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How to Retain a Virtual Assistant

Have you ever felt tired of all the daily repetitive pieces of work in your to-do list that you need to manage your online business? Try getting a virtual assistant? A virtual assistant can have the skills to do the easy tasks, and the not-so-easy ones, for you. You can then use your time to do more of the high-value stuff for your business. Here are some pointers that you might need to know about before you hire one.

Where do you start looking? Google is a good place to start, just look for their websites where they list their profiles, references, etc. Elance.com is also a great place to get candidates, specially because they bid for your project and you approve their bids. Each bidder in Elance.com also has a page where you can see past feedback and historical background on their profiles.

After you’ve seen and collected a few applications or resumes for the position, the next step is to do some further screening. Number one here that is often overlooked is to ask for references. Their previous clients, also having online businesses themselves, can share a lot of information regarding their experiences with the candidate. Ensure that they are actually skilled enough to carry out the different tasks that you have in store for them. Also, take a look at their work habits and make sure it fits what you need. For example, if you need an online dedicated support person, then it won’t work to hire someone who has erratic work schedules, which might work if all you needed was editing or something similar. If the work you’ll be having them do involves information about your business which are sensitive in nature, then also have them sign a confidentiality agreement.

After you’ve selected qualified applicants, it’s time to talk about money. $10-$50 is the range where you could go – depending on what work they’ll be doing and how skilled or experienced they are. Per-project rates are also available if the work you need isn’t measured by the number of hours worked. Keeping several candidates makes sure that you have the upper hand in negotiations.

There might be a good trial and error process with regards to finding your virtual assistant. That’s ok – just treat it the same as if you were hiring someone offline. Have you ever seen a business empire being operated by just one person – the owner? Once a virtual assistant fits your needs perfectly, make sure to pay them well and engage them in your business. As time passes and your online business flourishes, you might want to think about getting more virtual assistants.

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