Virtual Assistants | When to Hire One & How to Be One With My VA, Heather Tormey
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After more than a year of working together, it’s about time I had my virtual assistant, Heather, come on the show to share all the ways she helps me with BrandWell. Heather reached out to me right before I had my daughter asking if I needed any help in my business. If there’s any better time to hire a VA it was when I was about to go on maternity leave! In this episode, we chat all about hiring your first VA to how to become one.
VAs are the best-kept secret for entrepreneurs
There’s a lot more talk about virtual assistants now and what they do. Virtual assistants are someone that you hire to outsource the tasks in your business. These tasks are generally already defined by the business owner and have a set process on how to do them. “[The owner] is now looking to free up some time in their business so they can work on why they started their business in the first place,” Heather explains. So basically, you’re just delegating tasks off to a new team member.
A VA should be the first hire in your business
Fairly non-commitale - there’s usually few expectations from both parties. Since most VAs take on a bunch of clients, they’re able to work around your own needs.
They can take over the non-revenue generating tasks, so you as the business owner can focus on the revenue generating ones. So you’re gaining back more time. But, not just in your business, you’re also creating more time outside of your business so you can spend more time with your family and friends, and have more of a personal life. VAs help to create “that good work life balance,” Heather explains.
VAs reduce the overwhelm we all feel as business owners. 20% of all small businesses fail within the first year. Victoria venture to say, “much of that is burnout and overwhelm because they don’t have the infrastructure to take on the growth or clients as the business grows.”
Finding your first VA
Heather dishes the best way to find a virtual assistant is to ask those in your industry if they work with a great VA. Chances are if someone works with a great assistant, they’ll want that assistant to be successful so they’ll share them with you. So reach out for recommendations from other industry professionals or post in a Facebook group. Another great way is to post in your stories that you’re looking for help. There’s a high chance that virtual assistants are already following you, and if they’re following you it’s because they like you and what you’re about, and they know your industry which makes hiring so much easier.
Tips on becoming a VA
Knowing the kinds of tasks and projects you really like to work on, and which ones you don’t. “I knew going into this, I was not going to do social media, it’s not in my wheelhouse, but there are some VAs that love it and it’s their jam. I tend to lean more on the administrative assistant and OBM role,” Heather shares. “I’m organizing emails and calendars to doing research and development and strategy with my clients.”
Communication and time management are key! You really need to be able to juggle multiple clients and be able to prioritize tasks when they come at you. Bonus: being able to problem solve is also so important!
More from Heather
Victoria and Heather also get into marketing tips in this episode and Heather shares how she approaches her marketing strategy. You definitely don’t want to miss this episode! You can also connect with Heather on Instagram @heathertormey.co and online at heathertormey.co. Press play now to listen to The BrandWell Podcast.
KEEP BRANDING WELL,
Victoria
