Is doing so many simple tasks for your online business wearing you out? Have you heard of a virtual assistant. A virtual assistant can have the skills to do the easy tasks, and the not-so-easy ones, for you. The time it frees you up for can be used for other things for your business, or as free personal time for yourself. If you’ve never hired a virtual assistant before, or did not have a good experience in the past, the tips here might be useful for you.
There are several places online where you could start your hunt for your virtual assistant Of course there’s Google – the good ones out there almost always have a website to market their services. Another place is Elance.com, where candidates actually search for you and your job vacancy. Each bidder in Elance.com also has a page where you can see past feedback and historical background on their profiles.
After you’ve seen and collected a few applications or resumes for the position, the next step is to do some further screening. One of the most important, yet ignored, steps is to take a look at their references. Their previous clients, also having online businesses themselves, can share a lot of information regarding their experiences with the candidate. Inspect with them if they are equipped and interested in the actual work or task that you would have them carry out. Inquire about their work habits and schedule so you can judge for yourself if they will fit your needs. For example, if you need an online dedicated support person, then it won’t work to hire someone who has erratic work schedules, which might work if all you needed was editing or something similar. If the work you’ll be having them do involves information about your business which are sensitive in nature, then also have them sign a confidentiality agreement.
After you’ve selected qualified applicants, it’s time to talk about money. The usual hourly rate is anywhere from $10-$50, depending on the experiences and nature of work. Instead of hourly rates, some virtual assistants who work on more of a project basis charge accordingly. Keeping several candidates makes sure that you have the upper hand in negotiations.
There might be a good trial and error process with regards to finding your virtual assistant. No problem, it’s just like hiring someone for your offline business. Have you ever seen a business empire being operated by just one person – the owner? Imagine, once you get the perfect virtual assistant, all you need to do is keep them happy and the profits will start rolling in – with less work than you’re used to! As time passes and your online business flourishes, you might want to think about getting more virtual assistants.
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