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In this digital era, you’ll find that some of the most successful businesses have a solid tech stack. Technology can help streamline various processes in your company that you’d otherwise have to do yourself. Stats suggest that almost 90% of small business owners feel that implementing technology platforms helps them find more enjoyment in running their business. In addition, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce shared that over 80% of small businesses that use six or more tech platforms saw increased sales and profits.ย However, despite these benefits, actually handling technical to-dos is still very intimidating for many business owners. So, what do you do when you recognize how crucial technology is but don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself? Well, you could consider hiring a technical virtual assistant.
What is a Virtual Technical Assistant?
Technical virtual assistants are who you call when you need help updating a WordPress plugin or setting up an online course. Most of them are self-employed professionals with advanced knowledge of various tech to-dos that business owners face. As independent contractors, they are responsible for paying their taxes, obtaining benefits, buying equipment, and setting up a workspace.
Some people refer to tech VAs as fractional service providers, meaning they offer their services to multiple clients on an as-needed basis. Business owners who want access to high-level talent but can’t yet justify the need to hire a part-time or full-time employee will benefit from this sort of arrangement.
Why Hire a Technical Virtual Assistant?
A tech virtual assistant can help you avoid some of the problems associated with not embracing technology. If you try to avoid it or don’t adapt to technological advances like artificial intelligence, your business may become less relevant. Some companies even end up spending more money when they don’t update their tech tools, as their business ultimately operates below its capacity. These operational inefficiencies may end up being passed down to your customers, who may seek alternative solutions. You’ll end up missing opportunities if your tech stack can’t keep up with your target market’s expectations, so it’s better to stay on top of it.
As a business owner, you naturally want to focus on the tasks you’re good at, and if technology isn’t one of those, you may find yourself sweeping it under the rug. However, instead of putting tech on the backburner, utilize a virtual assistant who’s tech-savvy. They’re often much more affordable than employees and can adapt to your business needs. For example, maybe you only need a tech VA once a month to ensure plugins are updated and performing as expected. Or you could hire a VA once to help set up workflows in your new customer relationship management (CRM) tool.
Whatever your business needs are, we can likely identify a technical virtual assistant who can assist and fill in the gaps.
What Qualities Do Great Technical Virtual Assistants Have?
If you’re thinking about hiring a technical virtual assistant, you’ll want someone who displays the following traits:
When is the Best Time to Hire a Tech Virtual Assistant?
In our humble opinion, we think it’s best to have a tech VA available from the very start.ย They can help you work “smarter” instead of “harder” by implementing streamlined processes that minimize manual labor. A technical VA can also help you save money. So many business owners have multiple monthly subscriptions when they really might only need one or two. For instance, a platform like Dubsado eliminates the need to have a contract tool, booking software, and invoicing platform, as it includes all of that.
However, if you feel like you’re pretty savvy and can handle most things yourself, just hire one when you have a technological hurdle you lack the expertise to address. You could also hire a tech virtual assistant for short-term projects that you don’t have the time to work on. It doesn’t hurt to bring one on board to assess your current infrastructure for gaps and inefficiencies as well. We only know what we know, and an extra set of eyes can see things we might often overlook.
What Tasks Can Virtual Tech Assistants Do?
There are tons of technical tasks your virtual assistant can help you with. Consider the following:
Website Maintenance
Landing Page Creation
CRM Set-up
Online Course Set-up
Email Automation Software Set-up
Membership Set-up and Management
How Can I Prepare for a Virtual Tech Assistant?
If you’ve decided that you’d like to hire a technical virtual assistant, here’s what you need to do to prepare:
Ready to Hire Your Ideal Virtual Technical Assistant?
Don’t let the technical aspects of your business bring you down! If tech isn’t your forte, or it’s something you’d rather not focus your attention on, contact us! We’ve been matching business owners with scaling companies to top-tier virtual assistant talent since 2015. And we’d be glad to assist you, too! All you have to do is schedule a free discovery call to learn more. If what we have to offer aligns with your business needs, then we’ll begin to work our magic. You can tackle your revenue-generating priorities while we handle the time-consuming tasks associated with hiring a virtual assistant.
So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get started!