A virtual assistant (VA) can be an asset to your business, helping to reduce your workload, increase your productivity and keep your overhead low. However, what you get out of your VA depends a good deal on you. Read on for four tips for getting the most out of your VA.
Consider Personality:
Often, people considering a virtual assistant focus only on a candidate’s experience and skills. Without question, both of these things are important. However, how you will mesh with the person you hire will also dramatically influence your satisfaction. Think long and hard about the type of person you want. Do you think you will clash too much with someone just like you? Are you more passive and in need of a person to help get you going and push things forward? Do you want a compassionate, get-along-with-everyone person to interact with your clients? Are you hoping for a cut-and-dry, no-nonsense person to move smoothly past red tape? Choosing a VA with the right personality can help not only keep you happy but also ensure that your business runs smoothly.
Be Reasonable:
Ever heard of the folly of trying to make a dollar out of 15 cents? Realize that it applies to people as well. There are only so many hours in the day, and your VA only has two hands. If you give her too much work to complete on time, she will have a much harder time performing to your expectations. Likewise, she may become burnt out by your demands and decide to move on to a job with a more realistic workload. Do make the most of the time your VA commits to you, but don’t set her up to fail or expect her to be superwoman.
Don’t Go Cheap:
You really do get what you pay for, especially when it comes to the people you hire to help your business shine. Of course, it always makes sense to be budget conscious, but resist the urge to choose the cheapest VA simply because she is, well, cheap. Instead, make your selection based on the talent the VA will bring to the table, how well her skills match your needs, and how well you think you will work together. Remember, that your VA has to make a reasonable living wage and feel that the effort she puts into your projects is worth her time. If she does not, you are much more likely to get shoddy work in return or see cracks in her performance. At the very least, she will be unwilling to go the extra mile for you, and who needs that?
Seek Advice and Recommendations:
An experienced, talented VA, who is really into her job, has a wealth of experience and knowledge to share with you. If she’s just performing the tasks you’ve requested, are you fully tapping into her potential? Go ahead and ask her advice and input, actively seek suggestions, and cultivate a relationship in which she feels comfortable speaking up if she has ideas for your business. Your VA may be able to offer ideas and suggestions for making processes more efficient, saving time, getting more business, and improving both your reputation and your relationship with your clients.
REVStaffing virtual assistants dramatically boost client productivity. Take your next step towards better organization of your residential or commercial real estate business by sending us an email, or give us a call for a free needs analysis. We’ll be happy to discuss ALL of your unique business needs. Ask how we can give your business a LIFT!
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Too many business people put off backing up their files. Maybe they’re too busy or it just doesn’t seem a priority in light of all the other tasks they have to perform. Beware of falling into this trap, however, because just when you least expect it, a surprise development could leave you without access to your files. Without a backup plan in place, data loss can lead to seemingly endless frustration and financial loss. It’s also important to consider that data recovery isn’t always an option, and when it is, it often proves very expensive and incredibly inconvenient.
Fortunately, there are reliable options for small business data backup. And while using at least one method is a good idea, some experts recommend using more than one at a time, just in case one of them fails. Here are two relatively easy and cost-effective options for small businesses:
Local Backup: Many people use CDs/DVDs to back up important data on their computers. This is a relatively inexpensive option, but you can accomplish the same thing, and often have more space for data, if you back up to an external hard drive or a USB drive. Keep in mind, however, that you need to guard against more than computer crashes or data corruption by storing your backed-up data offsite. If your computer and your backup files are kept in the same place, they are both vulnerable to such issues as fires or flooding; theft is a concern as well. Offsite storage is particularly important if you are using one of these options as your sole backup solution. When considering this choice, keep in mind that it can be time-consuming, so you might be tempted to put it off.
Online Data Backup: Online data backup provides good protection in the event that disaster strikes not only your computer but also your office. There are many online data backup services that safeguard your data away from your location. Often, these options have redundant storage locations so that your files are safe and sound, even if one location is compromised. Many online backup services run in the background, creating frequent backups as you make changes to your data and without requiring you to take time away from other tasks.
Some options for online data backup include services like:
Discover how REVStaffing can dramatically boost your productivity. Take the next step towards better organization and increased exposure for your residential or commercial business by sending us an email, or give us a call for a free needs analysis.
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