask questions that tell you about their personality, interest in the role, and attitude, such as:

  • Tell me about yourself.
  • What interests you about this role?
  • What makes you a good candidate for this position?

You should also gauge their knowledge and level of expertise with industry-specific questions like:

  • What digital marketing tools do you use?
  • Tell me about a campaign you worked on in the past that you’re most proud of.
  • What is your experience in SEO?

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Tips for Working with a Digital Marketing Virtual Assistant

Have a VA on board already? Here’s how to keep your working relationship mutually enriching for years to come:

Review Their Portfolio

An internet marketing virtual assistant should have a portfolio of their previous work experience, graphics, and campaigns. Someone with less experience will have less in their portfolio but may cost less. That’s a risk you need to weigh properly. A portfolio shows you if they’ve worked with similar businesses. 

If working with someone specializing in graphic design, this is crucial. You can view their skill and style and evaluate if they fit with your branding. 

Onboard Them Well

Too much information is better than not enough. Make sure they have an in-depth knowledge of your company. This includes the culture, tone, brand, mission, vision, values, and target customers. Provide all details ahead of time, especially if your aim is for a particular aesthetic or style. 

Early Involvement 

Be involved in the process but don’t be domineering. You probably should be involved in approving certain campaigns, designs, ad copy, etc. You should do this at least in the beginning until you have built enough trust to give them more leeway. Once they’ve proven their effectiveness, you can start giving them the reins.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions on marketing VAs:

Where Can I Find a Reliable Digital Marketing Virtual Assistant?

We recommend popular freelance platforms like MarketerHire, Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer.com

What Qualifications Should a Digital Marketing Virtual Assistant Have?

Anyone can have the skills to promote products without a degree. But you probably want someone who is knowledgeable about popular trends and culture. Good research skills are a must. They must be knowledgeable about the platforms you use for advertising. You might hire a marketer with specialized knowledge related to SEO or PPC. 

How Do I Train a Digital Marketing VA for My Business?

So, you know how to hire a virtual assistant for internet marketing. Now you learn the answer to this question close behind that. We recommend educating VAs thoroughly on your brand. They also need to know what your marketing goals and objectives are. You should also address any skill gaps they may have. For instance, you should orient them on any proprietary or preferred software you use. 

How Do I Ensure Data Security and Privacy When Working with a Virtual Assistant?

You can mitigate data security risks by hiring through reputable marketplaces. You can also write up legal contracts for extra protection. 

How Much Does a Digital Marketing VA Cost?

According to several sources, the rates for a digital marketer can range from $10-$35. (These sources include Upwork and Fiverr.) This depends on the specific type of work and level of expertise. More expert level freelancers can charge upwards of $50/hr. 

What Tools Should My Marketing VA Be Familiar With?

Marketing VAs often manage multiple campaigns simultaneously, so they must be familiar with tools that automate routine tasks, help them multitask, and manage their projects effectively.

These tools include:

Are Digital Marketing VAs Suitable for Small Businesses?

Yes. Digital marketing VAs are flexible and cost-effective, making them ideal for small businesses with limited budgets that need to squeeze more productive hours out of every work day.

Is It Better to Hire a VA Freelancer or Through an Agency?

Hiring through an agency is typically faster because you won’t be as involved in the process. 

However, if you want a more personal approach, you can hire a VA freelancer by posting on freelancer marketplaces.

What Is Outsource School?

Outsource School helps you to unlock the potential of virtual assistants and accelerate your business growth.

This is the exact system Outsource School’s founders, Nathan Hirsch and Connor Gillivan, used to go from zero to 8 figures and 40+ virtual assistants with an exit in 2019.

Since being founded in 2020, Outsource School has helped 1,000+ business owners hire 2,000+ virtual assistants for their companies.

Schedule a free sales call to learn more

Free resources you might like: 

Conclusion

A digital marketing virtual assistant can help bring your brand in front of more people. Are you convinced yet? Hopefully, we’ve done a good job of marketing them to you!