Episode 309: Increasing Work Productivity Using a Virtual Assistant
In the 309th episode of Mail Right Show, Jonathan Denwood and Robert Newman explore what you should know before employing a virtual assistant. Robert Newman is the founder and CEO of Inbound REM, an inbound marketing agency, and a 14-year real estate SEO sector veteran. On the other hand, Jonathan Denwood is the founder and CEO of Mail Right, a platform that combines a range of digital tools into a streamlined, user-friendly package. The episode discusses how virtual assistants can assist you with your digital marketing efforts.
What is a Virtual Assistant?
A virtual assistant is someone who takes on activities that would normally be performed by you or another member of your staff, such as management or leadership resources. A virtual assistant’s common responsibilities include appointment scheduling, phone calls, trip planning, and email account management.
Why Successful Companies Hire Overseas?
Entrepreneurs and business owners are increasingly recruiting virtual assistants (VAs) and remote workers from other countries to help them build their organizations. The primary reason entrepreneurs use virtual assistants from other countries is that they are far less expensive. The compensation provided to virtual assistants from other nations is far less than the compensation offered to their American counterparts. A virtual assistant based in another country, such as the Philippines, will gladly labor for $7-8 per hour. The cost of living is frequently far lower in these countries than it is in the United States.
Cons of Overseas Virtual Assistants
Virtual assistants based outside of the United States may speak English fluently and comfortably as a second language. There are, however, several expressions and phrases that are frequently misunderstood. As a result, the overseas virtual assistant may misunderstand inquiries or instructions. It can create complications with specifics that someone who was up speaking English is unlikely to have. A communication breakdown can be challenging and time-consuming for a businessman who hires people to save time. Instructions may require multiple iterations before the VA comprehends the request entirely.
Training a Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants are an excellent answer for assisting small businesses with growing workloads, particularly those operating online, from home, or remotely. However, when it comes to utilizing a virtual assistant service or remotely educating new employees, there are a few critical points to note. This enables your new virtual team member to be up and running as quickly as feasible.
Here are some simple recommendations for training your VA:
- Use videos and screencasts – Utilizing video is an excellent technique to demonstrate and explain how to perform more difficult business operations. After compiling these recordings and screencasts in a folder, you can send them to your virtual assistant for use during the training process. This type of content is a perfect substitute for lengthy PowerPoint presentations and screenshots filled with complicated jargon. If you must utilize screenshots, keep the quantity to a minimum and augment with context, extra comments, and directions as needed.
- Give written instruction – This may seem self-evident, but ensuring that you have clearly defined documented instructions for critical jobs is vital when training new staff. This is especially beneficial for extensive activities or lesser ones that your VA may find themselves performing frequently. Consider developing a handover document and saving it to a shared Sharepoint or Google Drive folder. In this manner, your VA will always have access to your instructions during their training.
