3 Reasons Why You Need A Virtual Assistant

A few months ago I got sick of all the tasks accumulated on my to-do list and decided I needed a change. I googled "virtual assistant" and hired one in India to help me out. It was a disaster because he was always saying "ok I get it" and then 10 minutes before the deadline he sent me an email "sorry, I have no idea how I can do it".

After 2 weeks I canceled and tried to find a better match. I wanted someone based in the US, to reduce the communication challenge. I found what I wanted and now I couldn't be any happier about the service. Here's why you need to do the same:

  • The skills: US/UK based assistant are more expensive but the skills they have is so different. My assistant helps me with the SEO and marketing for my website and even do some research for the book I'm writing. It's probably useless for the majority of you guys but that says a lot about what they can do!
  • The peace of mind: I'm planning a week-end abroad in Budapest. I just sent an email to my assistant asking for a list of hotels in my price range in a nice district. She sent back 4 options, I made a choice and told her to book it for me! I could have done it myself but I'd rather be doing something else...
  • The bragging: having an assistant is pretty cool I must admit. You can make him/her book your sessions with your tennis coach for instance or call your friends to set-up meetings. Yes you'll look like a show-off but you work in finance so your friends already think that of you anyway

So if you have a few projects outside of work or if you travel a lot I can only recommend that you get an assistant. I personally use Zirtual. Yes this is an affiliate link but since they are invitation-only it allows you to get in. I have also heard good things about Fancy hands.

So what do you guys think? Is it worth it, would you use it?

10 Comments
 

I've used fancy hands for the last few months. It's pretty good for what it is. For $45 you get 15 tasks a month. I often wonder whether it makes me more productive or just lazy. But there's been a few times where they've proven their worth, so I'm still using it,

If anyone is interested in a discount, PM me for a referral link.

 
geofinanceI've used fancy hands for the last few months. It's pretty good for what it is. For $45 you get 15 tasks a month. I often wonder whether it makes me more productive or just lazy. But there's been a few times where they've proven their worth, so I'm still using it,

If anyone is interested in a discount, PM me for a referral link.

Hi was afraid Fancy Hands was going to make me lazy. Since all the tasks are below 15 minutes it's hard to really do projects. With Zirtual I have only one person that takes care of all my request so I use it for my online business more than just random tasks.

Associate Editor at Mergers & Inquisitions @AusartThomas
 

Not sure how often this comes up but are there ever issues with identity theft over these services, especially if you're sending your info out of country?

There is no spoon
 

Identity theft is definitely a risk... you have a database with all the passwords/credit card details of clients which everyone can access...Zirtual says it's secured but who really knows

Associate Editor at Mergers & Inquisitions @AusartThomas
 

please choose a better photo for your front page thread, not some cheap ass halloween costume poster. I wouldn't even pick that one as my halloween costume, that's not classy.

--Money can't buy happiness. it can only buy orgasms. --Who the hell says I want happiness? Orgasms all I need.
 

This seems to be an old thread. What I can say, currently VA's around the globe works well. Issue from communication is not a problem anymore. Since 2014, everything became clearer to business owners. Hiring VA would save them a lot with the same productivity.

 
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