Let’s get unconfused about all the different types of online support that is available to online business owners and entrepreneurs. There are so many different terms being used, it’s hard to know which one is right for your business. Plus, it doesn’t help that some entrepreneurs are adding their own twists to these common terms, making the pool of options even larger and more confusing.
Digital Business Manager, Online Business Manager, Online Project Manager, Online Operations Manager, Technical Virtual Assistant, Social Media Virtual Assistant, Project Management Virtual Assistant, General Virtual Assistant, Virtual Project Manager, Online Business Project Manager
Is it confusing yet? Don’t get me started on the acronyms; OBM, OPBM, VA, DBM, SMVA. It’s a wonder that business owners can navigate the terms to find the ‘right’ person that they need to add to their team. Sometimes they get it right and sometimes they have to go back to the drawing board because who they hired doesn’t deliver what they thought based on the title that they advertised as. It happens and this blog post series is meant to help you get a little bit clearer on who you need to hire.
When do you hire a Virtual Assistant?
The first person that you hire to your team will likely be a Virtual Assistant. This person could be a General Virtual Assistant or could be specialized in a specific area as you’ll see with the types below. Before you hire a Virtual Assistant, you should know the role that you expect them to play in your business. This requires making a list of all the things that need to get done, all the things that you don’t like to do, and all the things that are falling through the cracks because you can’t clone yourself.
Once you’ve created this list, you need to build a role description for your Virtual Assistant. What tools do they need to know or learn? About how many hours will you need their assistance per week or month? All of these things should be laid out in your role description when you begin your search. Don’t jump into hiring a Virtual Assistant half prepared. Knowing that you need the help is one thing. Deciding what you will turn over to allow someone to help you is another.
What types of Virtual Assistants are there?
Here’s a list of all the different types of Virtual Assistants that you might find on your quest to fill your role. Don’t be discouraged by all the different types there are. This is where your list will come into play. And note that the more specialized the Virtual Assistant the higher their rate will likely be.
- General VA
- Usually does general administration tasks, like calendar management, email inbox management, scheduling appointments, data entry, and research
- Social Media VA
- Normally specializes in one or more social media platforms, may even have a specialty within that platform (e.g., Facebook Ads Specialist, Facebook Community Manager)
- Technical VA
- This VA usually has a technical background and knows their way around technology. It doesn’t take them very long to learn new systems and applications or they sometimes specialize in one specific application or set of tools (e.g., course platforms (Thinkific, Teachable), website design (Divi, Elementor))
- <insert niche, application, or tool name here> VA
- Sometimes you will find VA’s that niche down to one specific area or tool (e.g., Podcast VA or Kartra VA). This usually means they know all the ins and outs of this niche or tool and will come with a higher price tag for being an expert in that area.
Am I ready for the next level of online support?
Have you already hired a Virtual Assistant or multiple Virtual Assistants, but still find yourself having to manage all the things that they do. Click here for Part 2 in this 3-Part Blog Series – Who do you need to hire?
Your Virtual Asset @ Outsource Mondays
Did this help you get a little bit clearer about what a virtual assistant does? When you need to hire one? Or what you need to do prior to hiring one? If you still have questions drop them below.