Episode 22: Do You Get the Bang for Your Buck With a Virtual Assistant?

In Episode 22 of the Toe-2-Toe Podcast, hosts Jenn Murtland and Monica Weakley duke it out over whether you get the bang for your buck when hiring a virtual assistant. Hear why hiring a virtual assistant overseas hasn’t worked for Jenn. Then hear why Monica thinks a virtual assistant can be absolutely worth it in the right circumstances. If you’re considering leveraging the services of a virtual assistant, this episode is for you. 

Episode Highlights: 

• Do you get the bang for your buck with a virtual assistant?
• Jenn says no.
• Jenn has tried having a virtual assistant several times and it doesn't work for her.
• Jenn is a high driver. She is very good at the big picture and not as good at details.
• Jenn doesn’t like having to give a VA very specific instructions. She has struggled with virtual assistants who don’t have the right mindset.
• She describes the different thought process she encountered when working with virtual assistants.
• Monica feels that being specific someone can work.
• Monica feels it can work as long as it’s the right person, with the right skillset, and the right personality match.
• Jenn has a virtual transaction manager based in the US and that's working.
• Monica is using a VA right now.
• Monica feels that a VA can be extremely useful to a business from an ROI perspective.
• Jenn thinks people overlook the oversight piece when considering ROI.
• Monica suggests that oversight can be a short-term part of the process.
• Leverage is powerful and it’s also painful.
• If you're spending two hours a day doing a mindless thing that could be systemically entered in by someone anywhere, a VA may be a good idea.
• Monica thinks it’s a big mistake to turn over your social media to a VA.
• Send-out cards may or may not work out as a task for a VA.
• Know yourself. What are you spending too much time on that doesn't need that much time?
• Many people they surveyed were thinking about using a virtual assistant.
• Monica thinks you should hire a VA if it's the right task, the right person, and you're willing to train and put the system together.
• Jenn feels that in general, she's found more success hiring local administrative help because of mindset and ownership.

3 Key Points:

1. Hiring a VA may not be worth it for you if your personalities don’t mesh or you don’t want to be involved in a lot of oversight.
2. Hiring a VA may be worth it to you if you know there’s a task that’s taking too much of your time that can be done effectively and repeatedly by someone else.
3. Consider that leverage can be painful. Creating systems that a VA can follow may be annoying, but could be rewarding.

Resources Mentioned:

• Jenn Murtland LinkedIn | Facebook
• Monica Weakley LinkedIn | Facebook
• Toe 2 Toe Podcast Facebook Page
• Jenn’s discussion with Adam Curry about using a virtual assistant