The other day I wrote a post about team building. Much to my surprise, the people who commented on it noted that they either didn't need a team because their business was small or they liked the exhilarating feeling of doing it all. I certainly advocate the "If it ain't broke, don't fix it approach." If doing it all is working for you now, great.
Obviously, a big overhead in terms of salaries drags down many companies, large and small. For someone starting out or trying to make it through a tough economy, a lean staff - that perhaps consists of you - is a smart business decision. For most people, however, there comes a point where they need help in some areas. Maybe it's basic clerical help. Maybe it's prospecting or lead follow up. Maybe it's marketing or website design.
These days, there are several ways to handle the need. Hiring a person to be present in your office on a full or part time basis is the traditional though often most costly solution. There are also temporary services, but the extra fees in involved in contracting add up fast. What many people find these days is that a virtual assistant is a great solution.
Virtual assistants can be hired to provide a necessary ongoing service such as prospecting, maintaining your database, or doing preliminary follow up on internet leads. They can also provide periodic help for projects like a big mailing or designing flyers or postcards. Services such as Best Agent Business, Rev Staffing, Virtual Real Estate Pro, or The Prescott Group can fill in the gap for you at a reasonable price on a temporary or long term basis. This is true even once you acquire some staff. Home-based VAs use their own equipment, so you do not have to buy an additional computer or office furniture to get the job done.
Hiring a VA will help you focus on your special talents and interests. If that happens to be advertising or website design, you can continue to do that while passing off other tasks to the VA. You call the shots. You need to remember what your focus is. If doing a task -even one you like - takes you off point with your clients and your business goals, it's time to consider delegating all or part of it.
Today's document: Using a Virtual Assistant for Prospecting
Make a Commitment: I will evaluate if my time could be better spent if I delegated some tasks.
Deadline: _________
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