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5 Offbeat Yet Highly Effective Tasks to Outsource to a Virtual Assistant

One of the biggest questions many companies ask is: What should I outsource to a virtual assistant? The myriad of answers may surprise you.  

Many companies hire virtual assistants to handle things like answering messages, scheduling appointments and updating their social media accounts. But that’s not all a VA can do!  

Here’s a closer look at some of the most valuable tasks you can outsource to a VA that might not have crossed your mind: 

  1. Keyword Research

One of the biggest time sinks of digital marketing is looking for the best keywords for content creation. The right keywords can help you rank higher in search. Finding them, however, can take multiple layers of research, especially when analyzing your competitors.  

Offload this small but mighty part of content marketing so your team can focus more on developing quality content.  

  1. Travel Planning

Corporate travel, whether for a single executive or an entire group, is one of those things that you don’t want to spend too much time on. But you need to if you want to get a reasonable rate and a smooth, seamless itinerary. That’s where a VA can come in handy.  

Just share your travel plans and any requirements and your VA can work on comparing flight times and costs, arranging ground transportation, booking hotels, and all the other little details that go into your trip.  

  1. Market Research

Got a thirst for knowledge? Put your VA to work in uncovering information about a market or audience. Many VAs specialize in a specific skill or trade, such as marketing or analytics. They can collect quantitative and qualitative data to help you hone your marketing strategy, analyze your competitors, and learn more about your customer demographics.   

  1. Client Relationship Management

Sending small gifts and handwritten notes to your clients can go a long way in strengthening your relationships. Many executives know this, but don’t often make the time to do it themselves.  

Consider handing over your client relationship management to a virtual assistant. Set a budget and make a recommendation if you have one, then let your VA handle the ordering, message writing, and sending. They can also help you keep track of important dates, such as birthdays, anniversaries, or other milestones your clients have shared with you (their kid’s college graduation, perhaps).  

  1. Guest Blog Pitching

Guest blogs are powerful tools in building your business’s credibility and backlink profile. Plus, they’re essentially free press. How do you get published on guest blogs, you might wonder? Pitching. Lots of pitching. 

You could spend hours sending pitches to guest blogs. Or, you could pay a VA to find relevant industry blogs and pitch them on your behalf at a reasonable hourly rate.  

Think Outside the Box with a Virtual Assistant 

This list is a very small example of the skills, time savings, and cost savings a virtual assistant can bring to your business. Start your search here to find highly skilled VAs that will make your workday better.