Think you’re ready to outsource something to a virtual assistant? Here’s everything you need to look for when preparing to hire a virtual assistant to take care of your business
Looking for more small business tips? Here’s 8 free tools that you can use to help run your blog business right now or if you’e ready to invest, here’s the best tools that are worth their weight in gold.
It is absolutely crazy how much things can change in just a few short weeks. We went from everyone on cloud 9, 2020 was our year and then bam – a pandemic sickness struck like nothing the United States has seen in years.
I’ve been doing my best trying to keep up with the pace of my business, adjust to our new normal of having little ones crawling up my arms all day, and still finding ways to add value and normalcy for you guys!
If you’re a blogger and you’re suddenly finding yourself overwhelmed in a new set of ways, you may be considering now more than ever a way to delegate tasks to a virtual assistant. If that’s you, here are some things to look for when you are trying to hire a virtual assistant.
Key Things To Look For Before You Hire a VA
Experience
If you’ve been blogging for quite some time, you likely have tools that you use to run your blog successfully. It could be a place to house all of your content ideas, a way to research keywords for upcoming posts or projects, or even just a certain way you use Pinterest.
It’s imperative that your VA is able to complete the tasks you need them to complete using your tools or offering or be willing to work with a set of tools they may have to operate more efficiently.
Be open to learn
Hiring someone to run your blog that you’ve nurtured and grown over the years is like trying to find quality childcare for your babe. It takes a lot of trust to let go and delegate. In fact, I would say that the number one thing that my bloggers tell me is that it’s so hard to let go of control. Everything from minor data entry to full blown social media marketing.
If you’ve finally decided to take the plunge in hiring a virtual assistant, they’re absolutely going to be willing to learn how you do things, but it’s important that willingness goes both ways.
Expect mistakes
Even if you’re the most detailed blogger on the block and create a step by step guide for your VA to follow in everything, mistakes will be made. Just like in any new relationship, you have to learn how one another operate, learn how one another think, and learn what boosts productivity so that you as a blogger (and your VA) will be getting the most out of the working relationship.
Build trust
Even if you know the person you hire as your blogger virtual assistant, there is a chance you have not had a working relationship with them. While I have seen that having friends work for you has not worked out, I think this is a situation in which it can work out and work out beautifully!
Trust still has to be built. It’s always easier to find fault in other people’s kids than it is your own, right? So, you may love your blog like your baby, but they have to learn to love it that way.
Start with a few tasks, then add more
This is the best way to build trust. You don’t want to start off by letting your virtual assistant write a blog post for you if they’re not familiar with your writing voice.
Start with something that they gave you as a list of services if they have that. What do they feel most comfortable doing? Or what have other clients said they’re best at? If you give them something they can do well, then they’ll be more likely to continue working hard for you so that they can show you their expertise can go beyond the job description
Assume the best
This is so important. Don’t assume your VA is out to get you or gouge you financially or somehow steal your ideas or sell them or shut your site down.
If they’re an upstanding virtual assistant, you can assume that they will own up to mistakes they’ve made, and do their best to move forward with you. But if they mess up and feel attacked by you, they’re likely to shut down and be afraid to take any creative liberties because they don’t want to get in trouble.
Communication is key
Phone calls, email, text messages, messaging apps like Slack or GroupMe, whatever. Just make sure that you are communicating your needs and expectations and giving them a reasonable time in which to complete said needs and expectations. Your job is their employer and CEO of your blog, but they are the customer service side of your business.
I’ve worked in customer service in several fields and I can attest that when you are treated with trust and respect, even if you mess up, you’re way more likely to jump right back up on your feet and keep moving if you know you’re not going to get berated.
Ebb and flow
Your blog is essentially a small business and like any small business, your needs will constantly be changing as your blog grows and evolves. You know what else will evolve?
Your virtual assistant services they offer! They may have never thought of doing any project management, but since you’ve built up trust, you’re wanting them to take on that role. And it turns out they’re great at it! So, now they can add project management to their list of VA services.
Have a budget
This should go without saying, but have a budget for this that you’re willing to spend monthly. Look around, ask around, figure out the going rate is for the projects you’re trying to hire out.
Also, for what it’s worth, consider the time they’ll be saving you and how you will be freed up to do the things you actually love and not the parts of your job that make you roll your eyes.
For example, you could probably figure out how to list and sell your house without a real estate agent, but it could take you months to learn, but by hiring the right real estate agent, you know things will be done right, well, and legally!
So, now what? How do I finally pull the trigger to hire the best virtual assistant for me?
Once you’ve determined you’re ready to hire out, you need to be as prepared to interview them as they are to be interviewed.
Lucky for you, I’ve included for you a list of interview questions you should be asking anyone you’re considering hiring! And if you are a VA, there’s something in here for you too – a list of questions to be prepared to answer! Tell me where you want them and I’ll send them to you RIGHT NOW!
Hopefully whether you’re looking to hire or a VA or you’re a VA looking to be interviewed for blogger virtual assistant jobs, this information will help you know what to ask or what to think about answering!
