When you finish reading this article, you will know what is a virtual assistant for startups and SMEs why you should hire virtual assistance services, what benefits it brings to entrepreneurs and self-employed workers, what tasks you can outsource, and when to use an online virtual secretary.

Why you should hire a virtual assistant for

Startups or SMEs

Today, small and medium-sized companies and startups have something in common; they both concentrate resources in the production and service departments to have greater knowledge and adapt to a specific market. Instead, they let the responsibility for administrative management fall to one of the partners or a member of the team who also carries out other functions.

Not delegating to a virtual assistant for entrepreneurs generates poor management of finances and administrative tasks. This is because the person designated to perform these functions is forced to choose between dedicating time to launching new products or services or wasting hours on administrative work. In addition to having the feeling of “putting out fires all day” and not having made the progress I expected.

The main difference between an SME and a startup is its short-term objective; while one dedicates its resources to making its business more profitable to grow, the other allocates them to validating and developing its product to attract investors. Now, whether you are a start-up with a million things to undertake or a small business overwhelmed by administrative work that prevents you from planning a growth strategy, you need a proactive virtual assistant to help you free up hours.

What is a virtual assistant?

Virtual assistants work online from practically anywhere, they only need an internet connection. For example, your home, a coworking, a cafe, and they can even connect remotely to the internet to work on your system, if you need it. They offer their experience in certain areas in which they are specialized, to help startups, freelancers, and SMEs with all the tasks they need to delegate. In addition, they are experts in solving problems, always willing to find the best solution for you and your team.

What Benefits does a Virtual Assistant provide for

startups or SMEs?

 Some of the activities in which you spend the most time are controlling your billing, accounting, scheduling, and email. Below, I explain the main benefits you will obtain if you hire a virtual assistant.

Cost savings

Among the advantages of outsourcing (externalization of services), we find the low cost of delegating these functions to a specialized virtual assistant, compared to the loss of money that it entails for the SME or startup, having one of its members dedicate their efforts to activities that have nothing to do with their specialty.

 The virtual assistant is autonomous, you can deduct her bill as an expense, and she works from home; Therefore, there are no personnel expenses (compensation, vacations, pay, overtime, social security, you pay only for the functions or the contracted time. Also, you will save on investment in furniture, technological materials and tools, and in the expansion of room for a new team member, if you decide to hire internal employees instead.

Brand Awareness

Our image and personal brand are improved by having virtual assistance services provided by prestigious professionals, you gain authority and weight in the sector.

No obligations

When you outsource a service with a virtual assistant for entrepreneurs, you are signing a contract. In the end, if you do not want to continue working with her, you just have to tell her and there, the relationship ends. There is no extra cost or commission for terminating the contract.

In short, it is a business strategy that helps you differentiate yourself, saves time, increases your productivity, and improves competitiveness; so you can focus on the most strategic functions of your business (Business Management).

By delegating to a virtual assistant, you will gain quality and reliability, since the tasks are carried out by a specialized professional who will complete them within the stipulated time.

 

What services or administrative tasks can an SME or startup outsource?

The main reason why some entrepreneurs   I have spoken to delay and do not decide to work with a virtual assistant is because they do not know what tasks to outsource. 

 Below I detail some of the tasks that you can outsource:

Data entry and research – Simple tasks, from filling out forms and taking meeting notes, to market research and negotiating with new suppliers.

Administration tasks

SME planning and organization tasks:

• Agenda and calendar organization. Essential if you don’t want to miss any important appointments and need to make the most of your day.
• CRM management, hotel, and travel reservations,
• meeting scheduling,
• Attendance at events,
• Search for aid and subsidies,
• Email management. Inbox management is one of the first tasks you can outsource. The risks are minimal, and the payoff in terms of time and impact on your company’s organization is enormous.
• Redaction of documents,
• Presentations and reports,
• Database recording and management,
• Process management and automation. Vital to document and streamline processes if you want to replicate the success of a project.

In general, any administrative task that involves direct support to the CEO or manager of the company.

Text Transcription

Get quality transcriptions and subtitles for your podcasts and other audiovisual materials.

Inventory management

Keep stock at optimal levels for happy customers and your Amazon account in the green.

Writing SEO texts optimized for the web

Improve the copy of your social networks, advertising, and SEO writing of optimized content, which attracts traffic to your blog (inbound marketing )

Accounting

Expert help to keep track of and control the financial operations carried out in your company. Keep your finances in order: recording invoices, tracking supplier billing, and recording data online. Introduction of accounting entries in the specific program for small businesses. Control of income and expenses, bank reconciliation, and direct communication with your manager to verify taxes.

Website management and maintenance in WordPress

A specialized virtual assistant is in charge of managing, modifying, and formatting the content of the entries on your website or blog. Installing plugins, making backup copies, helping with link-building campaigns, and improving SEO so that the corporate website is always updated.

Customer Service

Manage messages from Amazon and other platforms such as Booking, comments on social networks, reviews, and order updates. As well as support functions for your clients and your sales department.

Digital Marketing

A virtual marketing assistant performs functions designed to increase your online presence and get clients. For example:

• Creation of customer-oriented content. Whether in publications, on the blog, newsletters, or your social networks, your virtual assistant writes the article about the news in your industry or business to convey your brand’s message.
• Email marketing. Today it is proven that email marketing is a primary tool to attract customers and retain them. A Virtual Assistant is in charge of getting the most out of your email marketing manager to convert your leads into customers.
• Funnel Automation,
• Data analysis, social media, and website management.
• Carrying out market studies,
• Prepare Reports on conversion metrics, Lead Magnet Writing
• Facebook Ads campaign management. 

At eAssistantvs, I offer you email marketing, time blocking, and SEO consulting services.

Project management

Supervision of the project management of your business aimed at achieving the objectives that you have previously set. 

Human Resources

Search and selection of candidates. How long does it take you to search for new talent for your business by browsing LinkedIn profiles? A Virtual Assistant does the research for you and makes a list of possible candidates according to the specifications you have given her. You can even conduct a first interview to further filter the list so you only have to meet with one or two talents.

Updating worker data such as vacation control, medical leave, presence controls, commissions, per diems, and staff travel. In addition, ORP, outsourced ORP Management, medical reviews, and training courses.

As assistants, we help you with the daily challenge of entrepreneurship, effectively managing the administrative and marketing tasks of your small business. In other words, you will gain peace of mind and control in the administrative and sales management of your business.

Do you doubt if now is the time to hire a virtual assistant USA for your small business or startup? In the next point, I will clarify it for you.

 

When should you think about hiring a virtual assistant for startups or SMEs?

• You have too many repetitive tasks: Running a business involves a lot of administrative tasks and the more it grows the greater the volume. 
• You are frustrated because you don’t do what you like: when you are creating or involved in a new project, the last thing you want to do is carry out recurring activities. They seem boring to you, which leads you to postpone them until they become urgent. As a result, frustration comes when you realize that they are interfering with the proper functioning of the business.
• You lack experience: what if you want to try email marketing? or do you want to create content for your social networks? Do you want to incorporate something new into your website? What if you find yourself increasingly bogged down with invoices or keep replying and sending emails, what can someone else do? You already have the answer, double your time. It’s time to hire a Virtual Assistant! You can send me an email at adam@eassistantvs.com or call me at +161798 20025 and tell me, how can I help you.