What Does a Virtual Assistant Do?

Think of a Virtual Assistant as the person who takes care of everything around your office – from somewhere else!

Just like a traditional administrative assistant, A Virtual Assistant is there to support you and your business by performing tasks you don’t have time to complete yourself (or aren’t a good use of your time).

If you had an administrative assistant at your office, what would you have that person do?

  • Enter receipts into your bookkeeping program?
  • Send emails to customers and clients?
  • Post to your social media accounts?
  • Manage your calendar?
  • Keep your email inbox organized?

Essential Business + Multimedia Solutions can do all of that and more, plus I specialize in copywriting, so I can write all of the content for your emails, newsletters, blogs, website, and marketing materials.

Is Hiring a Virtual Assistant Really Worth It?

That depends. How much time do you want to spend running your business? If you’re okay devoting every waking minute to it (and forfeiting time with your family and friends to work around the clock), then you probably don’t need a Virtual Assistant.

But most people own a business because they’re passionate about the product or service they provide. Contractors enjoy building and creating, not sitting at a desk posting to Facebook. Business coaches enjoy helping others work through their blocks so they can thrive, not wasting time sorting emails.

And everyone wants to have a life outside of work.

Essential Business + Multimedia Solutions provides a way for you to stay focused on the things you love to do while the rest gets done, too. I know you’re capable of posting to your own Instagram account and managing your email lists. But with the time you spend doing that every month, how many paying customers could you be serving?

Depending on the size of your business, you could spend anywhere from 10 to 40 hours a month on business administration (or more!) That’s 40 hours of unpaid time. Are you working those hours at night and on the weekend? Or are you using your prime daytime hours? Either way, if it’s not making you money, it’s not a good use of your time.

Consider these other benefits of hiring a Virtual Assistant:

  • No geographical restrictions; the best person for the job can be anywhere in the world
  • They work from their space on their equipment
  • You pay only for the hours worked (or tasks completed)
  • No taxes, benefits, health insurance, vacation or sick days
  • You choose which tasks are performed
  • You have access to someone with a skill set you’re lacking
  • You have someone to take care of projects you’ve been putting off
  • Tasks are completed around your business’ schedule
Why Do I Pay Up Front for Virtual Assistant Services?

Every Virtual Assistant has their own billing practice. Most (like me) collect payment up front, while others bill at the end of each week or month.

There are a couple of reasons why I charge up front for my services:

My services are sold as deliverables, not as hours. When you sign on with Essential Business + Multimedia Solutions, your contract will set out what you will receive in exchange for payment. For example, you may want me to post to your social media accounts 20 times per month, write 2 blogs each week, and send an email out to your list twice a month. You’re paying for deliverables up front, not the number of hours it takes me to complete them. I compare it to placing an order with Amazon: You put your items in your shopping cart, pay for them, and then wait for them to show up at your door.

I need to budget my time accordingly. I have a pretty good idea of how long it takes me to do certain tasks, and paying up front ensures your work has a dedicated place in my calendar. In the case of Monthly Retainer Packages, I need to know how much time per month I’m using for each client so that I don’t overbook myself.

It’s standard practice among Virtual Assistants. Though you will find some who bill at the end of each month, most Virtual Assistants expect payment up front. This includes the subcontractors I hire to help me. I can’t pay them up front if you don’t pay me up front.

When Can I Expect the Work to Be Done?

Your contract will set out a schedule for completing the work, including deadlines; however, work is completed according to my schedule.