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Brand Marketing; with the Real Estate Dude

October 13, 2021/in Marketing, Marketing, MOD Virtual Assistants, Real Estate, Vertical Markets /by Dan Trujillo

This right here is probably the most important part of any successful marketing strategy; content. Our CEO Daniel Ramsey had an incredibly valuable discussion about marketing in this video interview, with Mike Cuevas. Mike is the CEO and founder of Real Estate Marketing Dude; a company he started in 2015 after moving to San Diego from Chicago. He and his team specialize in, you guessed it, marketing. But specifically, they excel at video content marketing. They conceptualize, script, edit and distribute video content catered to the audience of their clients. They’ve had a lot of fun making some clever videos with the intention of going viral, and teaching companies along the way how to maintain marketing success. He and Daniel have a very in-depth discussion on the topic of marketing, and how to do it the right way, all the way. They also touch on how and why virtual assistants have been so pivotal to Mike and his team. All in all, some very valuable lessons are being given away for free here…

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Stop Chasing, Start Attracting

Marketing is not advertising; in fact, the two are completely different things. Advertising is typically more focused on lead generation, by way of promoting a company often through paid channels. Marketing is more nuanced and complex, as it’s about identifying customer needs and finding ways to allure them with the promise of meeting those needs. Content creation is an important part of marketing because it itself has multiple movie parts.

Make It

First of all, the content itself needs to fit your target audience in an engaging and effective way. Most people don’t want to feel “sold to”, so sometimes it’s best to put your clever idea before your product. Meaning, if you’re making a commercial, don’t spend the whole time babbling about your product. They already know you want to sell it to them. Instead, stand out by making something clever, original, funny, or thought-provoking. Humor and heartstrings tend to get the most viral action, so maybe lean into that if you can. Mike makes a good point in the video above when he talks about the metaphor of friends inviting you out for drinks. If they never see or hear from you, are they less likely to remember to invite you the next time they go out? And if you do show up, and spend the whole good time talking about work, are they less likely to invite you next time? Yes, they are. You don’t always have to be selling, but you do always have to be demonstrating value. It’s a thin line, but with the right team and the right strategy, you can walk it just fine.

Ship It

It’s important to support the content you made, properly. Because it’s not just about making a funny commercial for your product and posting it on Facebook and calling it a day. No matter how good that commercial is, it’ll get lost in a sea of other good commercials if you don’t support it. Mike and his team prefer to re-post good content repeatedly, on a pre-determined schedule. Mike uses those Bed Bath & Beyond coupons as a great example. I bet you have some in your house as you read this! Now if you decide you need some new towels or a comforter, you’ll probably first think of that store and consider looking there first. That’s brand saturation, by way of physical mail. Sure it’s low-tech nowadays, but it’s incredibly effective. The whole purpose of creating content, digital or physical, is to build a brand. And the whole purpose of building a brand is to have a sustainable business. And brand awareness will go a long way towards that sustainability. In fact, Mike breaks down a very clear step-by-step plan for the ideal marketing strategy during the interview. I highly recommend giving it a watch if you want even more juicy tips.

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No One Cares About Your Hair

One(of many) things that Daniel and Mike agreed on was that chasing perfection is futile. Perfection is the enemy of progress. Meaning it’s a waste of time to stress over perfecting every little detail, like your hair before you get on camera. What’s more important than perfectly nailing something on the first single try, is just that you tried, repeatedly. You stuck with it. That’s one of the mistakes Mike has seen entrepreneurs make too many times; wasting their time planning instead of just doing. The second big mistake they often make is not doing enough once they finally start. Too many people think their idea is the next big thing, and they expect it to be overnight. They hit the ground running but when they’re not in the lead as fast as they wanted to be, they stop trying. The most successful business starters often were very unsuccessful at first. The difference between them and the guy you’ve never heard of is that they kept at it, relentlessly. Believe in your vision and your team will believe in you. Success will follow.

Key Ingredient: Virtual Assistants

This was probably less a straightforward testimonial and more of a strategy session. But you’re not complaining, right? Our readers just got some free, top-level marketing advice! Who’s mad at that? Alas, our virtual assistants still played a major role in this story, albeit in the background where real heroes often find themselves. Mike and his team couldn’t run such a well-oiled marketing machine without the help of several of our virtual assistants. They utilize our proven, remote-working professionals to handle all the nitty-gritty busy work that perpetually needs doing. Thus freeing up Mike and his marketing rockstars to do what they do best; create awesome content and get it out in front of the world for their clients. It’s a winning strategy for not just Mike and his business, but many others we provide marketing VA’s for.

If you believe your company would benefit from one or more virtual assistant professionals, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. The link below will let you request a free one-on-one consultation, where we’ll hear you out to better understand your business needs. Then we’ll help come up with a plan for how a virtual professional can help. Because we listen first, then strategize. Talk to you soon!

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MyOutDesk can save you up to 70% on employment costs
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Amazon Embraces Remote Work – Are Virtual Assistants Next?

October 13, 2021/in MOD Virtual Assistants /by Dan Trujillo

The nationwide shift to embrace working from home just took a big step forward. Yesterday Amazon announced that they will allow working from home to be an option to all of their employees, indefinitely. Essentially, the decision will be left to individual managers to make for their own respective teams and departments. This is a shift from their previous stance, which indicated they expected a company-wide return to the office in January 2022. It was at this time that they expected to enforce a minimum 3-days at the office per week. Now it looks like 0 days at the office will be required, so long as the work is getting done of course.

“The decisions should be guided by what will be most effective for our customers; and not surprisingly, we will all continue to be evaluated by how we deliver for customers, regardless of where the work is performed.” – Chief Executive Officer Andy Jassy, in a company-wide email

A Sign of the Times

The pandemic has forced a lot of companies to rethink their stance on working from home. Some have fully embraced the change and made the proper steps to support it going forward, while others have resisted a full adoption and instead gone for a hybrid model, in the meantime. Is your business working from home a lot? Should you embrace this workforce evolution indefinitely? There really is no right or wrong answer, as experts will attest that there are definitely pros and cons to be considered. With so many facets of our jobs becoming digital, a hybrid work model at the least is rapidly becoming the answer. For a lot of companies, they don’t need to dive all-in, nor do they need to resist the growing demand and risk alienating good employees and jeopardizing health. Adopting a mix can give a company the best of both worlds. That’s essentially what Amazon is doing now, by leaving the choice in the hands of managers. Because what works for one company, or one department, may not work for another.

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Less Physical, More Digital

Amazon has over a million employees, globally. They have major centers in cities like Seattle, SF, NY, Boston, LA, and a work-in-progress facility in Washington. One might think this is a problem for them going forward, as more office space with fewer employees using them is a waste. This is a very real concern for big companies right now, as well as for the commercial real estate business. For just one example, in Seattle, the amount of vacant office spaces has been increasing over the past year. While this may be a concern for realtors, it’s a silver lining for other business owners. More employees working from their home office equals less money spent on an office lease. Now a company like Amazon will always need buildings for distribution centers, but they could conceivably reduce overheard costs by way of administrative facilities. More and more companies are turning to outside providers for remote working employees, like virtual assistants. It simply makes sense nowadays, as more and more local employees are essentially becoming virtual assistants themselves!

Perks and Benefits

We’ve recently written plenty of articles about how and why virtual assistants are the way of the professional future. To boil it down to a few of the main positive points is relatively simple because the entire case for utilizing VA’s(virtual assistants) is relatively simple too!

You can get the same skills, experience, and even education as a local hire
You save up to 70% on employment costs vs a local hire
Flexibility. Hire one, or hire 10. It’s one flat monthly payment. We handle the rest.

One of the first things a business owner considers is the quality of employees they get when they outsource. While a valid concern, it’s far less an issue nowadays than ever before. Companies like ours recruit our VA’s from places with a population that fluently speaks English. All VA’s we consider go through a rigorous and thorough hiring process, that includes FBI grade background checks. We ensure all VA candidates come already with the skills and experience necessary for the roles and industries we typically place them in. A lot of them have attended universities and have all the necessary tools for tasks like accounting, marketing, customer service, realty, etc. And all of this comes to US employers at major savings. MyOutDesk handles all of the insurance, PTO, benefits, etc so that our clients only pay a monthly fee per VA.

Who’s Next?

It’s starting to seem like only a matter of time before bigger and bigger companies like Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Apple start increasing their outsourced employee numbers. It’s literally a win/win for everyone! Companies can save money hiring VA’s to handle the busy work that can all be done from anywhere in the world, freeing up space and budget for local employees who either need to be more hands and present or require particularly special skillsets. The big names are doing it, and you might be the next big name of your industry. So what are you waiting for? If you have any obstacle in the path to growing your business, you owe it to yourself to reach out. There has never been a better time than now to at least explore the possibilities. Click below to schedule a free one-on-one consultation with one of our experts. We’ll hear you out first, and then discuss how we can help.

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MyOutDesk can save you up to 70% on employment costs
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5 Things to Know About WordPress Blogging With a Virtual Assistant

October 6, 2021/in Cannabis & Legal Marijuana, e-Commerce, Financial Planning, Franchise, Healthcare, Human Resources, Insurance, Marketing, Marketing, MOD Virtual Assistants, Mortgage, Property Management, Real Estate, Technology /by Louie Z. Sawyer

If you frequently use WordPress blogging, you’re probably wondering how a virtual assistant can streamline the process for you. Here’s how!

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5 Things to Know About WordPress Blogging With a Virtual Assistant

Don’t have enough time to handle the intricacies of WordPress blogging?

Blogging is a great way to attract new customers to your site and to keep your existing ones interested, too. However, it’s not as simple as typing away your thoughts and sharing your expertise.

It’s not something you can do on a whim; you need to be consistent in churning out content after content. You can’t, however, spend all your time doing this.

A virtual assistant is a great solution to your blogging problems. Here are five ways a virtual assistant can help you streamline the blogging process:

1. Content Planning and Management

You can spend time writing the content yourself or delegate the task. Either way, a virtual assistant will help you stay organized and take some of the tedious work from you.

Regular blog publishing can result in a significant increase in page visitors. A virtual assistant (VA) can help you with the following:

create editorial calendars to keep track of your posting schedule
assist in content planning
organize topics, giving priority to content your target customers want

This way, you won’t have to worry about having a day where you missed uploading content to your blog. It’s a good way to stay consistent for your readers.

2. Technical Assistance

The WordPress platform releases regular updates to keep sites secure. Even themes and plugins must be up to date. Spending time to do these technical aspects can place overhead on your time.

A virtual assistant can help you upgrade these components. They can even delete obsolete plugins that are slowing down your site.

Your VA can perform regular backups for your entire site. In case of unforeseen events, you’ll be able to restore from the latest backup. This will also result in increased uptime for your site.

3. Marketing Solution and Implementation

A virtual assistant can also help with market your blog. They can do so through different means, but social media is often the best. This is because there are at least 3.5 billion people on social media at any given moment.

They’ll help by promoting your blogs to the right people or groups. This way, you can generate more traffic to your blog site.

4. Blog Interaction

When they love your content, readers usually leave notes on your post. Reader interaction is essential to help build loyal followers and potential clients.

However, as your content grows, it can become harder to respond to all these comments. Your VA can help you stay connected with your readers by handling this task.

5. Search Engine Optimization

Making your blog content stand out on social media platforms is not enough. You also need to make your posts visible in search engines.

Getting your articles to rank on page one will yield a lot of organic traffic. Specific techniques can optimize your content so that it will rank higher.

Finding a qualified VA that can help you with this ensures the longevity of your blog. They can help by researching keywords for you to implement into your content. You can also have them optimize on-site page elements, increasing your organic search rate.

Improve Your WordPress Blogging with a Virtual Assistant

A highly-qualified virtual assistant can be effective in boosting your online presence. You’ll be able to grow your business faster without burnout. Improve your WordPress blogging with the help of a virtual assistant service today!

Do you want to hire a virtual assistant that can perform all these tasks? Contact us and we’ll help you find the VA that’s perfect for you.

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MyOutDesk can save you up to 70% on employment costs
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The Virtual Assistant Turns Personal Assistant: A How-To

September 28, 2021/in Administrative, MOD Virtual Assistants, Technology, Vertical Markets /by Dan Trujillo

It’s safe to say that a lot of professionals would love to have a personal assistant. Having someone you personally employ, there to make sure your day-to-day runs as smoothly as possible sounds like a dream. But not everyone knows just how attainable, and truly helpful, having your own personal assistant really is. They often get caught up in a couple of reasons why they think they shouldn’t, or can’t hire an assistant. Well, this here is a short and to the point breakdown of why you should, and how you can, hire your very own virtual personal assistant. The keyword there being “virtual”.

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The Why

There are two big reasons why hiring a virtual assistant to be your personal assistant is an absolute no-brainer…

Cheaper.
Reliable.

Of course, there are many reasons why a VA(virtual assistant) makes the perfect PA(personal assistant). In fact, we’ve covered that in previous articles that went more in-depth. But to boil it all down to the most important and undeniable facts, you’d end up with the cost and the reliability. Over the years, our customers have reported up to 70% in savings by hiring a VA compared to if they had hired a traditional, local employee. This is because a majority of the financial responsibilities associated with hiring an employee fall on us, being as our VA’s are still technically our employees. You just pay a flat rate monthly, per assistant. We handle PTO, insurance, benefits, etc.

Then there is the reliability factor. We only hire true professionals, who bring their own experience and skills. We test their knowledge and then categorize them based on industry/skillset. Meaning we always have the right person for the right job. Someone who will join your team with the necessary tools to understand what you need and hit the ground running. That’s not to say you don’t have to train them though, of course. As with any new hire, you’ll need to give them a rundown of what you do and what you expect them to do. So you can expect some time at the start spent getting them up to speed and established in your new processes. But the offset here is you didn’t have to waste time posting, searching, interviewing, and evaluating candidates. You just came to us, and we gave you what you needed.

Pro-Tip from Daniel Ramsey

“When you onboard a virtual assistant to be your personal assistant, obviously you’re going to train them on their duties right away. But I suggest you run them through the same training again, 6 months later. By then they’ll have a better understanding of not just how to do it all, but why they’re doing it. What they’re doing effects, what it means and to who. This will serve to strengthen their performance, increase productivity, and you’ll notice the improvement. Do it again after a year and see the difference.”

The How

So you may be wondering how a personal assistant can be so valuable, then they’re remote. It’s quite simple, being as the professional world is becoming increasingly remote these days. More and more offices are embracing remote or at least hybrid work models, as systems and technologies evolve to support that culture. On top of that, most of the things you really need a truly professional personal assistant for can be done online anyways. Digital applications like Google Suite, and OneNote are the most popular around our offices. Not only are they free, but they can be catered to fit just about any organizational need. Here are just a couple tips from Daniel on how to get super organized and efficient with both Gmail and OneNote…

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Gmail

“My personal process is I have my virtual assistant keeping track of all activity in my inbox. They record where every email comes from; is it a client with a concern, a potential business relation, or something high level that I need to personally respond to. They will start writing the reply for me, after categorizing and assessing what’s most appropriate. Then they keep it saved under my Drafts. When I log in the first thing I do is go to the Drafts, and go down the list. Review everything my assistant prepared for me, make edits as needed, and send off. This saves me so much time.”

OneNote

“Context has to be given when you have a personal assistant. The better understanding they have of what’s going on, and where it falls in your ongoing hierarchy, the better they can work for you. I love OneNote because of how organized it makes all of this for us. I have five categories that fit all of my needs. “

Agenda: The preparation for a meeting.
Projects: Something we’re actively working on.
Someday: Anything not pressing that you’ll get to… someday.
Waiting For: Things you’re waiting for someone else on before you can progress with it.
Archive: What’s done is done, archive it.

I hope this little advice piece is enough to help you consider utilizing a virtual assistant as your personal assistant. Because it’s not about what you have to do, it’s about what you won’t have to do anymore. Hiring a remote working personal assistant is fast becoming the norm, and we’d hate to see any serious professional get left behind. Save money and save time, when you hire a virtual assistant like ours. If you have more questions, or just want to hear even more details about how this can work for you… follow the link below. We’ll do a FREE one-on-one consultation with you, and see how we can get you started.

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MyOutDesk can save you up to 70% on employment costs
Claim a free business strategy consultation & ‘Grow Virtual’ Guide

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A Day In The Life: Virtual Assistants and You

September 15, 2021/in Administrative, Marketing, MOD Virtual Assistants, Recruitment /by Dan Trujillo

One of the most common questions regarding virtual assistants is about their schedule. Specifically for those virtual assistants who live on another continent, and thus in a completely different timezone. How do you make that work? In the case of MyOutDesk virtual assistants, it’s actually quite simple and easy. As the company employing our virtual assistants, we have procedures in place to designate and assure their availability for clients in any timezone. We also track their activity during scheduled work hours, to ensure transparency for both us and whichever client of ours is utilizing them. Not to mention we just pick the right people for this kind of job. People who recognize the opportunity, appreciate the luxury of working from home and are passionate about having a stable career. There’s a degree of real commitment present in their ability to shape their daily life around this job. Let’s talk about a day in the life of the average virtual assistant at MyOutDesk. Maybe it’ll paint a reassuring picture for anyone on the fence about how this dynamic truly works!

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A Day In The Life

Being as our VA’s(virtual assistants) are in the Philippines, a lot of them work night shifts. Not all of them though; some are assistants for companies that don’t require interaction during the day, US time. So the VA is free to complete their assignments and submit logs of work done during their own day time, while their boss in the US sleeps. But of course, some companies prefer having their VA available during the day, stateside. This is when a willing VA is assigned to work opposite hours; sleeping during most of their day, and working during what is their night time. We asked one of our VA’s about their daily routine, to get a more detailed idea of their work/life balance. Let’s check it out…

One Virtual Assistant’s Schedule

9 am – Around this time the VA has finished their night shift. They’ve clocked out and prepared “breakfast”, then relax with a book or watch something before going to sleep.

3 pm – Around 6 hours later the VA wakes up in the afternoon. They spend a few hours hanging out with family/friends, run some errands, do chores, etc.

7 pm – At this point in the evening they often take a short nap, to recharge their batteries before beginning their night shift.

It may be strange to read, from our viewpoint in the states. We’re so used to waking up when the sun rises and being up all day until after the sunset. Our work/life schedule tends to coincide with the day/night cycle. But plenty of people here locally work night shifts too! Lots of businesses are 24/7, and thus require someone to work that late-night shift. The same goes overseas for these VA’s, looking for steady, reliable work. Part of our hiring process is evaluating not just the experience and skill set that someone brings to the job, but their personality. We only accept folks who are clearly hard workers, passionate about their careers, and excited to be a part of the opportunity.

Day or Night

These folks make themselves available to the company they serve, at whatever schedule is agreed upon at hiring. So if you want an assistant to work the same hours as you, so they’re available throughout the day; we have plenty of VA’s working all night for exactly that. Even if you don’t need to interact with them throughout the day, and maybe just need some tasks handled after hours, we have VA’s for that too. They can get the work done for you, while you sleep and it’s their day, so you wake up to a job well done. That’s the name of the game when you go with a MyOutDesk virtual assistant; flexibility, reliability, and results. So if you’re at all curious how a VA might help your growing company, don’t hesitate to follow the link below. You can request a free one-on-one consultation with us, to evaluate your needs and discuss some options. Day or night, we have a professional for your needs.

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MyOutDesk can save you up to 70% on employment costs
Claim a free business strategy consultation & ‘Grow Virtual’ Guide

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Do It, Document It, and Delegate It to a Virtual Assistant

September 15, 2021/in Administrative, Cannabis & Legal Marijuana, e-Commerce, Financial Planning, Franchise, Healthcare, Human Resources, Inside Sales, Insurance, Marketing, Marketing, MOD Virtual Assistants, Mortgage, Property Management, Real Estate, Recruitment, Technology /by Louie Z. Sawyer

An experienced virtual assistant can improve productivity and reduce complications through process documentation. Learn how it’s done in this guide!

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Do It, Document It, and Delegate It to a Virtual Assistant

Hiring a virtual assistant may seem daunting if you’re considering the “training” period. It’s true that your assistant can’t work effectively if they’re not familiar with your expectations, the software you use, and the everyday workflow.

However, there’s a method to increase productivity and ease the training period by paying attention to your work processes.

With this in mind, read on to learn all about process documentation for a seamless work environment!

Identify the Tasks

One of the hardest aspects of beginning documenting processes is compiling all the tasks that you expect your virtual assistant to handle. This is because you want to choose the tasks that you expect your assistant to handle on a daily basis and eliminate the unnecessary tasks.

Document Procedures

Your next step is to document, step-by-step, the procedure to execute each task. It’s important to be as clear and thorough as possible. This will enable your virtual assistant to confidently refer to you for assistance when they’re just getting started, boosting business productivity as a result.

You can document these procedures in a simple Word doc or use one of many process documentation tools in order to speed up your workflow. Here are a few commonly used tools:

Google Drive
Evernote
Trello
Microsoft Visio

We recommend opting for a tool that you’re already familiar with–this can greatly speed up your business documentation. Remember that you can use screenshots and video capture to make your processes even easier to understand.

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Test the Procedures

Your work isn’t complete after writing down all your procedures. Next, it’s important to test all the procedures you’ve documented to ensure that each step is covered. For instance, if you want your virtual assistant to document all the calls created in your CRM software, you’ll want to include how to use that software after the call has taken place.

You’ll also want to include when you expect a task to be done. Updating your CRM platform every time a phone call or email is placed may be important if your assistant will be interacting with multiple clients a day.

Delegate the Tasks

Documenting these work processes is helpful even before you even hire a virtual assistant. This is because you’ll be aware of exactly the kinds of skills needed in order to confidently complete your processes each day. You’ll also be in a better position to communicate your expectations and find the right virtual assistant for you.

As you delegate tasks, remember that it’s important to still stay open to feedback. Update your documents over time so that your assistants are being trained with the best practices.

Process Documentation Tips for Productivity

It’s possible to increase productivity and reduce friction when it comes to onboarding a new virtual assistant with detailed process documentation. Take your time to consider the tasks you’d like your assistant to handle each day, with special attention placed on repetitive tasks.

Once you write them all out, your assistant will know exactly what you expect of them. They can also refer back to the document as they get accustomed to their new role with your business.

Ready to save time and money with the aid of a virtual assistant? Schedule a free one-on-one consultation today.

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MyOutDesk can save you up to 70% on employment costs
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Recruiting Made Easy with Virtual Assistants

September 8, 2021/in Administrative, Human Resources, MOD Virtual Assistants, Recruitment, Vertical Markets /by Dan Trujillo

More often than not, unfortunately, people running a growing business don’t realize they need something until they needed it yesterday. Like assistance; you realize something isn’t working the way it should and hasn’t been long enough to eventually get your attention. That’s when you know you need that assistance, immediately. However, finding help is another task in itself. And tasks equal time. So how about you have fewer tasks to worry about and more time on your hands? It’s possible with virtual assistants.

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You Need Help Finding Help

Did you know that the average length of the hiring process here in the US is 23 days? That’s almost a month of your professional time, spent trying to find someone to help you have more time. Silly. The average length of time to go from requesting a MyOutDesk VA(virtual assistant) to having one at your disposal, ready to work; is 14 days or less. That’s essentially 1 to 2 weeks, or, almost half the time as the other way. Correct me if I’m wrong, but you aren’t in the business of wasting your own time. You’re in the business of growing your business, and we’re in the business of helping you do exactly that. So now let’s go over why letting MyOutDesk find the perfect match for you is the most efficient and effective way to get help.

Our Recruitment Process

The professionals apply through our careers page.
We schedule them for an exam, specific to the field they applied in.
Our recruitment specialists review the completed exams and make their selections.
Those selected are scheduled for a Zoom interview with a recruiter.
If approved, they are scheduled for a 2nd/final interview with a manager.
If selected for hire, we begin the next phase…

Verification and On-boarding

Verify all provided references(3 professional, 2 personal) with FBI-grade background checks.
Verify their identity and location.
Run a system check of their computer and home network to ensure it meets our standards.
Place them in a pool categorized by experience and skillset. Ready for work.

Hire The Human

As you can see our hiring process is very in-depth, despite the fact that we receive an average of 150 applicants per day. We’re also not just evaluating them based on their hard skills and experience but on other factors that have a meaningful effect on their eventual job placement. Like their personality, character, and perceived commitment and passions. We want to ensure that everyone we hire into our assistant pool is not just a skilled professional with relevant experience, but a good person who’s eager to work and excited to be a part of something. People with the drive to be rockstars at their job, commitment to their responsibilities, and a positive, outgoing attitude that will mesh well with any office environment. We’re not just throwing assistants into any role at any business, simply because they can manage a spreadsheet or answer a phone. We’re placing hard-working, wonderful people with other hard-working, wonderful people. Because each and every assistant we assign to a company is a direct reflection of us.

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Our Expert Is Your Assistant

As you can see, MyOutDesk takes the brunt of the hiring process so that you don’t have to. We take care of all the evaluating, testing, and verifying so that when you come to us for help, you know exactly what you’re getting, and fast. Not to mention, a lot of our assistants are graduates of a 4-year university, on top of years of relevant industry experience. These aren’t rookies coming in blind. On top of all that there is, of course, the matter of insurance, benefits, PTO, etc. We take care of all of that too. No need to worry about the cost of providing your virtual assistant with things like healthcare and time-off. That is all handled by us and through us. You just pay the agreed-upon flat rate for their services, ultimately saving you up to 70% of the cost if you had hired on your own. Not to toot our own horn or anything, but that’s a pretty sweet deal.

We Can Help You Help Yourself

In short; if your growing business needs help, then the quickest, most efficient way to get exactly the kind of help you need is via MyOutDesk virtual assistants. We handle all the parts of hiring(and supporting) professional talent so that you can focus on the other part; utilizing them to your benefit. So if you’re thinking that your growing business could use some extra hands and eyes, save yourself some time and money by reaching out to us. Be it administrative tasks, front-desk services, billing, marketing, customer support, you name it; we have proven professionals ready to dive in. You can count on them because we count on them. Follow the link below for a free one-on-one consultation, so we can discuss your needs and how we might be able to help.

Experience The Difference
MyOutDesk can save you up to 70% on employment costs
Claim a free business strategy consultation & ‘Grow Virtual’ Guide

Should I Use a Virtual Assistant Service for My Business?

September 8, 2021/in MOD Virtual Assistants /by Louie Z. Sawyer

If you’re a small business owner just starting, you may not have the resources to hire a full-time assistant. In this case, you may end up doing tasks that take you away from growing your presence in the marketplace.

A great solution is a virtual assistant service. It’s growing as technology makes it easier to work remotely.

This article will cover the top reasons why hiring a virtual assistant (VA) is the best option for your business. Keep reading to learn the benefits of virtual assistants.

[Considering a Virtual Assistant?]

It Covers Many Roles

Virtual assistant services come in different forms. You can hire a company that outsources VA services, a talent agency that provides virtual assistants. Or you can hire an independent assistant.

The skills offered by VAs are wide-ranging. The skillsets can be as simple as someone who perform basic clerical duties and answers calls. You can also find VAs who can perform accounting duties, marketing, and social media management.

To find a virtual assistant, enter “virtual assistant near me” in your Google search. If you do not find a local agency, it’s okay.

The VA doesn’t have to be in your area, city, or state. With the internet, the person you hire can reside anywhere.

It’s Cost-Efficient

Regardless of what your individual needs are, the cost to hire a remote assistant will most likely cost less than a full-time employee. Because their skill levels are diverse, you can cover multiple requirements with a single assistant.

In addition, there are no benefits to pay. Plus, VAs are independent contractors, so you don’t have to worry about payroll taxes. If you go with a virtual assistant service, you pay the agency a fee, and they take care of the rest.

It Can Help Grow Your Business

The best virtual assistant services can help you grow your business. There’s no longer a need to bypass the essential functions of running a business. These one-stop shops have everything you need.

Services include:

Administrative assistants
Customer cervice
Help desk & support
Marketing assistants
Receptionist support
And more

With the money you’ll save, you can invest in ways to grow your business and remain competitive.

It Provides Flexibility

The flexibility offered with hiring a virtual assistant is immeasurable. One of the important factors to consider is the ability to extend your business accessibility to clients.

Customer service features often come with either business hours that go late into the evening or 24-hours. You’ll also have someone to answer calls, allowing you to focus on more pressing issues.

Plus, you can finally take a much-needed vacation without closing your business.

Is a Virtual Assistant Service Right for Your Business?

A virtual assistant service is beneficial to many businesses. Determine the specific needs of your company and measure them against the services offered by a virtual assistant.

When you’re ready to take the first step in increasing the efficiency of your business operations, we’re here to help. Schedule a free “double your business strategy” call today.

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Marketing Firms Use Virtual Assistants To Scale Up

August 31, 2021/in Administrative, Marketing, Testimonials /by Dan Trujillo

“I have a day off now!”, is just one of the proclamations made by a very satisfied customer of ours. His name is Aaron Shishilla, and having a real day off is exciting for him because he has two jobs! He’s the Marketing Lead and Owner of WolfPack Advising; a marketing company that Aaron started as a side hustle. His primary gig is that of Marketing Manager at Waypoint Property Inspection, based out of Tampa, Florida. Clearly, he has a lot on his plate, juggling two major roles at two successful and still growing companies. The vision Aaron and his team share are that of empowering businesses with the tools necessary to grow. All while being a thought leader themselves, who uses their experiences to elevate everyone. Basically, both companies he works at are in the business of helping other businesses see calculated, positive results. But what about their own growth? Who’s helping them see successful results? Virtual assistants are.

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Good News Travels Far

Aaron had heard about MyOutDesk via word of mouth, from other connections who spoke highly of their experience using our VA’s(virtual assistants). He found himself spending too much time juggling non-dollar-generating tasks while trying to fit in his higher-level responsibilities as a leader in two different marketing roles. This was proving a major speedbump while they were trying to grow the company beyond their local region. It was time to seek assistance from the outside, which led him to follow his colleague’s advice and seek remote help. A little over six months ago Aaron came to MyOutDesk and we matched him with a couple of VA’s hand-picked to help him and his team with those side-tasks that were bogging them down. The experience was immediately satisfying.

“I’m so incredibly impressed because I can say something to her and she knows to take notes, and add it to her guidebook. And the next week she’s on it. And I’m like this is amazing!”

Aaron is a very organized, and forward-thinking person. So he knew before our VA even started that they would need the proper guidance and toolset to ensure they were set up for success. He took the time to prepare a guide using Google Docs, with a list of tasks, timelines, etc for the VA to use as a reference once they started. This ensured the person we assigned had everything they needed from the get-go, and the support from Aaron to hit the ground running. From there it was just a matter of checking in with them over Slack when necessary. Because our VA’s are educated in the English language, coupled with opposite work hours than ours, it makes for perfect professional synergy.

“They speak better English than I do! They are just perfect, their grammar is better than ours because they have studied it for so long.”

The Freedom To Focus

Now Aaron and his colleagues have more time to focus on important duties that run the business, like focusing on the service they provide their clients. Meanwhile, our VA has been handling administrative tasks and social media duties. This has been a great help while they expand their brand outside their region, and focus on customer relationships. All while saving money! The average all-inclusive cost of a VA from MyOutDesk is roughly $21,000 a year. Aaron says had they gone with a local specialist to assist them, they’d easily be paying double that.

“There is stuff that you do every day that is repetitive. That you can easily scale, having a VA handling it for you, so that you can focus on something else.”

Aaron Shishilla came to MyOutDesk seeking virtual assistants to help his two growing companies. It ended up being the kind of success for him that just drives us to keep at it. Our mission is to help grow other businesses, be they small and getting started or huge and well established. Your success is our success. So if you’re at all curious about utilizing a VA for your own business scaling, don’t hesitate to reach out. Follow the link below to request a free one-on-one consultation where we’ll evaluate your needs and determine how we might be able to help.

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How to Find the Best Virtual Receptionist

August 31, 2021/in Administrative, MOD Virtual Assistants /by Louie Z. Sawyer

If you’re a busy entrepreneur, then you know that sometimes there are not enough hours in a day. How does one perpetually juggle all the ins and outs of a business, let alone a personal life?

Enter the Virtual Receptionist.

A Virtual Receptionist or Virtual Assistant can help you grow your business. We’re talking about making more money, having more time for yourself, and cutting overhead costs.

Read on, and we’ll tell you how to find the best virtual receptionist for your business.

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Do I Need a Virtual Receptionist?

First off, how do you know when you need a Virtual Receptionist?

Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Do you regularly work long hours?
2. Is there a lag in your response time costing you customers/clients?
3. Are low-level tasks eating up your time?
4. Do you dislike your work?

Did you answer yes to any of those questions? If so, you might benefit from some administrative help.

Virtual Receptionist Vs. In-Person

But what kind of help do you need?

Should you bring someone on board in person? Or, can you recruit professional services remotely?

Both options are viable. But, as the Covid-19 crisis showed us, remote work is here to stay. And the benefits are vast.

Virtual receptionist services can reduce your operational costs by up to 78%.

Further, a Stanford study found that virtual assistants increased productivity by 13%.

Yes, we are saying that virtual receptionists save you money and increase productivity. Once you make the move you’ll wonder how you ever managed without one.

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Types of Virtual Receptionist Services

You have some options when it comes to the type of services offered virtually. The following is a general overview of some of them.

Automated

This type of service uses a computerized call system. Options for callers are limited to pre-recorded options.

Options include checking balances, making payments, or answering simple questions like operating hours. All without speaking to anyone.

Message Only

These services can have a human operator. But, they can also just use prerecorded messages.

If they have live operators, messages are usually written like in live chat offerings.

Call transfer

Some virtual receptionists can answer and transfer calls.

Transfers could go to a different internal extension, a landline, or a mobile phone. You can choose to have live operators or automated options on those lines.

Live Answering Service

Just like it sounds, this gives you an actual person on the line.

Some virtual receptionist companies will guarantee the same representatives each time. Others opt to use a rotating list of operators to handle incoming calls

These can include scripted call centers and specialized centers. Great if you operate in a specific niche and need someone with industry insights.

Best Virtual Receptionist Services

Today, there are many companies and skilled contractors who offer virtual receptionist services.

These people are often highly skilled, working full-time on their terms. In short, they have skills and are satisfied with their work.

We recommend first getting clear on what tasks you need help with. Armed with that personalized needs list, you can figure out who offers what you need. And where you can get it for the price point you want.

Don’t Delay, Delegate Today

There is money to be made and time to be saved! Hiring the best virtual receptionist is your ticket there.

Why wait another minute trudging through work that isn’t bringing you joy? Reach out today, and learn what creative solutions MyOutDesk can offer you.

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MyOutDesk can save you up to 70% on employment costs
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Outsourcing Virtual Assistant Services To The Philippines

August 23, 2021/in MOD Virtual Assistants /by Abby

The Philippines is one of the top destinations major corporations outsource their business needs. Doing so allows businesses to keep overhead down on expenses such as office space, equipment, internet connection, taxes, and even benefits.

Even though this provides significant cost savings to business owners , it also greatly benefits a Philippines-based Virtual Assistant as well. They get to work from home, be closer to family, and removing 2-4 hours of a daily commute. All while taking in a great wage.

While several other countries are well-known for offering virtual services, such as Malaysia, South Africa, and India, it’s the Philippines making headway in the outsourcing world. Here is our 2021 “State of Virtual Assistants” Report. In that report, we discuss the top types of virtual assistants and how they affect businesses.

[Considering a Virtual Assistant?]

Why else would you consider outsourcing to the Philippines?

The People and The Talent

Filipino people are globally known to be loyal and hard-working. The deeply rooted spirit of being family-oriented is a great benefit as an employer. Filipino Virtual Assistants will work hard for their families’ well-being and thusly, their employer. Since the Philippines was occupied by Spain for several hundred years and was liberated by America in the early 1900s. Filipino people are open to different cultures. They are primarily influenced by western media and culture, thus making it easy for them to understand your culture.

The Accent (or lack thereof)

The Philippines boasts a 95% literacy rate wherein the medium of instruction is mainly in English. Many companies outsource jobs to the Philippines because the accents of Filipinos are primarily neutral. This means they can easily be understood by western customers. Furthermore, the Philippines is currently ranked #27 out of 100 countries globally on the English Proficiency Index and is ranked #2 in Asia as of 2021.

The Education and Job Market

According to the Philippine National Statistics Office, there are 42.5 million Filipinos in the labor force whose median age is 23 years old. The Labor force Participation Rate is at 60.6%. The Philippines has also been recorded to have a High English Proficiency rating of 60.59.

They are #3 in Asia and #15 out of the top 80 countries. English is the medium of instruction in school and the official language of businesses.

Lowered Cost and Liability

When hiring a Virtual Assistant, that can qualify as a deduction from the taxable income of 50% of labor expenses and consigned equipment. All legal risks are transferred to the outsourcing provider. As mentioned earlier, this provides significant cost savings as well. A Virtual Assistant will be working from their home, so no need to provide office space, they will have their own equipment and internet connection. If you sign-up with a company like MyOutDesk, we handle all benefits and HR concerns for you!

How to Hire a Virtual Assistant for Nearly Any Industry

Hiring a virtual assistant empowers businesses to delegate nearly all non-revenue productive tasks. This allows a business or team leader to focus on the most important work ON your business instead of in it. Remember, if you don’t have an assistant, you are the assistant.

Outsource your Virtual Assistant Services today! Schedule your business strategy call today and find out how a MyOutDesk Virtual Assistant from the Philippines can help grow your business!

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A Quick Guide on How to Hire a Virtual Assistant

August 20, 2021/in Administrative, Marketing, MOD Virtual Assistants, Real Estate, Recruitment, Technology /by Louie Z. Sawyer

Hiring a virtual assistant is a big decision for your business. It’s different than hiring someone who will become an in-house employee. With the growth in virtual assistant services, the person you hire can be located in a different city or state.

To hire a virtual assistant, you can find someone on your own or go with an agency that will connect you with the right person.

If you’re considering virtual help and don’t know where to start, we’ve you covered. Keep reading for a quick guide on how to hire the right virtual assistant for your business.

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Before You Hire a Virtual Assistant, Assess Your Needs

Do you need a remote virtual assistant? This is a question you must ask yourself when considering this route. Virtual assistants have diverse skill sets that are beneficial to any industry.

In assessing your needs, you’ll have to weigh the pros and cons of having an assistant in-house and being able to work with someone remotely.

Are there tasks that an assistant performs, such as making in-person contact with customers, city officials, or running errands? These duties may now become your responsibility, or you’ll need someone to handle them.

Understand what is more beneficial and cost-effective to the business reaching its goals in the long run.

Create a List of Requirements

Create a list of requirements for the virtual assistant role. Do you need someone for specific tasks? Is there customer relationship management software that your business uses that the assistant will need to learn?

Start making a list and add things that you may not do today but would like to add. Consider tasks like social media management, accounting software, and after-hours call support.

Do Your Research

When looking for virtual services, do your research. There’s a lot of people offering virtual assistant for hire services. This does not mean they’re qualified or can meet your needs.

It’s best to seek a reputable firm to ensure the person you hire has been vetted and has the qualifications you need. If you choose an independent virtual assistant, request a resume and at least

three professional references.

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Interview Candidates

The last step before making a final decision is to conduct interviews. You want to make sure the person you choose is compatible. Create a list of essential questions to ask.

If you’re hiring someone local, schedule a local interview. For a virtual assistant out of the area, schedule a Zoom call. Video conferencing is better than over-the-phone interviews.

Get the Remote Help You Need

If you hire a virtual assistant using this guide, you’re on your way to building a stronger team. Remember, the assistant you hire is an essential team member. Don’t assume that the person can’t complete specific tasks because this is a remote worker.

If you’re looking for vetted virtual receptionists today, check us out! We’re happy to help. You can also click the button below for a FREE one-on-one consultation with us. We’ll listen to you first, and understand your problems or concerns, then see what we can do to help.

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Virtual Assistants Are Evolving Marketing With SMS

August 17, 2021/in Marketing, Marketing, MOD Virtual Assistants, Vertical Markets /by Dan Trujillo

What if you could reach your target audience before they even got out of bed? Start their day with your product or service already on their mind, without even lifting a finger! You can, and it’s as easy as a text message. According to a survey conducted by ReportLinker, about half of Americans(46%) say they check their phone as soon as they wake up. That statistic comes from 2017, so you can imagine it’s only gone up since then. More than half of Americans check their phone an average of 160 times a day. America is attached to their phone, so use that to get them attached to your product.

Now you’re probably wondering, “But how? Who has the time to text all day!? Luckily we have the answer to that; virtual assistants. Text messaging(SMS) marketing is an often underrated and underutilized practice with a ton of proven potential. On top of that, the utilization of virtual assistants is growing in its acceptance by the professional world due to the increasing demand for remote work. I guess you could say SMS marketing is the recipe for massive gains, and virtual assistants are the secret ingredient that makes it a 5-star dish. But enough analogies; let’s go over exactly how and why SMS marketing with a virtual assistant will change the way you do business.

[Considering a Virtual Assistant?]

SMS > Email

You’re probably already familiar with email marketing; drip campaigns, follow-ups, promotions, etc. You may not be familiar with this statistic though; the open rate for email is about 20%, whereas the open rate for text messages is 98%. That’s a huge difference! Why send a prospective customer an email that gets lost in spam, or buried at the bottom of their inbox? A text message goes right to the top of their communications, and it likely gets a push notification on their screen. They can’t miss it! Furthermore, 75% of surveyed Americans said they’d be happy to receive an offer via SMS. That’s practically an invitation to market to them! That actually leads me to one important point; you can’t cold message them. An SMS marketing campaign needs to be directed at people who’ve already expressed interest in some way, or straight up opted in to receive your messages. So keep it legit, or you risk not just pissing off the customer, but the law too.

Here’s an example of persistent and informative SMS marketing…

Marketing Synergy

The big gap in open rates doesn’t mean you should abandon email marketing altogether. In fact, SMS and emails can work together sometimes. For example, sending a follow-up text asking someone if they got your previous email can increase the open rate by as much as 30%. The inverse can work as well; sending an email that lets people opt into more direct and beneficial SMS service. This is a great way to generate leads, with a growing list of potential customers or existing customers who are hungry for information, updates, offers, etc. Another benefit to the SMS is the immediate delivery, compared to the “who knows when” delivery of an email. Send that update text, “Hey, did you get my email?”, and watch them feel more personally connected to you and thus more likely to go check for that email. As you can see it’s not a one or the other situation, it’s more of a cohesive family of marketing tools.

[Considering a Virtual Assistant?]

A Direct Connection

Notice how I mentioned it feeling more “personally connected”. Because an SMS is always more personal and direct feeling than a long email they know was sent to a faceless list. With an SMS, you’re restricted to the 160 character limit typically, so your messaging needs to be more direct and inclusive. No fluff, no overpowering graphics, and banners, etc. Your message to them should feel like a friend reaching out to ask them a quick question, or give them a quick update about something important. You should use more words like “you” and “I” when writing your little message, so it feels like you thought of them randomly and cared enough to message them, specifically. Even if you didn’t…

Let Someone Else Manage

To get the most out of this marketing tactic, you shouldn’t be the one sending those messages. This doesn’t mean they are any less personal or sincere, it just means you’re a busy person with a business to run, so you delegate this to someone else. This is where the virtual assistant comes in! While you’re handling more high-level, valuable business needs, your VA(virtual assistant) is going down a list. Sending customized text messages to different groups of people, following up on leads, responding to their replies, answering questions, sharing links, and setting up appointments. They’re keeping people updated, educated, and connected… to you. And yes there are applications you can sync with your SMS campaigns to track how effective your texts are, just like with emails. Utilizing a virtual assistant to be the conduit for all of your SMS marketing needs is such a perfect fit, it almost feels too good to be true(don’t worry, it’s not!).

You Have One New Message

As you can see, SMS marketing is a simple marketing tactic that anyone can do. And if they have an assistant who can manage that tactic on their own, then they’re really primed for success. Because there are two hard facts here; 1. SMS marketing is powerful and worth the effort, and 2. Someone else should be doing it for you while you do what you do best. MyOutDesk is proud to offer virtual assistants with marketing talents and technology skills perfect for this role. So if you’re at all interested in upping your marketing game, securing more leads, and closing more deals, you’re in the right place. Reach out via the link and schedule a one-on-one consultation, where we’ll assess how one of our virtual assistants can do exactly that for you.

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‘A Better Contractor’ Prefers A Better Virtual Assistant

August 17, 2021/in MOD Virtual Assistants /by Dan Trujillo

They say you can never get too much of a good thing. When it comes to hiring virtual assistants, David Perry might be inclined to agree with that statement. For over three years David has been the Director of Finance at ‘A Better Contractor, LLC’, the premier hospitality industry contractor in the nation. Over the past year, however, they’ve been making efforts to diversify their clientele so as to continue growing in the contractor business. Despite the global pandemic they’ve continued to experience growth, supporting the likes of the hotel industry as they too grow and evolve to support the changing times. But that’s not to say the journey of success is without its obstacles. Luckily virtual assistants are really good at breaking down obstacles…

[Considering a Virtual Assistant?]

If You Want Something Done Right

David and his team had existed processes in place that utilized local admin assistants. However, they were beginning to notice a lot of QA(quality assurance) discrepancies. Eventually, they were faced with the tough decision to take over administrative duties themselves. To ensure the administrative tasks were done correctly they had to divide the work among their own management team. This stretched the management team thin, as they had to juggle a wide variety of duties. Someone on their team suggested looking into employing a virtual assistant, from a company like MyOutDesk. Because this would be a big change from what they were used to, David admitted to some initial hesitation. After some deliberation, the decision was made to try out one VA(virtual assistant) and see how it fit their administrative needs.

“We gave it a shot, and not long after doing so we were like ‘well crap, that was easy!’

The initial uncertainty about hiring someone entirely remote to take over their admin assistant role was due to how valuable they hold that position. David and his team believe in equal reciprocation with anyone they hire; be they in-person or virtual. They like to bring a positive change not just to their business, but to the life of whoever they hire. David believes that any member of the team should be happy to be there because they genuinely feel like they fit in. After all, a happy worker is a hard worker. Luckily, that first VA we provided fit right in and hit the ground running. They were able to take over those administrative duties themself and alleviate some of the pressure from management.

“Our VA’s have migrated to bill payments, a lot. Time value of money is important in all aspects, and our VA’s have contributed to that level of accuracy. It’s just a beautiful thing.”

More Is Better

David and his company were so pleased with their first foray into the virtual assistant game that they eventually hired the 2nd one only months later. They now have two VA’s juggling administrative duties without any issues. Allowing management to have peace of mind while they focus on their customers. And they plan on hiring more, as needed! That’s the magic of hiring assistants from a company like MyOutDesk; because we evaluate their experience and skillset so you don’t have to. That way when a company like David’s comes to us for help, we can match them up accordingly. If you’re curious how you can have a similar experience of success, reach out via the link below. We’ll set up a one on one consultation and evaluate your problems, to see if a virtual assistant can solve them.

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How Hiring a Virtual Secretary Can Benefit Your Business

August 17, 2021/in Administrative, MOD Virtual Assistants /by Louie Z. Sawyer

With 90% of remote workers preferring to stay that way, virtual assistance is trending upwards. Rather than having in-house secretaries, more and more businesses are hiring remote contractors to answer phones, book appointments, send customer reminders, etc. Often acting as a kind of communication hub for your business by maintaining a line of contact with customers via voice, SMS, and email.

If you haven’t ever had a virtual secretary, you might wonder if it’s right for your company. You might even be wary of doing it.

There are a huge number of benefits to having one, and if you bear them in mind, you might just discover a virtual secretary could do wonders for your business.

[Considering a Virtual Assistant?]

Reduced Costs

If you hire a virtual secretary, you’ll find that the costs are reduced in comparison to a traditional employee.

You won’t have to provide them with office equipment, medical benefits, or paid sick days. You also won’t have to pay taxes on their income, as that’ll be up to them to file with the IRS.

This can cut down your costs enormously.

Not only that, but you might not even need to find office space at all if most of your employees are virtual.

Increased Flexibility and Productivity

The best virtual secretary will be flexible in their hours. If you need someone to work at non-traditional times, you can likely find someone to do it.

You could also hire someone from a slightly different timezone so that their working hours align with yours.

Because of this flexibility, your virtual secretary is likely to be more productive. When setting their own hours, or discussing them with you and coming to an agreement about what works for both of you, they can pick the times when they can get the most done.

Since they don’t have to factor in travel time to the office and other things in a non-remote position, this leaves more time to get work done.

There’s also flexibility for you. If you’re not happy with the relationship you have with someone you found on a virtual secretary website, it’s easier to cut ties and find someone else. This guarantee makes it easier to enter the relationship and less daunting.

[Considering a Virtual Assistant?]

They’ll Be Happier Than a Traditional Employee

97% of contractors are happier than in-house employees. Happier people are more likely to get more work done and actually do their best for your business.

When finding a virtual secretary for hire, you’ll usually find they’re more motivated than an in-house employee. This is because there’s a sense of both freedom and control in what they do, which will very much benefit the work they’re doing for your business.

Hire a Virtual Secretary and You’ll See

If you’re not convinced, try it out. Hire a virtual secretary for your business and you’ll see all the benefits compared to having an employee in-house doing the same tasks.

Most virtual secretaries can do a wide range of tasks, so you can get everything you need in one contractor.

For someone highly reputable and trustworthy, check out our plans today from one of the longest-running virtual assistant service companies.

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Virtual Assistant or Executive Assistant? Choose right!

August 4, 2021/in MOD Virtual Assistants /by Dan Trujillo

“What’s the difference between a virtual assistant and an executive assistant? And which one do I need?” These might seem like simple black/white questions, but answering them for your business is a bit more complex than you think. That’s why we decided to put together an FAQ list with our experienced answers, to help you understand what’s best for your company. With these top 5 frequently asked questions and our expert answers, we hope to clarify the main differences between an executive and a virtual assistant. So as to help you decide which, if not both, is best for your business. “Do they require training? What’s their schedule typically like?” We hope this sheds some light on the matter for anyone who was considering hiring an assistant but had a hard time figuring out which to look for. Sometimes confusing terminology and misunderstood expectations can get in the way of understanding something that is actually quite simple.

[Considering a Virtual Assistant?]

Top 5 FAQ’s

What will the assistant do for me?
- The main difference between a virtual assistant and an executive assistant is their physical presence. If your business needs involve a lot of errand running, paperwork copying, filing, office upkeep, etc, then an executive assistant is what you want. However, if your primary needs are more digital/online, then a VA(virtual assistant) is your go-to. A VA specializes in assisting with business needs that can be done remotely. Some basic duties they can offer include answering phones, returning calls, managing emails, data entry, and billing duties. A certified professional from MyOutDesk can go even further and offer more complex assistance like sales, marketing, and recruitment. So in short, an executive assistant is more in-person, hands-on duties. A VA is everything else that keeps your business running smoothly, and only requires a computer and internet.
How do we maintain productive communication?
- This is a tricky one because it’s very reliant on your personal preferences. Is looking someone in the eyes important to you? Do you prefer to have someone physically present when discussing tasks, and nearby to check in on when you feel like it? You might want to lean towards an executive assistant in that case. If you’re more content to utilize applications like Zoom, Facetime, or Hangouts to touch base and go over things, then a VA is all you need. In fact, a VA from MyOutDesk is probably going to be even more accessible to you, because their entire role is based around serving your needs during the agreed-upon hours. They are always a Zoom invite or a direct message away. They know how important it is to be available and timely with communications because their entire role is to alleviate stress from your job. Not add to it. No running around the office asking people if they’ve seen your assistant. No waiting for them to get out of traffic when they left to run an errand. Instant access, consistent updates, and accountability are the VA way.
How flexible are they with my team?
- One typical caveat of hiring an executive assistant is that they are hired for you, specifically. The expectation is often that they report to you and therefore assist you exclusively. Feathers can get ruffled when your assistant starts taking on requests from other people around your office. With a VA, the expectation is much more flexible and open-ended. They are essentially an assistant to the company’s agreed-upon needs and not any one individual. They’ll attend team meetings virtually, and go over tasks that need attention, and check in with your staff on how they can help. If it can be done online, then you can typically assign it to your VA’s task list. Of course, you’ll need to stay within the initial expectations of the role. Meaning you can’t ask your front desk assistant to come up with a marketing email campaign. But if you need that too, hire another VA with marketing expertise. MyOutDesk has it all!
How does someone remote come with any assurances?
- To get certain assurances you’ll have to go through a reputable virtual assistant service like MyOutDesk. No other service comes with the experience or reputation that we do. The assistants we recruit and employ to businesses like yours are hungry for work. They’re fiercely loyal and anxious to gain more experience than they already have. We foster that loyalty with competitive pay and benefits, regardless of what continent they’re on. We also utilize our own proprietary software called MyTimeIn which helps you track exactly what your VA is doing, at any given moment they’re clocked in. When did they start that assignment, what websites did they visit, when did they clock out, etc. It’s all tracked and available to you for monitoring. No wondering where that assistant walked off to, or if they came back from their break yet. Despite all the physical distance, our VA’s are closer to you professionally.
What’s the cost difference between the two types of assistants?
- The fee difference is noticeable. You will most definitely pay more for an in-person executive assistant, compared to a virtual assistant. When you hire an assistant to be at the ready, in person, that comes with accountability. Like insurance, misc. benefits, more potential for overtime, etc. With a VA, especially one from MyOutDesk, you only pay the subscription fee with us. We handle the VA’s pay, benefits, PTO, etc. By outsourcing our VA’s we are able to still offer them competitive rates and benefits they can’t find elsewhere, while still passing on savings to our customers. Our VA’s report to us that we save them up to 70% over typical costs!

[Considering a Virtual Assistant?]

It’s Crystal Clear

There you have it, folks. The top 5 questions and answers about the difference between executive assistants and virtual assistants. We hope this little FAQ helped you understand not just the differences between the two, but the benefits of each for different needs. Although by now it’s probably pretty clear how beneficial a VA from MyOutDesk can be for any growing business. From professional assurances to massive savings, maybe it’s time to see if a VA is right for your business! Follow the link below to schedule a FREE consultation, where we’ll assess your business needs and help determine if and how one of our VA’s can help you scale up.

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MyOutDesk can save you up to 70% on employment costs
Claim a free business strategy consultation & ‘Grow Virtual’ Guide

5 Incredible Benefits of Hiring a Virtual Office Assistant

July 15, 2021/in Administrative, Marketing, MOD Virtual Assistants, Mortgage /by Louie Z. Sawyer

When you own a business, it can be exhausting trying to keep up with all the different duties and keep your business on a path to grow. And many times, hiring an employee is out of the question because of the costs associated with it.

That’s why many businesses are beginning to hire a virtual office assistant instead to help take some of the workload off. According to a recent estimate, hiring a virtual assistant can save business owners up to 78 percent in operating costs throughout the year.

Keep reading this guide to learn exactly what is a virtual office assistant and the benefits of hiring them for your business.

[Considering a Virtual Assistant?]

1. Gives Your More Free Time

As a business owner, you know how valuable free time can be. It can help you accomplish more or even give you the ability to spend with your family and friends. Virtual office assistants can help take some of the responsibilities you have throughout the day and accomplish them with little to no oversight.

Some of the virtual office assistant job duties include:

Payroll and accounting
Booking clients
Managing appointments
Responding to email & phone
Developing spreadsheets
Organizing calendars

These individuals can also help you with more advanced roles, such as a marketing virtual assistant to help manage your social media, create content, and advertise to help grow your online presence.

2. Professional Style

When you hire virtual help, one of the best benefits is the high level of professionalism they already possess. However, since virtual assistants work for themselves in many instances, they must maintain a professional style to be rehired by clients.

Unlike when you hire a traditional employee, you won’t have to train a virtual assistant to work in a professional setting.

3. Saves You Money

The best part of all is hiring a virtual assistant to save you money that you can put back into the business. You don’t have to pay for things such as a new desk, office supplies, computer equipment, etc. Like you would with an in-house employee. Another thing to consider with virtual help is that you can go right online and hire a virtual assistant, saving money on the costs associated with the hiring process.

4. Business Growth

Virtual assistants can help you grow your business in several different ways. First, they take a portion of your obligations, so you have more time to focus on the core business operations.

Secondly, they already know the job you hired them for. So it won’t take much time if any, for them to start contributing.

5. Build up an Online Presence

If you haven’t already, expanding your online presence can pay massive dividends to your business. With 93 percent of Americans on the internet, it can be a huge opportunity for you to grow your market.

Virtual office assistants specialize in search engine optimization, content creation, and social media marketing to expand your business’s reach and grow your brand.

Hiring a Virtual Office Assistant: Is It Right for You

These are just a few of the top benefits that hiring a virtual assistant can help bring to your business. These digital helpers can make your life much more manageable while also giving you the ability to scale and grow your business. So don’t let burnout and fatigue hold your business back from its full potential.

If you are considering hiring a virtual office assistant, schedule a free call with us today, and we can help you get started.

Experience The Difference
MyOutDesk can save you up to 70% on employment costs
Claim a free business strategy consultation & ‘Grow Virtual’ Guide

What Exactly Are Virtual Assistants?

July 15, 2021/in MOD Virtual Assistants /by Louie Z. Sawyer

Think you need to onboard more assistants to work in your physical office location?

Think again. The virtual assistant market is booming right now, with experts predicting it to grow by $4.12 billion in the next four years. If you’ve never considered hiring a virtual assistant, it’s time to consider what these virtual services can do for your business.

But what are virtual assistants, exactly? What are some common virtual assistant responsibilities? We’ll answer those important questions and more, so keep reading!

[Considering a Virtual Assistant?]

What Are Virtual Assistants?

Also called virtual receptionists, these professionals do everything your in-house receptionist or assistant would do. The only difference is that they perform their tasks from their home or a call center.

From their remote location, virtual assistants handle a wide array of administrative duties. These might include:

Accounting
Bookkeeping
Answering calls and emails
Booking travel arrangements
Schedule management
Organizing files and documents
Managing websites or social media accounts
Customer service tasks

No matter what type of help you’re looking for, there’s a virtual assistant with the knowledge and expertise your business needs.

Some VAs are self-employed as independent contractors, while others work as part of an agency. With the huge shift to remote work during the pandemic, now is the perfect time to hire a virtual assistant for your company.

Common Virtual Assistant Job Duties

A recent report identified five main types of virtual assistants. We’ll save the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) assistants and focus on the four areas real hires can help your business.

These include:

Sales assistants (inside sales, cold calling, sales scripts, etc.)
Customer service assistants (handle customer queries, payments, and feedback)
Administrative assistants (bookkeeping, accounting, HR, etc.)
Marketing assistants (advertising, campaigns, special promotions, etc.)

Many VAs have years or even decades of experience that they can bring to your business. Why waste time looking for someone in your city when there are plenty of qualified assistants ready to work remotely?

Benefits of Hiring a Virtual Assistant

There are a number of benefits of virtual services you may not have considered yet.

For example, think of how your business would benefit if you could offer customer support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Rather than having to wait for normal business hours, customers could get answers to their questions no matter the time of day.

You’ll save on the costs of recruiting, hiring, and training new staff members. You don’t have to worry about paying for employee benefits or health insurance.

You also have the ability to scale up or down depending on the season and your business needs, rather than having to pay a full-time employee year-round.

Ready to Hire a Virtual Assistant?

Virtual services are here to stay, and they’re not just for huge tech companies. Most small-to-medium-sized businesses can also benefit from hiring a virtual assistant.

Is yours one of them? Now that you know the answer to the question, “What are virtual assistants,” are you ready to see what they can do for your company?

Click here to schedule a free call and learn how to hire a virtual assistant for your business needs.

Experience The Difference
MyOutDesk can save you up to 70% on employment costs
Claim a free business strategy consultation & ‘Grow Virtual’ Guide

A Quick Guide to Poshmark Virtual Assistants

July 15, 2021/in MOD Virtual Assistants /by Louie Z. Sawyer

Poshmark recently hit the $1 billion payout mark for their earners. If you’re selling on Poshmark, how can you make sure you maximize profits while making sure it’s not taking over your entire life?

Have you heard about Poshmark virtual assistants? If you need help managing sales on Poshmark, bring a virtual assistant on board might be just the thing that you need to iron out any issues.

If you’ve heard of virtual administrative assistants, then you know a little bit about what they have to offer for your sales. Our guide will help you decide if it’s time to bring one on board for your Poshmark sales.

[Considering a Virtual Assistant?]

Who are Poshmark Virtual Assistants?

Virtual assistants, or VAs, are not robots nor are they sophisticated AI programs. They’re real people who offer true customer service and work with you on any project they’re assigned to.

They work remotely and use cloud-based tools, like Google docs and sheets, to keep you abreast of how your sales are performing. VAs can help you manage the most repetitive and time-consuming tasks in Poshmark to make sure you focus on things that truly need your attention.

Risks and Rewards

As with any third party, bringing on a VA has its own risks and rewards. You need to understand them all before you bring one on board.

Sharing your account information with anyone can be risky. That’s why it’s so important to thoroughly vet whoever you bring on board and find a professional service you can trust.

If you hire a company that uses bots or automation, your account might be suspended. Always make sure that the service you go with has one person who is manually monitoring your listing on Poshmark.

The rewards of having a virtual assistant on hand are worth finding a secure service to use. Highly skilled VAs make selling and buying on Poshmark a smooth and stress-free experience, netting you more cash in the long run.

Cost of a Virtual Assistant

Speaking of cash, how much should you expect to pay a Poshmark virtual assistant? Prices vary based on how many hours you want them to work, where you find your VA and more.

There are plenty of gig websites, like Fiverr, where you can find someone willing to help you with selling on Poshmark. You can find cheaper assistants but might have trouble vetting them.

Going through a dedicated company, however, comes with more security and cuts down on onboarding and training costs but it will cost you more. Expect to cough up a little bit more per month to have that peace of mind.

Hire a VA Today

There are plenty of pros and cons to hiring Poshmark virtual assistants. There’s no doubt, however, that they can make your online sales easier and net you more profit if you find the right one.

If you’re still not sure how to find the best VA for your online business, we’re here to help. We can guide you to a VA that will boost sales and save you money at the same time.

Reach out to us today so that we can chat about connecting you to your perfect virtual assistant!

Experience The Difference
MyOutDesk can save you up to 70% on employment costs
Claim a free business strategy consultation & ‘Grow Virtual’ Guide

Happy businesswoman with pictures interface

How Can a Virtual Assistant Service Help Your Company?

July 12, 2021/in Administrative, Marketing, MOD Virtual Assistants, Real Estate, Technology, Vertical Markets /by Louie Z. Sawyer

Did you know that 41% of small business owners deal with company issues while taking a break, and 40% spend up to three hours a week talking on the phone for business reasons?

What’s worse is most work 50 hours a week. And 68% of that time is mostly spent dealing with daily issues and tasks.

All this can leave you feeling like you have no time left in your day to enjoy yourself, which can leave you feeling stressed and wound up.

The good news is, a virtual assistant service can help immensely!

This article will lay out all the virtual assistant benefits you can get from using MyOutDesk.

[Considering a Virtual Assistant?]

Better Productivity

If you find yourself constantly doing busy work, then a virtual assistant can really help out. They can take those menial tasks from your plate so you can truly focus on growing your business instead.

You can choose which tasks you want to delegate to these experts, and they’ll handle the rest. You won’t have to worry about training them either since they come with their own skillsets and experience.

You’ll Save Space

When you use a virtual assistant service, you won’t have to worry about allocating space in your office for that extra worker.

As the name suggests, the assistant will work remotely on the internet, usually from their home office. As a result, you’ll get to make use of every square inch of your office for your in-person staff.

[Considering a Virtual Assistant?]

You’ll Avoid Extra Costs.

Not only will you save space in your business, but you’ll also avoid extra costs, such as the purchase of an extra desk, chair, computer, software, and other items to accommodate the additional worker.

In turn, this can also keep your utility bills as low as possible.

Hiring an in-house assistant also means you’ll be responsible for things like taxes, worker’s compensation, health insurance/benefits, and PTO. Virtual assistants are independent contractors, so none of these responsibilities fall on your shoulders.

All you’ll have to pay for is the time spent working for you!

You Won’t Have to Worry About Providing the Tech.

As we’ve just mentioned, you won’t have to buy computers or software for virtual assistants. Instead, they’ll come with their own devices and business tools, plus they’re responsible for keeping up with tech, not you.

This is yet another way you can cut down on both costs and stress. In most industries, being up-to-date with technology can mean the difference between making and breaking it. When you leave this responsibility in the hands of someone else, you won’t have to stress out about keeping pace with ever-evolving tech. Stop worrying about how the job is done, and instead focus on that it gets done.

[Considering a Virtual Assistant?]

There’s More Flexibility

Both you and your employees are probably in the office from 9 to 5. This means there are 16 hours of the day where nothing business-related is covered.

Of course, it’s rare for a company to offer round-the-clock service, but you’ll want to get as close to that as you can. Of course, when you’re working with in-house assistants who are in the same time zone as you, that’s more difficult to do.

With virtual assistants, they can be located anywhere in the world. So even if they “clock in” from 9 to 5, it can actually cover times when you’re not in the office!

You can also hire and fire virtual assistants whenever you wish. You won’t have to deal with the long and tedious hiring process or a disgruntled employee on your property.

While you can fire an employee at will if you want, you’d have to worry about them raising an issue that doing so violated them as a protected class. This isn’t a problem if you use a virtual assistant company.

It’s Easier to Scale Your Company

With more flexibility comes easier scalability. For example, you can start with just one virtual assistant, and when you scale your business, you can add another one.

If that’s still not enough to keep up with demand, you can hire as many virtual assistants as you see fit. And if you accidentally hire one too many at once, it’s no problem to stop services for as many assistants as you want.

This decreases some of the risks of scaling your business and can set you up for better long-term success since you’re not sinking a significant amount of money into these processes.

[Considering a Virtual Assistant?]

Build Better Client Relationships

When it comes to acquisition vs. retention, the former can be five times more expensive. While the acquisition is still important, your efforts will be for nothing if you don’t actively keep your existing customers happy.

But if you have limited resources, it can be tough to keep up with just your in-house team. This is where virtual assistants come into the picture.

These agents can maintain good client relationships, so they remain loyal. Not only that, but they can also help with the acquisition process if needed. They’ll be able to assist with things like cold calls and client follow-ups.

Get Excellent Virtual Assistant Service From MyOutDesk

At this point, it should be clear that getting a virtual assistant service from MyOutDesk can only benefit your company.

Not only does this service save you time and money, but it can also relieve a big part of your business burden. Best of all is, you won’t have to worry about getting the assistant set up, nor will you have to set aside a part of your already limited office space for this person.

So what are you waiting for? If you’re interested in using the best virtual assistant service around, sign up with us today. We even offer a free “double your business” strategy call too!

Experience The Difference
MyOutDesk can save you up to 70% on your employment costs
Claim a free business strategy consultation & ‘Grow Virtual’ Guide

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Stop Chasing, Start Attracting

Make It

Ship It

No One Cares About Your Hair

Key Ingredient: Virtual Assistants

A Sign of the Times

Less Physical, More Digital

Perks and Benefits

Who’s Next?

5 Things to Know About WordPress Blogging With a Virtual Assistant

1. Content Planning and Management

2. Technical Assistance

3. Marketing Solution and Implementation

4. Blog Interaction

5. Search Engine Optimization

Improve Your WordPress Blogging with a Virtual Assistant

The Why

Cheaper.

Reliable.

Pro-Tip from Daniel Ramsey

The How

Gmail

OneNote

A Day In The Life

One Virtual Assistant’s Schedule

Day or Night

Do It, Document It, and Delegate It to a Virtual Assistant

Identify the Tasks

Document Procedures

Test the Procedures

Delegate the Tasks

Process Documentation Tips for Productivity

You Need Help Finding Help

Our Recruitment Process

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It Covers Many Roles

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Is a Virtual Assistant Service Right for Your Business?

Good News Travels Far

The Freedom To Focus

Do I Need a Virtual Receptionist?

Virtual Receptionist Vs. In-Person

Types of Virtual Receptionist Services

Automated

Message Only

Call transfer

Live Answering Service

Best Virtual Receptionist Services

Don’t Delay, Delegate Today

The People and The Talent

The Education and Job Market

Lowered Cost and Liability

How to Hire a Virtual Assistant for Nearly Any Industry

Before You Hire a Virtual Assistant, Assess Your Needs

Create a List of Requirements

Do Your Research

Interview Candidates

Get the Remote Help You Need

SMS > Email

Marketing Synergy

A Direct Connection

Let Someone Else Manage

You Have One New Message

If You Want Something Done Right

More Is Better

Reduced Costs

Increased Flexibility and Productivity

They’ll Be Happier Than a Traditional Employee

Hire a Virtual Secretary and You’ll See

Top 5 FAQ’s

What will the assistant do for me?

How do we maintain productive communication?

How flexible are they with my team?

How does someone remote come with any assurances?