Traditional marketing channels like print and television ads typically require a larger investment in both budget and staffing. If you’re a solopreneur or a small business owner, you may find that these channels can be challenging to participate in. Having limited resources and smaller teams can make it difficult to keep up with big companies that have both deeper pockets and large marketing departments.

However, these resource limitations shouldn’t hold small and midsize businesses (SMEs) back. There are other ways to get your brand’s story out there: word-of-mouth marketing, community-building, and, of course, social media are just a few.

When it comes to appreciating how social media has changed the game for businesses, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew says it best: “By connecting people, by giving people the window to discover, we have given many small businesses… a voice that they would never otherwise have.” In many ways, the rise of social media has been beneficial for SMEs. It has created an arena where small businesses can co-exist or even compete with larger corporations.

This relatively new way to market a brand offers fewer barriers to entry. At the very least, all you need is an internet connection, a smartphone, and an excellent understanding of your brand and your target audience. Big production and advertising budgets may be nice to have but are completely optional. This approach has been true for a lot of small business owners, and with the help of a social media virtual assistant (VA), it could be true for your business, too!

You may be asking yourself, “What does a social media virtual assistant do, exactly?” Keep reading to discover how social media VAs can help you unlock the benefits of digital marketing and more!

What is a virtual assistant, and why should I hire one?

Thanks to technology, remote work has become a viable work option for professionals worldwide. This setup offers flexibility for both employers and employees and has brought about the rise of the virtual staffing industry.

What is virtual staffing, you ask? Simply put, it’s the practice of hiring virtual assistants or VAs. A virtual assistant (not to be confused with Alexa or Siri) is a skilled knowledge worker who works from the comfort of their own home or remote office. These days, there are millions of virtual assistants with diverse skills and experiences who help businesses from wherever they are in the world. You’ll find that the VA pool is rich with talent who can take on everything from routine tasks like administrative work and bookkeeping or more technical ones like video editing or website development.

Now that you know what a virtual assistant is, here’s why hiring one should be your next business move:

• It’s more cost-effective than hiring in-house staff.

One of the most important considerations business owners may have when making decisions is the cost. The same goes for staffing decisions, as expenses associated with hiring in-office staff can be overwhelming. This can even force some owners to delay growing their team and instead take on more tasks.

With VA staffing, you can get the help you need without shouldering staggering overhead costs. You can save your business from spending on costs like travel allowances, equipment costs, and more. Plus, virtual assistants’ hourly rates are considerably lower than the salaries of US-based talents. This means that by hiring a VA, you get similar support at a fraction of the cost of hiring in-office employees. Not a bad deal, right?

Curious about how cost-effective remote staffing can be? Schedule a free consultation call with our Growth Experts today!

• You gain access to a global talent pool.

According to Steve Jobs, “In order to do things well that can’t be done by one person, you must find extraordinary people.” To create a sustainably successful business, you need to find the right people to help you. However, when you’re limited to your local talent pool, finding candidates with the skills you need can be a challenge.

Fortunately, with virtual staffing, keeping yourself within city or state lines is a thing of the past. You’re more free to focus on skills and experience above anything else, allowing you to find a social media virtual assistant with the specialized expertise and qualities your business requires.

• You can regain control of your time and energy.

As a solopreneur or SME owner, you may be used to wearing multiple hats to run your business. But that doesn’t always need to be the case, especially if you’re aiming for growth.

If you’re planning on taking your business to the next level, it’s best to get a pair of helping hands (or perhaps even more).

By hiring a skilled social media virtual assistant, you can unload a lot of online marketing-related tasks off your plate. Social media marketing, while extremely important for a lot of small businesses, can be time and energy-intensive. Your best bet is to hire someone with the right skills to provide expert help on this part of your business.

With the right virtual assistant social media tasks can be expertly checked off your list. They can help you free up your plate for more high-level responsibilities. You can regain control of both your calendar and energy and focus on your core tasks as a business owner.

Tasks a social media VA can do for you

“It’s not just about posting a static image or announcement every week or so,” advises Ara Aguilar, 20four7VA’s Social Media Marketing Manager. “A lot of things that go into having a successful social media marketing strategy.” And if you find the mounting social media tasks overwhelming or if you simply want to find an expert to handle them for you, hiring a virtual social media assistant is key. You can find social media VAs that can work on the following tasks:

Content creation and posting

• Brainstorming and ideation
• Copywriting
• Content writing
• Researching trends and best practices
• Ensuring adherence to brand guidelines
• Marketing coordination
• Creating a social media calendar
• Navigating social media management tools (e.g., Hootsuite and Semrush)
• Reviewing community guidelines of each platform
• Monitoring scheduled posts

Community engagement

• Answering queries on various platforms
• Monitoring feedback
• Engaging with users through likes, comments, and shares
• Encouraging user-generated content
• Addressing or escalating customer concerns

Influencer marketing

• Researching potential influencers based on the target audience
• Influencer outreach
• Coordinating terms and agreements
• Monitoring deliverables
• Tracking and evaluating the performance of influencer campaigns

Reporting and evaluation

• Goal setting
• Database management
• Data analytics
• Reports generation

Administrative

• Logging of customer complaints
• Coordination with other members of the team
• File management
• Email management

Specialized tasks

• SEM or Search Engine Marketing
• Paid ads management
• Video editing
• Graphic design

Start delegating important yet repetitive and time-intensive social media duties to a top-tier social media virtual assistant. Book a no-obligation consultation call with our Growth Experts today!

Best practices in finding and working with a social media VA

Hiring a VA for your social media needs is indeed a game-changer. But to maximize the benefits of remote staffing, make sure to keep these best practices in mind.

• Be clear about the tasks you will delegate

Before you go straight into the hiring process, it’s crucial to have a clear idea about the tasks you plan to delegate. Doing so will help you make better decisions moving forward.

First, your list of tasks will help dictate the type of skills your marketing virtual assistant needs to have. It will also help you gauge the number of hours a week you need your VA to work on your social media requirements. Finally, knowing the skills and hours required allows you to set a reasonable VA staffing budget.

• Invest time in screening and recruitment

If you want to find someone that fits your requirements and jives well with your values, you must invest resources in the recruitment phase. You may need to set aside valuable hours out of your work week to search for the right VA.

This doesn’t just mean creating a job description and posting it on online job marketplaces. You must meticulously sift through applications, schedule interviews, request for portfolios, and even administer test tasks if needed. All these will help ensure that you’re finding the most suitable VA for your staffing needs.

• Utilize communication and collaboration tools

When you’re used to simply turning your chair and aligning face-to-face with a co-worker, communicating effectively with someone miles or even oceans away can be a challenge. However, this challenge can be overcome with the right tools and a culture of open communication.

These days, there are plenty of apps that businesses can use. Keep in mind that you don’t have to use every new tool that pops up. Find at least one synchronous and asynchronous app that’s accessible to both you and your VA. Project management apps are also crucial in ensuring everyone’s on the same page. Apps like Trello, Asana, and ClickUp allow team members to stay updated on the progress of individual and team tasks.

You should also consider creating a digital repository of essential resources. This way, your VA can have a place to find answers to work-related questions. Don’t forget to include important marketing tools like your brand guidelines and templates. It’s also best to prepare and upload SOPs, or Standard Operating Procedures, for the different social media processes they need to work on.

• Find your virtual social media assistant through a reputable VA staffing company.

If you want to make virtual staffing more convenient and effective, why not work with a leading remote staffing agency like 20four7VA?

We’re an award-winning remote staffing expert with more than a decade of experience. Since 2013, we’ve helped more than 2,900 clients find VAs in different niches. We’ve matched clients with various types of VAs, from admin specialists to business support VAs to IT experts and, yes, even social media remote assistants! Our unmatched, cost-effective, and scalable solutions will help you find the most suitable VA you need to boost your social media efforts.

So, if you’re ready to work with a top-tier social media virtual assistant, schedule a free, no-strings-attached consultation call with us today!