The sales are coming in, your work is mounting but you are struggling to find the time to fit it all in. What do you do next? Hire some help of course. When your time is being squeezed you need to generate some more hours by passing off those tasks that are not income generating. This is where a Virtual Assistant comes in. They can take those day to day tasks off your hands to help your business run smoothly and allow you to focus on the more important things. But it is imperative that you get the right one, one that will give you the best return on your investment. How do you know whether you have got it right? Well, this being our area of expertise, we have pulled together a guide on how to get a Virtual Assistant that works for you. Follow these simple steps and you will find a Virtual Assistant that will make sure your investment is well spent.

Define What You Need From Them

As with any project, the first step is to outline what it is exactly you want to achieve. What are the tasks that you want taking off your hands? Look at the areas of your business where a Virtual Assistant can integrate quickly and provide invaluable support. Setting out what you want from them will make it easier for you when you are searching for the right skill set. It will also allow anyone that comes to work for you to understand what is expected of them.

Outline Your Goals

When considering how to get a Virtual Assistant that will integrate well into your business, it is essential that in addition to the tasks you outline, you define the outcomes you want from them. For example, if you have a task for contacting sales leads by phone, how many do they need to contact? How many further conversations do they need to book? By defining the goals it gives the Virtual Assistant something to aim for and a deeper understanding of your expectations. Also, if they hit your targets they will feel more energised to work harder for you.

Have a Plan

Once you have the tasks and goals outlined it would be hugely beneficial to place these into an overall plane. This will give an excellent overview of what needs doing and when. This will give the Virtual Assistant a good sense of what needs to be done and when. It will also give them the information to work more autonomously and not take up your precious time by constantly asking for things to do.

Know Your Budget

Possibly at the forefront of your mind when considering how to get a Virtual Assistant is the money aspect. How much do you have to allocate to the role? Do you have a limited budget and therefore it is a fixed timescale project? Or do you have a rolling amount monthly to have consistent support throughout the year? Knowing this will allow you to keep a reign on your finances and ensure that there is clarity between you and them as to what you expect in terms of hours.

Outline Your Timescales

A final consideration is the timescales you are working towards. If you have a fixed project you need help on what are the deadlines? If you have consistent rolling work, when should each task be completed? Are there regular activities that need to be completed at certain times? Make sure that these are outlined straight away and you look into the organisation skills of who you may be hiring. 

Do They Need Specialist Knowledge?

Another key aspect to consider when looking to hire that extra help is, do they need any knowledge about your industry area? If you work in the tech industry, medical field or construction would an element of understanding of these areas benefit you? Consider what knowledge would allow the Virtual Assistant to hit the ground running and provide the best return on your investment.

Be Clear on How You Will Communicate

One key consideration in any form of relationship is how you would like to communicate. If you prefer having someone in the office in person then that puts severe restrictions on the geographical area you can target. However, if you are open to online communication that opens you up to a whole breadth of talent. There is also the consideration of whether the person you are going to hire is experienced on the telephone or on Skype.  Defining your communications will allow you to target the right person with the right skill set.

Get to Know Them

A key aspect of any good working relationship is to get to know your new team member. Understanding their likes, dislikes, motivations, and beliefs are key when considering how to get a Virtual Assistant motivated. It is much more likely that you can enthuse them if you understand where they are coming from, what interests them and you have a relationship built upon respect.

When thinking through how to get a Virtual Assistant that will work for you and your business, there are some key considerations you need to take into account. This list gives you the most important aspects to go through in order to make sure that your investment will be giving you the greatest return you can expect.

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