A virtual assistant is an employee who supports various business operations from a remote location. Startups can use VAs to help with inbox management, social media content, online customer support, and basically any task that doesn’t require them to show up in person.
Some VAs specialize in a specific task or industry. For example, there are VAs that focus specifically on marketing, and others that work only in the tech industry. More specialized VAs often cost a bit more since they offer a more focused skillset. However, there are also general VAs who can handle a variety of tasks and work with businesses in a wide array of industries.
Virtual assistants have been around since the 1980’s, when organizations like ABSSI and Home Secretaries popped up to support moms looking for work-from-home jobs. However, the niche really took off when home internet usage became more ubiquitous around the world.
And it’s still growing today. In fact, Gartner, Inc. predicts that about a quarter of digital workers will use a VA on a daily basis by 2021. If your small business has yet to jump into this growing trend, here are some of the main reasons why it may be time to reconsider.
They Put Processes in Place
Inefficiencies cost businesses between 20 and 30 percent of their revenue each year. Often, these inefficiencies are a result of not having processes in place. Processes can be anything from canned responses in Gmail to automated invoicing.
Many business owners don’t take the time to set up these processes because they’re so busy working on their day-to-day operations. Hiring a VA gives you a way to set up these processes without having to focus on them yourself. Give your VA a list of processes you’d like to set up or hire someone with experience setting up business processes so they can identify inefficiencies on their own. This can actually make your business more efficient even when your VA isn’t on the clock.
They Filter Communication
Not all of the emails, calls or live chat messages you receive are necessarily worth responding to. And some can simply receive a canned response or quick reply that doesn’t require your personal attention.
By hiring a VA to manage your inbox or other methods of communication, they can filter those messages that don’t require a thoughtful response. This allows you to really focus on those other messages, rather than constantly being overwhelmed with an overflowing inbox.
They Capture and Organize Data
Today’s businesses have access to more data than ever. Your data is essential for helping you make decisions about the future of your business. But too much of it can be overwhelming and distracting.
Additionally, collecting and organizing all of your data can be quite an undertaking. You can have your VA go over all of your web analytics and customer data to organize it and share it with you in digestible reports or updates. This allows you to more quickly access the information that’s pertinent to your business at a particular moment, without having to pour over all the minute details for hours on end.
They Complete Tedious Daily Tasks
Things like data entry and Internet research tend to be fairly time-consuming and don’t necessarily require attention from a high-level team member. But they’re still essential for your business. By giving these tasks to a VA, you can feel confident about the completion of those important items without taking significant time from your own day, while saving managers and specialized employees from focusing on them.
They Let You Focus on What You Do Best
Most entrepreneurs have a specialty. Maybe you develop software products or help other businesses develop marketing plans. But when you start a business, you also have to handle support tasks like bookkeeping and marketing. If you’re not good at these things, you may end up wasting a ton of time learning the ins and outs or struggling through trial and error.
Hiring a specialized VA allows you to outsource the items with which you struggle. You can trust that the tasks will be handled competently — maybe even better than you would have on your own. And it frees up a ton of your time to focus on things that you’re actually good at. It also gives you a better opportunity to work on growing your business, rather than getting stuck in the day-to-day operations. This can be especially helpful for solopreneurs or very small businesses where the owner needs to wear many hats at once.
If you need assistance contact us at Revstaffing or Call Today @ 855-738-7821 X700. Visit our website at www.RevStaffing.com.
Courtesy of Anita Campbell]]>
Everyone agrees that increasing consumer protection is a desirable goal. Nevertheless, the unforeseen ripple effects from these changes could seriously disrupt how the closing process is conducted.
The most serious issues that will result from the new changes handed down by the CFPB: The new rules will require a new three-day waiting period when there are any changes in the TRID forms. The recommendation is to allow an extra 15 days to close your transactions. In other words, 30-day contracts will now require 45 days, and 60-day contracts will require 75 days.
A change of this magnitude is going to create unexpected ripple effects across the industry, not only for agents and clients, but for mortgage and title professionals, too. What can you do to be prepared?
First, make sure you attend a TRID training as soon as possible.
Second, if you’re a broker-owner, own a Mortgage Company, or Title Company, take steps to change your documentation to the new system as soon as it becomes available.
Third, associations and other companies that provide contracts to the industry must have the new forms ready to go well before Aug. 1, 2015. This also means that agents and brokers will have to be trained on these new forms, over and above what is required by TRID.
It could be a tough transition at first. What will be particularly thorny are transactions closing in late July. If they fail to close by Aug. 1, 2015, how will they be handled? Does entirely new documentation have to be drawn? How long will the delays be?
As we move closer to the August 1st date change, advise your clients that there will be unexpected delays in obtaining loan approval, potential changes in the documentation during the transaction, and a host of problems we probably can’t even begin to imagine. Start preparing now.
Call REVStaffing today at 855-738-7821 or visit our website at www.revstaffing.com.
If you would like to discuss any possibly need you may have and would like REVStaffing’s assistance, click here to schedule an appointment.
**Courtesy of inman.com and Bernice Ross
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The holiday season is nearly upon us! Today, we again hand the blogging reins to REVStaffing’s Mercedes Castillo, for her take on a tradition whose roots lie across multiple cultures – Dia de los Muertos…
There are few holidays more misunderstood than Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Its modern-day calendar placement on November 1 is juxtaposed with the Catholic celebrations of All Saints’ Day (November 1) and All Souls’ Day (November 2). In Mexico, November 1 is Dia de los Angelitos (Day of the Little Angels), honoring children and infants; November 2 honors deceased adults. Situated on the calendar so close to the holiday of Halloween, the two are often confused, although the true meaning of All Hallow’s Eve comes closer to the Day of the Dead than any current commercialization of Halloween ever could.
Some aspects of this Mexican holiday (which is believed to be based on an Aztec festival dating back hundreds of years) don’t translate well into an American society where death is feared, and talking with the deceased is likely to earn one a 72-hour hold in an institution. In other cultures, though, talking to and taking comfort from the dead is no laughing matter. Many Asian cultures practice varying forms of ancestor worship, and African cultures often look to the past as a way to guide them in the future. In Mexico, this conglomeration of beliefs is manifested in the Day of the Dead.
There is no costume donning, no candy given, and surely no attempts to scare anyone. Instead, altars are made inside homes, and graves are visited. Sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods of the departed are all used to honor the deceased; they’re often taken as gifts during graveyard visitations. All of this is done with reverence and joy, and only a touch of sadness. It is believed that on this day, the dead can visit with the living – truly visit and communicate. A family holiday, Dia de los Muertos is similar to our American Thanksgiving celebration, in that a large meal is enjoyed by all (although as mentioned, some food is often left for the dearly departed).
Not Mexican, but Latina in origin, I incorporate aspects of this holiday into life with my daughter. We have little altar where she will place dog treats for her beloved Doberman who lives in Heaven, and we talk about how much we miss her and loved her. As her loved ones leave this world, our altar will grow. I hope that she will appreciate that leaving this earthly place does not mean you are gone forever, just moved to a different, non-visible place.
REVStaffing’s clients and staff proudly encompass and embrace a rich variety of ethnic and cultural traditions. We are dedicated to helping you to grow and nurture your successful business. We encourage you to give us a call for a free needs analysis; we’ll be happy to discuss ALL of your unique business needs! And be sure to visit our website, and “like” us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/RevstaffingVAs.
You can bookmark this page to return for updates. If you need assistance in the meantime, please contact us by email at info@revstaffing.com or phone at 855-738-7821, extension 703.
©REVStaffing, 2011
]]>Today, REVStaffing is posting our all-time shortest blog in the form of a gigantic “THANK YOU” to Sandy Harper, a Celebration, Florida broker (@SandySellsHomes) who mentioned us on Twitter!
It’s a given that the best publicity is word-of-mouth. Sure, we have a terrific new website, a toll-free phone number, an incredible Facebook presence, an extraordinary project management system, and the very finest real estate virtual assistants available in the United States. And those things set us so far apart from the crowd that you might think a little extra acknowledgment could be allowed to slip past with a quiet email to the giver.
But that’s not the way we do things at REVStaffing. Our clients regularly let us know what they like about us, and their referrals are invaluable. But when we catch the eye of a nonclient, and they go all-out by reTweeting to their followers, it means a whole lot to us. So, Sandy, we have just one thing to say: Thank you. We’re awfully glad you found us!
We’d love to have you check out our new website right now! If you’re not yet a client, give us a call for a free needs analysis.
You can bookmark this page to return for updates. If you need assistance in the meantime, please contact us by email at info@revstaffing.com or phone at 855-738-7821, extension 703. Also, visit us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/RevstaffingVAs.
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