As you probably already know, running your own business can be stressful and overwhelming. There are tons to do every day (social media, handling clients, bookkeeping) and it seems like your to-do list is never ending!
But it’s also rewarding and fun. That’s why you put in the long hours and wake up every day crossing those to-dos off your list!
There’s an easier way, though. Have you considered hiring someone to help you, like a virtual assistant? They can take a lot off your plate so you can focus on what you do best, like making money!
You might also like: WHY SHOULD A WEDDING PROFESSIONAL HIRE A VIRTUAL ASSISTANT?
Before we get started, we wanted to invite you to join our Wedding Pro group. And if you are serious about your Wedding business, then you should be on Pinterest. Join our Pinterest group and let the pinning party begin. We also dd want to mention that we use affiliate links on our posts, and if you purchase anything, we might make a commission.
What is a virtual assistant?
A virtual assistant (VA) is a self-employed professional that helps either virtually (online) or in person. They can help with administrative, technical, creative and managerial tasks.
Why hire a virtual assistant?
There are many benefits to hiring a VA to help you with your wedding business. Here are just a few:
Potential to Make More Money – When you have someone handling everyday tasks for you, you have more space in your schedule to take on more clients. That means more money in your pocket!
Less Stress – Delegate the tasks that you don’t enjoy and/or take too long for you to do and reduce your stress! Hand these tasks over to someone who enjoys them and is really good at them and it’s a win-win situation. You have less stress and the VA is getting paid for work they love doing.
Save Money – Hiring a VA is more economical than hiring a part-time or full-time employee. Depending on the VA, you might be able to purchase a pack of 5 or 10 hours and use them within a set amount of time; for instance, 3 months. You can use these hours up as you need them rather than paying an employee. If you find you need more hours, some VAs offer retainer rates where they’ll help you on an on-going monthly basis. You can also hire them on a project basis if that’s what you need.
What sort of tasks can virtual assistants help with?
The virtual assistant field has exploded in the last couple years. This is good news because there are VAs that can help you with a large range of tasks and projects.
Here’s just a sample of some tasks they can help with:
- Project or Event Management
- Social Media Marketing
- Email Marketing
- Email Management
- Writing – Blog, Newsletters
- Blog Formatting
- Editing/ Proofreading
- Photography
- Photo Editing
- Video Editing
- Web Design
- Website Management
- Graphic Design
- PR
- Bookkeeping
How much does a virtual assistant charge?
Virtual assistant rates vary from VA to VA. You can find them for $5/ an hour (I don’t recommend them) to $50/hr and beyond. Figure out what you can afford and try to find a VA in that price range. The more experience they have, the higher their rates will be.
Something to keep in mind is that VAs are self-employed and responsible for their own taxes, health insurance, and overhead. That means their hourly rates will probably be higher than those of an employee, but that also means that you don’t have to be responsible for the fees that go along with having an employee.
Are you ready to hire your first virtual assistant for your wedding business?
Now that you’re ready to hire your first VA, you’re probably wondering where the heck to find one! Here are a few places you can look:
- There are several Facebook groups that focus on connecting entrepreneurs with VAs. Search for them on Facebook and ask to join. Then post what you’re needing help with.
- Check LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Twitter by searching virtual assistant (there are tons of VAs on Pinterest!)
- Ask around; perhaps someone you know locally or online knows someone who can help (they don’t necessarily have to have their own business yet, they might be a college student or neighbor willing to help for a little money in return).
- Google what you’re looking for. There are tons of VAs online!
Follow your gut when hiring, if you have a bad feeling about working with someone, don’t. You’ll probably regret it sooner or later. Only work with those that give you the warm fuzzies! You want to like and trust the person you hire.
I hope these tips help and that you find the perfect VA for your business. Who knows, you might have a team of VAs in no time!
Billie Gardner is a Pinterest Manager who helps busy entrepreneurs boost their traffic through Pinterest. She also mentors aspiring and new virtual assistants looking to make money while working from home. You can read about Pinterest strategy and tips on becoming a VA on her blog at: Desire to Done!
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