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Virtual Assistants

15 Tasks a Virtual Assistant for Bloggers Can Master

virtual assistant for bloggers 1

As a blogger, you know that there are never enough hours in the day to get everything done.

Between writing blog posts, promoting your content, and engaging with your audience, it can be tough to find time to do everything on your own.

That’s where a virtual assistant for bloggers (also known as a blogging VA or VA for bloggers) can come in handy.

My name is Connor Gillivan. I’m an entrepreneur and blogger. I’ve been running blogs for my companies for the past 10 years and there’s always too much to do.

I’ve tapped into the power of blogging VAs and it’s allowed me to focus my time on the most important aspects of growth.

It’s saved me time, given me more focus, and allowed me to make more money with my blogging.

In this article, we’ll explore 15 tasks that a virtual assistant for bloggers can do to help you grow your blog and free up your time.

  1. Editing and proofreading blog posts
  2. Scheduling social media posts
  3. Responding to comments on your blog and social media channels
  4. Managing your email inbox
  5. Researching and creating content ideas
  6. Formatting blog posts and creating graphics
  7. Managing your editorial calendar
  8. Conducting keyword research for SEO
  9. Outreach for guest posting or collaborations
  10. Creating and sending newsletters
  11. Recording and editing podcasts
  12. Managing your website’s maintenance and updates
  13. Creating and managing your affiliate program
  14. Transcribing video or audio content
  15. Managing your blog’s monetization strategy

Let’s dive in.

How a Virtual Assistant  Can Be Super Helpful for Bloggers

To really understand the value of a virtual assistant for bloggers, let’s take a look at a case study.

Meet Lisa, a digital marketing consultant who runs her own blog on the side.

Lisa had been struggling to keep up with the demands of her growing blog.

She found herself spending more and more time on administrative tasks like scheduling social media posts and responding to emails.

Lisa knew that something had to change if she wanted to keep growing her blog while also running her consulting business.

That’s when she decided to hire a virtual assistant for her blog.

Lisa’s blogging VA was able to take over many of the administrative tasks that were taking up so much of her time.

This allowed Lisa to focus on creating high-quality content and promoting her blog.

Her VA helped with everything from scheduling social media posts to editing blog posts to managing her email inbox.

With the help of her VA, Lisa was able to grow her blog and her consulting business without feeling overwhelmed by all the work.

You can do this too.

Let’s now look at 15 tasks that a Blogging VA can help you with.

15 Tasks a Virtual Assistant for Bloggers Can Do

va for bloggers

So, what exactly can a virtual assistant for bloggers do? Here are 15 tasks that a blogging VA can handle:

1. Editing and proofreading blog posts

A virtual assistant can ensure that your blog posts are free of errors and read smoothly by editing and proofreading them. They can also suggest changes to improve your writing style or make sure your posts meet your branding and messaging requirements.

2. Scheduling social media posts

A virtual assistant can schedule your social media posts in advance, ensuring that your social media presence remains consistent even when you’re busy with other tasks.

3. Responding to comments on your blog and social media channels

A virtual assistant can monitor your blog and social media channels for comments and respond to them on your behalf. This ensures that your audience feels heard and valued while freeing up your time to focus on other tasks.

4. Managing your email inbox

A virtual assistant can manage your email inbox by responding to emails, categorizing them, and even filtering out spam. This helps keep your inbox organized and prevents you from getting overwhelmed with messages.

5. Researching and creating content ideas

A virtual assistant can research and suggest ideas for your blog content, ensuring that your content is always fresh and relevant to your target audience.

6. Formatting blog posts and creating graphics

A virtual assistant can format your blog posts, ensuring that they look professional and are easy to read. They can also create graphics or visual aids to accompany your blog posts.

7. Managing your editorial calendar

A virtual assistant can manage your editorial calendar, ensuring that your blog posts are published on schedule and that there is a steady flow of content.

8. Conducting keyword research for SEO

A virtual assistant can conduct keyword research to help you optimize your blog posts for search engines, ensuring that your blog ranks higher in search results and attracts more traffic.

9. Outreach for guest posting or collaborations

A virtual assistant can reach out to other bloggers or brands for guest posting or collaborations, helping you build relationships with other bloggers or businesses in your niche.

10. Creating and sending newsletters

A virtual assistant can create and send newsletters to your subscribers, providing them with valuable content and keeping them engaged with your brand.

11. Recording and editing podcasts

A virtual assistant can record and edit your podcasts, ensuring that they are of high quality and sound professional.

12. Managing your website’s maintenance and updates

A virtual assistant can manage your website’s maintenance and updates, ensuring that it runs smoothly and is always up to date.

13. Creating and managing your affiliate program

A virtual assistant can create and manage your affiliate program, ensuring that your affiliates have the resources they need to promote your brand and earn commissions.

14. Transcribing video or audio content

A virtual assistant can transcribe your video or audio content, making it easier to repurpose or share in other formats.

15. Managing your blog’s monetization strategy

A virtual assistant can manage your blog’s monetization strategy, helping you generate revenue through ads, affiliate marketing, or other channels.

Tips for Hiring a Blogging VA

Now that you know what a virtual assistant for bloggers can do, how do you go about hiring one?

Here are a few tips:

  1. Start by defining the tasks that you need help with. This will make it easier to find a VA who has the right skills and experience.
  2. Look for VAs who specialize in blogging or have experience working with bloggers.
  3. Conduct interviews and ask for references to ensure that the VA you hire is a good fit for your business.
  4. Set clear expectations and communicate regularly with your VA to ensure that they are meeting your needs.
  5. Consider working with a reputable outsourcing agency like Outsource School to make the hiring process easier and more efficient.

Overall, take the time to plan for hiring a Blogging VA before you jump in.

The more time you invest in getting properly prepared, the more successful the hire and relationship will be.

Where Can You Hire A VA For Your Blog?

blogger va

There are a variety of options available for hiring a virtual assistant for your blog.

One popular option is to use a freelancing platform such as Upwork, Freelancer, Fiverr, or Workello, which allow you to post job listings and connect with potential candidates.

You can also search for virtual assistant services that specialize in providing VAs for bloggers or small businesses, such as Virtual Staff Finder, Zirtual, or Virtual Assistant Assistant.

When hiring a virtual assistant, it’s important to do your due diligence by:

  • conducting interviews
  • check references
  • providing clear instructions
  • setting expectations for your VA

You should also be prepared to invest time and resources into training your VA and providing ongoing support to ensure that they can help you achieve your business goals.

You can also learn more from Chris Ducker in this video:

What is Outsource School?

blogger virtual assistant

Outsource School is an online platform and community that helps entrepreneurs and small business owners scale their businesses by outsourcing tasks to virtual assistants.

The platform was founded by Nathan Hirsch and Connor Gillivan, who have over a decade of experience in managing remote teams and outsourcing tasks.

Outsource School offers a range of resources, including courses, coaching, and on-demand assistance, to help business owners learn how to delegate tasks effectively, manage their teams, and scale their businesses.

Their courses cover topics such as hiring and onboarding virtual assistants, delegating tasks, managing your team, and optimizing your business processes.

Overall, Outsource School is a valuable resource for entrepreneurs and small business owners who want to grow their businesses by outsourcing tasks and building a remote team.

Get immediate access to Outsource School today and start scaling your blog with the help of virtual assistants.

Conclusion

In conclusion, hiring a virtual assistant for your blog can be a game-changer for your business.

By delegating tasks and freeing up your time, you can focus on creating high-quality content and growing your audience, while your VA takes care of the day-to-day tasks that can consume so much of your time.

From editing and proofreading blog posts to managing your website’s maintenance and updates, there are many tasks that a virtual assistant can handle for your blog.

Additionally, virtual assistants can help with social media management, email inbox management, content creation, podcast editing, outreach, and more.

By working with a virtual assistant, you can streamline your workflow, reduce your workload, and grow your business faster.

If you’re interested in hiring a virtual assistant for your blog, reach out to us at Outsource School and we can explain how we can help.

Similarly, set up a call with us and we’ll answer any questions you have as you dive into hiring a virtual assistant for your blog.

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Virtual Assistants

What Tasks Can a Sales Virtual Assistant Do?

Want to hire a Sales Virtual Assistant, but not sure how?

You came to the right place.

My name is Connor Gillivan. I’m an entrepreneur and have been scaling companies to 6, 7, and 8 figures for the past 10 years with virtual assistants from around the world.

With my companies, I’ve hired and managed Sales Virtual Assistants to take sales work off my plate so that I can focus on other areas of growth and operations.

You can do the same.

In this article, I’ll cover: 

  • What Is a Sales Virtual Assistant?
  • What Does a Virtual Sales Agent Do?
  • How Do I Use a Virtual Assistant for Sales?
  • How Much Does a Sales Virtual Assistant Cost?
  • Where Can I Find a Sales Virtual Assistant?
  • Sales Virtual Assistant Case Study
  • What Is Outsource School?

Let’s dive into it!

What Is A Sales Virtual Assistant?

A sales virtual assistant is a remote professional who specializes in providing support for businesses in the sales department.

They use their skills and knowledge to assist entrepreneurs in running and growing their digital companies by handling various sales-related tasks.

Some of the tasks a sales virtual assistant might handle include:

  • lead generation
  • customer relationship management
  • sales pipeline management
  • email marketing
  • social media management
  • data analysis
  • appointment scheduling.

They work remotely, which means they can provide support from anywhere in the world, as long as they have a reliable internet connection.

The beauty of a sales virtual assistant is that they can help you save time and money.

By outsourcing sales tasks to a virtual assistant, you can focus on other aspects of your business that require your attention.

Plus, you won’t need to worry about hiring additional in-house staff, which can be costly and time-consuming.

When you work with a sales virtual assistant, you’ll have a dedicated professional who can help you improve your sales strategy and achieve your business goals.

They’ll work with you to understand your needs and provide personalized support to help you succeed.

What Does a Virtual Sales Agent Do?

A Sales Virtual Assistant can do the following:

  1. Lead Generation: Your sales virtual assistant can help you find potential customers for your business. They can use tools like LinkedIn or social media to search for individuals or companies that might be interested in your products or services.
  2. Email Marketing: A sales virtual assistant can help you create and send out email campaigns to promote your business. They can also help with email list management, ensuring that your emails are being sent to the right people.
  3. Customer Relationship Management: Keeping track of your customers’ needs, interests, and purchases is essential for your business’s success. Your sales virtual assistant can manage your customer database, keep it up to date, and make sure that your customers are receiving the right communications from you.
  4. Sales Pipeline Management: Your sales virtual assistant can help you manage your sales pipeline, ensuring that you’re following up with leads and closing deals. They can help you create a sales process that works for your business and make sure that you’re staying on top of your sales goals.
  5. Social Media Management: Your sales virtual assistant can help you manage your social media accounts, creating content, and scheduling posts. They can also engage with your followers and respond to comments and messages.
  6. Data Analysis: Your sales virtual assistant can help you analyze your sales data, identify trends and opportunities, and make recommendations for improving your sales strategy.
  7. Appointment Scheduling: Your sales virtual assistant can manage your calendar and schedule appointments with potential customers, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your business.

These are only 7 tasks that we’ve outlined, but there are plenty more depending on what sales tasks you have on your plate.

Get creative, list out all of the tasks currently on your plate, build a process for them, and then delegate them to a Sales VA.

How Do I Use a Virtual Assistant for Sales?

Here are some tips to help you get started:

  1. Identify your needs: The first step is to identify the specific sales tasks that you need help with. This might include lead generation, email marketing, social media management, or sales pipeline management. Make a list of the tasks you need help with to give your virtual assistant a clear idea of what you’re looking for.
  2. Find the right virtual assistant: Next, you’ll need to find a sales virtual assistant who has the skills and experience to support your business. You can search for virtual assistants on platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or Freelancer. Make sure to read their reviews and check their credentials to ensure they’re a good fit for your business.
  3. Set clear expectations: Once you’ve found a virtual assistant, it’s important to set clear expectations. Let them know what you expect from them, including the tasks you need help with, your sales goals, and the timeline for completing tasks. Be clear about your communication preferences and how often you expect to receive updates.
  4. Provide training and resources: Depending on the tasks you need help with, you may need to provide your virtual assistant with training or access to specific tools or software. Make sure to provide them with the resources they need to succeed.
  5. Communicate regularly: Regular communication is key to a successful working relationship with your virtual assistant. Schedule weekly or bi-weekly check-ins to discuss progress, provide feedback, and address any concerns.
  6. Give feedback: Finally, make sure to give your virtual assistant feedback on their work. Let them know what they’re doing well and where they can improve. This will help them to better understand your needs and provide even better support for your business.

You’ll get out as much as you put in with your Sales VA.

Try to just hire someone and let them run free and you’re going to experience headaches.

Take the time to strategize exactly how they can help, to onboard them, and to train them properly, and you’ll hit a home run with your hire.

Want to learn more about how to use a Sales Virtual Assistant? Check out this video:

How Much Does a Sales Virtual Assistant Cost?

The cost of a sales virtual assistant can vary depending on their experience, skills, location, and the tasks you need them to handle.

Some virtual assistants may charge hourly rates, while others may charge a fixed fee for a specific project or ongoing support.

In general, you can expect to pay between $10 and $50 per hour for a sales virtual assistant, with the average rate being around $15-20 per hour.

However, keep in mind that rates may vary based on the factors mentioned above.

When considering the cost of a sales virtual assistant, it’s important to think about the value they can provide to your business.

By outsourcing sales tasks to a virtual assistant, you can save time and focus on other aspects of your business.

Plus, you can benefit from their expertise and experience, which can help you improve your sales strategy and achieve your business goals.

Where Can I Find a Sales Virtual Assistant?

Here are four websites where you can hire a sales virtual assistant for your online company:

  1. Upwork: Upwork is one of the largest freelance marketplaces in the world, offering a wide range of freelance services, including sales virtual assistants. You can post a job listing or search for virtual assistants with sales expertise to find the right fit for your business.
  2. Onlinejobs.ph: Onlinejobs.ph is a platform that connects entrepreneurs with virtual assistants based in the Philippines. You can search for virtual assistants with sales expertise and hire them directly through the platform.
  3. Fiverr: Fiverr is a freelance marketplace that offers a range of services, including sales virtual assistants. You can search for virtual assistants with sales expertise and hire them for specific tasks or ongoing support.
  4. Freelancer: Freelancer is a global freelancing platform that offers a variety of services, including sales virtual assistants. You can post a job listing or search for virtual assistants with sales expertise to find the right fit for your business.

When hiring from a freelance marketplace, make sure that you create a high quality job post, that you review all applicants, and that you interview them in depth before making the hire.

It’s important to set expectations upfront and to make sure they are a perfect fit before you get into the onboarding and training phase of hiring.

Sales Virtual Assistant Case Study

Background:

John is the owner of a small marketing agency that specializes in social media marketing for small businesses. He started the agency three years ago and has been able to grow his client base steadily over the years. However, as the agency grew, John found himself overwhelmed with sales tasks, such as cold calling, lead generation, and client onboarding. He knew that he needed to focus on other aspects of the business, such as strategy and client management, but he simply didn’t have enough time to do everything. That’s when he decided to hire a sales virtual assistant.

Life before hiring a sales virtual assistant:

Before hiring a sales virtual assistant, John was spending most of his time on sales tasks. He would spend hours each day making cold calls, following up on leads, and onboarding new clients. He found himself getting burnt out and felt like he wasn’t able to focus on other important aspects of the business. He also felt like he was missing out on potential business opportunities because he didn’t have the time to follow up with leads consistently.

Hiring a sales virtual assistant:

John decided to hire a sales virtual assistant to help him with the sales tasks that were taking up most of his time. He posted a job listing on a freelancing platform and received several applications from virtual assistants with sales expertise. After a thorough screening process, he hired a virtual assistant who had experience in cold calling, lead generation, and client onboarding. He trained the virtual assistant on the agency’s sales process and provided them with the necessary tools to get the job done.

Life after hiring a sales virtual assistant:

After hiring a sales virtual assistant, John’s life changed significantly. He was able to delegate most of the sales tasks to the virtual assistant, which gave him more time to focus on other important aspects of the business. He was able to spend more time on client management, strategy, and developing new services. He also found that he was able to follow up with leads more consistently, which resulted in more business opportunities and a higher conversion rate. He no longer felt overwhelmed with sales tasks and was able to work on the business instead of in the business.

Conclusion:

Hiring a sales virtual assistant was a game-changer for John’s marketing agency. By delegating sales tasks to a virtual assistant, he was able to save time, reduce stress, and focus on other important aspects of the business. He was also able to follow up with leads more consistently, which resulted in more business opportunities and a higher conversion rate. If you’re a digital entrepreneur who is overwhelmed with sales tasks, hiring a sales virtual assistant may be the solution you need to take your business to the next level.

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

Hiring a Sales Virtual Assistant can save you lots of time and money as a business owner.

I speak from personal experience and I’ve seen it help to scale my companies to 6, 7, and 8 figures.

Here’s what’s most important to remember:

  1. Take it seriously
  2. Outline the exact tasks you want them to handle before going to hire.
  3. Make processes for each tasks so training is seamless.
  4. Recruit and hire the best person for the role. Don’t compromise.
  5. Take onboarding and training seriously.
  6. Set up strong communication guidelines.
  7. Give lots of feedback in the first month.
  8. Don’t get discouraged if the first hire isn’t the right fit. Adjust and hire again.

Happy hiring!

If we can help in any way, just reach out to us at Support@OutsourceSchool.com.

 

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Virtual Assistants

11 Best Virtual Assistant Sites for Entrepreneurs in 2023

Ready to hire a virtual assistant?

In this article, we’ll highlight 11 virtual assistant sites that you can use to find, hire, and pay virtual assistants for your business.

Virtual assistant sites make it the hiring process easier. They’ve already brought all of the VAs into one place. You just need to post a job, review candidate’s profiles, conduct the interview, and then make the best hire for your business.

In this article, we’ll cover:

  • What is a Virtual Assistant?
  • Benefits of Using a Virtual Assistant
  • Types of Tasks a Virtual Assistant Can Handle
  • How to Choose the Right Virtual Assistant Site
  • Top 11 Virtual Assistant Sites for Entrepreneurs in 2023

What is the best virtual assistant website?

As an entrepreneur, your time is your most valuable asset.

Unfortunately, it is often limited.

This is where virtual assistants can come in handy, allowing you to delegate tasks to qualified professionals, free up your time and focus on the important things.

But with so many virtual assistant sites on the market, it can be difficult to know which one is right for you.

Below, we’ll look at 11 of the best virtual assistant sites for entrepreneurs in 2023, so you can make an informed decision about which one to use.

What is a Virtual Assistant?

virtual assistant sites

A virtual assistant (VA) is a person who provides administrative, technical, or other services remotely. VAs often work from home or a separate office space, providing businesses with a cost-effective alternative to hiring full-time staff.

Virtual assistants can be hired for a variety of tasks, from proofreading documents to conducting research and managing email accounts.

Virtual assistants can also be used to help with customer service, bookkeeping, and other administrative tasks. They can also provide support for marketing campaigns, such as creating content, managing social media accounts, and tracking analytics.

By outsourcing these tasks to a virtual assistant, businesses can save time and money, while still ensuring that their projects are completed in a timely and professional manner.

Benefits of Using a Virtual Assistant

Using a virtual assistant can be beneficial for entrepreneurs in many ways. For starters, it can save you time and money.

By outsourcing certain tasks to VAs, you don’t have to worry about hiring, training and managing full-time staff. This can be especially useful for small businesses that don’t have the resources to hire full-time employees.

Using a virtual assistant can also help you stay organized and productive. VAs are skilled professionals who are used to working remotely and handling multiple tasks at once.

They can help you keep track of all your tasks, prioritize them and ensure that they are completed in a timely manner.

In addition, virtual assistants can help you stay on top of the latest trends and technologies. They can help you stay up to date with the latest industry news and developments, as well as provide valuable insights into how you can improve your business operations.

This can be especially helpful for entrepreneurs who are looking to stay ahead of the competition.

Types of Tasks a Virtual Assistant Can Handle

Virtual assistants can handle a wide range of tasks, such as the ones listed below:

  • arranging meetings
  • providing customer service.
  • web design
  • SEO
  • administrative tasks (data entry, bookkeeping, and research)
  • marketing campaigns
  • creating and managing email lists
  • creating content for websites
  • managing social media accounts.

Additionally, VAs can provide technical support, such as troubleshooting software issues and more.

How to Choose the Right Virtual Assistant Site

When choosing a virtual assistant site, it’s important to consider your needs and budget. Before you commit to any one site, make sure you read reviews, compare prices and check out the available services.

It’s also a good idea to look at the qualifications of the VAs on the site and see if they have the necessary experience for the job.

It’s also important to consider the customer service offered by the virtual assistant site. Make sure you can easily contact the site if you have any questions or concerns.

Additionally, look for a site that offers a money-back guarantee in case you’re not satisfied with the services provided.

Top 11 Virtual Assistant Sites for Entrepreneurs in 2023

Now that you know what to look for in a virtual assistant site, let’s take a look at some of the best sites for entrepreneurs in 2023:

1. Upwork

upwork logo

Upwork is one of the largest and most popular virtual assistant sites on the market. It offers a wide range of services, from web design and development to SEO and customer service.

It also has an easy-to-use interface that makes it easy to find qualified professionals for any job.

2. Fiverr

fiverr logo

Fiverr is an online marketplace where entrepreneurs can find freelance professionals for short-term or one-off projects. It offers a wide range of services at competitive prices, including web design and development, social media management and customer service.

3. Zirtual

zirtual logo

Zirtual is designed specifically for entrepreneurs and startups who need help managing their day-to-day tasks. Its VAs are highly experienced and have expertise in areas like customer service, project management and social media management.

Zirtual also offers an easy-to-use platform that makes it easy to find the perfect VA for any job.

4. Freelancer

freelancer logo

Freelancer is another popular virtual assistant site that offers access to highly qualified professionals from around the world. It has a wide range of services on offer, including web design and development, SEO and customer service.

5. Fancy Hands

fancy hands logo

Fancy Hands focuses on providing high-quality customer service. Its VAs are experienced in handling customer inquiries and providing timely responses. They can also help with scheduling appointments, researching topics and managing email accounts.

6. TaskRabbit

task rabbit logo

TaskRabbit is an online marketplace that connects entrepreneurs with skilled professionals who can help with tasks such as web design, data entry and social media management. It also offers an easy-to-use platform that makes it easy to find the right person for the job.

7. Time Etc

time etc logo

Time Etc specializes in providing administrative support services such as data entry, transcription and content creation. Its VAs are experienced and highly qualified, making it easy for entrepreneurs to outsource tasks and manage their workloads more efficiently.

8. Red Butler

red butler logo

Red Butler is an online concierge service that provides assistance with tasks such as scheduling appointments, researching topics and preparing presentations. Its VAs are highly skilled and experienced, allowing entrepreneurs to get more done with less effort.

9. MyTasker

my tasker logo

MyTasker is a virtual assistant site that offers a wide range of services such as data entry, transcription and web design. It’s designed specifically for entrepreneurs who need help managing their workloads without having to hire full-time staff.

10. 24/7 Virtual Assistant

24/7 virtual assistant logo

24/7 Virtual Assistant is a leading provider of virtual assistant services in India. Its team of experienced VAs can handle tasks such as customer service, data entry and content creation with ease.

11. PeoplePerHour

people per hour logo

PeoplePerHour is a popular virtual assistant site that offers access to highly qualified professionals from around the world. It has a wide range of services on offer, including web design and development, SEO and customer service.

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.

Conclusion

By using one of these virtual assistant sites, entrepreneurs can get more done with less effort. Whether you’re looking for administrative support or content creation services, these sites can provide you with qualified professionals who can help you get the job done quickly and efficiently.

Want to know more on where to find a virtual assistant best fit for you? Check out this video:

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Virtual Assistants

17 Tasks a Shopify Virtual Assistant Can Take Off Your Plate

Are you a Shopify business owner?

Do you feel overwhelmed by all of the work on your plate?

If yes, you need to hire a Shopify virtual assistant.

They can help get tasks off your plate so you can focus on growth for your business.

In this article, we’ll cover the following: 

  • What is a Shopify Virtual Assistant?
  • 17 Tasks a Shopify Virtual Assistant Can Help Your Ecommerce Business With
  • Shopify Virtual Assistant Case Study
  • Where Can You Hire a Shopify Virtual Assistant?
  • How Much Does a Shopify Virtual Assistant Cost?
  • What Is Outsource School?

What Is A Shopify Virtual Assistant?

So, let’s say you’re an eCommerce business owner and you’re selling products online using Shopify, a popular eCommerce platform. You might be handling everything on your own, which can be overwhelming at times, especially if you’re just starting out.

This is where a Shopify virtual assistant comes in. Essentially, a Shopify virtual assistant is a remote worker who specializes in helping eCommerce businesses like yours manage and grow their online stores on the Shopify platform.

They can handle a wide variety of tasks such as product listing, order processing, customer service, marketing, advertising, SEO optimization, website maintenance, content creation, and more.

By taking these tasks off your plate, they allow you to focus on the core aspects of your business, such as product development and customer relationships.

A Shopify virtual assistant can work on a part-time or full-time basis depending on your needs, and you can hire them from anywhere in the world. This allows you to tap into a global talent pool and find the perfect candidate for your business.

Overall, a Shopify virtual assistant can help streamline your eCommerce operations, improve customer satisfaction, and ultimately drive more sales and revenue for your business.

So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed with the day-to-day tasks of running your Shopify store, a virtual assistant might be just what you need to take your business to the next level!

17 Tasks a Shopify Virtual Assistant Can Help Your Ecommerce Business With

Here are 17 tasks you can hire a Shopify Virtual Assistant (VA) for:

  1. Product listing and optimization: The virtual assistant can help add new products to the website, optimize product listings for better search visibility, and manage inventory.
  2. Order processing: The virtual assistant can manage the order processing, update order status, track shipments, and handle customer queries related to orders.
  3. Customer service: The virtual assistant can handle customer inquiries, complaints, and provide customer support through live chat, email, or phone.
  4. Marketing and advertising: The virtual assistant can create and run marketing campaigns on social media, Google Ads, and other platforms, as well as help create content for the website and blog.
  5. SEO optimization: The virtual assistant can optimize the website and product listings for search engines, conduct keyword research, and develop an effective SEO strategy.
  6. Analytics and reporting: The virtual assistant can track and analyze website traffic, sales, and other metrics to identify areas of improvement and help make data-driven decisions.
  7. Email marketing: The virtual assistant can create and send promotional emails, newsletters, and other types of email marketing campaigns.
  8. Graphic design: The virtual assistant can design banners, graphics, and other visual elements for the website and social media channels.
  9. Social media management: The virtual assistant can manage social media channels, create content, engage with followers, and run social media campaigns.
  10. Website maintenance: The virtual assistant can ensure that the website is running smoothly, perform software updates, and troubleshoot technical issues.
  11. Content creation: The virtual assistant can create blog posts, product descriptions, and other website content.
  12. Product research: The virtual assistant can conduct market research to identify new product opportunities and trends.
  13. Competitor analysis: The virtual assistant can research and analyze competitors to identify areas for improvement and stay ahead of the competition.
  14. Influencer outreach: The virtual assistant can find and reach out to influencers to promote the website and products.
  15. Affiliate marketing: The virtual assistant can manage the affiliate program and find new affiliates to promote the website.
  16. Bookkeeping and accounting: The virtual assistant can manage bookkeeping tasks such as tracking expenses, preparing invoices, and managing finances.
  17. Inventory management: The virtual assistant can manage inventory levels, reorder products, and update the website with new products.

Shopify Virtual Assistant Case Study

Meet Sarah, a small business owner who runs an online store selling handmade jewelry.

Sarah had been managing her Shopify store on her own for several months, but she was starting to feel overwhelmed with the workload.

She was spending most of her time on administrative tasks such as updating product listings, managing orders, and handling customer service inquiries.

She found herself with little time left to focus on product development and marketing, which was affecting her sales and revenue.

That’s when Sarah decided to hire a Shopify virtual assistant.

She found a virtual assistant who had experience with Shopify and was able to work part-time, helping her manage her eCommerce operations.

Before hiring the virtual assistant, Sarah was spending around 50-60 hours per week on her business, mostly on administrative tasks.

She was struggling to keep up with customer inquiries and order processing, which was resulting in negative reviews and customer complaints.

She was also finding it difficult to come up with new marketing ideas and ways to grow her business.

After hiring the Shopify virtual assistant, Sarah’s workload was significantly reduced.

The virtual assistant was able to take care of tasks such as product listing and optimization, order processing, customer service, marketing, and advertising.

This freed up Sarah’s time to focus on developing new products and marketing her business. She was able to launch new product lines and run marketing campaigns that drove more traffic to her website.

Additionally, the virtual assistant was able to optimize the website for search engines, resulting in better search visibility and more organic traffic. This helped Sarah generate more sales and revenue for her business.

The virtual assistant also helped with bookkeeping and accounting tasks, which made it easier for Sarah to manage her finances and make data-driven decisions.

Overall, hiring a Shopify virtual assistant was a game-changer for Sarah’s business. She was able to delegate administrative tasks and focus on growing her business. This helped her increase sales and revenue, improve customer satisfaction, and ultimately take her eCommerce business to the next level.

Where Can You Hire a Shopify Virtual Assistant?

Here are six websites that specialize in providing Shopify virtual assistants for eCommerce businesses:

  1. FreeUp – FreeUp is a freelancer platform that offers pre-vetted eCommerce freelancers, including Shopify virtual assistants. Their virtual assistants can help with tasks such as product listing, order processing, customer service, marketing, and website design.
  2. Upwork – Upwork is a popular freelancer platform that offers a wide range of freelancers, including Shopify virtual assistants. Their virtual assistants can help with tasks such as product listing, order processing, customer service, marketing, and SEO optimization.
  3. Remote Staff – Remote Staff is an outsourcing platform that offers virtual assistants for eCommerce businesses. Their virtual assistants are trained in Shopify and can help with tasks such as product listing, order processing, customer service, and marketing.
  4. Shopify Experts – Shopify Experts is a marketplace for Shopify experts, including virtual assistants. Their virtual assistants can help with tasks such as website design, development, and maintenance, as well as marketing and advertising.
  5. Virtalent – Virtalent is a virtual assistant service that specializes in eCommerce businesses. They offer virtual assistants who are skilled in Shopify and can help with tasks such as product listing, order processing, customer service, marketing, and social media management.
  6. OnlineJobs.ph – OnlineJobs.ph specializes in helping business owners find and hire virtual assistants in the Philippines. You can easily post a job, get applicants, interview, and hire them for your eCommerce business.

How Much Does a Shopify Virtual Assistant Cost?

The cost of hiring a Shopify virtual assistant can vary depending on several factors such as:

  • the location of the virtual assistant
  • their level of expertise
  • the scope of work
  • the hiring platform fees

In the United States, the average hourly rate for a Shopify virtual assistant can range from $25 to $75 per hour, with some more experienced assistants charging even higher rates.

However, hiring a virtual assistant from the US can be more expensive than hiring one from other countries due to the higher cost of living and the stronger currency.

In the Philippines, which is a popular country for hiring virtual assistants, the average hourly rate for a Shopify virtual assistant can range from $5 to $15 per hour. This lower rate is due to the lower cost of living in the Philippines, which means that virtual assistants can work for lower hourly rates but still earn a good income.

In other common countries for hiring virtual assistants, such as India, Eastern Europe, and South America, the average hourly rates for Shopify virtual assistants can range from $10 to $25 per hour.

It’s important to note that in addition to the hourly rate, hiring through a platform such as Upwork, Freelancer, or FreeUp can also involve fees.

These platforms usually charge a fee based on a percentage of the total project cost or hourly rate.

For example, Upwork charges a sliding fee of 5% to 20% based on the amount billed by the freelancer, while FreeUp charges a flat rate of $2.50 per hour for every hour billed by the virtual assistant.

When estimating the cost of hiring a Shopify virtual assistant, it’s important to factor in both the hourly rate and the platform fees.

It’s also important to consider the virtual assistant’s level of expertise and the scope of work required.

A more experienced virtual assistant may charge a higher rate, but they may also be able to complete the work more efficiently and with a higher level of quality.

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

Conclusion

To sum up, hiring a Shopify virtual assistant can be an excellent way to help manage and grow your eCommerce business.

Whether you need help with product listing, order processing, customer service, marketing, website design, or other tasks, a Shopify virtual assistant can provide valuable support and free up your time to focus on growing your business.

When it comes to hiring a Shopify virtual assistant, you can find a wide range of options online through platforms like FreeUp, Upwork, Remote Staff, Shopify Experts, and Virtalent.

The cost of hiring a Shopify virtual assistant can vary depending on factors like their location, level of expertise, and the scope of work required.

For instance, hiring a virtual assistant in the Philippines can be more affordable than hiring one in the US.

When estimating the cost of hiring a Shopify virtual assistant, it’s important to consider both the hourly rate and any platform fees that may apply.

So, whether you’re looking for help with a specific task or need ongoing support for your eCommerce business, consider hiring a Shopify virtual assistant to help take your business to the next level.

Categories
Virtual Assistants

How to Grow an Online Business That You Work ON, Not FOR

Charles Camisasca helps aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners to start and grow their e-commerce stores. He is passionate that anyone with a wifi connection and a willingness to work hard can start a successful online business. He’s the founder of The E-Commerce Boardroom and the creator of the 5 Step Framework for starting an e-commerce business.

As much as 97% of e-commerce businesses fail

That’s an anxiety-inducing statistic for any entrepreneur to read. Especially when you’re someone who has poured months or years of your time and thousands of your own dollars into your business. 

But why is the failure rate so high? And how do you make sure your business is one of the 3% that succeed WITHOUT burning the candle at both ends? 

We’ll cover all of that and more in this post. 

How to Grow an Online Business

Did you know that EVERY online business has the same goal?

Yes, every e-commerce business has a singular purpose: to convince massive numbers of its ideal customers to become repeat buyers and brand evangelists. 

Side note: What’s a brand evangelist, you ask? Neil Patel puts it well: “A brand evangelist is a person who believes in your product or service so fervently that he or she aggressively promotes it to others.”

The 4 Steps of Digital Marketing

You’re probably thinking: “OK, great. The goal of every business is to make money. Not exactly groundbreaking stuff, Charles.” 

I know, I know. But let’s break down exactly how to do this at your business. That’s where the fun begins. I call it the 4 Steps of Digital Marketing.

  1. Find communities of your ideal customers.
  2. Convince them to buy once.
  3. Convince them to buy over and over again.
  4. Encourage them to tell their friends. 

Master these 4 steps, and watch your business grow. 

By the way, what I’m covering today is Step #5 of a proven 5-step process to starting an e-commerce business. If you are struggling with anything, like figuring out what product to sell, choosing a supplier, getting your store up and running, defining your target customer, or marketing, you can learn more about all 5 steps (for free) here.

Step 1: Find communities of your ideal customers

You can’t sell anything if you don’t know who you are selling to. Said another way, you need to figure out how to get the RIGHT traffic in front of your product.

The biggest misconception about “traffic” is thinking that you have to CREATE it. The truth is that the digital “highways” are filled with lanes of your ideal customers. 

All you have to do is… “stand in the middle of the road”, so to speak.

What do I mean by that? 

Well, the internet has advanced to such a stage that online communities exist for just about every interest, hobby, and business market. Once you’ve defined your target customer, it becomes a simple matter to locate their existing online communities. 

To put this into practice, conduct a series of Google searches and create a spreadsheet listing the Facebook Groups, Blogs, Forums, Podcasts, YouTube Channels, Keywords, and Influencers that are relevant to your target customer. Take note of the audience size, URL, and contact info of each community, if it’s available. 

(Psst. This task is a great candidate to be outsourced to a virtual assistant.)

When I explained this secret to Loren, an entrepreneur who took my bootcamp course, she said “Charles, it’s like the lights just came on. I can’t wait to implement this!”

I completely understand her excitement. Completing this exercise gives you the direction you need for the rest of your marketing efforts, including all of the strategies outlined below. 

Yup, it’s time to “stand in the middle of the road.”

Step 2: Convince your ideal customer to buy once

Once you’ve found your ideal customers, it’s time to meet them where they are. 

If you can effectively communicate how your product solves their biggest pain points, you will barely have to convince them to purchase your products. They will be chomping at the bit to buy!

But how should you get your message across to them?

Unfortunately, many business owners become fixated on a single marketing strategy – most commonly, Facebook or Google Ads. 

However, the right way for how to grow an online business is not to use a singular method, but instead a network of interconnected tactics. 

I call this a Systematic Marketing Strategy. It has three components – Outbound, Inbound, and Subscriber Marketing.

Outbound Marketing

Outbound Marketing is any proactive tactic used by a company that is designed to interrupt a potential customer, capture their attention, and present them with an offer.

The most common formulations of this are Paid Ads and Cold Outreach (cold calls and cold emails). These serve to rapidly drive growth in traffic to your site, sales, and subscribers. 

Tips for best results: 

  • Experiment with ad platforms, copywriting, targeting, and creatives.
  • Be sure to use a mixture of prospecting and retargeting ads. 
  • Outsource key functions where you need help.
Inbound Marketing

Inbound marketing is the creation of web pages and consumable content that resonate with your target audience. With Outbound, you proactively “go after” your ideal customer. With Inbound, on the other hand, you encourage them to come to you.

The way to implement inbound marketing is to first create carefully designed websites, social media profiles, and landing pages. 

Be sure to craft these so that they quickly convey your main value proposition and are set up to capture the contact information of your web visitors.

The second step is Content Marketing. 

This involves creating…content…that is curated according to the principle desires, problems, questions, and preferred media of your idea customer. This could take the form of a blog, social media posts, a podcast, YouTube Channel, or many others.

Tips for best results:

  • In web design, simplicity is key. There is no shortage of well qualified designers that you can hire to do this for you.
  • For content marketing, check out the best performing content in your niche, and model off of them (but never copy!).
  • Include a personalized lead magnet with every piece of content to dramatically grow your subscriber base.
Subscriber Marketing

Subscriber Marketing encompasses every piece of content you send to someone that volunteers to receive messages from you.

This typically incorporates both social media followers and email subscribers. However, of the two, email marketing is by far the most effective. Whereas social media is primarily used for entertainment, the email inbox is associated in our minds with business. 

As such, one of your business’ primary goals should be to grow your email list.

Notice how both Inbound and Outbound strategies produce email subscribers for your brand as a byproduct. 

One of the most effective strategies for long term growth in sales will be following up with these email subscribers through a coordinated campaign.

Tips for best results:

  • Use social media to grow your email list. Include a link to your best landing page on your social media profile, and include a CTA in your posts to go check it out. 
  • Don’t attempt to sell products in every email you send. Include a good mix of valuable content and product emails.
  • Create a Welcome Series using the Soap Opera method to introduce people to your brand and make a special offer to them.

How to Grow an Online Business: The Systematic Marketing Strategy

Do you see how the best plan for how to grow an online business is to deploy all 3 of these components? 

Let’s look briefly at how they work in concert with one another.

Outbound strategies (like a nuanced, multi-step, educational paid ad campaign) can boost sales and quickly drive traffic to your website. Inbound strategies (like content marketing) help to take a percentage of those website visitors that don’t immediately make a purchase and convert them into email subscribers. And that’s when subscriber marketing takes over and helps nurture prospects, close sales, create repeat customers, and drive referrals.

Step 3: Convince your ideal customers to buy again and again

Wow, we just spent quite a while on how to convince an ideal prospect to buy from you just one time. That’s the hardest and most important step, but what about growing repeat business?

You will need to intentionally deploy certain vehicles for encouraging your existing customers to buy over and over again from you. 

Having a well-functioning sales funnel is integral to this process.

Sales Funnels

A sales funnel is a multi-step marketing strategy designed to turn cold prospects into repeat customers. Start by plotting out your product offerings in order from least valuable to most valuable. 

This is your value ladder. 

For example, the value ladder for a coaching business might look something like this:

A sales funnel is concerned with methodically advancing prospects up from the lowest value products to the highest value products. 

To do this, make a concerted effort to present your customers with complementary offers (upsells, downsells, cross sells, and order form bumps).

The best time to do this is during and after the checkout process. The idea is to “strike while the iron is hot”, since someone is far more likely to make a second purchase immediately after or during the first purchase. 

But that’s just the beginning.

Email Marketing for Follow Up Funnels

After a customer checks out and leaves your website, the funnel doesn’t end. 

At that point in time, email marketing will become your greatest weapon in selling to your existing customers.

Email marketing automation software (MailChimp, MailerLite, ActiveCampaign, etc.) allows you to segment your email list by what products they have purchased. Use this to your advantage. You should talk to subscribers differently from how you talk to your customers. 

Over time, this will help to drive repeat sales and boost your average customer lifetime value. 

Step 4: Convince your ideal customers to tell their friends about your brand

Ah, yes. The time has come to create brand evangelists. But how?

Well, like everything we’ve discussed today, it doesn’t happen by accident. It required deliberate, intentional strategies. 

Try these out:

  • Referral Programs: create financial incentive for your customers to share your brand with their friends. You could offer rewards points, discounts, branded swag, or even cash!
  • Affiliate Marketing: Look into paying a professional marketer to write a blog post reviewing your product (or something similar). In exchange for a modest commission, this will really serve to get people talking about your brand!
  • Customer Experience: Focus on the experience that each customer has with your brand. This includes customer support (which should be outsourced) and customer success. Customer Success means ensuring each customer achieves their desired result from using your product. Proactively reach out to them to make sure they are LOVING your product or service! 

Put these all together, and word-of-mouth growth is all but assured. 

How to grow an online business that you work ON, not FOR

Hopefully you can see how the 4 steps of digital marketing comprise the RIGHT way to grow an online business. 

I submit to you that a large percentage of e-commerce businesses fail because they do not implement a cohesive marketing system like the one I’ve described today.

Many other business owners DO master this method, only to become buried under the deluge of the day-to-day grind. They create bottlenecks in their business and they get burnt out quickly. 

Don’t let that happen to you. 

Instead, identify the processes that require repetitive, manual work at your business. Create SOPs to document the best way to do each process. 

And then, use a killer platform like FreeUp to work with world class freelancers, freeing up your time and resources to focus on ONLY the highest-value tasks at your business.

That’s how to grow an online business that you work ON, and not FOR.

PS – Want to learn more about the framework taught in this article? Check out our free blueprint.