How do you know if you need to hire a virtual marketing assistant? 4 ways to decide

BySumeera
when to hire a VMA -thinking image

Wondering if you need to hire a virtual marketing assistant?

This post breaks down 4 techniques to help you decide if a virtual marketing assistant (VMA) is right for your business.

Technique 1: Evaluate Your Tasks

Start by listing all your tasks for a few days. Mark the ones only you can do in red.

Highlight tasks you could potentially outsource in orange. Everything else is likely suitable for a VMA. You can use colors, symbols, or whatever works for you. I’m a fan of lists and colour-coding.

Technique 2: Assess Time and Priorities

Identify tasks taking over 30 minutes. Highlight the ones you don’t enjoy or must do yourself.

Make a wish list of tasks – business development, social media, email newsletters, content planning, exploring strategies, adding client value, awards, admin, invoices, personal time, etc. For example, other things on your wish list could be, sending invoices, spending quality time with family, going to a yoga class or planning a weekend away, thinking about gifts to send or branded merchanide, or working on personal projects like writing an eBook.

You can either do these yourself or outsource them to focus on critical business aspects.

Technique 3: Ask Key Questions

Consider:

  • What are not my strengths?
  • What do I struggle or procrastinate with?
  • What long-term goals constantly get pushed aside?
  • How’s your marketing? What do you do to actively grow and show customers you care?
  • If you had more time, what marketing task would you tackle immediately?
  • Are you satisfied with how you acquire clients?
  • Do you follow up, collect testimonials, engage on social media, or relationship build?
  • In 1-2 years, are you on track to achieve your business goals?
  • Did you meet your goals/vision for this year?
  • Did you do a vision board or set quarterly and monthly goals?

Technique 4: Categorise Tasks

Classify tasks as small medium and large money. Other VA’s use this for clients too. I like the universal number 1111 so I’ll use one’s as monetary value for a bit of fun – such as £11, £111, or £1111:

  • £11 tasks are essential but don’t require your full attention.
  • £1111 tasks are crucial for business growth.
  • £111 tasks like marketing and content are important but not as vital as £1111 tasks.

Focus on your £1111 high-value tasks and consider outsourcing the £111 and £11 tasks to save your time, focus and energy.

There you have it – 4 techniques to evaluate if a virtual marketing assistant is needed, and when might be the right time depending on your priorities and focus.