projects
Getting Started with a Virtual Assistant
Are you thinking about hiring a virtual assistant, but worried about coming up with a steady stream of projects for her to do?
It can be a real burden to have to come up with new ideas all the time. And then it takes time to find all the materials that are needed, explain what you want done, do the training, and then answer questions. If you had that much free time, you probably wouldn’t need an assistant.
Here’s an approach that works…
Virtual assistants tend to be very organized, very methodical. An ideal way to use an assistant is to help you systematize your business.
What part?
Systematize marketing.
This is the best place to start for most businesses.
Customer service might also work…
How to define a project the right way: 6 critical pieces of info
Whenever you give anyone a project to do, you’ll get the best results if you provide these 6 pieces of information:
1. What do you want done?
Describe the project and list the process you want them to follow.
2. What else is needed?
Provide whatever materials they are going to need to do the work. This might include a contact database or some files or a list of websites to visit. Whatever it is, list what you are providing them and where to find it or how you are getting it to them.
3. Your deadline
When should the project be finished? If it is a bigger project and there are sub-deadlines,
What makes a perfect first project for your new virtual assistant?
I’ve heard a lot of people say they don’t know where to get started when they hire a virtual assistant. What should they have her do first?
You could give her the assignment of getting to know you and your company - reading your website, for example.
That’s fine, but it isn’t actually productive work. Most people learn best when they are doing something useful. Besides, both you and your assistant will be happier if you are making progress on your goals.
So, what makes an ideal first project?
An ideal project is one that has these 10 characteristics:
1. Requires relatively little background knowledge about your company and its products/services,
2. Does not need a lot of training or education from you,
3. Has a process that is fairly simple to explain or is already defined somewhere,
