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What is a virtual assistant?
A virtual assistant – often shortened to VA – is someone who provides remote support services to several businesses, entrepreneurs and individuals at once. Virtual assistants are self-employed and typically offer a range of general support and administrative services, although some VAs provide more specialist services.
What is a Timpi virtual assistant?
A Timpi virtual assistant is a highly skilled remote assistant with at least five years of industry experience. Many of our VAs are executive assistants who have worked for ex-City or blue chip organisations and are working remotely to suit their need for a more flexible working life. Our VAs love the intimate working approach that comes with supporting SMEs. As well as the reward from supporting an SME’s growth, working with an SME means more variety and a less corporate, friendlier working relationship.
What do your virtual assistants do?
One thing’s for sure – a VA is an actual human who is an expert at working remotely. Don’t confuse us with AI tech assistants or those bots you get on your phone! The easiest way to think of a virtual assistant is as a traditional executive assistant, PA or office manager. But instead of sitting in the same office as you, they’re working in a different location.
So, what do virtual assistants do? That depends on what you need. Do you need someone to muck in and help with everything admin-related across your business? Or, you may need an assistant with a marketing background. Virtual assistants provide a broad range of services, and these services depend on the VA’s background and experience.
Remote working experts
Working with a virtual assistant means working with someone who understands remote working inside out – many of our VAs were working remotely long before the Covid lockdowns! As well as knowing how to use the leading collaboration platforms and working with their clients remotely, our VAs know how to embed themselves into your team and get stuck in. Virtual assistants are experts at helping you integrate the latest technology and platforms to help improve processes. What’s more, because they’re self-employed, virtual assistants understand the challenges of running a business and can offer valuable support on a whole range of topics.
What’s so special about Timpi virtual assistants?
A virtual assistant makes life easier, whatever your needs
A virtual assistant gives you the support you need so you can focus on the things that matter most. You’ll find that once your virtual assistant is on board, their support snowballs, and they’ll help you in ways you hadn’t previously considered. For example:
Virtual assistants for small businesses
Working with a VA is more cost-effective than employing an assistant. As well as avoiding the costs associated with employing staff – holiday pay, pensions, IT equipment – you can flex your VA’s hours to fit your needs, paying only for the time your virtual assistant works.
VAs for entrepreneurs
From arranging invoices and booking travel to planning social media and acting as a sounding board, a VA is the extra pair of hands entrepreneurs and solo business owners need to grow while protecting their wellbeing.
How do you work with a virtual assistant?
Some people worry that they don’t have enough work they’d be prepared to delegate. However, if you’re busy, there’s every chance you can benefit from working with a virtual assistant. We recommend you start by writing a list of all the tasks that:
- take you a long time,
- you don’t enjoy, and
- are repetitive.
With this in hand, you can see what you can start delegating. Typically, you’ll start handing over the simple tasks you don’t enjoy doing, and then as time goes on and you build trust with your VA, you’ll feel able to hand over more complex tasks.
Getting to know your virtual assistant
For the best working relationship, you’ll need to integrate your virtual assistant into your business just like you would with a new employee; for example, giving them a company email address and introducing them to the team. You can even include your VA in your team’s online meetings to give them a taste of how you work and what everyone’s personality is like. Doing this means your virtual assistant can represent your brand – your clients will quickly see your virtual assistant as part of your team – they probably won’t even realise that person is a VA!
Day to day support from your VA
Your virtual assistant will be on hand to support you throughout the day; it will feel as if they’re working with you far more than they are. Expect to stay in touch through a mixture of calls, emails and messages. This ongoing open communication keeps your relationship strong and allows your VA to understand your needs accurately.
How to choose the right VA?
Choosing the right virtual assistant for your needs can be difficult. But choose a Timpi virtual assistant and we take the hard work out of the process. Our detailed matching process pairs you with the right VA for your needs and personality type. We know all our VAs personally and – in many cases – have been working with them for years, which makes it easy for us to pair new clients with the perfect VA quickly.
What is a virtual assistant?
Invest in a virtual assistant and you’ll have a secret weapon, helping you work smarter and live a happier, more balanced life. Our flexible virtual assistant service pairs you with qualified, highly experienced VAs who can help you in any number of ways. Whether it’s short-term support to fill a gap in your team (which your VA can help with) or longer-term support where they become part of your team, our team of VAs is here to help you do more and enjoy more.
