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10 Things to Outsource to a Virtual Assistant



Are you a business owner or entrepreneur considering hiring a virtual assistant? Maybe you just brought one on, and you aren’t sure what you can ask them to do. In this blog, you’ll find a list of 10 things you can outsource to a virtual assistant to save you time and energy so you can focus on what’s most important to you.

1. Outsource email management

As a busy business owner, you likely find that your email quickly becomes clogged. Sometimes, our emails become a mix of customer inquiries, employee relations, and even our personal lives. You may find yourself overwhelmed and simply don’t have the time to sit down and sort through everything.

This is where a virtual assistant comes in handy! You can hire a virtual assistant to help you with email management. They can dedicate their time to cleaning up your inbox, organizing emails into folders, and even sending responses in your place. It can feel like a weight off your back to have a virtual assistant manage your email so you can focus on the important things.

2. Data entry

Data entry can be both time consuming and confusing. Outsourcing data entry to a virtual assistant allows you to save time on data entry, and you can make sure it’s done correctly. Many virtual assistants are adept at data entry, and they know the best ways to optimize the work.

3. Bookkeeping

Bookkeeping is another one of those tasks that take up a lot of your valuable time and can be difficult. Outsourcing this work to a virtual assistant will save you hours of navigating and learning bookkeeping software. The great thing about virtual assistants is that many of them have specific areas of expertise. If you find that you’re spending hours on bookkeeping that could be dedicated to other areas of your business, consider outsourcing this work to a trained specialist.

4. Scheduling appointments

As a busy entrepreneur, you may struggle to find the time to schedule appointments. That client that you’ve been going back and forth with trying to find a meeting time that works? That doctor’s appointment that you’ve been putting off for weeks now because you just can’t find the time? These are all problems that a virtual assistant can solve.

Having a virtual assistant step in to manage your appointment scheduling and calendar can be a huge help to both you and your business. We know how difficult it is to balance both work and life. Consider outsourcing your scheduling to a virtual assistant. They can set up your meetings and appointments, and all you have to do is show up and shine!

5. Market research

Many virtual assistants have education or training in marketing and as such, they may have knowledge that you don’t or simply the time to put it to use. Relationships with virtual assistants are really symbiotic – they’re your assistant, but they can also share their own expertise with you to help you learn. Market research is a great example of how a virtual assistant can use their expertise to help your business. Maybe you struggle to understand SEO or how to identify trends, or maybe you want to know what your competitors are doing. Look no further, because your virtual assistant is the answer.

If you’re looking for specific knowledge or expertise like this, be sure to set up an interview with your virtual assistant before bringing them on board. There, you can ask more about their education and training and get a better sense of how they can help out your business.

6. Informational research

Depending on your business, you may need to know about a variety of topics and may not have the time to do a deep-dive. A virtual assistant can help with this too! Similar to market research, a virtual assistant can provide time and knowledge to help you understand whatever it is you need to know. Are you writing a blog post about toxic chemicals in popular food items? Are you creating a video about safety issues in sports equipment? Outsource this work to your virtual assistant. They’ll do the research, report the findings, and help you succeed!

7. Managing your Instagram and social media

In our increasingly tech-driven world, social media has become a make-or-break tool for businesses. But managing these accounts can take time, and also a creative eye. If you find yourself struggling to keep up with comments or struggling to create visually-appealing content, consider outsourcing this work to a virtual assistant. Many are experts at social media and will build a following for you in no time!

8. Blog writing

Adding a blog to your website is a great way to drive traffic to your site. But sometimes, you just don’t have the time to sit down and write all of them. Outsourcing this work to a virtual assistant is a great option. They can write blog posts and you’ll have a busy website in no time!

9. Creating presentation materials

So you have a big presentation next week and you need a Powerpoint to go with it, but you simply can’t find the time to make one. With a virtual assistant on your team, you won’t need to worry. They can put together a beautiful, compelling Powerpoint for you and even handouts to pass along to your team. What’s more, you can be sure that you’ll be using a beautiful, professional-looking presentation to match your business.

10. Website design

Maybe your website is looking a bit outdated or you’re lacking the skills to build a website. Virtual assistants can be a great source of help! Many have years of experience in website design, and can help you create an eye-catching website that best represents your business.


There are so many things that go into running a business, and you can’t expect yourself to do them all. Whether you’re lacking on time and need someone to alleviate your to-do list, or you’re lacking in knowledge in certain areas, outsourcing work to a virtual assistant can help you and your business succeed. Before hiring, consider what tasks you’d like a virtual assistant to help with, and make sure to hire one with experience and training in those areas. Finally, if you need more ideas or just want to see even more great things a VA can do, check out our free download: 111 Things Your VA Can Do For You.

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