5 Signs You Need a Virtual Assistant

Managing a small business is living in a permanent limbo state where you’re sure this is the best decision you’ve ever made, and nights where you’re wondering how you ever could’ve traded in the 9-5 to work 70 hour weeks.

Sound familiar?

It’s hard out there. And everything constantly changes. Especially when you’ve just figured it out.

To add a layer of confusion, there’s a magnitude of sound business advice out there, the beauty (and terror) of the information age, but there’s an equal amount of self-aggrandizing half-truths from people looking to make money off of struggling entrepreneurs.

So, what do you do? Drown under the weight of it all?

No. Because I have a life preserver.

A virtual assistant can be the difference between treading water until you run out of stamina, or being handed a life jacket that lets you make decisions with a clearer head.

As a right hand (wo)man, a virtual assistant provides support in all critical functions of your business, and helps bring you back down to earth when you’re floating in the ether of ‘whatdoidofirst’ panic.

Not sure if that’s you? Here are some signs that you could benefit from some virtual intervention:

1.You aren’t able to keep up with your inbox.

So, your business is doing well enough that you’re consistently bringing in leads. Congrats! But, in the time-suck of delivering your services end-to-end, your response time to potential clients is lagging, leaving them wandering off to greener pastures.

Worse yet, even repeat clients aren’t getting the responsive customer service they used to get. Knife in the heart, right? Inbox management is a critical way to deliver world-class customer service, and when you’re too busy to engage reliably, your brand takes a hit.

2. You can’t show up on social media platforms consistently.

I get it. There are so many platforms out there on which you’re expected to have a presence. Is networking on LinkedIn, engaging on Instagram, participating in Facebook groups, or selling on TikTok have you burnt out? It happens, even to the most extroverted of us.

Having a consistent presence on these platforms that can convert leads to clients has the potential to keep your business flush, you might just need help showcasing your offerings in a consistent way. 

3. Your books are suffering from overdue invoices.

No one likes to talk about money, and particularly, money owed. This is especially true for creative or innovative business owners, who can feel shaky on the metrics by which they charge for their services.

Talking to clients about accounting matters can be downright anxiety-producing. Yet, without reliable cash flow, the business can’t run in the black. Having someone in your corner to track down unpaid invoices and see them through to payment can make the ultimate difference in your bottom line.

4. You can’t find the partnerships that will bring in money.

Maybe you’re a content creator or influencer. You’ve spent time cultivating an audience and carefully curating content that appeals to your niche, but the money just isn’t coming in like you’d hoped. Having an updated and beautifully designed Social Media Kit, as well as someone to handle communications with potential partners can catapult you into reliable income and collaboration with your dream brands. 

5. Your processes aren’t automated so that your business runs without you.

 Finally, and maybe most importantly, when you’re not actively working on your business, all the gears grind to a halt. Without you, as the beating heart of the system, tasks don’t get checked off, product stays put, and clients and leads go unanswered.

Sick day? What’s that? Vacation? That’s funny.

Your systems are working for you, but without YOU, your business is in suspended animation. Having someone to build automation into your processes and manage to-dos, even when you can’t, can finally provide the breathing room you may need to dream bigger and live better.

If any of this strikes a chord in you, it’s time to consider what a virtual assistant can do for you. Build your brand into the streamlined and successful organization you’ve always desired.