7 Common Tasks to Outsource to a Virtual Assistant
Delegation is such a powerful tool that many people have a hard time utilizing. For various reasons, many neglect this simple approach to work out of fear, training, control or resources. If you find yourself in one of these categories; struggling to meet deadlines, keeping long hours or feeling overwhelmed at the end of the day; choosing to outsource to a virtual assistant will drastically improve both your time and work quality.
We’ve put together a list of 7 common tasks to outsource to a virtual assistant (VA) if you were wondering just what tasks, exactly, a VA can take off your plate to help you maximize efficiency.
1. Presentations
Presentations are a large and necessary part of many businesses, but there is a tremendous amount of prep work that goes into them. Outsourcing the slide preparation to a VA gives you more time to prep for the actual presentation itself.
2. Email Management
Hate weeding through all of your emails? Virtual assistants can weed through the emails for you on a daily or temporary basis; such as vacation time. They can even just clean up and organize your inbox if that’s what you’re looking for.
3. Calendar Management
Experienced VAs have a background in executive administrative support where they have years of experience in managing complex calendars. Any valuable virtual assistant will make sure to block off time for working hours, too, so you’re not inundated with meetings.
4. Travel Arrangements
From sourcing the best rates and negotiating, to travel research and actual booking; handing off travel arrangements to a VA takes that additional work off of your plate.
5. Event/Meeting Planning (including virtual meetings)
Remember that presentation you needed put together? Why do all the work to arrange the meeting too? An experienced virtual assistant will do all the planning for you. A savvy virtual assistant will suggest and arrange a virtual meetings if it is more cost-effective for your business.
6. Social Media Management
These days, everyone is on social media and your business should be too. It’s essential, but it can be time-consuming. Outsourcing to a virtual assistant experienced in social media management will free up your time to actually work on what you do best…your business.
7. Basic Bookkeeping
For many small business owners, keeping up with bookkeeping can be a struggle, especially if it falls on you. Many good virtual assistants have knowledge in basic bookkeeping and programs like Quickbooks to help you stay on track with bookkeeping. It’s crucial and can’t fall through the cracks.
We’ve given you only but a snippet of the vast tasks a virtual assistant can handle for you. By developing a good and trusted relationship with a virtual assistant you have an opportunity to partner with someone who will help you to focus on your business while taking care of the many time consuming other tasks that keep your business afloat. Who wouldn’t want that kind of partnership?
Sara Husted is a partner, blogger and social media manager at Virtual Office Admins out of their west coast location. For a FREE consultation, click here to contact VOA today!