HIRING THE RIGHT VIRTUAL ASSISTANT

Welcome to Virtual Assistant Insider 360°, your monthly guide to mastering VA strategies for clients and VAs. As your trusted source, I've achieved a 98% success rate matching clients with the right VAs, and I'm ready to share those strategies with you!?

Together, we'll gain a 360° perspective for everyone's success.?

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When it comes to hiring the right virtual assistant, as opposed to any virtual assistant there are two pillars that provide me with a 98% successful match rate.?

1. Communication Strategy
2. Ideal Client Fit

If you don’t have these two pillars in your matching process, it’s impossible to be successful. Not unlikely - impossible. (Yes, I said it as a fact.)

Communication Strategy

In crafting your communication strategy, it's vital to remember that we're striving for success, not perfection. When it comes to selecting the right VA, embrace the reality that there's no such thing as a 'perfect' VA, just as there's no 'perfect' client (and, yes, that includes you).?

Acknowledging this isn't a personal critique, but a fundamental truth we must accept. Failure to recognize these facts can lead to unrealistic expectations. It's my strong belief that unmet expectations lie at the root of most disappointments."

What’s involved in the communication strategy??

• Your Preferred Communication Style: Consider your default communication style. There are several ways you could communicate. What you need to determine and get clear on is your default communication style. Imagine you're shopping and need to convey something important to your VA – how would you do it?
• VA's Preferred Communication: Ensure the VA's communication style aligns with yours. Compatibility here is crucial, even if the person is highly skilled.
• Delegating Style: Reflect on whether you enjoy delegating tasks to execute or if you appreciate pushback and feedback from the VA.
• Anticipation of Needs: Any assistant whether human or AI has the same time-saving quality that makes your life easier - to anticipate your needs.?
• Task-Taker vs. Assistant: If you're a natural delegator (meaning delegating doesn’t drain your energy) and comfortable with providing clear instructions, a task-taker may suffice. Keep in mind that a task-taker will only do what is assigned so you must give complete instructions.?Pro Tip: A task-taker is not the right hire for you if you aren’t an expert on the subject.?
• Effective Communication: Establish comfort in your communication style with your VA, whether it's direct, involves brainstorming/brain dumping, continuous dialogue, or even casual conversation.?The flip side of the coin is that the VA must also receive information in this manner.?

Nothing is more important than how you communicate. Don't underestimate the significance of creating an environment for seamless communication. Everyone has their preferred method. Recognize you may not be as easygoing as you think. If communication is not easy for you, or worse, creates friction then you will begin to naturally avoid it. You might even think it’s not possible to work with a VA when in reality you just made it harder on yourself than it had to be.

Do not conform to the VA. That is the tail wagging the dog. You pay the VA, not the other way around. Nothing ruins working relationships faster than not getting what you want because of communication issues that can’t be solved and paying for a service that doesn’t meet your needs.?This is your style, your method.?

Ideal Client Fit

Contrary to popular belief, the ideal client fit is for the VA, not the client. The VA could do the work they do for anyone, they just don’t want to. A seasoned, experienced VA definitely knows who their clients are - just as you do.?

Pro Tip: It’s a huge red flag when a VA serves every client. It means they don’t have a proper business model and/or don’t know their deal breakers yet.

To determine if you’re the VA's ideal client fit you must look for yourself in their descriptions. Note, that the VA can niche for an industry, a mindset, a specific service, and even all three. They should have done a good enough job to at least provide you with breadcrumbs to follow. If not, this is not a red flag. VAs (unless specifically declared) aren’t marketers. If they were, I wouldn’t have a business matching them to my clients.?

Being Found as the Right VA

What message does your LinkedIn profile and/or website convey to your potential clients? While there's a time and place for self-introduction, clients first want to envision working with you. They arrive at this place based on how you portray your ideal clients.

First and foremost, to attract your ideal clients, take a stand to be found by your clients by clearly defining whom you choose to assist. Trust the process and know the client is looking for you as well.?

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Your transparent communication and clear specialization lead to success for both you and the client.?

Try the exercise below. This next step works for both the VA and the client. Fill in the blanks.?

I’m a [INSERT GENDER*] [INSERT TITLE] working with [COMPANIES/ INDIVIDUALS] performing [WAYS YOU GENERATE REVENUE] to [INSERT PAIN YOU REMOVE], by [EXPLAIN HOW YOU REMOVE THE PAIN]. End with social proof is possible. *There are virtual assistants whose ideal client is male, female, and/or LGBTQ, however, feel free to exclude this information if it isn’t specific to your work.

Below is how I would make this exercise work. Note, I have left out my gender because I work with all genders and communities. It’s also important to note that my niche is not an industry, but rather a mindset.?

I’m a Virtual Assistant Matchmaker, who matches clients with the right virtual assistant. With my proven formula, matching on communication strategy, ideal client fit, and a 98% successful match rate, I provide peace of mind. Clients hire me because they don't have the time to get it right and can't afford to get it wrong. They are at a tipping point, launching the next phase of their life and business while creating multiple income streams. Whether it is writing a book, launching their speaking career, creating online courses, or expanding their coaching/consulting practice clients seek me out to find the right VA to meet their current and future needs.

Whether you are new to hiring a VA, have had unpleasant past experiences, or simply want to expand your current team I am the industry-leading expert you can trust with a guarantee and track record to prove it.

I was named Top Virtual Assistant Consultant of the Year. I've been featured in ABC, NBC, Forbes, Entrepreneur, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and U.S. News & World Report.

As a VA this leaves a lot of breadcrumbs to be found by your ideal client.?

It's crucial to consider what you include or omit. Personally, I avoid terms like 'boss babe,' 'mompreneur,' 'girl boss,' etc. While I am a mom, it's not how I define my work, and it's not how my clients perceive me. Using such language is entirely acceptable and profitable for many, but this highlights the importance of finding your unique identity. You have endless possibilities to tailor your approach, getting as specific as you prefer.

Whether you're seeking to hire the right VA or want to attract your ideal clients, I'm here to assist. Book a consultation to get started. ===>>>https://go.oncehub.com/thepva

Melissa Smith is the Founder of The PVA, a firm that matches clients with the right virtual assistants. She is also the best-selling author of two books, Hire the Right Virtual Assistant and Become a Successful Virtual Assistant.

Melissa has been featured by ABC, NBC, CBS, Entrepreneur, Forbes, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, U.S. News & World Report. Most recently Melissa was named Top Virtual Assistant Consultant of the Year, a Top 10 Most Inspiring Woman in Business 2022, one of the top 100 Dynamic Leaders, and a trailblazing female entrepreneur to watch in 2021.