When you started your business, your heart was probably full of passion, full of drive, an eagerness to make the world a better place…and absolutely zero desire to be bogged down with administrative tasks.

The tricky thing about owning a business is that you don’t just get to work on your brainchild — you’ve got to be the recruiter, sales coordinator, CMO, accountant, and project manager (and a thousand other things too). You probably never envisioned that a year, two years, or even 5 years into your business you would be doing more administrative work than focusing on your zone of genius. 

That’s because it takes more than just an idea to run a business. 

There are so many odds and ends to consider, but when you don’t have the time (or desire) to do all of them, it can start to make you wonder if you should close up shop.

We’ve all been there. The high stress that can come from being overwhelmed at work can start to trickle into other areas of your life and before you know it you’re back to the same place you were when you left your corporate job. 

The good news? There’s someone who can help you with that. Overwhelm and stress are not markers of a successful business, even if that’s what we’re traditionally led to believe. 

If you need help running your business and are ready to partner with someone who will be your right-hand (wo)man, then you’re ready to hire a VA. 

What is a virtual assistant (VA)?

If you’ve been in the online business world for any time at all, you’ve probably heard of a “virtual assistant” or “VA” several times. But what we tend to associate with the word assistant doesn’t exactly define the role of a VA.

Most assistants work online…hence the name virtual assistant. The online business space has changed so much in the last few years. Assistants are no longer only receptionists that take in clients and answer phone calls — we’re a WIDE variety of things.

The specific job function of a VA depends on their background. Some VAs only work with clients in the finance industry, and some (like me!) work with creatives. Some of the things you can expect from a VA in the creative industry are:

• Blog post and content scheduling
• Proofreading and editing
• Social media content creation
• Client communications and community engagement
• Industry research
• Organizing CRM-related tasks in programs like Dubsado
• Breaking down client briefs into task-specific timelines and due dates in programs like Asana

A VA who knows the creative industry well can provide you with a solid foundation to grow your biz on. You won’t be left having to explain the why’s and how’s or have to do any of those daily ops tasks that keep slowing you down. 

Which means you’ll save money and make more money. Here’s what I mean…

A VA can help you maximize your productivity

By having a VA manage your day-to-day tasks, you’ll have more free time, and as a result, more time to work on things that make a difference to your bottom line. You can focus on the things that move the needle forward instead of focusing all your creative energy on things you don’t like doing, or don’t have the time to do. 

There are only so many hours in the day, and when you’re doing it all, time is precious.

And they can help you balance your personal life

When you started your business, you probably thought you’d have more control over how your time was spent. No more demanding bosses, no after-hour phone calls! 

As a small business owner though, it’s easy to fall into the trap of doing it all alone, and as a result, neglecting other areas of your life. 

Answering a client’s phone call or text in the middle of dinner. Continuously working with a client who doesn’t respect your boundaries because they pay you more than others.

Before you know it, you’re back in the same position you were in when you quit your corporate job. Yuck!

The easiest way to consistently free up time is to hire a VA to take over administrative tasks, client relations and communications, and project management-related tasks. 

They can support the growth of your business

VAs are designed for business growth. They provide agility and flexibility that can be used wherever you need them in your biz. They’re helpers by nature, and because of that, you’ll find it’s easy to integrate one into your daily ops. 

Unlike other roles in accounting, HR, or creative fields (designers, copywriters, social media managers, etc) VAs have a varied background and a variety of skills that can support you on the business operations side of things. 

You’ll be able to pinpoint weaknesses and strengthen your skills

Let’s face it — it’s not really possible to be a jack of all trades! At least, not in business. Not everyone is amazing at numbers and design. Not everyone is a great project manager, a great coach, AND a great photographer. 

In my opinion, it’s better to steward a few things, and steward them well, than try to have your hands in every single bucket. You can’t do it all in your business forever, and that’s a-oh-kay!

With a VA, you can make up for the skill gap in your business. You’ll have more eyes on your work, more hands-on-deck, and someone who knows what it’s like to work with multiple types of personalities and job functions. 

Collaboration is much easier

Adding a VA to your team will help boost the sense of camaraderie. Because everyone, and especially you, won’t be scrambling to do 800 different tasks at once, tasks that may not even fit job roles, people will be much happier. 

You’ll have a smoother workflow on each project. You’ll have someone to facilitate the onboarding of clients, the offboarding of clients, and someone to handle briefs and delegate tasks. You can collaborate on projects and utilize their skill set to your advantage. 

Doesn’t that sound like a dream?!

So, what’s next?

This is the part where I come in! I’m ready to support you in several areas. I know the importance of deadlines, time management, attention to detail, and organization — all major functions that help you do your best work.  

I promise you’ll love getting emails from me. 😉

If you’re looking for someone to partner with you in taking your business to the next level, let’s chat!