As a business owner, you may find it difficult to achieve a healthy balance between your work life and your personal life. While this is a relatively common problem, it is best you find a solution before it’s too late and you’re dealing with debilitating burnout symptoms.

So how do you take back your time? An effective option would be to outsource a virtual assistant! In this article, we’ll look at some of the many ways in which a VA can help take your business to the next level while you enjoy more free time.

What Are the Types of Tasks a VA can Handle?

Virtual assistants are typically capable of handling a wide variety of admin-related tasks, including:

• Data capturing
• Social media management
• Proofreading
• Client communication
• Making bookings

Some virtual assistants also specialise in things like copywriting, graphic design, video editing, and accounting.

How Can I Trust a Virtual Assistant to Handle These Tasks?

It can be nerve-wracking to entrust anyone to handle important tasks relating to your business. However, if you hire your VA through a trusted agency, like VAssistMe, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about. You should also take the necessary precautions that come with sharing passwords and any other sensitive data.

Benefits of Having More Time on Your Hands

Lower Your Stress Levels

Stress is often described as the silent killer as it can give rise to all types of different health complications. Having a healthy balance between work and rest will help you lower your stress levels and reduce your chances of developing certain illnesses.

Spend More Time with Family

One of the biggest regrets older people have is not spending enough time with their families. Don’t let this regret creep up on you. Always make time for your family and do your best to attend special family events.

Enjoy Your Hobbies

When was the last time you played a round of golf or went for a swim in the ocean? Whatever your hobbies may be, it’s important that you set aside time for your personal interests if you want to live a fulfilled and happy life.

VAssistMe has helped dozens of businesses outsource virtual assistants in Australia. If you are looking for ways to enjoy more free time while still growing your business, we would love to help you find the perfect VA! Learn more by browsing our website, and feel free to contact us if you want to get the ball rolling.

The post Spend More Time Doing the Things You Love When You Hire a Virtual Assistant appeared first on VAssistme Australia.

So how can virtual assistants in Australia help? In this article, we’ll look at some of the social media tasks that virtual assistants can take off your plate.

Engage with Your Audience

Audience engagement is vital if you want to grow your following and connect with new potential clients. When you outsource a virtual assistant, they can take care of replying to messages and comments.

Organise Your Posting Schedule

Did you know that most social media experts recommend that you post at least three times a week if you want to remain relevant? While that can seem like a lot, it is much easier when you have the help of a social media virtual assistant to organise your posting schedule.

Analyse Data

Another task that VAs can help with is analysing your social media data using online tools to see which type of posts perform best for you. By identifying where you can improve and what type of content to focus on, you can really take your social media strategies to the next level.

Provide Assistance to Collaborators

Collaborations and giveaways are both great ways to generate more followers and interest in your brand. Virtual assistants can handle all the admin-related tasks associated with working with collaborators.

Integrating Different Social Media Platforms

With so many social media platforms out there, it can be difficult to know which ones are worth focusing on. A virtual assistant can help your business create social media profiles on different platforms and help integrate these platforms using specialised apps.

Social Media Monitoring

Allow your virtual assistant to take care of monitoring your social media and ensure that everything is taken care of in terms of posting, replying to messages, and interacting with relevant content.

Do you want to learn more about what we have to offer at VAssistMe? We’d love to help you find the ideal virtual assistant in Australia to help you take care of your social media and other admin-related tasks. Feel free to contact us today to begin the process.

The post What Do Social Media Virtual Assistants Do? appeared first on VAssistme Australia.

Here at VAssistMe, we are proud to be an experienced virtual assistant agency in Australia. We are very much aware of the common challenges faced by VAs and we will share some of these challenges (as well as their solutions) in this article.

Connectivity Issues

One of the most important things that virtual assistants in Australia need is a strong internet connection. Without it, they can’t get any of their tasks done. This is why it’s important to have a backup internet solution. 

Communication

Because VAs work remotely, communication can sometimes become a challenge. As they aren’t in the office with the rest of the team, certain bits of information may get lost. To avoid this becoming a problem, prioritise communication.

Finding the Right Clients

While it’s always nice for a virtual assistant to find a client they find interesting, sometimes they need to take what they can get. Just like with any other job, personal conflicts and a lack of specific industry experience are always a risk. Finding the perfect clients may take a while, but when it happens, it will be totally worth it!

Keeping Track of Time Spent Working

In most cases, virtual assistants in Australia are paid by the hour. As their services are fully scalable, the number of hours worked can change from week to week, so it’s very important that VAs remain organised and keep track of the time they spend working. Fortunately, there are many time-tracking apps and online tools that can help with this challenge.

Quiet Workspace

Virtual assistants are responsible for their own workspaces, so they need to ensure they have somewhere quiet and free from distractions. Sometimes working from home is not a good option, and they need to rent an office or a hot desk at a co-working facility.

Do you want to become a virtual assistant in Australia? Or perhaps you are looking to outsource a virtual assistant for your business. Either way, we invite you to learn more about our extensive database of virtual assistants here at VAssistMe. Browse our website or contact us should you have any questions.

The post The Biggest Challenges Faced by Virtual Assistants appeared first on VAssistme Australia.

1. Green Flags

Experience in the Industry

Experience in the industry means that a virtual assistant knows what to expect when going into a VA position. While each company they have worked for may be a little different, they will know what they need to work efficiently and get the job done.

A Positive Attitude

Many of the responsibilities given to virtual assistants, such as emails, customer support, and social media, involve dealing with clients and potential clients. This means that a positive attitude is paramount. After all, you want your customers to feel welcomed and appreciated.

Specialised Skills

While specialised skills are not always necessary, they are nice to have. Some of the most common specialised skills offered by virtual assistants include:

• Video editing
• Accounting
• Copywriting
• Marketing
• Web design

2. Red Flags

It’s Their First Ever Job

While everyone deserves a chance to prove themselves, it can be risky to hire someone who has never had a job before. Even if your new VA doesn’t have much virtual assistance experience, it would be good if they have at least one or two references on their CV to help determine their work ethic.

They Have Multiple Side Hustles

While most VAs have more than one client, it can be a red flag if they seem to be involved with several different side hustles, as they probably won’t have enough time to give your projects the time and attention that they deserve.

Travel is Their Priority

Many travel enthusiasts want to become virtual assistants so they can travel while working. The problem with this is that they may not always have a stable internet connection and a quiet working space. It’s better to work with a VA that has their own dedicated office space.

Do you want to learn more about what virtual assistants in Australia can offer your business? Here at VAssistMe, we offer an extensive database of talented and experienced VAs. We’ve helped hundreds of companies outsource virtual assistants, so feel free to contact us today to get the ball rolling!

The post Virtual Assistant Green Flags & Red Flags: What to Look for When Hiring appeared first on VAssistme Australia.

At the end of the day, the common denominator is that a virtual assistant can save you time by handling admin-related tasks and clearing your to-do list. But now, let’s have a look at some of the most common services provided by VAs!

Content Planning

These days, social media and digital marketing play a vital role in the overall success of your business. A virtual assistant can help you with planning your content and deciding when social media and blog posts should be published by creating a detailed content calendar.

Proofreading

A tiny typo or grammatical error can make your business look unprofessional and lazy. VAs can help with proofreading by taking the time to double-check your content before it gets published.

Publishing

Publishing content can be tedious and time-consuming, especially when you have more important tasks on your to-do list. This is why many business owners hand over all the content publishing tasks to their virtual assistants.

Travel Arrangements

Whether you travel for business or pleasure, a virtual assistant can help with handling travel arrangements. From doing research into hotels to booking your flights, they can completely streamline your trip and ensure there aren’t any hiccups along the way.

Data Entry

Virtual assistants are known for their attention to detail and admin-related skills. This is why data entry work is such a common task given to virtual assistants. It can also easily be done remotely and doesn’t require much management or guidance.

Understanding Specialised Virtual Assistants

What are specialised virtual assistants, you ask? They are VAs that have a more diverse and in-depth skillset. They often offer services like copywriting, video editing, accounting, and more. While their services may cost more than ‘standard’ VAs, they can add more value to your business operations.

Have you been thinking about hiring a virtual assistant in Australia? Here at VAssitMe, we help businesses from across various industries outsource virtual assistants. Whatever your preferences may be, we can help you find a virtual assistant who aligns with your needs. Learn more about what we have to offer by browsing our website or contacting us if you have any further questions.

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In this article, we will provide some reasons behind the rise of VA popularity in Australia and beyond.

Remote Work Has Become More Accessible

Over the past decade, remote work has become far more accessible. This is mostly due to advances in technology and increased internet speeds. More and more people can effectively perform their jobs from home.

There is also a better understanding of what virtual assistants can do and the many benefits they have to offer businesses.

The More Affordable Option

Hiring a full-time employee comes with all sorts of risks, not to mention a significant financial expense. When you opt for a virtual assistant in Australia, you can easily find a suitable candidate within your budget and only pay them for the hours you need them for…their work is also fully scalable!

Gives Business Owners More Time Freedom

Business owners often fall into the trap of devoting too much of their time to their business. But it’s important to maintain a good work/life balance if you want to enjoy a good quality of life.

Virtual assistants provide the perfect opportunity to clear your to-do list of all those menial, time-consuming tasks so that you can focus on the more important things. Some of the tasks that VAs can assist with include social media, proofreading, email management, data entry, and so much more.

No Need to Supply a Physical Office Space

When you have in-house employees, you need to provide them with a desk, equipment, and everything else they need to do their job properly. These facilities can end up costing a significant amount and may affect your overall profits. 

One of the best things about virtual assistants is that they are responsible for their own equipment and working environment. 

Do you want to hire a virtual assistant in Australia? At VAssistMe, we specialise in helping local businesses outsource virtual assistants in Australia. We can help pair you with a VA that meets all your needs and gives you back the time and freedom that you deserve. Browse our site to learn more and don’t hesitate to contact us today if you have any questions.

The post The Rise of the Virtual Assistant: What Makes Them So Popular? appeared first on VAssistme Australia.

Reliable Technology and Internet Connection

Virtual assistants are responsible for their own laptop/PC and internet connection. If they want to be successful, they will need to invest in quality equipment and have backup solutions so that they never go ’M.I.A.’. VAs that are constantly encountering issues with their equipment will not reach the success they’re hoping for. This is why it is well worth it for virtual assistants to invest in quality technology that is properly insured.

Friendly Demeanour

In most cases, virtual assistants will carry out some form of communication tasks. These tasks could include sending out emails, replying to comments on social media, and so much more. For this reason, virtual assistants need to maintain a friendly yet professional demeanour so that they are an excellent representation of your brand.

Detail-Orientated

Some of the work carried out by virtual assistants includes things like data entry, replying to emails, and posting on social media. While these tasks may seem relatively simple, virtual assistants need to pay attention to the small details. Things like spelling errors and other ‘small’ mistakes can make the business look unprofessional.

Tech Savvy

Because virtual assistants work from a remote location, they rely on technology to communicate with their employers and to execute the tasks they’re given. Technology is forever changing, so VAs need to stay on top of the latest trends and be confident using a wide range of different applications to help them get their work done efficiently.

A Diverse Range of Skills

While most companies hire virtual assistants to take care of data entry work, many businesses are looking for more specialised skills, such as graphic design, social media marketing, and more. The more skills a virtual assistant has to offer, the more likely they are to be successful.

Are you ready to hire an excellent virtual assistant in Australia or outsource work to virtual assistants? We can help you find the perfect VA for your particular needs. Want to learn more? Browse our site or contact us today to get the ball rolling.

The post The Attributes Associated with Excellent Virtual Assistants appeared first on VAssistme Australia.

In this article, we’ll dive into this nuanced topic and explain how virtual assistants can optimise their services by using AI.

The First Thing to Note

The first thing to note is that most of the online applications used by virtual assistants, such as Grammarly, already incorporate AI technology. So most VAs are probably already using AI, even if they don’t realise it yet. In this modern day and age, it is almost impossible to stay away from AI, so it is better to embrace it than avoid it. However, VAS mustn’t become reliant on AI. They should always double-check their work for any errors and/or plagiarism.

Potential Uses for AI for Virtual Assistants

Generating Ideas

AI is an excellent tool for generating ideas. Within seconds, you can have a list of dozens of social media post ideas or blog topics. Not only does this save you time, but it also helps you conserve your creative energy.

Research

If you need to conduct basic research quickly, AI is definitely your friend. However, you will need to fact-check everything.

Draft Emails

Need to draft an email but not sure where to start? AI can help you come up with something. Just remember to go in and make your own edits to ensure the email sounds human with the right tone and brand voice.

Will AI Replace ‘Real’ Virtual Assistants?

Chatbots and other forms of AI virtual assistants are on the rise. But they will never replace’real’ virtual assistants, as these AI programs lack the human touch. Virtual assistants in Australia and around the world should not feel threatened by these new technologies. Instead, they should familiarise themselves with AI applications and find ways this technology can help optimise their workload.

Here at VAssistme, we help businesses outsource virtual assistants who align with their particular goals and preferences. Learn more about our innovative process and extensive database, or contact us should you have any questions.

The post How Virtual Assistants Can Incorporate AI into Their Services appeared first on VAssistme Australia.

General Virtual Assistant for Businesses

This is the most common and affordable type of virtual assistant. They can help you with a wide variety of admin-related tasks for your business, including data entry, posting on social media, replying to emails, and more. These VAs are perfect for businesses that want to upscale but don’t want to hire a full-time employee.

Personal Virtual Assistant

Personal virtual assistants help individuals with various personal tasks like booking appointments, handling travel arrangements, managing calendars, online shopping, setting reminders, and so much more. These VAs are ideal for busy individuals who need a little extra help to keep their lives organised.

Can a virtual assistant help with your business as well as your personal life? Definitely! You’ll just have to indicate what you’re looking for when speaking to a VA agency.

Specialised Virtual Assistant

There are plenty of specialised virtual assistants in Australia that have in-depth skills and experience in one or more of the following fields:

• Graphic design
• Copywriting
• Social media marketing
• Accounting
• Event management 

When hiring a specialised virtual assistant, you can expect to pay a bit of a higher salary for their skillset.

Industry-Specific Virtual Assistants

The last type of VAs we’ll be talking about in this article are industry-specific virtual assistants. These VAs have many years of experience within a particular industry and have in-depth industry knowledge that could be beneficial to your operation. At the very least, you won’t have to waste time explaining the basics of your industry to them.

What Type of Virtual Assistant is Right for Me?

When determining what type of virtual assistant is best suited to your particular needs, you should think about the types of tasks they’ll be required to handle. This should provide an indication as to whether or not you require a specialised virtual assistant.

Do you want to hire a virtual assistant in Australia? Here at VAssistMe, we have helped outsource virtual assistants for businesses and individuals across a range of different industries. No matter your requirements, we can help you find a VA that is perfectly suited to your needs. Learn more about our extensive database and innovative processes by browsing our website, or contact us if you have any questions.

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Google Calendar

No matter what type of industry a virtual assistant in Australia is working in, there is always the need to remain organised! While Google Calendar is one of the most popular calendar tools out there, there are plenty more to choose from. Every VA needs to use a digital calendar to schedule meetings, set reminders, and so much more.

Dropbox Business

Virtual assistants typically send and receive large files like documents, photos, and videos. Dropbox Business makes file sharing so much easier. Dropbox’s online tools also allow you to store content, edit PDFs, and more. 

Canva

Canva describes itself as a ‘visual suite for everyone’. It’s easily one of the most popular platforms for designing social media posts, flyers, posters, and other visual elements. The platform is very easy to use, and there are plenty of online courses that virtual assistants can take should they want to improve their Canva skills.

Grammarly

In most cases, virtual assistants will be tasked with jobs that involve writing. This could be replying to emails, crafting blogs, or creating social media captions. Even if the VA has an excellent command of the written word, there is always room for human error. This is where Grammarly comes in. Grammarly is an easy-to-use plug-in tool that corrects your spelling and grammar.

Buffer

Buffer is the perfect tool for virtual assistants who need to schedule social media posts for their employers’ pages. Buffer makes managing multiple social media accounts so much easier with its diverse suite of digital tools. The best part is that it’s effortless to use!

Should Virtual Assistants Pay for Their Own Subscriptions to the Abovementioned Online Tools?

Fortunately, most of the tools that we have mentioned in this article are free, or at least have free versions available. However, it’s a good idea for virtual assistants to have as many tools in their repertoire as possible, and this may sometimes mean paying for premium versions. There may also be situations in which the employer should pay for business subscriptions and provide the VA with their own login details.

Do you want to hire a virtual assistant in Australia? Here at VAssistMe, we have helped hundreds of companies outsource virtual assistants. We can help you find the perfect VA to suit your particular needs. If you want to learn more about what we have to offer, feel free to browse our website. Alternatively, contact us today if you have any questions.

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