The Worst VA Myths You Will Hear (And Why They’re Wrong)
Working with a VA is an interesting experience. Don’t worry – it’s the good kind! But because it’s very different from hiring someone in house, there are a lot of rumours and myths around how we work. And a lot of them make a VA seem like more trouble then they’re worth. And to be honest, we’re a little offended. VAs are a fantastic resource for the young and growing business, or the busy entrepreneur. So today we’re going to put pen to paper, and debunk some of the most common myths about VAs we hear.
Anyone Can Be a VA
A lot of people think that if you have a computer, an internet connection and a phone, you have all it takes to be a VA. Which means there are a bunch of business owners out there who worry that hiring a VA will mean bringing someone unqualified and unprofessional into their business, who might just up and disappear halfway through a job if something else comes up.
Well, we hate to break it to you, but that’s utter bullshit. For one, being a VA requires a very specific set of skills – one that often needs a lot of time and money invested in them to develop. Second – VAs run businesses (well, the legitimate VAs do anyway). This means they will have invested time, money and energy into their own business and helping yours. So a professional VA will take their work very seriously indeed. And by working with a VA who has a company (even if they are a sole trader) means you can be sure of professionalism, qualification and ability.
VA’s Only Do Admin
There is so much more to a VA than admin. The clue’s in the name: ‘virtual assistant’. We assist with all sorts of things, not just admin. Don’t get us wrong, there are some VAs who specialise in admin tasks, and that’s great. But there are a lot of other specialist skills a VA can have, and bring with them to your business. A few examples include:
- Blogging
- Bookkeeping
- Event organisation
- Social media management
- PR
And many more besides. So don’t just limit your ideas for a VA to admin – ask what other areas of business they can help you with.
We’re All The Same
Yeah… We’re not. Are you the same as the business down the street that offers the same services as you? No. Every person and VA is different, and so is every VA. Each VA has their own unique training, professional background and preferred skills. Some will only work with certain industries, while others will only handle certain types of tasks – outsourcing the ones they don’t have the skill to do themselves. And each VA has their own personality – some you’ll gel with, some you won’t. So it’s worth the time to find a VA that has the skills and approach you need.
You’ll Never Be Able To Get Hold Of One
One of the advantages of a VA is that you’ll be able to get hold of them when you need them, so the idea that we’re all completely uncontactable is laughable. Even though we are ‘virtual’, we’re easy to get hold of when you need us. This is because there are a load of different ways we can remote work together. On top of phone calls and email, we can stay in touch via online messaging, services like Skype, Slack and Zoom, and others. As long as there’s a tool in place, communication shouldn’t be a problem.
VA’s Are Expensive
Categorically not true. An employee is a very expensive thing – between recruitment costs, training, holidays, sick leave, paternity or maternity costs and more (not to mention all the time they spend not working), hiring someone in house is rarely a cost-effective move. With a VA you’re literally only paying for the hours they work – no more, no less. And all of those extra costs? The VA bears them, not you. So you could save yourself a small fortune by hiring a VA for a few hours a week over an employee.
Hopefully that puts a few things to rest. As professional VAs, we pride ourselves on providing high quality service to each and every one of our clients. If you have any questions about what we’ve discussed today – or if you want us to bust some more myths, just get in touch and we can have a chat.