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KW Command – The 2022 Inside Scoop

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Are you still not familiar with KW Command? Here’s everything you need to know. KW Command is Keller Williams cloud-based CRM, leveraging a ton of innovative features to help real estate professionals manage their leads, listings, contacts, and much more! In this exciting webinar, you’ll learn from KW Technology Ambassador Zach Younger exactly how KW Command works, and how you can leverage the advanced the Keller artificial intelligence interface to save time & money.

In addition, you’ll get a FREE copy of our exclusive KW Command how-to guide & contact importer, which will help you rapidly get up to speed using the KW Command online interface.

2020 HousingWire Tech100 winner: KW Command by Keller Williams

KW Command is designed to be a comprehensive pipeline management system for your real estate business that will take care of leads, listings, deals & sales from end to end. We’re not just talking about the CRM, we’re talking about a system that can potentially handle all your business processes! So that your team and you can focus on person-to-person interactions to build relationships that will boost business.

What Exactly Is KW Command?

What is KW Command? According to their website; KW Command is “a comprehensive and intelligent foundation with interconnected products and experiences built on top. And Keller, your AI virtual assistant, helps you access it all while on the go.” Shaped from the models of The Millionaire Real Estate Agent, Command is your comprehensive operating system of the future. It allows you to optimize, manage, and run your business with unprecedented simplicity and insight. KW Command is essentially the dashboard to Keller Cloud that will end all dashboards. It is the centralized environment for everything an agent and their team must accomplish during any given day.

Big Data

Zach Younger is our guide in explaining KW Command – he’s been a Keller Williams Technology Ambassador for several years.  He has a passion for education and communication. That passion shines in the classroom where he uses a collaborative technique to find and develop student strengths. According to Zach,  Keller Williams set out several years ago to create a single Cloud-based system for Real Estate. The reason they did is that they know that big data and artificial intelligence is changing the real estate industry. The Real Estate industry today is significantly different than the way it’s going to look six months from now. They believe that the biggest driver of that is data and artificial intelligence. And that is why Keller cloud and command were created. They wanted to give their associates and agents at Keller Williams a resource to take advantage of big data. And combine it with artificial intelligence, so that they can communicate with their clients on a one-to-one basis, using the power of AI and big data so that agents can better reach the consumer.

Artificial Intelligence

Everybody talks about AI and how that matters, everybody talks about it because it’s a buzzword, what specifically will kW command do for a brokerage or an agent that is utilizing AI? At Keller Williams, they are very aware that it is already being used in many ways in our day-to-day lives. For example, look at a service like Netflix; they use artificial intelligence to gather data from their users. If you watch a TV show that several other people watch, and they watch something else, Netflix uses that data to suggest that show to you based on the similarity of your behavior on their site to other users. Artificial intelligence helps Netflix curate specific content for you creating a personalized experience. This is done through big data.

artificial intelligence

The command platform seeks to create a similar, personalized, and curated experience. There will be an agent-facing platform and a consumer experience. If a user searches through homes in their neighborhood because their next-door neighbor sold their house, Keller (Kelly), KW’s AI Assistant can help make predictions and will pull up results that will help the consumer asses the value of their own home. If the same user suddenly pulls up a search for a neighborhood in a different city or State, Keller can use the data from previous searches to try and present a curated experience that predicts from past searches.

Watch Now! + Freebie

KW aims to provide the service for all parties involved, both agents and home buyers/sellers, etc., In order to create a one-stop-shop, convenient and personalized experience. This is only a sneak peek into this enlightening conversation with Zach, so be sure to watch the entire interview on this page, if you do, you will also get an awesome freebie that Zach gave us in order to help you get your business ready for KW Command. We are giving away the KW Command how-to guide and contact importer CSV – complete the form below to download them now!

Get The How-To Guide and Importer Now!

Submit the form below to get our exclusive KW Command how-to guide & contact importer —and don’t forget to check the box below the form to request a 1-on-1 Questions and Answers sessions with our experts. You’ll also get our new #1 International Best Seller, “Scaling Your Business with MOD Virtual Professionals”, along with a Market Force® Personality Indicator and our complete collection of business strategy guides & checklists – absolutely free!

Yes, please send me free copies of the strategy guides & important email/SMS reminders + occasional offers. Message & data rates may apply, opt-out at any time. MyOutDesk records all communications for training purposes. By completing this form you consent to being on a recorded line.

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Top 3 Reasons Companies Seek Virtual Assistants

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There are a lot of reasons for a company to seek out virtual professionals. They range from just needing an extra hand on some mundane busy work, to needing an entire team to manage a particular department. We surveyed some professionals recently to get an idea of what the leading reasons for seeking outside help are, right now at the start of 2022. While the results of the survey certainly help us focus our efforts appropriately, we felt like sharing them outside our organization too. Because sometimes knowing more about what other companies are doing can be beneficial to a company still figuring things out. So here are the top three issues/concerns that led businesses to knock on our door.

Number 1 – Wasting Time / Workload Too High

This one being by far the most common response comes as no surprise. The very definition of assistant is: “a person who helps in particular work”. A lot of companies are facing a situation where even just one pair of helping hands could mean so much to their productivity and peace of mind. It could be that your company is experiencing sudden and rapid growth, and you’re struggling to keep up with demand. Or maybe you’ve always been juggling duties and stretching your team thin to maintain a certain quality of service. Either way, you’re tired of wasting that time and energy. This is when a virtual assistant can step in, remotely, and work all day or all night on just about any task you’ve got for them. Customer service, accounts receivable, marketing, sales, the list goes on. Give your local team some breathing room by adding a virtual assistant or two to lighten the load.

Learn how a VA can help you stop wasting time and energy:

Number 2 – Low / No Prospecting

Another obvious result because sales are something we see a lot of our virtual assistants being used for. The beauty of an inside sales agent(ISA) is that they can be anywhere. All they need is a phone and access to a computer. Educate them on your product and your vision and they’ll do the rest. Why not have a select few expert ISAs locally, and outsource a team of remote ISAs to do all the cold calling and manage email campaigns. It’s the perfect system for effective and productive prospecting. Virtual assistants can bate all the leads from there around the clock efforts, while your local experts hook them. You pay less for your sales efforts while getting more leads in return. We can see why that’d be the 2nd most popular reason to seek out our help.

Learn how a VA can help you tackle low prospecting:

Number 3 – Other

This one made the top three, despite not being anything specific. But if we step back and look at the various reasons leaders come to us and what our virtual assistants end up doing for them, it’s not hard to fill in the blanks. One example that might fit here, is when a business doesn’t need an assistant but is just curious how to maximize their results while spending less. Often times a successful company is successful because they’re doing everything they should be doing already. They’re seeing their success grow for a reason, right? But you can always stand to do a little better. 

Where do you fit?

Do you fit somewhere in this top three list? There are many other reasons why companies seek help from a remote working virtual assistant and even more reasons why they choose us over the competition. Not only do we provide experienced, skilled, and often educated professionals who are hungry for steady work, but we do so cost-effectively. We may not be the cheapest service, but we’re also not the most expensive. We do happen to be the best, according to several publications that have placed us as #1 for virtual assistants over the years. We’ve been giving growing businesses the help they need or just want, since long before the pandemic made remote work the new norm. 

If you have some questions or concerns, anything at all, please do click the link below to request a consultation with one of our experts. It’s not a pushy sales call, we promise. We just want to at least know what’s on your mind, and then tell you a bit more about us. Like how we can guarantee such high-quality professionals at up to 70% less cost than a traditional local hire with the same experience. So reach out, and let’s see if our service is a good fit for your business. 

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

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Content Creation Made Easy – Virtual Professionals Use Canva

A mechanic is no good without his tools. Just like a marketer/designer is no good without his own creative toolset. In the early days of graphic and web design, those tools were typically Adobe or Apple software costing the designer themselves a hefty sum. Eventually, the creative and tech-savvy began sharing their work online. Websites would offer templates that one could download and customize to fit their needs, giving designers a kind of headstart. Over time, with the advancements of technology on the web, more flexible and in-depth solutions became available. Like entire websites that resembled the legacy software designers were accustomed to using but hosted entirely online. One of those such websites still going strong today is Canva. An invaluable tool to anyone seeking creative solutions, be they an experienced designer or someone without a creative bone in their body!

What Exactly Is Canva?

For those unfamiliar, Canva is a website that offers a wide variety of creative tools and content. From presentation templates and video files to social media and even printable assets. Much of their content library is free to use, while some of their premium assets are restricted to Canva Pro accounts which cost a monthly fee. Anyone can create a free account from scratch or by connecting Canva to your Google, Apple, or Facebook account. From there you’re able to browse their extensive library of free, customizable templates, as well as sample premium content before signing up for a paid subscription. There’s something for everyone and just about every need. 

 

We did a little research on our end and discovered that Canva was by far the most searched-for technology by a large demographic of our clients. We attribute this to the freedom and flexibility Canva offers professionals looking for help producing attractive visuals. The ease of use means that anyone with a computer can dive in and play around until they’ve got a hang of it. With a bit of practice, even non-creative types can start producing professional-grade content. On the flip side, someone experienced in the world of graphic and media design has enough customization at their disposal to elevate the provided content. They can expand on existing templates or create their own content from scratch using the web-based Canva application. No software download is necessary; just log in and start creating. Plenty is possible using the free service, while the Pro tier opens things up even more and at less cost than traditional software like Adobe. 

content creation

Why Should You Try It?

Services like Canva come in especially handy when coupled with a creative virtual assistant. Some companies will have a corporate account for services like Canva and share access with hired marketers, designers, etc. Very handy for allowing group access to projects and maintaining branding guidelines, all while making content creation fast and easy. No matter how skilled your designer or marketer is, they don’t need to spend half the day making social media content from scratch. With Canva your virtual assistant can log in remotely without any software, and pick a template that fits the aesthetic of your business. Then they can customize it to fit your branding, share it for review, then download their creation and start posting it all over your channels. From Instagram posts and stories to flyers and brochures, infographics, A4 documents, and even engaging videos. If the designer was a mechanic, then Canva is their auto shop.

A Winning Combo

With the rising embrace of remote work and outsourcing tasks to virtual professionals, web-based services like Canva are invaluable. Simply with access to a computer and internet, anyone can log in and start creating visually interesting and dynamic content to suit any business type. The results only improve when experienced professionals get their hands on a service like Canva. It’s yet another way to cut costs, increase productivity and maintain product quality. And when coupled with a reliable, experienced virtual assistant, the results are limitless. Our clients can attest to that, and we’re happy to show you how and why. Click the link below to request a consultation with one of our experts. They like to hear you out first, and then pitch a plan with one of our virtual assistants that gets you what you need. It’s easy, quick, and has no strings attached. A creative virtual assistant from MyOutdesk using a free and robust service like Canva is a winning combination. Let us help you win.

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

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tech radar

MyOutDesk Recognized By Top Publication, Again

While some other companies pay to get mentioned in “best of” lists, we at MyOutDesk earn the top spot. We’ve been providing industry-best virtual assistants and customer service to our clients since 2008, and according to TechRadar, we’re the best at doing so for the past three years. That’s right; we’ve been named the #1 service for virtual assistants by TechRadar for three consecutive years. They just released their “Best Virtual Assistant Services of 2022” list and MyOutDesk is at the top yet again. We’re honored and we’re proud, but to be honest we’re not that surprised. 

To say we’re not surprised may sound cocky, but in reality, we’re just that confident in what we do for our customers. Being number one on lists was never our goal, and it still isn’t. Our goal is to provide the best virtual assistant professionals to any business looking to grow while spending less and earning more at the same time. And when you accomplish such a lofty goal as we have, it’s hard to truly compete with us. 

How We Do It

Remote work and outsourcing are two different things in the professional world, and both have been hot topics as of late. In the midst of a rapidly changing world, every company is trying different things in an effort to stay two steps ahead. Our clients are three steps ahead. When you combine remote work and outsourcing, the result is a potent solution for cost-effective growth. MyOutDesk taps into a massive pool of educated, experienced, and reliable professionals in the Philippines. People with the same skillsets and drive as anyone locally. We offer them generous compensation, along with benefits, PTO, and professional equipment. In return, we get a diverse selection of hard-working people anxious to give their loyalty to any company in the US. 

On top of their experience and skills, the time zone difference also plays a beneficial role in the service we provide.  This is an important point that local assistant services can’t touch. If a growing business needs customer service during their stateside hours, we have professionals ready to work their nights for your days. If another company wants someone to assist with busy work during the after hours, we have professionals ready to work all of their days while you rest. It’s the most flexible and reliable service available. And since the Philippines happens to be one of the most English-speaking countries, there’s no language barrier to worry about. It truly is a win/win for everyone involved.

It’s About You

But this isn’t about us winning some top spot, it’s about you winning. Our success is tied directly to the success of our clients, which is why it’s so important that we continue providing the best experience possible. So once again we’re humbled and honored to be recognized by a business publication as reputable as TechRadar, three years in a row. If you read this and still aren’t utilizing our award-winning services, click the link below to request a consultation with one of our experts. We’ll hear you out and understand your needs first, and then pitch a plan to help you scale your business with one or more virtual assistants. You have nothing to lose by having a conversation with us, and everything to gain if you like what we have to say. So reach out and discover what all the hype is about. 

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

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Business Publication Recognizes MyOutDesk – Why Our 7500 Clients Keep Winning

Yet another business publication that did extensive research on the market and competitors has rated us the #1 place to go for virtual assistants. First, it was TechRadar in 2020 who named us “#1 for Virtual Assistant Services”. Now our most recent accolade comes from techjury, who did a top 12 Best Virtual Assistant Companies for this new year of 2022. They too gave us the honor of the top spot as number 1, above all the other competition. Once again, we’re humbled, honored, and proud.

[Grab a Strategy Call Here]

Why We’re #1

Some of the things techjury highlights about our service is our specific expertise in providing support for sales needs and real estate-related industries. Tasks like managing listings, getting more leads, cold calling, appointment management, and all the typical administrative duties are pointed out in their brief summary. They also mention that our virtual assistants are based out of the Philippines, but they don’t get a chance to explain why that’s such an important detail. The reason we outsource to the Philippines specifically is that they’re one of the most English-speaking foreign cultures on the globe. Our CEO Daniel Ramsey discovered that they were a virtually untapped region of English-speaking, educated, experienced and talented individuals hungry for professional opportunities. It’s why we’re able to provide such reliable and high-quality services to our clients at competitive rates, while still compensating our virtual assistants generously.

But Wait, There’s More!

While we are extremely thankful to earn the top spot on their list, there is one thing about their review that we wanted to challenge a bit. They mention that retail or technology services aren’t our forte, but we beg to differ! In fact, we’ve been leaning into those kinds of services more heavily as of late, in an effort to provide the most well-rounded services possible to our clients. Our pool of experienced professional assistants is growing with expertise in areas like marketing, accounts payable/receivable, new technology, and retail-related tasks. If it’s a job that can be done remotely, chances are we have an experienced virtual assistant who can do it.

Let’s Be Successful

There’s a reason we’ve been in the business for so long, and continue to be named the top company to turn to for virtual assistants. We like to think we know what we’re doing, being as we’ve been providing this service to all kinds of companies since long before the pandemic. Now with remote work being the new normal, and more businesses seeking new ways to cut costs and raise profits, we’re in our comfort zone. But our success relies on your success, so if you’re at all curious about how a virtual assistant or two could help you scale your business, reach out! Click the link below to request a free one-on-one consultation with one of our experts. We listen first and then pitch an action plan. No obligation, no pressure. Nothing to lose, everything to gain. 

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

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Are You Streaming? In 2022 You Better Be!

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You already know what social media knows about you – and successful businesses are leveraging such user behavior to market themselves in the right places.

Billboards no longer work: It’s STREAMING for 2022

While we understand today’s consumer behavior, it’s no secret that people follow their favorite topics and interests on Instagram, YouTube, and even Twitch– much like avid TV show fans watch their favorite sitcoms every week. True marketers follow the traffic. When TV, billboards, and radio ads don’t spread to the masses – targeted content is the answer.

 

Streaming behavior: Previous years…

  • The average user spent 2 hours and 24 minutes per day on social.
  • 50.1% of the time spent on phones is done using social media apps.
  • Facebook was the most popular social media platform, costing people an average of 2 hours and 24 minutes each day.
  • Youtube took an average of 40 minutes per day.
  • Users spent an average of 30 minutes per day on Snapchat.
  • Instagram users spent an average of 28 minutes on the platform daily.
  • Pinterest users scrolled for ideas for only 14.2 minutes on average per day.

 

On top of those live viewership numbers, we can assume that many viewers are multitasking as they’re tuned in to popular streamers – checking email while blasting out social media posts via Twitter or TikTok while taking a break from work to watch some press release videos or retweet some memes.

Regardless, these numbers are impressive. And as more and more people begin to depend on social media as a go-to source for news and entertainment, it’s only going to progress.

[Grab a FREE Strategy Call Here]

 

Where to Begin: Streaming & Video Content Marketing

 

At first glance, it might seem like a challenge to get your business video content found by your target audience. A consumer could watch over 100,000 hours of video on YouTube in one year and that’s just one platform. That’s an incredible amount of content for a consumer to choose from when they could just as easily spend the time watching cat videos on Instagram or binge-watch their favorite TV show.

Here’s how to begin video content marketing:

  1. Start with Stories! Use Snapchat, Instagram Stories, Facebook Stories, Youtube Stories, (and now) Twitter Stories. These are short videos (or still frames) of visual content that you can use for your accounts. They can be memes, recordings, and interesting video content. Depending on the platform, you can add links to funnel traffic back to your website. Next, use a small budget and start boosting these stories to relevant demographics for your business.
  2. Next, publish short clips. As you develop more video content, you can repurpose them into short clips. People want knowledge, so be sure to curate content that will pique user interest!
  3. Use the Re-Purpose System. The Re-Purpose System shows you how you can multiply your efforts and save time by repurposing content from one event or task. There are so many ways that your unique content can be proliferated out in the world when you have someone to do that cyber-legwork for you.
  4. Once comfortable + traffic is established: GO LIVE. Livestreaming combined with authentic character can potentially generate a strong lead flow for your business.

Grow Your Digital Marketing Operations & Don’t Lift A Finger

With a marketing virtual assistant from MyOutDesk, you’ll have skilled support with your social media (Youtube, TikTok, Instagram Stories, Facebook Stories, SnapChat), email marketing, content management, and/or administrative tasks.

How is it so that entrepreneurs in your networks are outpacing your own content production? They seem to whip up content instantly, like podcast episodes and social posts, throughout all major online media platforms.

Even on a tight budget, you can engage in a full-time digital media presence — and save time while producing high-quality content. It’s no secret that your competitors with media steam engines are leveraging assistant labor, namely virtual assistants.

Expanding traffic by updating your digital marketing

A successful business can have virtual assistants fulfill these roles:

  • marketing coordinator
  • graphics designer
  • traffic coordinator
  • digital campaign manager
  • content creator & coordinator

 

Virtual Assistants are up to 70% less than the cost of a traditional employee and will work or you on a full-time basis. Virtual Assistants are the powerhouse behind quality podcasts, webinars, Youtube videos, Tweets, Facebook posts, Instagram photos, and Linkedin articles.

If you want to launch a high-quality podcast, but need to protect your valued time … you can launch your podcast and upgrade your online presence with a MyOutDesk Virtual Assistant!

Focus on your growth & scale your operations for 2022

ENVISIONING OF A NEW REALITY FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Simply put, MyOutDesk equips entrepreneurs & business owners with tools, strategies, and virtual employees – and when combined, businesses have a competitive edge and find growth while efficient systems and processes are put in place.

MyOutDesk proudly provides additional free business growth guides, books, and strategy calls.

See what we are about, and schedule a free consultation with us. We’ll take the time to learn more about your business and offer solutions to foster top talent and lower operational costs for your company.

 

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

 

Did You Know?  MyOutDesk’s origin story is set during the last global financial crisis of 2008. Yes, that’s right — our business started by scaling businesses with virtual assistants during a recession! Pioneers of virtual assistant services, our first client in 2008 went from five to seventeen VAs with a completely revamped organizational model in short order, and he told MyOutDesk, “Our virtual professionals have shaved $250,000 off our monthly overhead.”

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6 reasons virtual menu being selecting by a hand

Successful Companies Are Hiring Virtual Assistants: 6 Reasons Why

Adding a virtual assistant to your team brings many benefits. They are generally much more affordable than hiring in-house and have the skills and flexibility to support several aspects of your business. The virtual professionals at MyOutDesk are a step above the average virtual assistant with only 2% of applicants making the final grade.

Here are the top six reasons why successful companies hire virtual assistants. You can hire one too, all you need to do is schedule a Double Your Business Strategy Session today!

[Grab a FREE Strategy Call Here]

1. Time is your most important resource

Successful businesses and entrepreneurs know the value of being economic with the use of their time. Low-level tasks like email management and customer support can clutter up your schedule, restricting the amount of time you can spend on the more profitable tasks of your business, like dealing with leads and strategizing for future growth. A virtual professional enables you to free your schedule of non-revenue generating tasks and expand your business without blowing up your budget.

2. Affordable Business Growth

Business growth requires investment. By hiring a virtual professional you expand your operations without drastically increasing your wage bill and the amount of investment needed to grow your business. A virtual professional is not only substantially more affordable than hiring in-house, the continual management and training costs are also far less.

3. Free Yourself from Administrative Busy-Work

Responding to emails, managing meeting times and appointments, and data entry are all necessary daily administrative tasks, but they can easily eat into your schedule. A virtual professional can ensure these tasks are completed on time, enabling you to focus on the more productive aspects of your business. While it’s important to provide clear instruction on what you want your virtual professional to achieve, having these recurring admin tasks taken off your plate will help you focus your time on growing your business.

4. Gain valuable customer feedback and market data

Knowing the needs of your customers and potential clients is crucial to sustaining the growth of your business While monitoring the industry you operate in, keeping informed on what your competitors are up to, and collating customer feedback are all important to help grow your business, they also require an investment of time and energy. A virtual professional can collate all of this data for you, providing a valuable resource for your business. Having up-to-date access to this important data could prove a game-changer for the growth of your business.

5. Maintain Your Online Presence

In the age of social media, businesses are expected to have a strong online presence. However, while the benefits of maintaining the presence of your business across social media and consistently producing content are well known, the work involved can stretch your budget and consume time that should be spent on the more profitable tasks of your business. A virtual professional can help you manage your online presence, respond to customers and prospects on social media, and produce and repurpose content so you can keep your social media posts fresh and engaging.

6. Avoid Burnout

Every professional can suffer from burnout during their career. Hiring a virtual professional to assist in managing elements of your workload can help relieve the stress that a hectic work schedule can cause. Having someone there to help organize your schedule and deal with tasks frees up your work schedule to focus on more productive aspects of your business and also helps to avoid your work leaking into your personal life. A virtual professional can help you maintain a work-life balance that is crucial to optimizing your productivity and general well-being.

Curious how a virtual assistant could fit into your workflow? Click below to schedule a free one-on-one consultation with one of our experts. We’ll hear you out and then discuss if we can be of assistance!

 

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

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organizer with zillow logo and failed stamp

Zillow Tried and Failed: With Virtual Assistants, You Won’t!

The housing market is pretty crazy right now! And it’s making the real estate business go a little crazy too, apparently. I’m sure you’re familiar with Zillow, the massive online database of rental and purchase properties. Recently they got into buying homes themselves and flipping them to customers. Things did not go according to plan, and ultimately ‘Zillow Offers’ was short-lived. New questions are being raised about corporations getting involved in the housing market, as given recent events it’s clearly a slippery slope. Who benefits the most from a company buying up mass numbers of homes and reselling? And who is hurt the most by that? Some technology advancements in the real estate industry may lead to removing the middle man in the equation; the agent. While others seem more aimed at supporting the agent to provide a better experience for buyers. In either case, the integration of virtual assistants can be the missing piece of the puzzle when properly placed. Let’s talk about where Zillow went wrong, and how virtual assistants keep other businesses from making the same mistakes.

[Grab a FREE Strategy Call Here]

Avoidable Losses

Zillow Offers was the name of their failed house-flipping operation. They had aimed to no longer be just a database for buyers/sellers, but to be a major player themselves in the market. The global reliance on internet shopping no doubt had an influence on Zillow’s mission here.  If we can order everything from cat food and groceries to cars and vacations over sites like Amazon, why not buy a house online too? Unfortunately, the timing wasn’t right, the execution was flawed, or perhaps a bit of both. Because Zillow reported having lost over $300 million dollars in just the past few months thanks to this new venture. This obviously led to Zillow reconsidering this algorithm-based approach to house flipping, and ultimately the end of Zillow Offers short life. Zillow now needs to sell 7,000 homes at a loss, resulting in another $250 million in losses by year’s end.

 

The World Moves Faster Than Tech

One bit of conjecture is a lack of discipline corporate-wise in the execution of this venture. The systems set in place for buying up homes seem to have struggled with predicting accurate home prices as the market continued to rise. CEO Rich Barton said as much; “the unpredictability in forecasting home prices far exceeds what we anticipated.” That, coupled with a known inability to find enough contractors to help them flip these homes Zillow already purchased, led to a massive overflow of houses they couldn’t do anything with. This may sound like a tech-company attempt to manipulate the market, but in reality, it was more an attempt to predict and get ahead of it. To become the Amazon of real estate, before anyone else got a chance. Ultimately, it does not appear the world is ready for an automated home buying experience. There are just too many moving parts. The market can be too volatile, buyers can be fickle, and contractors are a finite resource. Zillow learned a hard, and expensive lesson.

 

house for sale zillow

 

Remember The Humans

Money wasn’t the only thing lost in this mess, as one-quarter of Zillow’s 6,400 person workforce is being laid off. That’s approximately 2,000 people who just lost their jobs, due to Zillows business mistakes. A sad chain of events during an unprecedented time for businesses and employees alike. It makes us wonder if this could have been avoided, had Zillow implemented more human safeguards? Relying on code will always have its limitations and risks. That’s why more and more businesses are expressing interest in virtual assistants. The human touch is necessary to keep your business growing in a healthy and sustainable fashion. Human error can be caught, noticed, corrected, and resolved before it blows up. When an algorithm messes up, it often just keeps messing up and the damage just piles on.

 

Brace For the Future

If you’re trying to grow your business fast like Zillow, but you want to do it the right way, perhaps a virtual assistant is the key. Keep your local experts focused on their specific strengths, give them the room to breathe and excel. While delegating remote busy work to an experienced, trained, and reliable virtual assistant. All at up to 70% savings compared to hiring a local employee. If you get carried away with tech and automation you’ll dig yourself a Zillow-sized hole. Humans, no matter where they’re located, can be a vital part of the equation when calculating rapid growth. Use the link below to request a FREE one-on-one consultation. We’ll hear you out and understand what you need, and then pitch a plan to help with a virtual assistant. No obligation, nothing to lose, everything to gain. 

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

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VA working with multiple hands showing fast multitasking

Marketing Firms Use Virtual Assistants To Scale Up

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“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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What can a va do? Digital marketing

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. 

 

myoutdesk social media marketing virtual assistant

“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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A Quick Guide on How to Hire a Virtual Assistant

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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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what can a virtual assist do multitasking

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.

virtual assistant help desk with headset

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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

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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.

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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.

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

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