Hi there!
Since you’re here for sure, it’s either you’re currently exploring hiring a virtual assistant or you’re still confused about what type of virtual assistant you should hire for your business.
Don’t worry! In this blog, we will dive into the details of the assistance you need. But first, I want to discuss my approach.
When I offer advice on what to look for in an assistant, I always start by asking them what type of assistance they need. It usually takes me a couple of questions to understand their needs and why they require help because it takes time for them to fully comprehend what they should prioritize, especially when they’ve just realized they are truly overwhelmed.
Are you thinking too?
Now, let’s get started!
What is a Virtual Assistant?
Before delving into the specific type of virtual assistant you require, it’s essential to understand what a virtual assistant is.
A virtual assistant is an employee that you work with remotely. They probably work from home or have their own office and are not in the same time zone as you.
For instance, the majority of our clients reside in Australia and the U.S., while our exceptional assistants are located in the Philippines, resulting in a slight time difference. They are typically tasked with managing various aspects of your business with the aim of surpassing what you can accomplish on your own.
We often refer to them as your “second brain,” and that’s the goal we aim to help you achieve — hiring your second brain!
Types Of Virtual Assistants
When considering hiring a virtual assistant, it can take time to figure out which is best for your business.
There are so many different virtual assistants and other types, so deciding who your first virtual assistant should be is complex and confusing. There are different types of assistance just before they even acquire the skills that they need.
There are virtual assistants who are full-time or part-time, and there are virtual assistants who are going to be employees or freelancers for your business. Some virtual assistants are more task-oriented versus outcome-oriented.
Task-oriented virtual assistants typically focus on repetitive tasks in your business, in contrast to project-based assistants. There are various types available, and I have several videos on my YouTube channel that delve into this topic.
To begin, consider these initial questions: Do you require a full-time or part-time assistant? Should they be exclusively dedicated to your company, without other client work, or do you need an assistant with a specific focus on a particular task within your business?
What Work Do You Need To Be Done
The next thing is to figure out what you need to get done. What are the first few tasks you’ll delegate to your virtual assistant?
To visualize this, begin by listing all the tasks you are currently performing in your business. Next, rank them based on two criteria: First, identify which tasks contribute to ongoing value in your business. This value might manifest as monetary gains, lead generation, increased social media engagement, or any other relevant metrics.
These initial distinctions help you identify tasks that warrant delegation. If you have tasks that significantly benefit your company, but you dislike doing them, or if you’re not particularly skilled at them, that’s the sweet spot where you should begin your search for your first virtual assistant.
Now, let’s move on to discussing the five common types of virtual assistants you should consider hiring.
1. Admin VA
The first type is an admin virtual assistant, who serves as a versatile assistant handling various administrative tasks. They take care of email management, calendar management, and travel arrangements and can also assist with business management, overseeing specific tasks and projects, and acting like a flexible jack-of-all-trades.
These admin virtual assistants handle a variety of small tasks in your company, functioning as generalists rather than specialists. They manage various bits and pieces to help you navigate your day, serving as someone you can delegate tasks to as needed. They can also assist in managing freelancers you may be working with.
This type of assistant is often the first choice for many people, and it makes sense because it helps you offload tasks from your mind, serving as an essential initial step in the delegation process.
2. Bookkeeper/Numbers VA
The second type to consider hiring is a bookkeeper or a numbers virtual assistant. This choice is more advanced and depends on your business’s stage. As mentioned earlier, when hiring, it’s crucial to prioritize tasks that you might not excel at but are crucial for your business, and managing numbers is a significant one.
As an entrepreneur, your primary focus should be on creating more value rather than running day-to-day operations. Often, your role involves handling visionary and top-level tasks rather than implementation. This is why hiring a bookkeeping virtual assistant can be a crucial decision because they can efficiently organize the data within your business, allowing you to concentrate on higher-level responsibilities.
Then, you can make smarter decisions moving forward.
3. Customer Support VA
The third type of assistant to consider hiring is a customer support assistant or a client management assistant. This individual is responsible for handling emails in your support inbox, responding to messages on platforms like Facebook and Instagram regarding your business, and guiding individuals to you as necessary or filtering out those who don’t require direct contact. They play a vital role in managing all the emails and social media interactions to ensure your clients receive the support they need.
This type of virtual assistant also focuses on creating processes to efficiently manage your customers and may provide valuable suggestions like, “A customer suggested this; why don’t we give it a try?” Their role is to ensure that as your business grows, someone is dedicated to taking care of your customers and clients, making certain they feel well-supported in terms of client management.
They might also ensure that the process is followed step by step to provide a clear and structured customer experience for your business.
4. Lead Generation VA
The fourth type of virtual assistant to consider hiring is a lead generation virtual assistant. You may have come across this concept before, but in essence, they are assistants who engage with LinkedIn and Facebook groups to generate leads for you. They can help you secure opportunities such as podcast appearances or speaking engagements to expand your network and reach potential clients or customers.
These virtual assistants can reach out through various channels, including email, LinkedIn, HubSpot, and more, to help increase awareness and visibility for your business. Additionally, they assist in driving traffic by arranging opportunities for you to appear on other platforms and shows.
The primary focus of this type of assistant is to boost sales for your business and meticulously track those sales to ensure they are following the right strategies. As your business evolves and adapts, they remain on hand to ensure their tactics continue to be effective, helping you maintain and increase your revenue.
5. Social Media VA
The most common type of virtual assistant an entrepreneur should hire is a social media virtual assistant. This is where I have gotten into, where the first hire I needed was someone to manage my social media. Whether it was helping me create the content, visualize the content, write up the range, actually have it posted on Facebook, manage the engagements of it, or grow the Facebook groups I have.
It can also be a lot of different things! But you need someone to ensure that this part of your business — the social media side — is being taken care of.
Now that you have a clear understanding of the type of assistant you require, it’s time to create a job post and post it on platforms like Facebook or Onlinejobs.ph if you’re hiring from the Philippines. Seek referrals from various sources and ensure that you have skills tests in place to assess the candidates’ capabilities.
Following this, proceed with the interview process and conduct a trial with your potential assistant to evaluate how well they would fit into your workflow. Hiring your first virtual assistant need not be a daunting experience, and it can be a step-by-step, guided process as long as you have a clear understanding of the role they need to play in your business.
As you embark on the hiring process, you’ll gain increasing clarity about the type of person you need because you’ll be interacting with different candidates who may offer suggestions like, “Yes, I’d appreciate an assistant who handles this task.” These insights add to your understanding and contribute to the process of hiring your first virtual assistant.
If you want to find out if you’re ready to hire a virtual assistant, take the 2xYou Two Minute Readiness Assessment For Entrepreneurs today: 2xyou.com/scorecard.
Also, visit my YouTube Channel to learn more about hiring a virtual assistant!