Virtual Assistant
/əˈsɪst(ə)nt/
noun
noun: virtual assistant; plural noun: virtual assistants
To get you up to speed, a virtual assistant is a person working from a remote location offering various services to companies or entrepreneurs. Although they are not in-office workers, they can digitally access the data and resources required to do the job.
An expert virtual assistant knows how to make their life easier (that’s why they’re in their career!), and ensures their clients experience is seamless, professional and efficient.
Virtual assistants are generally self-employed who specialise in carrying out specific tasks as dictated by their clients.
Over the last few years we have seen the virtual assistant industry skyrocket, and there is now a VA to support clients in a variety of services, including:
- Customer support
- Administrative tasks
- Digital marketing
- Social media marketing and content creation
- Community management
- Data entry
- Online business management
- Financial accounting and bookkeeping
..and so much more.
As a Virtual Assistant, there usually isn’t an opportunity to “learn on the job” like a traditional PA or EA would experience. You need to be equipped with the skills and knowledge of useful tools to cater to your clients requirements as quickly and efficiently as possible.
There are five online platforms that every VA should not only be expert in, but should constantly be using for maximum productivity and efficiency, should be at the top of your professional development list:
Asana
Asana is designed to enhance communication and task management.
This tool lets people handle tasks and projects in one easy-to-manage platform. People may build assignments, assign tasks, determine deadlines, and communicate directly.
Every VA should use this to easily manage tasks and keep their employer in the loop.
Dropbox
Your client may need to share files and images with you, which is where Dropbox shines. It allows you to share large files, creates a cloud backup of images, important files, and data, and offers flexibility, mobility, and security.
Google (GDrive, Sheets, Docs)
Google is no longer just a search engine, and now offers a wide range of useful applications for daily use. Google Docs is essential for online document creation and management, and sharing with clients or teams who can edit and update in real time.
You can keep everything in one place, working online without requiring a physical backup of your data, and sharing everything with the client with the click of one button.
LastPass
Most clients will have accounts to many platforms and websites, so it makes sense to keep their passwords secure. This is easily done using Lastpass, an online, secure, and modern password keeper.
LastPass lets you keep all the passwords in one place and offers the highest and latest form of encryption to keep everything safe. This way, you will manage all the important passwords in one place without ever worrying about losing them.
Zoom
You may want to talk to your client every once in a while, or you have a regular meeting planned. Calling on the phone can be disjointed and difficult to communicate what you need to know. Which is where Zoom shines.
An online video conference platform, Zoom offers secure and encrypted online video calling services, web conferencing, and webinars with seamless quality. You can not only conduct a formal call with the client but also manage minutes-of-meeting and other important aspects online from one place.
As a leading Virtual Assistance company, Your Part Time PA relies on all of these platforms and tools to manage clients and keep our service efficient, professional and seamless. We’d love to know, what’s your favourite VA tool that you can’t live without?
