• 4,000 firms
  • Independent
  • Trusted
Save up to 70% on staff

Home » Articles » Quick guide to hiring a remote virtual assistant

Quick guide to hiring a remote virtual assistant

Quick guide to hiring a remote virtual assistant

Finding an effective and reliable remote virtual assistant (VA) can be challenging if you don’t know where to look. 

With the increased demand for VA services, the number of virtual assistant services providers also came to rise. Unfortunately, not every firm can supply you with a quality remote virtual assistant.

Partnering with less-than-reputable service providers for your remote virtual assistant needs can do more harm than good for your business. Inexperienced VAs can hinder productivity and lessen the quality of your products or services. That’s why knowing where and what to look for in remote VAs is essential.

Read on below to learn where you can find the best remote VAs and the services they can provide.

What is a remote virtual assistant?

A remote virtual assistant acts as a personal or executive assistant for clients in other parts of the world. These remote assistants can be independent contractors or may be employed by business process outsourcing (BPO) firms.

A person working as a remote virtual assistant usually has prior experience as an administrative assistant or office manager. Some remote virtual assistants come from more specialized fields, such as digital marketing and content management.

Get 3 free quotes 4,000+ BPO SUPPLIERS

As the term implies, a remote virtual assistant works outside their employer’s office – even in another country or continent. This setup benefits both the assistant and their employer. On the one hand, it lets the employer save on expenses (e.g., additional office space and equipment). 

On the other, a remote virtual assistant can execute their tasks without leaving the comfort of their homes. The remote nature of this role lets employers tap into the larger global market instead of being limited to their local areas.

What is a remote virtual assistant

Services of a remote virtual assistant

Employers can delegate many varied tasks to their remote virtual assistants. Whether general administrative duties or more complex jobs, there is no shortage of functions business owners can entrust to a remote virtual assistant.

Below are some jobs employers can delegate to a remote virtual assistant:

Marketing

Marketing is essential to any business. However, it is often a time-consuming process. Business owners can hand this process to a remote VA specializing in digital marketing. Doing so will give them more time to focus on the value-generating aspects of their business.

Social media management

Social media management is another time-consuming activity that requires constant attention to be effective. A remote virtual assistant can take over a business’s social media profile and keep its audience engaged. When managing a business’s social media, a remote VA’s duties may include:

  • Answering inquiries and comments
  • Publishing engaging content
  • Moderating comments

Administrative tasks

Administrative and back-office tasks (i.e., repetitive and relatively mundane processes) are often given to remote VAs. These tasks are time-intensive and tedious but are still critical to the success of any business.

Get the complete toolkit, free

These back-office roles include:

Web design and development

Business owners can also charge their remote virtual assistant with designing, developing, and maintaining a website for their company.

Accounting and bookkeeping

Accounting and bookkeeping processes can now be done remotely, thanks to technology. The present market is saturated with various accounting and bookkeeping software, such as QuickBooks, Xero, and Zoho.

However, business owners handing over their financial data to remote VAs must ensure their virtual assistants are sourced from highly-reliable service providers.

Services of a remote virtual assistant

Do you need a remote virtual assistant?

Now that you know what services you can hand over to a remote virtual assistant, it’s time to know when is it the right time to hire a remote VA.

Here are some tell-tale signs that you should hire the services of a remote VA:

You get bogged down by administrative tasks

Back-office processes are a necessity in any enterprise. However, spending more time on administrative tasks instead of revenue-generating activities will end up hurting your bottom line.

You don’t have all the skills required for your business

No man is an island, especially when it comes to running businesses. You may be a pro at marketing, but it doesn’t make you skilled at managing taxes and finances. 

If you want a smooth-sailing business, it’s best to delegate some processes to specialists in those areas.

You don’t have a healthy work-life balance

One sure sign of an unhealthy work-life balance is constantly spending more time looking over spreadsheets than doing non-work-related activities. 

According to a Future Forum Pulse report, overworking yourself can lead to burnout – a condition affecting 40% of executives globally.

Do you need a remote virtual assistant

Where can you hire a remote virtual assistant?

Due to the high demand for their services, remote virtual assistants are now a dime a dozen. While an abundance of remote VAs keeps prices competitive, it also poses a risk for business owners looking to hire one.

People looking for quality remote virtual assistants may end up hiring unsatisfactory VAs and spoil the experience for them. The key to landing a qualified remote virtual assistant is hiring through trusted and well-established BPO providers.

Outsource Accelerator is the world’s leading outsourcing marketplace and advisory. The company has over 3,000 BPO firms from across the world in its global directory and can provide you with detailed information, price guides, and reviews.

Whether you’re a solopreneur, SME owner, or corporate executive, we can help you find the most suitable outsourcing provider for your remote virtual assistant needs.

Explore our outsourcing directory now

Get Inside Outsourcing

An insider's view on why remote and offshore staffing is radically changing the future of work.

Order now

Start your
journey today

  • Independent
  • Secure
  • Transparent

About OA

Outsource Accelerator is the trusted source of independent information, advisory and expert implementation of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO).

The #1 outsourcing authority

Outsource Accelerator offers the world’s leading aggregator marketplace for outsourcing. It specifically provides the conduit between world-leading outsourcing suppliers and the businesses – clients – across the globe.

The Outsource Accelerator website has over 5,000 articles, 450+ podcast episodes, and a comprehensive directory with 4,000+ BPO companies… all designed to make it easier for clients to learn about – and engage with – outsourcing.

About Derek Gallimore

Derek Gallimore has been in business for 20 years, outsourcing for over eight years, and has been living in Manila (the heart of global outsourcing) since 2014. Derek is the founder and CEO of Outsource Accelerator, and is regarded as a leading expert on all things outsourcing.

“Excellent service for outsourcing advice and expertise for my business.”

Learn more
Banner Image
Get 3 Free Quotes Verified Outsourcing Suppliers
4,000 firms.Just 2 minutes to complete.
SAVE UP TO
70% ON STAFF COSTS
Learn more

Connect with over 4,000 outsourcing services providers.

Banner Image

Transform your business with skilled offshore talent.

  • 4,000 firms
  • Simple
  • Transparent
Banner Image