Category: Virtual Assistants

Virtual Assistants

How Much to Pay Filipino Virtual Assistants in 2023

Post author By Julia Valdez
Post date June 12, 2023
No Comments on How Much to Pay Filipino Virtual Assistants in 2023

Looking to hire a Filipino VA but aren’t sure about Philippines virtual assistant cost ranges?

Well, look no further because we’re here to answer your questions and help you make an educated decision.

In this article, we will be covering:

Why Hire Filipino Virtual Assistants?
What are the Types of Virtual Assistants?
Factors Influencing Virtual Assistant Rates in 2023
What Are the Average Hourly Rates for Filipino Virtual Assistants in 2023?
Additional Factors Affecting Virtual Assistant Compensation
What Are the Best Virtual Assistant Websites to Hire From?

Why Hire Filipino Virtual Assistants?

The Philippines is one of the most popular countries for outsourcing. The founders of Outsource School, Connor, and Nathan, can attest to the effectiveness of a Filipino VAs. They have hired multiple Filipino VAs for Outsource School and other businesses since their college days. But what is it about them that has earned them such a stellar worldwide reputation? Does this reputation affect the cost of a virtual assistant in the Philippines?

In our “Should You Hire a Virtual Assistant in the Philippines?” article, we listed 8 reasons why Filipinos are great hires. These reasons are:

The Philippines is an English-speaking country. This makes communication much easier.
Because of the people’s English proficiency, the Philippines is one of the top countries for BPO outsourcing. This industry is one of the fastest growing in the country.
Filipinos can adapt to most cultures because of a lot of outside influences over the years. This is particularly true of US culture. American media, specifically, has a significant impact on current Filipino ideas about lifestyle and business.
The Philippines is known for its hospitality. This stems from its people-focused culture. They value building relationships and collaborating to reach goals. This makes them valuable assets to any business.
Filipinos are adaptable and flexible. They are always willing to learn new skills. Most can and are willing to adapt to time zone differences.
Filipinos are known to be hard workers. They deliver quality output regardless of circumstances.
If you’re looking for someone who fits your business model of “family values”, hiring from a family-oriented country like the Philippines will get you the best results.
Filipinos have developed resiliency and optimism due to their difficult history and proneness to natural disasters. This is evident in their attitude towards work.

What are the Types of Virtual Assistants?

Follower

You can consider a follower to be a beginner or entry-level VA. These followers are trainees who need a lot of guidance. They don’t usually have enough experience to take initiative on their own. Your relationship with them is going to be that of a teacher in some respects, and they are your apprentice. With followers, you will need to teach them about whatever process you use that they must follow. This is an advantage because you will not have to get them to unlearn stuff.

Doer

A doer is more of a specialist. They are the types of workers that have a degree of in-depth knowledge. They can be left alone after some guidance on the specifics of how you want things done. Then they can go on to perform the work without a lot of supervision. Your culture and guidelines work together with their process and expertise. The relationship you have with a doer is one of collaboration.

Expert

Expert-level VAs are highly skilled. They likely have years of experience in their field. These types of VAs are usually brought on to help businesses create processes that do not yet exist. They help with areas of strategy and planning where the business owner needs help. They are consultants in the areas of their expertise. Experts show you the best methods to complete tasks and reach your goals. The relationship you have with experts is kind of a mix of follower and doer. The difference is that you take on the role of the learner and collaborate with the doer, drawing from their expertise. The processes they create with you are those that you relay to followers and doers to achieve your goals.

Factors Influencing Virtual Assistant Rates in 2023

Philippines virtual assistant cost ranges are affected by several factors, which we will go into a little bit below.

1. Skillset and experience level

Certain skillsets will usually command different rates. For instance, a data entry virtual assistant will very likely have averages and ranges that differ than those of a graphic design virtual assistant or a dropshipping VA.

Specialized skills and expertise

Basic VA skills are usually entry-level type skills. This is regardless of the field in which they work. They are usually skills related to basic administrative duties. However, the greater their level of mastery in that area, the more valuable their skills are. Additionally, VAs with a valuable yet niche sets of skills will fetch higher rates. Usually, the more technical knowledge they need to possess to be effective at the job, the higher the charge is for those services. For example, the lower end of the copywriter rate range is less than the lower end rates when hiring a content writer that specializes in SEO. But even basic sets of skills have a range depending on experience, which relates to efficiency.

Years of experience in the industry

While experience doesn’t necessarily determine skill level or talent, it is still a valuable factor that is worth considering. For instance, a VA with 3 years of experience has probably worked with multiple companies and teams with varying company cultures and team dynamics. This means they are more likely to have an easier time adapting to your culture and team. They also have had years to create and improve their processes to become more efficient with their time.

Another bearing that experience has on Philippines virtual assistant costs is accurate rate calculation. They will more likely be able to give you an accurate and fair estimate after working with multiple companies and getting a better grasp of the value that they bring to the table.

2. Job responsibilities and scope of work

How extensive of a job is it? How much do you need to get done?

A virtual assistant has many skills. You’re unlikely to find a VA with only one single set of skills. However, an employer that asks for work beyond the originally agreed-upon scope is far too common. This is why it’s necessary to lay out the duties and responsibilities plainly so your VA can calculate the rate they will charge. Naturally, the more you require of them, the more you need to pay them.

3. Demand and supply dynamics

Sometimes, rate ranges for the same skillsets can vary depending on how in-demand they are. For instance, imagine there is a flood of data entry VAs available on the market. This will usually mean that they will not be successful charging more. This is because they will be facing a lot of competition, which drives the prices down. This will cause them to lower their rates to find work.

To make sure you are still hiring the best in this type of environment, look for VAs who have more experience or unique skills. And remember that the best ones will not usually drop their rates by much because they know their value.

4. Time commitment and work arrangement

Full-time vs. part-time virtual assistants

Freelancers typically work on multiple projects to help ends meet. Because of the lack of job security, part-time freelancers will usually have higher rate requirements than full-time freelancers. This helps them to cover hours that you don’t need them to work.

You may, however, need someone to work with you more exclusively. In this case, you will need to pay for that commitment. You will not pay as much per hour as you would for a part-time hire, of course. You still need to pay competitively, though. This is because you are expecting them to be dedicated to you. This means that they are giving up potentially more profitable jobs.

Project-based or hourly rates

Some freelancers charge a fixed rate or give project-based quotes. These depend on the scope or depth of the project. Others charge the standard hourly rate. Sometimes, project pricing is more economical. This is because freelancers benefit from efficiency and clients know how much to pay.

What Are the Average Hourly Rates for Filipino Virtual Assistants in 2023?

Follower

VirtualStaff.ph is a platform that hires Filipino freelancers. They then allow businesses to connect with them through thousands of daily job posts. When it comes to the cost of hiring a Filipino VA, they have valuable data to share. According to their data, the entry-level cost of a virtual assistant in the Philippines falls between $2 to $5/hr.

Doer

Specialization pertains to a very broad spectrum of jobs and duties. Because of this, an exact calculation here is a little bit more difficult to ascertain. Some specialists charge $5 an hour. Others charge $25. The rate depends on what they are specialized in. It can also change depending on how specialized they are in that area. So, we believe that if you are looking for niche skill sets, don’t look at generalized VA averages. Instead, we recommend knowing what skills you are looking for. Then you can look at the average costs of VAs within that specialization.

Expert

Expert-level Philippines virtual assistant cost ranges can go from $30 upwards. Again, the factors previously discussed affect this. The amount of guidance your business needs also affects rate ranges.

Additional Factors Affecting Virtual Assistant Compensation

Other factors that affect Philippines virtual assistant costs are retainer plans or packages that some VAs charge.

Retainers involve hours that are billed before work begins. The employer dictates what is done during those hours. These retainers also have a pre-determined expiration dates. This means that these hours must be consumed within a set timeframe. Retainers are agreements based on time and not necessarily expertise.

Packages are not time-sensitive and are based on expertise. These deals are project-based and are usually half upfront and half after the project has been completed. You can pay the whole thing upfront before seeing results if you trust the VA, though.

What Are the Best Virtual Assistant Websites to Hire From?

Aside from VirtualStaff.ph, there are other great Filipino virtual assistant companies to hire from. These include:

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

Now you know the factors that affect how much a Philippines virtual assistant costs, you’re ready to start canvassing and finding the perfect fit for your remote team.

Virtual Assistants

17 Real Estate Virtual Assistant Tasks to Hire For

Post author By Julia Valdez
Post date June 12, 2023
No Comments on 17 Real Estate Virtual Assistant Tasks to Hire For

Real estate virtual assistant tasks are some of the easiest to hire for, if you know what you’re doing. Most real estate businesses need help with a variety of tasks. The problem is, they don’t exactly know what a VA can do and how to find the right one.

We’ve compiled a list of real estate virtual assistant tasks to get you started. These tasks may be things that are keeping you busy all day. They could also be things you didn’t even know you needed help for until now. Whatever the case, you’re going to love this list!

Let’s take a closer look at each one of these tasks to help you decide how a virtual assistant can be the support you need.

1. Lead Generation

Lead generation is the process of capturing the attention of potential customers to increase your product or service sales. The goal of lead generation is to convert these potential consumers into paying customers. Your virtual assistant can help you attract leads and even help you nurture them on their journey to conversion. A VA can help you with marketing in areas such as SEO (search engine optimization), content marketing, social media marketing, landing pages, referrals, and other ads.

2. Data Entry

This is the most basic of the real estate virtual assistant tasks. Data entry typically involves the compilation and updating of information (customer data, contact information, etc.). This also includes transferring information from one medium to another (manual to digital) or from one app or software to another. Data entry specialists also typically cross-reference data from multiple sources to ensure accuracy. They are also responsible for creating multiple backups in case data gets lost, corrupted, or accidentally deleted.

3. Database Management

A well-maintained real estate database is crucial to the smooth running and success of a real estate business. This database includes information about homeowners, tenant or lease data, creditor information, type of asset, locations, size, etc. You also need to maintain a record of all transactions which can also be updated by your bookkeeping VA. This data must be updated regularly and must be readily accessible.

4. Email and Calendar Management

You can outsource some inbox management virtual assistant tasks to your real estate VA. These tasks can range from organizing, filtering, and labeling emails to deleting junk mail and archiving old conversations. Because your VA is already handling your email, they can take note of any upcoming client or team meetings or tours, communicate them to you, and schedule them on your calendar.

5. Social Media Management

The majority of the world’s population is online and using some kind of social media. Whether it’s on sites like Facebook and Instagram or video content-driven platforms like YouTube or TikTok, you need to advertise. Otherwise, you are missing out on a “lead” gold mine. Your virtual real estate assistant can help you create content for these sites. Whether it’s graphic design, video creation, copywriting, or editing., they can help. Your VA can also help with your engagement by interacting with your followers by liking comments, replying, or answering private messages.

6. Listing Management

Think about all that goes into maintaining housing listings for real estate. You need to create a listing that includes the following:

Price of the house/property
Address
Descriptions that include the history of the property, the neighborhood, the history of renovations, the number of previous owners, unique features, etc.,
Photos of the property
Open house schedules

A virtual assistant can not only help you create these listings but also update them as they change.

7. Market Research

Real estate virtual assistant tasks like market research are crucial to understanding the mind of your consumers. This type of research involves figuring out certain patterns and behaviors that are common to that group of people, such as:

What consumers in the area are more likely to look for.
The current trends in real estate and buyer tastes.
What questions house owners commonly ask.
The things that typically turn consumers off about a particular property. Or, what immediately hurts a potential bid on a house.
The marketing tactics and methods that are most effective.
What you can optimize in your listings and emphasize in your tours to paint your houses and properties in the best light.

8. Comparative Market Analysis (CMA)

Comparative market analysis is the estimation of the value of a property based on how much similar properties in the area have recently sold for. A virtual assistant in real estate must know how to conduct research on comparable properties in that vicinity. To buyers, it shows that your property is fairly priced. However, this is different from a formal appraisal, where a qualified professional makes an unbiased estimate of the value of a house.

9. Showing Coordination

Multiple people might want to take house tours at the same time. Your VA can organize these showings so that clients are happy but their times do not clash.

10. Client Communication

Whether via email or other channels, your VA can take client calls or answer client messages. They can follow up with clients who have scheduled meetings or house tours. If clients have more complicated questions that your VA cannot answer, they can mark these messages down and forward them to someone more qualified and knowledgeable.

11. Document Preparation

A house is a pretty big investment, and with it comes more than a few documents that need to be readied. Your virtual assistant can help clients with these documents and help check that everything is complete.

12. Transaction Coordination

They will help make arrangements on how to pay for the property. Whether that’s putting a downpayment, directing them to payment options, or otherwise. This also includes making sure these clients get their receipts.

13. Virtual Tours and Video Editing

Not everyone has the option to visit a house in person. With all that has happened in the world at the beginning of this decade, virtual house tours have risen in popularity. These tours allow people to see the inside of a house without actually being inside physically. This can be done through a live stream or through stitching multiple pictures together through software. The latter is more common and allows anyone to view the house at any time. You can hire a virtual assistant to help you create and edit these virtual tours.

14. Bookkeeping and Expense Tracking

Bookkeeping is necessary for any business, big or small, in any industry. You need to keep track of expenses, bills, payroll, taxes, and other essential monthly bookkeeping duties. Doing this yourself might be possible if you are just starting. However, this becomes less sustainable in the long run. It can get tedious and time-consuming. Spending hours on expense tracking and other tasks takes away time from you selling houses or fostering partnerships with housing developers. By hiring a bookkeeping VA, you can free up your time while having the peace of mind of knowing your books are in good hands.

15. Website Maintenance

The housing market is volatile. This means that your website needs to be dynamic. A website whose information is wrong or out of date can turn customers away from doing business with you. That’s why it’s important to have someone constantly working on your site.

Maintenance can include:

Updating listings
Adding new FAQs
Updating contact info
Creating new web pages
Writing blog posts
Editing existing content about current and new properties

16. Email Marketing

We’ve already concluded that a virtual assistant in real estate knows how to do marketing. Email marketing is no exception. Email is an effective lead generation and nurturing strategy used to grow your customer list. It can bring attention to houses or properties that may have otherwise flown under their radar. Email can also be used to retarget consumers who looked at houses previously but didn’t make the decision to buy. Your VA can create newsletters, create and edit campaigns, segment customers based on certain buyer characteristics, etc.

17. Customer Service

An essential skill in the list of real estate virtual assistant tasks is handling customer relationships. This includes answering questions that they may have about listings through email or live chat. Your VA can also direct them to your website’s Frequently Asked Questions. You can also inform them of other contact methods if they have any further questions down the line.

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

And that’s our list of real estate virtual assistant tasks! We hope you find the virtual assistant that is perfect for your needs and can take some of the load off your shoulders.

Virtual Assistants

Where to Find and How to Hire a Virtual Assistant

Post author By Connor Gillivan
Post date June 1, 2023
No Comments on Where to Find and How to Hire a Virtual Assistant

Have you ever wondered:

“Where to find & hire a virtual assistant?”

We’ve been there too. And we want to make it simple.

My name is Connor Gillivan. I’ve been building companies with virtual assistants and outsourced talent for the past 10+ years.

Today, I own Outsource School, EcomBalance, and AccountsBalance and I employ a team of 25+ VAs and freelancers from the Philippines and other areas of the world.

In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know about where to find a virtual assistant and how to hire them for your business.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

Benefits of Having a Virtual Assistant
What’s the Importance of Finding the Right VA?
How To Identify Your VA Needs and Job Requirements
What Are the Best Virtual Assistant Websites to Hire From?
How To Conduct a Virtual Assistant Search
What are Some Factors to Consider in Hiring a Virtual Assistant?
What are Important Questions To Ask During An Interview?
How To Make the Hiring Decision
Tips on Onboarding and Managing Your Virtual Assistant

Benefits of Having a Virtual Assistant

Enhanced Productivity and Time Management:

Delegating repetitive and time-consuming tasks to a virtual assistant frees up your time to focus on high-value activities, such as strategy development and business growth.
VAs can handle various administrative tasks, such as email management, appointment scheduling, data entry, and customer support, which can significantly increase your productivity.

Cost Savings:

Hiring a virtual assistant is often more cost-effective than employing an in-house staff member. With a VA, you save on expenses like office space, equipment, and benefits.
VAs are typically paid on an hourly or task basis, allowing you to scale their workload based on your business needs. This flexibility helps control costs and optimize your budget.

Expertise and Skills:

Virtual assistants often possess specialized skills and expertise that can benefit your online business. Whether it’s graphic design, social media management, content writing, or web development, you can find VAs with the specific skill set you need.
By leveraging the expertise of a virtual assistant, you can access professional-level support without having to invest in extensive training or hiring full-time employees.

Scalability and Flexibility:

As your online business grows, your workload will increase. Virtual assistants provide the scalability and flexibility necessary to meet these changing demands. You can easily adjust their hours, workload, or hire additional VAs as needed.
During peak seasons or special projects, you can rely on VAs to handle the extra workload, ensuring your business runs smoothly without overwhelming yourself or your core team.

Focus on Core Business Activities:

By delegating tasks to a virtual assistant, you can shift your focus to strategic planning, marketing, sales, and customer acquisition—activities that directly impact the growth and success of your online business.
This allows you to work on important tasks that leverage your expertise while trusting your virtual assistant to handle the day-to-day operational aspects.

Improved Work-Life Balance:

Running an online business often involves long hours and high stress levels. By offloading tasks to a virtual assistant, you can regain a sense of balance in your life.
With a VA managing routine administrative and operational tasks, you can enjoy more free time, reduce stress, and engage in activities that enhance your overall well-being.

What’s the Importance of Finding the Right VA?

Task Efficiency and Quality:

A competent virtual assistant who possesses the necessary skills and experience will deliver high-quality work in a timely manner.
By finding the right VA, you can ensure that tasks are completed efficiently and to your satisfaction, allowing you to maintain a consistent level of productivity and meet your business goals.

Effective Communication and Collaboration:

Good communication is vital when working with a virtual assistant. The right VA will possess excellent communication skills, be responsive, and provide regular updates on task progress.
A VA who understands your instructions and can ask clarifying questions when needed fosters a collaborative working relationship, leading to better outcomes for your business.

Adaptability and Problem-Solving Abilities:

Online businesses often encounter unexpected challenges and changes. A resourceful virtual assistant who is adaptable and possesses strong problem-solving abilities can help navigate these situations effectively.
Look for a VA who can think critically, adapt to new tools and technologies, and proactively find solutions to challenges that may arise in your business operations.

Cultural and Language Fit:

Consider the cultural and language fit when hiring a virtual assistant. If your business caters to a specific demographic or operates in a particular region, having a VA who understands the cultural nuances and speaks the language can be highly beneficial.
A virtual assistant who can effectively communicate with your target audience and tailor their work to suit your business’s specific needs will contribute to your overall success.

Trust and Reliability:

Trust is a critical factor in any business relationship, including the one with your virtual assistant. Look for a VA who demonstrates professionalism, integrity, and reliability.
A trustworthy virtual assistant will respect confidentiality, handle sensitive information with care, and consistently deliver work on time, giving you peace of mind and allowing you to focus on other aspects of your business.

Long-Term Partnership Potential:

Finding the right virtual assistant means identifying someone with whom you can build a long-term working relationship. Continuity and familiarity with your business processes and goals are valuable assets.
Investing time in finding a VA who aligns with your vision and values can lead to a long-term partnership, reducing the need for frequent hiring and onboarding of new assistants.

How To Identify Your VA Needs and Job Requirements

Assess Your Business Operations:

Evaluate your current business operations and identify areas where you could benefit from VA assistance. This could include tasks such as email management, customer support, social media management, content creation, data entry, or administrative work.
Consider which tasks consume a significant portion of your time or require specialized skills that you may not possess. These are ideal areas to delegate to a virtual assistant.

Define Specific Tasks and Responsibilities:

Break down the identified areas into specific tasks and responsibilities. Be as detailed as possible in outlining what you expect the VA to handle.
Determine the frequency and volume of each task, whether it’s daily, weekly, or on an as-needed basis. This will help you estimate the required hours and set appropriate expectations.

Identify Required Skills and Experience:

Determine the skills and experience necessary to perform the tasks effectively. Consider both technical skills (e.g., graphic design, copywriting, programming) and soft skills (e.g., communication, organization, problem-solving).
Assess whether you need a VA with prior experience in your industry or specific software/tools relevant to your business. This ensures they can seamlessly integrate into your operations.

Consider Language and Cultural Requirements:

Depending on your business’s target audience or the nature of your work, you may require a virtual assistant who speaks a specific language or understands a particular culture.
If your business operates in multiple regions or has a diverse customer base, consider whether multilingual skills or cultural knowledge would be advantageous.

Determine Working Hours and Time Zone Compatibility:

Decide whether you need a virtual assistant who can work within specific hours or time zones. This is particularly important for tasks that require real-time communication or immediate response.
Consider your own availability and the hours during which you would need the VA’s support to ensure a smooth workflow and collaboration.

Outline Communication and Reporting Expectations:

Clearly define your preferred modes of communication, whether it’s email, project management tools, instant messaging apps, or regular video calls.
Specify your expectations regarding communication frequency, responsiveness, and reporting on task progress. This will ensure effective coordination and transparency.

Set Budget and Compensation:

Establish a budget for your virtual assistant based on your business’s financial resources and the value you place on the tasks being delegated.
Determine whether you prefer to pay an hourly rate, a fixed project rate, or a monthly retainer. Consider the average rates for VAs with the desired skills and experience.

What Are the Best Virtual Assistant Websites to Hire From?

Upwork (www.upwork.com): Upwork is one of the largest and most well-known platforms for hiring freelancers, including virtual assistants. It offers a wide range of skilled professionals from various fields, allowing you to find VAs with diverse expertise. Upwork provides tools for managing contracts, tracking time, and facilitating communication between clients and freelancers.
Freelancer (www.freelancer.com): Freelancer is another popular platform that connects businesses with freelancers, including virtual assistants. It offers a vast talent pool with freelancers from around the world, allowing you to find VAs with different skill sets and competitive rates. Freelancer provides features like project management tools and dispute resolution services.
FreeUp (www.freeup.net): FreeUp is a platform specializing in connecting businesses with pre-vetted freelancers, including virtual assistants. They have a rigorous screening process to ensure high-quality talent. FreeUp offers a hands-on approach, matching you with the most suitable VA based on your specific needs. They focus on eCommerce, marketing, and web development services.
OnlineJobs.ph (www.onlinejobs.ph): OnlineJobs.ph is a platform specifically dedicated to Filipino virtual assistants. It focuses on connecting businesses with highly skilled VAs from the Philippines. This platform is particularly popular for its extensive talent pool of English-speaking VAs at affordable rates. OnlineJobs.ph allows direct communication between employers and job seekers.
Fiverr (www.fiverr.com): Fiverr is a well-known freelance marketplace that offers a wide range of services, including virtual assistance. On Fiverr, you can find VAs offering specialized services and packages at different price points. The platform is known for its user-friendly interface and the ability to browse through a variety of VAs’ portfolios and reviews.
Toptal (www.toptal.com): Toptal is a premium talent marketplace that focuses on connecting businesses with top-tier freelancers, including virtual assistants. They have a rigorous screening process to ensure that only the most experienced professionals are accepted. Toptal is known for providing highly skilled VAs in fields such as software development, design, and project management.

How To Conduct a Virtual Assistant Search

Crafting an Effective Job Description:

Clearly define the responsibilities, tasks, and skills required for the virtual assistant role. Be specific and provide details to attract candidates who align with your needs.
Mention any preferred qualifications, such as industry experience, technical skills, or language proficiency.
Highlight your company culture and values to attract VAs who resonate with your business’s vision.
Include information about working hours, time zone requirements, and preferred communication channels.

Screening and Shortlisting Candidates:

Review resumes, portfolios, and profiles on virtual assistant platforms or job boards.
Look for relevant experience, skills, and achievements that match your job requirements.
Check for positive reviews or testimonials from previous clients.
Consider conducting a preliminary skills test or request work samples to assess their abilities.
Narrow down your list to a shortlist of candidates who best meet your criteria.

Conducting Interviews and Assessments:

Schedule interviews with your shortlisted candidates. Use video conferencing tools for a more personal connection.
Prepare a set of interview questions that assess both technical skills and soft skills, such as communication and problem-solving abilities.
Ask about their experience with similar tasks, their preferred working style, and how they handle challenges.
Evaluate their communication skills, responsiveness, and overall professionalism during the interview.
Consider giving them a trial task or a small project to assess their ability to meet your expectations.

Bonus Tip: Trust your instincts and pay attention to how well you connect with each candidate. Cultural fit and compatibility are important factors in building a successful working relationship with your virtual assistant.

What are Some Factors to Consider in Hiring a Virtual Assistant?

Communication:

Effective communication is crucial when working with a virtual assistant. Assess their communication skills during the hiring process. Look for responsiveness, clarity, and the ability to understand and follow instructions.
Consider their language proficiency, both in written and verbal communication, to ensure smooth and efficient collaboration.
Evaluate their ability to proactively ask questions, seek clarification, and provide regular updates on task progress.

Attitude:

A positive attitude is invaluable in a virtual assistant. Look for candidates who demonstrate enthusiasm, a willingness to learn, and a proactive mindset.
Assess their ability to handle feedback and make necessary improvements. A VA who is receptive to feedback and actively seeks ways to improve can contribute to a more productive working relationship.
Consider their level of professionalism and reliability, as these traits are essential for a successful partnership.

Red Flags:

Look out for red flags during the hiring process. These may include inconsistent communication, missed deadlines, or negative reviews from previous clients.
Pay attention to how they present themselves during interviews and assess their level of preparedness and attention to detail.
Trust your instincts. If something feels off or if there are any warning signs, it may be wise to explore other options.

Experience:

Consider the VA’s level of experience in your industry or with the specific tasks you need assistance with. While experience can be valuable, keep in mind that a lack of experience doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t be a good fit.
Assess their track record by reviewing their portfolio, work samples, or client testimonials. Look for relevant projects they have successfully completed.
Evaluate whether their experience aligns with the demands of your business and the skills required for the role.

What are Important Questions To Ask During An Interview?

Can you tell me about your previous experience as a virtual assistant?

Gain insight into their work history, the types of tasks they have handled, and the industries they have worked in.
Ask for specific examples of projects or tasks they have successfully completed, highlighting their relevant experience.

What specific skills do you bring to the table as a virtual assistant?

Inquire about their technical skills, software proficiency, and any specialized knowledge that could benefit your business.
Ask about their ability to multitask, meet deadlines, and handle various aspects of virtual assistance.

How do you handle communication and ensure effective collaboration in a remote working setup?

Assess their approach to communication tools, frequency of updates, and their preferred methods of staying connected with clients.
Inquire about their strategies for managing time zone differences, availability for meetings, and response times.

How do you handle feedback and constructive criticism?

Gauge their ability to receive feedback and make necessary improvements.
Inquire about their approach to handling challenging situations or tasks and how they adapt to changing requirements.

Can you provide examples of situations where you demonstrated problem-solving skills?

Evaluate their ability to think critically and find solutions to challenges.
Ask for specific examples of how they have resolved issues or implemented improvements in their previous roles.

What is your preferred working style and how do you prioritize tasks?

Understand their preferred work environment, time management methods, and how they prioritize tasks to ensure efficient completion.
Assess their ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.

How do you ensure confidentiality and handle sensitive information?

Inquire about their approach to maintaining confidentiality and protecting sensitive data.
Assess their understanding of data security protocols and their ability to adhere to privacy guidelines.

Can you describe a time when you went above and beyond for a client or employer?

Evaluate their commitment to delivering exceptional service and their dedication to exceeding expectations.
Look for examples that demonstrate their initiative, creativity, and willingness to go the extra mile.

How To Make the Best Hiring Decision

Thoroughly Evaluate Candidates:

Review resumes, portfolios, and work samples to assess their skills and experience.
Consider conducting preliminary assessments or skills tests to gauge their proficiency in relevant tasks.
Check references or reach out to previous clients to gather insights about their performance and professionalism.

Conduct In-Depth Interviews:

Prepare a list of comprehensive interview questions that cover technical skills, communication, problem-solving, and adaptability.
Take note of their responses, paying attention to their ability to articulate their thoughts, provide relevant examples, and showcase their expertise.
Evaluate how well they align with your company values and culture.

Assess Compatibility:

Consider how well the virtual assistant’s working style and availability align with your business needs.
Assess their ability to handle the specific tasks and responsibilities required for your business.
Evaluate their level of responsiveness, attention to detail, and ability to meet deadlines.

Consider Cultural Fit:

Assess whether the VA’s values, work ethic, and communication style align with your business culture.
Consider their ability to adapt to your preferred communication channels and collaborate effectively with your team or other VAs.
Look for a virtual assistant who shares your commitment to professionalism, accountability, and quality.

Trust Your Instincts:

Pay attention to your gut feeling and intuition throughout the hiring process.
Consider the chemistry and rapport you feel during interviews and interactions.
If something feels off or raises concerns, take the time to explore further or consider other candidates.

Start with a Trial Period:

Consider offering a trial period to assess the VA’s performance and compatibility.
Set clear expectations and evaluate their ability to meet those expectations.
Use this period to determine if they are the right fit for a long-term working relationship.

Seek Feedback from Your Team:

If applicable, involve your team in the hiring process to gather their perspectives.
Seek feedback on the candidates’ qualifications, compatibility, and potential contributions.
Consider their insights as additional input to inform your decision-making.

Tips on Onboarding and Managing Your Virtual Assistant

Establish Clear Expectations:

Clearly define the scope of work, responsibilities, and objectives for your VA from the start.
Provide detailed instructions, guidelines, and resources to ensure a thorough understanding of tasks and expectations.
Set realistic deadlines and milestones to track progress and measure performance.

Develop Effective Communication Channels:

Establish regular communication channels, such as video calls, instant messaging, and email, to facilitate seamless interaction.
Clearly communicate preferred communication methods and response time expectations.
Schedule regular check-ins and meetings to provide feedback, address questions, and discuss ongoing projects.

Foster a Positive Working Relationship:

Create a welcoming and inclusive environment that encourages open communication and collaboration.
Show appreciation for their contributions and recognize their achievements.
Foster a sense of teamwork by involving them in decision-making processes and encouraging their input.

Provide Access to Necessary Tools and Resources:

Ensure your VA has access to the tools, software, and resources they need to perform their tasks efficiently.
Provide training or access to training materials to enhance their skills and knowledge.
Offer clear instructions on how to use any specific tools or platforms relevant to your business.

Establish Clear Systems and Workflows:

Document standard operating procedures (SOPs) and workflows to ensure consistency and efficiency.
Share access to relevant files, documents, and project management tools.
Clearly define reporting structures and procedures for tracking progress and resolving issues.

Encourage Feedback and Continuous Improvement:

Create a culture of open feedback and encourage your VA to share their ideas, suggestions, and concerns.
Regularly review performance and provide constructive feedback for improvement.
Offer opportunities for professional development and growth to enhance their skills and expertise.

Regularly Review and Adjust:

Conduct periodic performance evaluations to assess progress and address any areas of improvement.
Identify bottlenecks, challenges, or areas where additional support may be needed.
Adapt and adjust your management approach based on feedback and evolving business needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I determine the right budget for hiring a virtual assistant?

Determining the right budget for hiring a virtual assistant involves considering several factors. Start by assessing the tasks and responsibilities you want to delegate and the level of expertise required. Research prevailing rates in the market for virtual assistants with similar qualifications and experience. Consider the complexity and volume of work, the time commitment needed, and the desired level of professionalism. Balance your budgetary constraints with the value you expect to gain from the VA’s contributions. It’s important to invest in quality and reliability, but also be mindful of your overall business budget. By carefully evaluating these factors and finding a balance between affordability and quality, you can determine a reasonable budget that aligns with your business needs.

2. Are there specialized agencies or companies that offer virtual assistant services?

Yes, there are specialized agencies and companies that offer virtual assistant services. These agencies and companies focus on providing virtual assistants with various skill sets and expertise to cater to specific industries or tasks. They often have a pool of pre-screened and trained virtual assistants available for hire. Some examples of specialized agencies or companies include TaskBullet, Boldly, and VirtualStaff.ph. These specialized service providers can be a convenient option for businesses looking for virtual assistants with specific skills or industry knowledge, as they streamline the hiring process and ensure access to qualified professionals in a particular field.

3. What are the pros and cons of hiring a freelance virtual assistant versus a dedicated assistant from an agency?

Hiring a freelance virtual assistant offers the advantage of flexibility, as you can find individuals with specific skills on platforms like Upwork or Freelancer. Freelancers often offer competitive rates and can be suitable for short-term or project-based tasks. However, the downside is that freelancers may have multiple clients and may not be available at all times. On the other hand, hiring a dedicated virtual assistant from an agency provides the benefit of having a consistent and reliable professional who is exclusively committed to your business. Agencies handle the hiring, training, and management aspects, saving you time and effort. However, dedicated assistants from agencies might come at a higher cost and could have limitations in terms of availability or flexibility compared to freelancers. The choice between a freelance virtual assistant and a dedicated assistant from an agency ultimately depends on your specific needs, budget, and preferences for long-term commitment or task-specific expertise.

4. Are there any legal or contractual considerations when hiring a virtual assistant?

Yes, there are legal and contractual considerations when hiring a virtual assistant. It’s important to have a well-drafted contract or agreement that outlines the terms of the working relationship, including the scope of work, payment terms, confidentiality clauses, intellectual property rights, termination provisions, and any applicable non-disclosure agreements or non-compete clauses. Additionally, depending on your jurisdiction, you may need to ensure compliance with local labor laws, tax obligations, and any legal requirements related to hiring remote workers. Consulting with legal professionals or seeking guidance from relevant government authorities can help ensure that your contractual arrangements with virtual assistants are legally sound and compliant with the applicable regulations.

5. How can I build a long-term working relationship with a virtual assistant?

Building a long-term working relationship with a virtual assistant requires open communication, mutual trust, and ongoing support. Start by clearly defining expectations, providing thorough onboarding, and setting regular check-ins to discuss progress and address any concerns. Foster a positive working environment by recognizing their contributions and creating opportunities for growth and development. Invest time in understanding their strengths and interests to assign tasks that align with their expertise. Regularly communicate your business goals and involve them in decision-making processes. Show appreciation for their efforts, provide constructive feedback, and be responsive to their needs. Building a strong foundation of trust, respect, and collaboration will help foster a long-term working relationship with your virtual assistant.

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

Feel better prepared to hire a virtual assistant now?

Did we answer the questions:

“Where can I find a virtual assistant?”

“How can I hire a virtual assistant?”

If we didn’t, let us know.

If you still want help, Schedule a call with us or check out our trainings at Outsource School.

Happy hiring!

Virtual Assistants

10 Tasks a Mailchimp Virtual Assistant Can Take Off Your Plate

Post author By Julia Valdez
Post date May 31, 2023
No Comments on 10 Tasks a Mailchimp Virtual Assistant Can Take Off Your Plate

Are you on the lookout for a Mailchimp virtual assistant?

What is Mailchimp, anyway?

Well, Mailchimp is an email marketing solutions platform that gives small businesses the tools they need to engage with their followers and grow. It combines the power of data and AI to improve your marketing strategies. The technology includes audience management features, automations, creative tools, and reporting and analytics for data supported business moves. Whether email, social media, landing pages or other advertising, they help you get in front of customers to boost engagement and conversions.

So how does a Mailchimp virtual assistant fit into the picture? Let’s find out.

What Is a Mailchimp Virtual Assistant?

Now that we know what Mailchimp is, we can more easily define what a Mailchimp VA does. These individuals are people who have specialized expertise of the Mailchimp platform. These means they know how to navigate the platform, how all their features work and what their pricing plans include. These individuals also have email marketing experience, meaning they know both in theory and practice what these solutions can do for your business.

So, what specific tasks can these VAs accomplish?

10 Tasks a Mailchimp VA Can Take Off Your Plate

Mailchimp Account Setup

Off the bat, you can hire a Mailchimp virtual assistant to help you get up and running on the platform as quick as possible. They know the platform inside and out and have likely helped other clients set up their accounts and go through the process. You can even ask them for recommendations on which pricing tier to subscribe to based on your needs.

Creating Email Lists and Segmenting Audiences

Your virtual assistant can do the data entry work of taking your contacts and inputting their email addresses onto a spreadsheet. They also take information from any sign up forms on your website or through your contact email on your social media. From there, they can also help you identify which of your contacts are potential leads and they can sort them into specific categories that you, the business owner, have set.

Choosing the Right Email Templates

Mailchimp has hundreds of campaign templates to choose from, and your Mailchimp virtual assistant can certainly choose from among those options. Selecting the right email template takes experience and knowledge of what layouts are the most attractive to your customer base. Because their templates are also customizable, your VA can also edit the templates for you and create an email that both conveys the message and represents and promotes your brand effectively.

Write Captivating Subject Lines and Preview Text

Aside from the name of the sender, these are the first things your recipients see when they get an email from you. Your email marketing virtual assistant will likely have some content creation or copywriting knowledge. With that, they can write these lines to be both concise and captivating, and blend in cohesively with your brand tone. Some of the best people at this are those who can write preview text that both hooks attention but also leaves readers on a little cliffhanger so they are enticed to open the email.

Mailing

Not only can your virtual assistant help you with scheduling when emails are sent, they can also send the email for you. Because the average person already spends more than 2 and 1/2 hours answering emails, you can definitely save time by delegating the task of sending your marketing emails to someone else.

Add Images to Emails

Well-written copy can get you places, but a well-picked-out graphic can really help break up chunks of test on an email. A good VA will know which visuals to complement your copy, drive your point home, and drive your customers to your pages.

Manage Email Automation

Your email marketing VA can make use of the efficient automation features of the Mailchimp platform to streamline your email campaigns. After you give them the go signal, they can create customizable triggers that activate an automation when a subscriber performs an action. Their classic automation triggers include:

Campaign activity – sends an email when a subscriber interacts with an email campaign like when they are added to a campaign, open it, not open it, click a link, or not click any links
Audience management – sends an email when you add someone to a campaign, when they meet the criteria to join a particular audience category, or if you add a tag to them
Workflow activity – target people who’ve already received emails
Ecommerce – includes Abandoned Carts, Email Retargeting, or emails sent after purchases are made
Integrations – email based on custom API integrations
Date-based – send emails that are date specific like on birthdays

Campaign Tracking, Reporting, and Analysis

In order to gauge the effectiveness of an email campaign, you need to know certain metrics like your open rates, click-through rates, conversion rates, unsubscribes, forwarding rates, etc. It’s a good thing Mailchimp has analytics features that your email marketing virtual assistant will know how to use to the fullest. With the help of this tool, your VA can collect metric data, create reports, and send them to you.

Campaign Setup, A/B Testing and Monitoring

Your VA can set up your email campaigns for you. They can input all the approved copy and graphics, match them to your email list and send them out. If you’re A/B testing, they can also monitor the performance of each and report back what they find.

Marketing Advice

The more experienced your VA, the more they can help you make sense of your data and come up with new strategies and courses of action to target specific metrics that you want to improve. Years of experience in the space with different clients and methods gives them a level of expertise that you can take advantage of. They can tell you what has and has not worked in their experience. Then they can use this to optimize your campaigns and save you valuable time and resources.

How Much Does a Mailchimp VA Cost?

As we always say, there are multiple different factors that affect the cost of outsourcing VA tasks. You need to consider the scope of work, skill level, level of experience and education. The country where they live is also a factor. Additionally, you also need to consider that a Mailchimp virtual assistant has specialized knowledge. This includes platform knowledge, email marketing knowledge, and knowledge needed to perform regular virtual assistant tasks.

All that being said, from what we’ve seen across freelance marketplaces, the cost to hire a Mailchimp VA based on country are as follows

America $15-$50/hr
Philippines $8-$40/hr
India: $8 – $30/hr

Is It Safe to Give a Virtual Assistant Access to Mailchimp?

Some people have some reservations letting someone else manage their data, and there are some possible risks involved.

Reputation

Letting someone else manage your marketing or respond to emails means you are giving them the keys to your brand. If that person misrepresents your brand, that could spell trouble for your business partnerships or the way customers perceive you.

Data security

Anyone that needs your inbox to do their job, whether an inbox management VA or an email marketing VA, you’re giving them access to your emails. Not only that, but Mailchimp also has other data such as billing information that you may not just want anyone to have access to.

While apprehension of the above risks is understandable, there are measures in place to mitigate them. For instance, you can hire from reputable freelance marketplaces that vet their freelancers beforehand to ensure their quality and legitimacy. You can also check their ratings and reviews on those sites to see their reputation and success rate.

You may be concerned with the security of your account. If you are, you can set your VAs access to the Manager or Author setting. Manager limits their ability to view billing info, export audiences, or close the account. An Author can only create, edit, and delete campaigns and templates, and view reports. You can also revoke account access when your working relationship comes to a close.

Where Can You Find a Mailchimp VA?

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

There you have it. You can start to level up your email marketing today with a Mailchimp virtual assistant. Save time, save money, make better campaigns, engage more, and meet your profit goals!

Virtual Assistants

20 Projects for a Graphic Design Virtual Assistant

Post author By Julia Valdez
Post date May 31, 2023
No Comments on 20 Projects for a Graphic Design Virtual Assistant

Want to learn more about how a graphic design virtual assistant can help your business? You’ve come to the right place!

No matter what type of business you have, you are going to use graphics sooner or later in one way or another. Whether used for advertising, branding, or engagement, graphics are a great way to hook attention and communicate your message. I mean, could you imagine if all marketing were done through text? That could get very old, very quickly.

So, you need to create these graphics but are either not skilled in that area or don’t have enough time to spend on it. That’s where a graphic design virtual assistant comes in.

What Is a Graphic Design Virtual Assistant?

A graphic design VA is essentially a freelancer that does graphic design work remotely. They aren’t tied to a specific brand or company. This means that they tend to work on multiple different projects for multiple clients at the same time. They are artists who sell their skills to help make all sorts of images, graphics, and even animations for companies and businesses to use for branding, advertising, or for commercial sales like on products.

From clothing to wall decor, art can be used in so many different ways. The sky is the limit for what a graphic designer can do for you. A virtual graphic designer can be industry specific with their skills. For example, one might specialize in graphics related to food. They might also have specialized tech knowledge or a specific art style. One set of skills will usually fit your brand tone more consistently than another. So, depending on your field, industry, and business-specific needs, graphic design virtual assistants can have specialties as niche as you need them to be.

20 Projects for Graphic Design Virtual Assistants

While the sky may be the limit, we’ve decided to bring it a little down to earth. We narrowed it down to 20 projects that we know a graphic designer can help you with.

Logos

Every company needs a logo that is eye-catching, non-generic, and recognizable. When outsourcing a logo designer, you need to make sure the person you’re hiring knows how to communicate your brand’s name and tone.

Infographics

Infographics are a great way to summarize and communicate information visually. You can use these in report format to show investors how much your business has grown and helped customers over the years.

Presentations

Similar to infographics, a graphic designer can help you make presentations using PowerPoint, Canva, Google Slides, etc. Communicate your points aesthetically and engagingly.

Web Design

Arguably one of the most popular projects to outsource to a graphic designer, everyone wants their website to be beautiful and intuitive. This includes user interface, colors, layouts, and other graphics you might want on your site pages. When you hire, make sure your graphic designer has some experience working with a web developer so they won’t create designs that aren’t feasible or too expensive to pull off.

App Design

This goes hand in hand with web design as more and more consumers perform actions on their mobile devices. UI design is key in a market that is stuffed with applications that essentially perform the same function.

Email Templates and Newsletters

Layouts are essential when working with a limited space such as email. A designer can help you get your messages across to your subscribers in a punchy way.

Social Media Graphics

Your social media presence is vital for, exposure, growth, and lead generation. Your designer can help you create images and graphics needed to hook the attention of the habitual “scroller”.

Brand Mascot

All of the iconic brand characters like Chester Cheetah, the Kool-Aid Man or Mr. Peanut all needed to be designed. You may already have an idea in your head for your brand but a designer can bring that fantasy into real life.

Animated Images

While animators are typically considered separate jobs, you can outsource limited animation needs to your designer. These can include a short loading animation for your site or a transition animation.

Editing

Maybe you’re happy with the graphics you or a previous designer you’ve worked with have done but want to tweak a few things. If you have the assets, your designer can edit these for you.

Product Packaging and Labels

I know they say don’t judge a book by its cover however, the way that a product’s label or packaging is designed is so important to draw consumer attention. This is especially true when you are placed in an aisle with tens of other products in the same category. Aside from aesthetics, a graphic design VA can also help you with the layout of the information on the packaging.

Books

Speaking of books, covers are actually quite important to convey information and tell you what a book is about while, yes, being pretty. Authors of any type of genre including guides or learning resources, or those who offer e-book formats should hire a graphic designer.

Ecommerce Store Front

Why stop at a well-designed package when you can make your storefront page look just as appealing to purchase from? You can do this for your store on your site or online marketplaces to a degree.

Art for Work Spaces

If you need something designed to decorate your office or retail spaces, whether wall or floor art, a graphic designer can help you create visuals you can boldly display for workers or customers to see.

Flyers and Brochures

These are effective ways to advertise an event or summarize your offerings as a business in a concise, optimized, attractive format. Even universities use brochures to advertise their schools to students.

Cards

From business cards to thank you cards, and membership cards. You can promote your business, lend a personal touch, and improve customer loyalty all while being stylish and brand consistent.

Shirt Designs

Whether employee shirts or merchandise, a graphic design virtual assistant can help you create clothing that builds recognition, community, and sells well.

Instructions and Manuals

Someone has to design those inserts you get with your phone, new TV, or fridge, that you never look at twice. And hey, maybe they can help you design one that makes people more inclined to read them!

Branded Stationery

This is more on the niche side but you’d be surprised how many companies have branded pens they use in their physical locations for employees or patrons to use. A local bank where I’m from went a step further and even changed the shape of the pen. It may not have been the most ergonomic design, but props for the brand consistency!

Other Brand Identity Stuff

Anything from mugs to mouse pads, welcome mats, and cars – whatever floats your boat – a graphic designer can help you create brand-specific graphics you can plaster on pretty much anything.

How Much Does a Graphic Design VA Cost?

What affects graphic designer cost?

Type of graphic/scope of work
Level of skill
Level of experience
Basis of work (per hour, per project, set rate)
Specialized knowledge of design tools
Country of living
Number of revisions

When it comes to design you get what you pay for and generally around $15/hr is the lowest rate for entry-level designers. While the average range is between $15 to $50, some designers with more extensive portfolios could charge more than that. You can expect to receive decent quality results around the $40 to $45 mark.

Those who charge flat rates or fixed prices can charge hundreds to thousands of dollars for a single project depending on what it is. For instance, a logo can cost about $150 whereas a basic custom website can cost upwards of $5000.

When it comes to graphic designer cost, you need to determine which plan of payment makes the most sense for your business based on the above factors.

Can You Hire a Graphic Design VA Part Time?

As with any profession, there are advantages and disadvantages of hiring full-time and part-time.

Full-time Pros

Work closer with your graphic design virtual assistant
Maintain a greater amount of control
Make more revisions
Their focus is not split between multiple clients

Full-time Cons

More costly
If you’re not making graphics constantly, they will be left with little to do at times

Part-time Pros

Less expensive
Makes more sense if you don’t generate a lot of graphics to warrant a full-time salary or rate
More efficient because there is greater pressure to produce great results in less time as a freelancer who is likely working on other projects

Cons Part-time

You need to communicate complete brand information accurately and completely which can be difficult if they are only working part-time
Fewer chances for revisions and will likely cost more if many changes are made
More difficult to form long-term partnerships because there’s no guarantee they will be available to do future design work for you

What Are the Best Sites to Hire a Graphic Designer?

Once you’ve made up your mind that you need a graphic design virtual assistant, the next step is knowing where to find one.

Here’s a short list of 5 sites.

How Do I Assign Projects to My Graphic Designer?

Getting your communication and collaboration tools sorted out as soon as possible will make the whole process so much smoother down the line. Using project management software like Asana or Trello to help you keep everything in order. You can track your projects, plan, schedule, organize team members, automate certain tasks, and much more.

If you’re interested in how an Asana VA can get you more organized, head on over to that post after you’re done with this one of course!

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

Brand color, fonts, images, graphs, websites, and more – all are things you need to consider when building your identity as a brand. These are what a graphic design virtual assistant can help you with.

Virtual Assistants

How Can a Virtual Assistant Help Your Amazon Seller Business?

Post author By Connor Gillivan
Post date May 25, 2023
No Comments on How Can a Virtual Assistant Help Your Amazon Seller Business?

Interested in hiring an Amazon virtual assistant?

You’ve come to the right place.

My name is Connor Gillivan. I’ve been an Entrepreneur for the past 10 years and my first business was selling products on Amazon.

One of the ways we were able to scale to 7 figures in yearly revenue was hiring and working with Amazon virtual assistants.

In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know about Amazon VAs and how they can help your business.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

What Is an Amazon Seller Virtual Assistant?
What Tasks Can an Amazon VA Handle?
What Websites Can You Use to Hire Amazon VAs?
How Much Should You Expect to Pay for an Amazon VA?
Case Study: How Olivia’s Life Changed After Hiring Her Amazon VA
Frequently Asked Questions

What Is an Amazon Seller Virtual Assistant?

An Amazon seller virtual assistant is a remote professional who provides essential support to entrepreneurs selling products on Amazon.

They are skilled individuals who assist in managing various aspects of an Amazon business, allowing sellers to focus on strategic growth and core operations.

These virtual assistants undertake a wide range of responsibilities tailored to the needs of Amazon sellers. They can handle product research, helping identify profitable products, analyzing market trends, and assessing competition. Listing optimization is another crucial task they excel at, crafting persuasive product titles, bullet points, and descriptions that enhance visibility and drive conversions.

Hiring an Amazon seller virtual assistant offers numerous benefits, such as time and cost savings, scalability, and access to specialized expertise.

These professionals help streamline operations, increase productivity, and improve customer service. By delegating tasks to a capable virtual assistant, Amazon sellers can focus on strategic decision-making, expanding their product offerings, and achieving long-term success on the platform.

What Tasks Can an Amazon VA Handle?

Product Research: Conducting market research to identify profitable products and potential niches.
Listing Optimization: Optimizing product listings with persuasive titles, bullet points, and descriptions to improve visibility and conversions.
Inventory Management: Monitoring and managing stock levels to ensure timely restocking and minimize stockouts.
Order Processing: Managing the order fulfillment process, tracking shipments, and resolving any issues.
Customer Service: Handling customer inquiries, providing support, and addressing reviews to maintain positive customer experiences.
Keyword Research: Identifying relevant keywords to optimize product listings and improve search rankings.
Competitor Analysis: Monitoring competitors’ strategies, pricing, and performance to gain a competitive edge.
PPC Advertising: Assisting in managing Amazon advertising campaigns, optimizing keywords, and monitoring performance.
Review Management: Monitoring and responding to customer reviews, addressing concerns, and maintaining a positive brand reputation.
Data Analysis: Analyzing sales metrics, identifying trends, and generating reports to make informed business decisions.
Social Media Management: Creating and managing social media accounts to increase brand awareness and engagement.
Product Sourcing: Researching and sourcing new products and suppliers to expand product offerings.
Pricing Strategy: Analyzing market trends and competitors’ pricing to optimize product pricing for maximum profitability.
Deal Hunting: Identifying and evaluating potential deals, promotions, and discounts to boost sales.
Image Editing: Enhancing product images and creating visually appealing graphics for listings.
Market Expansion: Assisting in launching products in new Amazon marketplaces to reach a broader customer base.
Email Marketing: Creating and managing email marketing campaigns to drive customer engagement and repeat purchases.
Inventory Reconciliation: Conducting regular audits to reconcile physical inventory with Amazon’s records.
Returns and Refunds: Handling return requests, processing refunds, and ensuring customer satisfaction.
Performance Tracking: Monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) to track the success and growth of the Amazon business.

What Websites Can You Use to Hire Amazon VAs?

Here’s a list of the top 5 freelance websites that we recommend hiring from:

FreeUp: FreeUp is a popular platform for hiring freelancers, including Amazon VAs. They have a rigorous vetting process, ensuring that you can find pre-vetted, top-tier virtual assistants. FreeUp offers a range of skill sets and expertise, making it easier to find the right fit for your specific Amazon business needs.
OnlineJobs.ph: OnlineJobs.ph is a leading job board focused on connecting entrepreneurs with Filipino virtual assistants. Many Filipino VAs have experience in eCommerce and Amazon-related tasks, making it a valuable resource for hiring Amazon VAs. The platform allows you to post job listings and browse through a vast pool of talented Filipino professionals.
Upwork: Upwork is a well-known freelancing platform that offers a diverse range of skilled professionals, including Amazon VAs. It provides a user-friendly interface where you can post job descriptions, review freelancers’ profiles, and communicate with potential hires. Upwork offers various pricing models, including hourly and fixed-rate contracts, to accommodate different hiring preferences.
Fiverr: Fiverr is a marketplace for freelancers offering a wide array of services, including Amazon-related tasks. You can search for Amazon VAs with specific skills, review their portfolios, and hire them directly through the platform.
OutsourceSchool.com: OutsourceSchool.com is a valuable resource for finding Amazon VAs and learning about outsourcing strategies. While it’s not a hiring platform itself, it offers guidance, courses, and resources on how to effectively hire and manage virtual assistants for your eCommerce and Amazon business. You can find valuable insights and connect with a community of entrepreneurs who specialize in outsourcing.

How Much Should You Expect to Pay for an Amazon VA?

The hourly rates for Amazon VAs can vary depending on the location of the virtual assistant.

Here’s a general breakdown of estimated hourly rate ranges based on different countries:

United States:
- Estimated hourly rate range: $20 – $50+
- Virtual assistants based in the US typically have higher hourly rates due to the higher cost of living and the prevailing wage rates. They may offer specialized skills and extensive experience in eCommerce and Amazon-related tasks.
Philippines:
- Estimated hourly rate range: $5 – $15
- Filipino virtual assistants often provide excellent value for money. They are known for their strong work ethic, proficiency in English, and familiarity with Amazon-related tasks. The lower cost of living in the Philippines allows for competitive pricing without compromising quality.
United Kingdom:
- Estimated hourly rate range: £15 – £35
- VAs based in the UK tend to have higher hourly rates compared to those in the Philippines. The cost of living and prevailing wage rates contribute to the relatively higher rates. UK-based virtual assistants may offer localized knowledge and expertise in the European market.
India:
- Estimated hourly rate range: $8 – $20
- Indian virtual assistants often provide cost-effective solutions for Amazon sellers. They offer a diverse range of skills and are proficient in English. The lower cost of living in India allows for competitive pricing, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious entrepreneurs.

It’s important to note that these are general estimates, and individual rates can vary based on factors such as the virtual assistant’s experience, skill set, and the complexity of the tasks involved.

Additionally, while hourly rates are commonly used, some virtual assistants may prefer fixed project-based or monthly rates.

Marketplace Fees

When hiring through platforms like Upwork, FreeUp, Fiverr, and similar marketplaces, it’s important to consider the impact of marketplace fees on the freelancer’s hourly rate.

These platforms typically charge a service fee or commission that can range from around 5% to 20% or more of the freelancer’s earnings. This fee is deducted by the platform from the amount the client pays, which means the freelancer receives a reduced portion of their stated hourly rate.

For example, if a freelancer sets their hourly rate at $20 and the platform charges a 10% service fee, the client will be billed $22 per hour, but the freelancer will receive $18. This fee structure can influence the effective hourly rate that freelancers are willing to accept to account for the deductions. Some freelancers may adjust their rates slightly to compensate for the marketplace fees and ensure they still receive their desired income.

Case Study: How Olivia’s Life Changed After Hiring Her Amazon VA

Before Hiring the Amazon VA: Olivia was a determined eCommerce entrepreneur selling products on Amazon. She was passionate about her business but found herself overwhelmed with numerous tasks. Olivia was handling everything on her own, from product research and listing optimization to customer service and order processing. She knew she needed help to scale her business and regain her work-life balance.

During the Hiring Process: Olivia decided to hire an Amazon VA to lighten her workload and streamline her operations. She carefully crafted a job description outlining the specific tasks she needed assistance with, such as product research, listing optimization, and customer service. Olivia used reputable platforms like Upwork and FreeUp to find qualified virtual assistants.

After reviewing several applications and conducting interviews, Olivia selected a skilled Amazon VA who had experience in her industry. She communicated her expectations, provided training materials, and established a collaborative working relationship with her new VA. They set up regular communication channels to ensure a seamless workflow.

After Hiring the Amazon VA: Once Olivia’s Amazon VA was onboarded and fully integrated into her business, the positive impact became evident.

Here’s how Olivia’s life changed after hiring her Amazon VA:

Time Freedom: Olivia gained precious time to focus on strategic aspects of her business. She no longer felt overwhelmed with day-to-day tasks, allowing her to allocate more time to growth-oriented activities, such as exploring new product opportunities and expanding into different marketplaces.
Increased Productivity: With the Amazon VA taking care of critical operational tasks, Olivia’s productivity soared. She could accomplish more in less time, resulting in improved efficiency and overall business performance.
Enhanced Customer Service: The Amazon VA handled customer inquiries, responded to reviews promptly, and resolved issues with professionalism and care. Olivia noticed a significant improvement in customer satisfaction, leading to positive reviews and repeat business.
Streamlined Operations: Tasks like product research, listing optimization, and order processing were executed flawlessly by the Amazon VA. Olivia’s business operations became more organized and streamlined, resulting in fewer errors and improved overall performance.
Business Growth: With more time and a reliable support system in place, Olivia’s business experienced substantial growth. She was able to expand her product line, optimize her listings, and implement effective marketing strategies. The increased productivity and enhanced customer service contributed to higher sales and profitability.
Work-Life Balance: Hiring the Amazon VA allowed Olivia to regain control of her personal life. She no longer had to work long hours or sacrifice quality time with family and friends. Olivia could enjoy the benefits of running a successful business while also having time for her own well-being.

In conclusion, hiring an Amazon VA transformed Olivia’s life and business. By delegating tasks to a capable virtual assistant, she experienced newfound freedom, improved productivity, and substantial business growth. The Amazon VA’s support streamlined operations, provided excellent customer service, and allowed Olivia to achieve a healthier work-life balance.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How much does it cost for an Amazon virtual assistant?

The cost for an Amazon virtual assistant can vary depending on factors such as their location, experience, skill set, and the complexity of tasks involved. On average, you can expect to pay anywhere from $5 to $50+ per hour for an Amazon virtual assistant, with rates typically falling within the range of $10 to $25 per hour for most cases. It’s important to consider the value and expertise the virtual assistant brings to your business when determining the appropriate cost.

2. Can I hire someone to set up my Amazon seller account?

Yes, you can hire someone to set up your Amazon seller account. There are virtual assistants and service providers available who specialize in helping sellers with the initial setup process. They can assist you in creating your seller account, configuring settings, setting up product listings, and ensuring all necessary information is properly entered to get your Amazon seller account up and running smoothly.

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

Feel better about Amazon virtual assistants now?

Anything you’re still wondering about?

Reach out to us at Support@OutsourceSchool.com at any time and we’ll gladly reply with our best advice.

Happy hiring & growth!

Virtual Assistants

5 Reasons to Hire a QuickBooks Virtual Assistant & 10 Tasks To Give Them

Post author By Julia Valdez
Post date May 12, 2023
No Comments on 5 Reasons to Hire a QuickBooks Virtual Assistant & 10 Tasks To Give Them

So you’ve chosen QuickBooks among some of the most recommended accounting and bookkeeping software out there. While this is certainly a good choice, a lot of work can go into connecting to this platform. A QuickBooks virtual assistant can definitely take a load off your shoulders.

In this article, we will be discussing:

What Is a QuickBooks Virtual Assistant (VA)?
5 Reasons to Hire a QuickBooks VA
10 Tasks to Assign to a QuickBooks Virtual Assistant
How Much Does a QuickBooks Virtual Assistant Cost?
Where Can You Hire a QuickBooks Virtual Assistant Online?
How Do I Know If I Can Trust a QuickBooks VA w/ My Financials?

What Is a Quickbooks Virtual Assistant (VA)?

A QuickBooks virtual assistant is someone that has a working knowledge of the QuickBooks software. This person will most likely be a bookkeeper or an accountant who knows the platform inside and out and is well-versed in all the services that QuickBooks offers.

5 Reasons to Hire a Quickbooks VA

1. Saves Time

There’s a lot that can go into setting up bookkeeping software. When you consider everything from getting all your accounts connected to navigating the dashboard, filling in the right fields, learning and selecting the right options, and in general figuring out how you can get the most out of your subscription tier, you’re already potentially spending hours. Those hours could be better spent on other more important things.

Hiring a QuickBooks VA means hiring someone who has already spent those hours learning all about how this software works. They’ve been through the process so many times that they can get you set up in no time.

2. Saves Money

Time is money. By getting you set up quickly, they can get you started quickly. The earlier you can get a view of your financial health, the earlier you can get valuable information on your business, and the sooner you can make money-saving decisions.

Additionally, outsourcing to a VA is less costly and also takes less time than training an in-house worker.

3. Frees Up Your Time and Team

One of the most popular reasons to outsource is the fact that it can free up your resources from lesser core functions and lets you focus on business growth. By hiring someone you can trust to keep an eye on accounts and books and make sure they are up to date, you can fully concentrate on product development, marketing, customer relations, and other important key areas of business.

4. Increases Productivity

As a business owner, you can’t be dragged away from other areas of business where you are more needed. Don’t let your engine get cold because you’re too busy dealing with busywork. No need to slow down operations because you need to run reports, review transactions, or because tax season is rolling around and you need to consolidate paperwork. An accounting and bookkeeping QuickBooks VA can help you take care of that. Let them manage their area of expertise, and you, yours.

Sure, you will have to take some time to get your VA up to speed, but in the long run, that’s a worthwhile exchange if it means you can get back in the driver’s seat and back on track.

5. Increased Profitability/Enables Better Business Moves

Naturally, when you can focus on what you do best, you can improve what made your business successful in the first place. When you pair that with a capable VA keeping your books in order, running reports for you, and providing you with crucial insights, you can make wiser business decisions. When you know where to allocate your budget, lessen unnecessary spending in certain areas, and save money, you are better positioned to scale your business efforts and increase your profit margins.

10 Tasks to Assign to a Quickbooks Virtual Assistant

There are a lot of tasks you can outsource to a virtual assistant. Here are 10 that a QuickBooks VA is most likely familiar with.

Setting Up Your Account – This includes connecting your cards and banks to QuickBooks and integrating your old books into the new software from other places like Excel.

Data Entry – This includes filling out necessary fields within the software about company information, inputting manual bookkeeping data into the software, etc.

Reviewing Transactions – QuickBooks can automatically reconcile transactions, but some need to be categorized manually.

Creating and Sending Invoices – Bill customers on time and get paid on time. Customize invoices for each customer.

Creating and Running Reports – Set up regular reporting and customize reports to fit the needs of the business.

Set Up Payment Schedules – They can fill out the fields for recurring billing and set non-regular payment schedules for you.

Following Up With Customers – If customers have missed payments, your QuickBooks virtual assistant can send follow-up emails.

Bookkeeping – Your VA can track transactions and manage your books for you.

Interpreting Financial Statements – Your bookkeeping VA can help you make sense of the numbers and assist you in making financial decisions based on reports.

Tax prep and filing – Some virtual assistants can help you with compiling your documents and getting them ready for submission.

How Much Does a Quickbooks Virtual Assistant Cost?

There are a few factors that go into calculating the cost of a QuickBooks virtual assistant. You need to account for the fact that they are offering specialized knowledge. Also, if you want them to also handle your bookkeeping for you, that will cost a lot more – at least a few hundred dollars a month.

In general, the hourly rate of a virtual assistant in the U.S. is between $15 and $22.

In the Philippines, you can probably find a VA for around $10-$12/hr. One factor that influences this number is the lower cost of living in the Philippines.

Where Can You Hire a Quickbooks Virtual Assistant Online?

1. Upwork

Upwork, “the world’s work marketplace” is one of the most popular and easy-to-use marketplaces out there for finding freelancers. They have three methods of finding the skills you’re looking for, namely the Project Catalog™, Talent Marketplace™, and Talent Scout™.

2. FreeUp

FreeUp is another freelancer marketplace that offers a wide range of talent categories. Their hiring and vetting practices ensure you only get the top candidates for the job. Their “No Turnover Guarantee” ensures you are protected even in the event the freelancer quits unexpectedly.

3. Fiverr

As the name suggests, Fiverr is a great place to hire at any price point starting at $5. This makes it a very flexible option. Fiverr Pro is the site version that allows you access to qualified, verified, and pre-vetted freelancers.

4. 24/7 Virtual Assistants

They are a US-based virtual assistant business that offers services from web design to admin work and bookkeeping. Their services are cost-effective; their personnel are skilled, and they are available round the clock to help you.

5. Zirtual

Zirtual is a team of virtual assistants that can help you manage different everyday tasks from social media management to bookkeeping. Their VA matching process entails getting to know your business and pairing you up with a person that’s the best fit for your needs.

How Do I Know If I Can Trust a Quickbooks VA w/ My Financials?

Some people are already hesitant about outsourcing, this skepticism can get worse when finances get involved. The most common fears involve account security and security of data within QuickBooks and out. How can you be so sure the VA you hire won’t take your financial data and use it to compromise or hack other accounts? Well, fear not, because two things can prevent that from happening.

First, QuickBooks itself has safeguards to restrict access to certain users from seeing or changing certain information.

Second, reputable freelance marketplaces have in-depth vetting processes that ensure candidates are screened appropriately. Some of these sites also have data security guarantees.

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

It can be tempting to try and do all of it yourself to stay involved in all areas of business. You may also think that you can save a quick buck by refusing to delegate. However, a QuickBooks VA has several benefits that we hope has you reconsidering outsourcing this work so you can grow your business.

Virtual Assistants

11 Tasks to Hire an Inbox Management Virtual Assistant For & How To Do It

Post author By Julia Valdez
Post date May 12, 2023
No Comments on 11 Tasks to Hire an Inbox Management Virtual Assistant For & How To Do It

Are emails bogging you down? Do you feel like you’re spending way too much time at your desk answering them? Do you feel like your inbox could use some sprucing up? Maybe you need a complete email spring cleaning! Whichever it is, it sounds to us like you’re in need of an inbox management virtual assistant.

The good news is that you can actually hire one today!

But before you go there, we put together a few things that we think you should know about hiring an inbox management virtual assistant. In this article, we are going to be covering

What Is an Email Management Virtual Assistant?
11 Tasks to Hire an Inbox Management Virtual Assistant For
How Much Does an Email Management VA Cost?
What Are the Best Virtual Assistant Websites to Hire From?
Case Study: How John Hired an Email VA & Saved 2 Hours Per Day

What Is an Email Management Virtual Assistant?

Also known as an inbox management virtual assistant, these individuals are responsible for handling your emails. Their duties involve organizing and sorting emails, creating folders and labels to categorize emails, color coding emails to make them easier to locate, and even deleting unnecessary emails or spam.

An outsourced inbox VA will even do all of this for you before you get on in the morning! This way, you can start your with a clean and beautiful inbox and avoid all the stress that unkept email will usually cause.

Now, that’s just the categorizing part of the job. You also have the replying side of things, which a more specialized email assistant can handle, too.

When you think about all of that and the amount of time it could take you to accomplish a single day’s worth of emails, you start to see the value of hiring an email assistant. These people typically have developed efficient methods. They will implement proven processes to clean up your inbox and keep it that way. They may also use software programs, as needed and if you prefer, to help manage all the online correspondence.

11 Tasks to Hire an Inbox Management Virtual Assistant For

Deleting junk emails and keeping your inbox clear of any unwanted newsletters, subscriptions, or promos.
Forwarding emails to the necessary people within your team or others
Archiving old emails that might be useful later so you main box isn’t filled with old mail
Responding to emails and setting up automatic replies
Some email marketing like sending out mass emails such as newsletters and introductory emails to the selected list of customers
Managing your contact list which involves sorting contacts in order of importance or priority, categorizing them with labels (customers, business partners, suppliers, internal team, etc.), adding new contacts, and deleting old ones
Sorting emails in order of priority so you know which emails are urgent and which can wait
Some customer support duties like answering customer inquiries
Creating folders and applying labels to emails. Labels add specificity. Folders organize old and new emails for future reference.
Setting up filters ensuring incoming emails go into the applicable folders tidying up your main inbox
Answering emails about meetings and adding them to schedule

How Much Does an Email Management VA Cost?

Virtual assistants have a range of prices depending on a number of factors such as skill level, level of experience, scope of work, specialized knowledge, length of project, are you hiring a VA full-time or a part-time VA, and what country they come from.

If you want an inbox management virtual assistant who does only the admin side of things, then in the U.S. you’re looking at an average of $10-$12 per hour. VAs from the Philippines and India are less costly both averaging around $6-$7 per hour.

Now if you’re looking for a VA who can also do some marketing and customer support duties, that’s going to cost you a few more dollars. In the U.S. you could be looking at anywhere between $15-$22 and in the PH and India around $10-$15.

Again, these pricings vary depending on the scope and depth of the work. This is why negotiating rates and providing a detailed overview of the work should be done together. It’s bad form to hire someone and give them work you didn’t discuss beforehand. It’s even worse form to pile on extra work without just compensation.

Take care of your VAs and they will take care of you.

What Are the Best Virtual Assistant Websites to Hire From?

1. Zirtual

Zirtual is a VA platform known for its superb hiring processes and training programs to ensure VA excellence. They also have a matching process that connects you with an inbox va that is the best fit for your specific needs.

2. Upwork

Upwork is one of the most famous freelance marketplaces. They help connect businesses and freelancers together for better business opportunities. They have three unique methods for locating the talent you need.

3. Onlinejobs.ph

Known as “The Job Board for Virtual Workers in the Philippines”, Onlinejobsph allows you to exclusively hire Filipino VAs who are among the best in the business. Create a job post and let your inbox management virtual assistant come to you.

4. FreeUp

FreeUp offers a variety of talents in several categories. Their hiring and vetting process only allows the top percentile of freelancers to ensure excellent service on their platform. Their “No Turnover Guarantee” means you are protected in a freelancer quits on the job.

5. InboxDone

InboxDone is currently the only platform to offer VA services specializing in email management. They provide two assistants to cover for each other and adapt to your unique business needs and work style.

Case Study: How John Hired an Email VA & Saved 2 Hours Per Day

John is a small business owner who has had a boom in business lately. In the beginning, he was able to manage customer emails and manage communication with his suppliers, accounting team, team members, and other business partners. Now, John has been falling behind on his inbox and it is slowly eating away at his time. What used to take 30 minutes turned into almost 2 hours of sorting through a mishmash of customer inquiries, business inquiries, internal communications, newsletters, and other subscriptions he doesn’t even remember subscribing to!

His time is split between

marketing his products to capitalize on the recent surge
organizing logistics
getting on meetings with his bookkeeping team and workers
answering emails
developing an FAQ so he doesn’t have to answer the same question 20 times over

That’s when John decided to look for an inbox management virtual assistant, and she was a lifesaver. After orienting the VA on the situation, the VA began working. The email was even a bit more cluttered at this point. After all, it took some time to find the right VA and go through the whole onboarding process.

However, because she had experience, the VA was able to easily create folders for the different people John was in contact with. She created one for the accounting team, one for the internal team, one for suppliers, and one for customer inquiries. The VA also set up filters so that emails that came from any of those groups would be sorted into those folders automatically. The VA also made sure to mark those unwanted subscriptions as spam. The ones that fit the categories that John said he was interested in, she placed in a separate folder.

John instructed the VA that he wanted to keep customer records, including email interactions. So, the VA made sure that all resolved inquiries were archived and labeled as such. This made it easier for John to locate those emails and refer back to them for the development of the FAQ.

John also mentioned that once the FAQ was finished, the email assistant could use that to answer customer inquiries. The VA, who had email marketing experience was able to help John set up an automated reply system.

Before he knew it, John was on top of his inbox game. The emails that he needed his input on were labeled “Urgent” and the others he left to his email assistant to respond to. He is now able to focus more of his time on developing his brand. This way, he also has more opportunities to scale up his business even further.

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

If you want to prevent a clogged-up inbox, stop the overwhelm, or mitigate the pileup, an inbox management virtual assistant might just be the person you need to clean things up.

Virtual Assistants

15 Best Filipino Virtual Assistant Companies in the Philippines

Post author By Julia Valdez
Post date May 12, 2023
No Comments on 15 Best Filipino Virtual Assistant Companies in the Philippines

Have you ever hired from any Filipino virtual assistant companies? Many online businesses have! Not all Philippines virtual assistant companies are the same, though. We want to make sure that you hire only from the best, so we made up this list for you!

What Is a Virtual Assistant Company?

When we talk about virtual assistant companies in the Philippines, they can be marketplaces, agencies, or BPO companies.

Marketplaces, like FreeUp and OnlineJobs.ph, offer a platform for freelancers. They host freelancer profiles, past client reviews, and other information. This way, clients can find the freelancers that they need for their various projects. This includes Filipino virtual assistant companies that find jobs through these marketplaces.

Some virtual assistant companies in the Philippines are called agencies. These are VA services that will do the work for you with their own VAs. Clients don’t interview and hire VAs individually. Instead, they entrust entire projects to an agency representative, and the company takes care of assigning the work.

BPOs work with larger companies. They have the capacity to provide dozens of full-time sales and customer service agents, for example, to a single company.

Basically, all of these Philippines virtual assistant companies will help you get work done without running an office or buying equipment for hires to use.

10 Best Fiipino Virtual Assistant Companies

1. OnlineJobs.ph

This is one of the virtual assistant companies in the Philippines that specifically offers Filipino VAs. It advertises itself as the easiest job board to find outsourced staff in the Philippines. It hosts more then 2,000,000 resumes from all kinds of VAs from newbies to experts. Simply post a job to attract talented workers who will apply for your posting or search these resumes to proactively find people with the skills that you need.

2. FreeUp

FreeUp is known as the marketplace that pre-vets freelancers so you are hiring from the top 1%. They promise that you can get more done faster when you hire through them. They also guarantee that they can take most client job descriptions and get clients paired with a qualified freelance candidate within 24 hours.

3. Upwork

This is not one of the exclusive Philippines virtual assistant companies. You can find VAs from all over the world on this platform. However, there are a ton of experienced Filipinos here. Like the other platforms, you can post a job to attract top talent. Upwork can also do the search for a VA for you. They advertise the best hires without paying top dollar with lower transaction rates.

4. Fiverr

This is one of the Filipino virtual assistant companies that advertises you can find the right freelance service right away. Speed is so important when you need a job done! Fiverr also offers gigs at every price point so you can stay within budget. You never have to worry about hourly rates, and you can hire within minutes to get quality work done quickly. You get quoted upfront and only pay when you’re happy, so you’re protected.

5. VA Staffer

This company specializes in providing vetted virtual executive assistants with professional with track records for technical skill. They take care of the whole recruiting process, plus even managing, training, and onboarding. When your business is growing quickly, you can rely on VA Staffer to help you keep up with projects so you don’t miss a beat.

6. Virtual Coworker

With most virtual assistant companies in the Philippines, you want one with a long track record. However, there are a handful, this one included, that are startups yet can be trusted. Virtual Coworker boasts a very simple hiring process so you can get started right away with qualified talent at reasonable rates.

7. Task Bullet

Task Bullet is actually based in the US with offices in the Philippines. Entrepreneurs and executives worldwide use this service to hire VAs for tasks like marketing, lead generation, sales, and appointment scheduling. Their focus is helping you to streamline your business process. They use what they call bucket systems, so pricing is different from the norm. What’s great is that they have no hidden fees. You simply buy hours and use them as needed.

8. Virtual Staff Finder

As Philippines virtual assistant companies go, this one has been around the block a few times. Clients have hired more than 8,000 virtual assistants through this platform, so your chances of finding the one you need for your tasks are good! All you need to do is sign up and upload your requirements. Then the team will take that job description and search for the best three candidates to give you a selection before you choose one to interview. And don’t worry, they do screening and background checks for you!

9. eVirtual Assistants

You can find the expert that you need in minutes when you hire here because the posting process is so simple. With affordable rates, you can build an entire team to grow your company. They offer a variety of talent to fill the most hired for outsourced positions.

10. Virtual Assistant Talent

A lot of Filipino virtual assistant companies cater to startups, and this is one of them! Virtual Assistant Talent is designed to help you build a team from the ground up. They are dedicated to helping you to expand and grow, so they know who you need and how you need them to work to reach your goals. You will begin by getting on a phone consultation to find out more about your company. This call will help the company to understand better what you really need and how to provide that for you. You will get a chance to hear from VAs and the services that they can offer to meet your needs. Once you find the individual that you like best, you will get an invoice, and once you pay, you can get to work.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How much does a Filipino virtual assistant cost?

Virtual assistant companies in the Philippines will usually offer candidates with hourly rates ranging from as low as $3. We don’t recommend hiring at this level, though, because you get what you pay for! Make sure you scan applications carefully to get an idea of the right rates for the specific job you’re hiring for, too. More requirements and higher skill requirements mean more pay!

2. How much does the average Filipino virtual assistant earn?

The average VA in the Philippines who does simple tasks full time earns about $600 per month, or less than $3.50 per hour. Note that most Philippines virtual assistant companies will take a significant cut. So, even if you pay more, a VA you hire from one of these companies will still usually get only that much.

Remember, this average applies to simple VA tasks, so if you are looking for someone who is more specialized, like a content writer, a marketer, or an inventory manager, for example, you should expect a higher rate range for quality work and greater accountability.

3. How to hire virtual assistants from the Philippines?

If you’re hiring from Philippines virtual assistant companies, you will usually simply enter the details of the work you need done and wait for applications to come in. Then you would need to sort through them and interview the top candidates. Once you find someone that is the right fit, you hire them per the platform rules and you’re good to go.

4. Why should you hire a Filipino virtual assistant?

Filipino virtual assistants are famous for their cordial personalities, flexibility, and happy natures. This is, of course, on top of the affordability of hiring these skilled individuals who speak English better than most other Asians.

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

Distance is no longer a barrier to any work that can be done on a computer connected to the internet. Indeed, many business owners depend on Filipino virtual assistant companies to find the people they need to complete all the daily activities within their businesses. Now, you know where they go to find top talent, and you can start hiring, too!

Virtual Assistants

How Full Time Virtual Assistants Can Help Entrepreneurs Scale Their Businesses

Post author By Saloni Ordia
Post date May 11, 2023
No Comments on How Full Time Virtual Assistants Can Help Entrepreneurs Scale Their Businesses

Running a business is similar to running a marathon, demanding stamina, resilience, and unwavering concentration on finishing the race. As an entrepreneur, you’re constantly juggling a million duties to meet your company’s standards while remaining one step ahead of the competition. It’s an exhilarating journey that can exhaust even the most experienced entrepreneur.

Meet Mohit- A successful business entrepreneur with over a decade of experience. He was proficient at handling his employees, maintaining client relationships, and staying current on industry changes. However, as his company expanded, so did his workload, and he soon found himself submerged in a pool of emails, meetings, scheduling, and to-do lists. He knew he required someone skilled, but employing a full-time assistant was daunting and expensive.

That’s when he realized the value of virtual assistants. He then hired a proficient full-time virtual assistant as per his needs.

Mohit could now concentrate on the key activities that demanded his attention by assigning chores to his virtual assistant while his assistant managed the rest.

In this article, we’ll dive into the world of full-time virtual assistants and how they work to help entrepreneurs like Mohit grow their businesses.

How to find the Right Full-Time Virtual Assistant?

Hiring a full-time virtual assistant can be the best choice for entrepreneurs who wish to pass on administrative work and focus on essential business operations. But figuring out the ideal virtual assistant may be complex because you must consider various factors like skill set, expertise, interpersonal abilities, and cultural match.

Below are some pointers on how to choose the best full-time virtual assistant for your company:

1. Evaluate your company’s requirements and specifications.

Before seeking a virtual assistant, you must define your company’s demands and requirements. First, prepare a list of all the tasks you need help with, like email handling, social media handling, research booking appointments, data entry, and customer service. This list will help you create your job description for your VA once you know what tasks you need help with.

2. Know your budget

After determining your needs and requirements, figure out your budget and how much you are ready to pay for the services of a virtual assistant.

An award-winning virtual assistant, Cassie Evans, adds, “It’s important to consider the budget, no matter the investment within the business. Key things to consider when identifying a Virtual Assistant budget are:

Do the potential Virtual Assistants’ prices & packages align with the current budget, and would they meet future budgets if you chose to expand upon the level of support?

Is the budget realistic concerning the level of support required? For example, having a minimal budget but requiring hours upon hours of support will make finding a suitable Virtual Assistant challenging.”

3. Review the resume and conduct an interview.

Once the job description is ready, head to online marketplaces such as Upwork, Fiverr, TaskRabbit, and Freelancer to post about the job. If you are looking to outsource project-based work or work for a short period, Upwork and Fiverr work well, as they are cost-friendly.

After getting responses, evaluate all applications, and choose the one with the requisite abilities and experience. Next, hold online interviews with applicants to assess their communication abilities and cultural fit. Finally, inquire about their employment experience, availability, and working hours.

Consider checking our list to learn about the 11 Best Virtual Assistant Sites for Entrepreneurs in 2023.

Abhishek Shah, the founder of Testlify, says, “To find the right virtual assistant, entrepreneurs should define their business needs, create a job description that outlines the responsibilities and qualifications they are looking for, and set clear expectations from the outset. Then, they can use online platforms such as Testlify to find qualified candidates and conduct interviews to assess their skills and experience. It’s also essential to consider factors such as communication skills, availability, and work ethic to ensure that the virtual assistant fits the business”.

4. Discuss the scope of work and communication channels.

Once you’ve decided on a virtual assistant, it’s critical to establish goals and protocols for communication from the start. You should discuss your expectations with your virtual assistant regarding work scope, deadlines, and deliverables. Set ways to communicate, chat, email, or calls via video, and specify turnaround times and accessibility. To minimize miscommunication, it’s also critical to understand the times of operation and time zones.

5. Consider their technical skills.

Examining a virtual assistant’s technological expertise is critical when choosing one. Hire those knowledgeable in technologies and software such as Microsoft Office and Google Suite, handling social media platforms and project management tools according to your requirements. However, always look for virtual assistants with prior expertise in your technologies. A Deloitte poll highlighted the need for virtual assistants with technological expertise.

Now let’s look at some of the advantages of hiring VA.

Benefits of Hiring Full-Time Virtual Assistants

1. Reduced workload for entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs can employ a virtual assistant to do time-consuming and monotonous tasks, freeing up their valuable time to devote to building their company. Who wouldn’t want a couple of additional hours in their day to catch up on their favorite program or go to the workout? You’ll have the opportunity to regain your leisure time and value the simpler things in life with the help of a virtual assistant.

2. Increased productivity and efficiency

Virtual assistants can finish jobs more rapidly and effectively, resulting in a shorter response time and higher production. It can assist companies in remaining competitive and sticking to deadlines.

Ubaldo Perez at HUSH Anesthetic says, “When leaders have much more busy work that eats up their time off their plates, VA can more effectively grow and maintain their businesses in other strategic ways, like acquiring new assets, optimizing performance, or implementing top-down changes. VAs can also liaise well with customer support teams and their immediate needs, acting as one additional layer of problem-solving before an issue is elevated to leadership.”

3. Cost-effective solution for businesses

Using a virtual assistant as a full-time employee can be more cost-effective than bringing in another staff member because premises, supplies, and overhead are eliminated. As a result, it is an excellent choice for small enterprises or startups looking to save costs without losing quality.

In one of Zirtual’s blogs, Tim Ferriss said, “ When you create a self-sustaining business that generates a great deal of profit and awareness, the value of those virtual assistants can far exceed their cost. Virtual assistants cost a fraction of the cost of doing those activities yourself, especially considering what that time is worth.”

4. Flexible work arrangements

Full-time virtual assistants can operate from anywhere with a laptop and an internet connection, enabling companies to tap into talent worldwide. In addition, companies operating in different regions may benefit from more flexibility in terms of operating hours and time zones.

Now that you’re mindful of the multiple benefits of employing a full-time virtual assistant, it’s time to investigate the vast range of tasks they can assist you with.

What are the tasks that Full-Time Virtual Assistants can Handle?

Administrative tasks such as email management, scheduling, and data entry
Customer support, such as answering queries, resolving complaints, and processing orders
Social media management, such as content creation, scheduling, and analytics
Research and data analysis
Create and manage content for your blog, website, or newsletter.
Manage your financial records and bookkeeping.

Consider having a look at the 25 best tasks for Virtual Assistants.

Best Practices for Working with Full-Time Virtual Assistants

1. Establishing a clear job description and work scope

Define the work tasks and expectations for the virtual assistant. It will assist them in understanding what chores they should prioritize and what objectives they should work towards.

Sofie Couwenbergh, a content strategist at Let Me Write That Down for You, has a brilliant take: Start by keeping track of all the jobs you’d like to hand off to your full-time virtual assistant. Then, over a week, simply write down everything you do that you don’t want to be doing anymore. Unless that task should go to a different profile (a writer, an editor, a marketing manager, etc.), it’ll go to your virtual assistant. Once you know what you want them to do, you can list their desired skill set.

While doing this, ask yourself:

How much are you willing to invest in their training?

Do you want someone who already knows how to work with specific tools, or are you comfortable training them?

How demanding you are in this respect will largely determine how big the pool you’ll be recruiting from and how much you’ll need to pay.

2. Setting realistic goals and deadlines

Set reasonable targets and due dates for your virtual assistant to ensure they know what they need to do and by when. It will assist them in prioritizing their duties and efficiently managing their time. For example, if you want your virtual assistant to create a weekly blog post, ensure they have adequate time to study findings, write, and edit the piece.

3. Create a playbook or document for onboarding new virtual assistants

Finding the right virtual assistant is difficult. And walking them through the process is a bit more complicated.

Sreeram Sharma, a SaaS SEO consultant, says, “ Entrepreneurs usually seek virtual assistants who know the industry and have some experience with similar projects. So if you hire a new full-time virtual assistant, you will likely spend a week just to train them. So instead of walking them through the whole process, you could just have a playbook or a document listing the entire process with tutorials. They can go through the entire list and learn about the process. It saves a lot of time ✅”

4. Evaluating and providing feedback

Reviewing your virtual assistant’s work frequently and giving constructive criticism is critical. It will assist them in honing their talents and working more efficiently. Set up a performance evaluation system, for example, in which you analyze their effort every quarter and offer comments on what they handled well and in which areas they can improve.

5. Maintaining open communication

Choose a communication method that works for you both, whether by email, chat, or video chat.

Caroline Marshall, the founder of Upsource, says, “Investing time in a relationship is so hard when you want a VA to give you time back. A great relationship, however, is built on communication, trust, and feedback. Setting aside, at least in the beginning, time to communicate with your VA is key. If you have the right VA, they are NOT just there to delegate low-level tasks; they can work with you to free up your time on your business needs”.

6. Ensuring data security and privacy

It is necessary to secure the safety and confidentiality of your data while dealing with virtual assistants. Use encrypted communication and file-sharing software while keeping a confidentiality agreement in effect. You can utilize password-protected files and encrypted chat applications to ensure private data.

What is Outsource School?

Outsource School helps you unlock virtual assistants’ potential and accelerate your business growth.

It is the same 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

Hiring and collaborating with full-time virtual assistants may considerably help entrepreneurs and enterprises by improving productivity, lowering burden, and offering access to specialized talents. But searching for the right virtual assistant while efficiently working with them requires committing to certain best practices. Then, businesses can employ virtual assistants to their total capacity and take their activities to the next level.

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