VAs (virtual assistants) are talented people with skill sets in all areas. Most can handle day-to-day administrative tasks like managing email, answering phones, internet research and so forth. In addition to these services, many bring specialized skills and training to the table such as web design, accounting, video creation or programming.
While it is impossible to list everything, here are some of the more common tasks that VAs can handle:
Autoresponder SetupBlog Comment PostingContact ManagementCopy Editing
| Accounting | Advertising Campaign Management |
| Advertising Copy | Affiliate Management |
| Affiliate Program Set Up | Affiliate Recruitment |
| Affiliate Sales, Reports & Payouts | Answer Emails |
| Answer Help Desk Tickets | Answer Phone Calls |
| Answer Snail Mail | Answer Voice Mails & Faxes |
| Article Distribution | Article Topic Research |
| Audio Recording & Editing | Audio Transcription |
| Blog Installation | Blog Maintenance: Upgrades, Plugins, etc. |
| Blog Post Scheduling | Book Travel Arrangements |
| Bookkeeping | Branding Assistance |
| Business Plan | CD/DVD Cover or Sleeve design |
| CD/DVD Creation & Duplication | Competitor Research |
| Customer Support | Data Entry |
| Database Development & Maintenance | Design – Banners, Buttons, etc. |
| Design – Covers for Ebooks, Reports, etc. | Design – Graphic Editing |
| Design – Website Logos/Headers | Design – Website Themes & Templates |
| Desktop Publishing – Brochures, Business Cards, etc. | Direct Mail Marketing |
| Draft Letters, Agendas & Other Business Documents | Ebook Formatting |
| Event Planning | Flash Animation |
| Guest Speaker Research | Illustrations |
| Information Product Research | Interviews |
| Invoicing & Payroll | Keyword Research |
| Link Building | Locate Affiliate Products to Promote |
| Manual/User Guide/FAQ Creation | Market Research |
| Marketing Campaign Management | Message Board Management |
| Message Board Moderation | Message Board Posting |
| Newsletter Distribution – Print & Digital | Pay-Per-Click Set Up & Maintenance |
| Photo Editing | Podcast Set Up & Management |
| Podcast Recording | Post Card Marketing |
| PowerPoint Presentations | Press Release Distribution |
| Product Development | Product Reviews |
| Product Shipping | Project Management |
| Proofreading | Publicity Management |
| Report Formatting | Scheduling Appointments, Interviews, etc. |
| Search Engine Optimization | Send Faxes |
| Shopping Cart Set Up & Maintenance | Sign up for Affiliate Programs |
| Social Bookmark & Networking Management | Spreadsheet Set Up & Maintenance |
| Survey Set Up & Maintenance | Teleseminar Recording |
| Teleseminar Set Up | Track Affiliate IDs, Sales, etc. |
| Transcription | Video Creation |
| Video Editing | Webinar Set Up |
| Website – Set up & Maintenance | Website – Updating Content |
| Word Processing | Writing Copy |
This list could go on and on. As technology, business and marketing techniques evolve and improve, so do the talents of virtual assistants. Whether you need a Jack or Jill of all trades or someone who is talented in one particular area, chances are you can find a Virtual Assistant to fit your needs.
Now that you have an idea of the tasks a VA can do, here is a quick exercise to help you determine what items to outsource. We are doing this the old fashion way, so grab a pencil and paper.
Think about all the tasks, large and small, that you do in a day, week or month for your business. Use the list above if you need help. Once your list is complete, go over it again scoring each one based on the list below.
1 – I enjoy this task
2 – Not my favorite, but it’s ok
3 – Eh, I could take it or leave it
4 – I wish someone else would do it
5 – Thinking about it makes me ill
You may want to add to this list, or create a separate list of projects that you need or would like to have done, but you do not know how to do. Once you complete the exercise, you should have an idea of which tasks to outsource. If your list is long, don’t panic, nothing says you have to outsource everything at once, or at all.
Hi and welcome to Virtually Done. I’m Leslie and it’s a pleasure to meet you! If you are an online entrepreneur or small business owner struggling to find enough time in your day to concentrate on the tasks you are passionate about, I can help you!
If you would like to learn more, please contact me. I’d love to hear from you!