What’s a good way to use virtual assistants to streamline your tasks, especially if your budget is tight?
These answers are provided by the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invitation-only organization made up of the world’s most successful young entrepreneurs. YEC members represent nearly every industry, generate billions of dollars in revenue annually and have created tens of thousands of jobs. More information at yec.co.
1. Assign them tasks with measurable ROI
A key way to justify the cost of a virtual assistant is to find a clear set of tasks that have a measurable and specific ROI and can cover all or most of the cost of that virtual assistant. That way, the rest of the tasks you delegate will feel like the icing on the cake. – Ryan D. MatznerFueled up
2. Look for entry-level assistants
If a virtual assistant doesn’t have much experience in the field and you have a limited budget, this means you have the opportunity to train them in a way that suits your business specifically. They won’t be tempted to follow other companies’ old rules because they’re starting over with yours. You can benefit from this, especially if your budget is low. – Thomas GriffioenOptinMonster
3. Create systems that are clear and easy to follow
When you’re working on a budget, there’s no margin for error when it comes to how your virtual assistants spend their time. To keep them on task and productive, make sure you have clear and easy-to-follow systems for each specific task you ask of them. – Ben WalkerTranscription Outsourcing, LLC
4. Carefully track your expenses against the work they do
If your budget is tight but you hire a virtual assistant, you’ll need to track expenses so you don’t have to pay out of pocket. If you look at it and realize you don’t have enough to pay a VA what they make, it’s best to reconsider how to perform those tasks differently. By continually reassessing what you’re working with, you can use a VA to your advantage. – Chris ChristopherMonsterInsights
5. Take the time to get them on board the right way
You don’t have to spend as much extra money on bug fixes as your virtual assistant if they experience a good and thorough onboarding process. It is not wise to spend little to no time training someone and then expect him or her to do everything the way you want. You need to ensure that they are fully prepared for the task by giving them the resources and time they need. – Jared AtchisonWPForms
6. Train your assistant on social media
There are plenty of business owners who hire specialized social media marketers to help with different areas of their marketing strategy. They usually pay these people to create and share posts on their accounts. Instead, leverage your virtual assistant by offering certified social media lessons and then let him/her take over the role. – Syed BalkhiWPBeginner
7. Find someone who thinks like you
If you find an assistant who thinks like you, your tasks will be easier because they can already do it for you, instead of doing it yourself. Small, detailed instructions will be easy to understand once you find someone who genuinely cares about you and has the same agenda as you. – Daisy JingBanned
8. Limit work to simple, routine tasks
Virtual assistants can be very helpful in reducing workload at a reasonable cost. However, you must limit the amount of work assigned to virtual assistants, otherwise it can become prohibitively expensive and lead to quality issues. It is best to outsource routine, fairly simple tasks to virtual assistants. Tasks that occur sporadically or require extensive training are not ideal for virtual assistants. – Matthew PodolskiLaw Advisors of Florida, PA
9. Start small
If your budget is tight but you still want to use virtual assistants, start small. A virtual assistant can work for you one day a week or even just a few hours a week and still help you streamline your tasks and save time. By starting small, you can see if having a virtual assistant works for your business while at the same time not spending a lot of money. – Stephanie WellsFormidable shapes
10. Let them tackle payroll
Virtual assistants are usually all-rounders who can perform multiple tasks at the same time. If you’re looking for a way to save money with an assistant, you can train him/her to handle payroll. – Blair WilliamsMembersPress
11. Hire one assistant to manage the others
Early in my business, I couldn’t afford personal staff. I found it helpful to delegate specific tasks to specific virtual assistants. To streamline this process, I suggest you hire one “senior” assistant who you will work closely with, to manage and supervise the other assistants to ensure everything is in order. Creating this hierarchy can help with budgeting and get many things done faster! – Rachel BotherPRESS Modern massage