If you are a mom and entrepreneur, you have lots of respect and love from Virtual Workhorse Team.
Do you ever feel like you’re running on fumes trying to juggle everything on your plate? Well, as a virtual assistant who works with many mom-owned businesses, I know exactly how you feel.
Moms face many challenges when running a business. From unexpected interruptions and family related responsibilities to attending professional business related meetings and events, moms have to go through a lot.
Due to the constant struggle between these two worlds, it is natural for you to be exhausted.
After doing and managing so many tasks, it is easy to feel that there are not enough hours in the day. That’s where virtual assistants come in handy.
Virtual assistants are becoming an increasingly popular solution for mompreneurs who need additional support without breaking the bank. They can provide support in various areas of the business, allowing mompreneurs to focus on what they do best: growing their business.
In this blog I will mention different types of virtual assistants and some challenges and barriers to hire virtual assistant. Also you will learn how to protect sensitive information while hiring a virtual assistant for your business, so that you can wisely and safely handover your business to a VA.
Types of Virtual Assistants and Whom to Choose for Mom-Owned Business
There is no one-size-fit-all for all of your business needs. And there are several types of virtual assistants who are experts in their specific fields. I am going to mention all major types so that you can specify what kind of virtual assistant you are looking for.
Administrative Assistants
This kind of VAs tackle all administrative tasks such as scheduling appointments, managing calendars, handling email and phone communication. So, if you are looking for someone who can perform your management related tasks, an administrative virtual assistant will be your best bet.
Marketing Assistants
If you need someone who can manage your social media profiles, content creation and SEO optimization, look for marketing assistants. Marketing assistants help you spread your brand and business in the world.
Financial Assistants
These VAs look after your finances and budgeting. They help you in bookkeeping, invoicing and expense tracking. If you remain constantly worried about your finance strategies, financial assistants can really help you out.
Technical Assistants
Almost every business involves some technicalities like website maintenance, software management and database management. So, if you are not into technical stuff, hire a technical assistant.
Customer Service Assistants
In the business world, the customer is king. Your success depends upon how you satisfied the needs and wants of your customers. Customer services assistants respond to the inquiries and provide VIP support to your customers.
Challenges and Barriers while hiring a virtual assistant;
Mompreneurs face several challenges while hiring a virtual assistant for their business. It is important to know these challenges and hurdles so that you can cope with them beforehand.
These hurdles and challenges include;
Lack of trust
Trust is the foremost factor in any business. It helps to establish strong business relationships with customers, partners, colleagues and other stake-holders. This is especially true when you hire a VA for your business. A virtual assistant becomes the representative of your business in many ways. Momprenuers may be hesitant to hire someone they have never met in person and may be concerned about the VA’s ability to deliver the quality of work they need.
Pro-tip; Start with small low-risks tasks and gradually build trust.
Difficulty in finding a qualified VA
You cannot handover your business to a nut, inexperienced and unprofessional virtual assistant. But the reality is, you cannot judge anyone just by one meeting. So, here comes the struggle for mompreneurs. You may find it difficult to find someone with the right skills and experience to handle your business.
Pro-tip; Post specific job requirements online. And when you have found a close fit, look at their previous history and reviews. You can check their online presence as well.
Communication Barrier
Each and every successful business has one thing common; crystal clear communication.
If you cannot communicate your business needs to your VA, everything will crash down. Or if your virtual assistant cannot communicate your business with your audience, everything will go to waste. Momprenuers may face communication barriers due to language differences or time zone differences.
Pro-tip; Establish clear communication protocols, such as setting up regular video calls or establishing a communication platform for day-to-day discussions.
Cost Consideration
This is one of the most complex barriers to overcome especially when you are starting a start-up. So, mompreneurs may be working on a tight budget and may struggle to find a virtual assistant who can work within their financial constraints.
Pro-tip; Set realistic budget. Determine the money you can allocate to a virtual assistant and then find a VA who can deliver quality work within that budget.
Privacy Threats and Implementing Security Measures When Hiring a Virtual Assistant
First I am going to point out the major threats while working with a virtual assistant and then I will mention the solution of these steps in the same order.
Security Threats While Hiring a VA
Data breaches
Your business possesses sensitive data which needs protection. But there is always a risk of data breaches if your VA is not trustworthy. Mompreneurs mostly remain concerned about business information being compromised.
Intellectual property theft
This is another potential privacy threat that mompreneurs should consider when hiring a virtual assistant. Momprenuers may have unique business processes, proprietary knowledge, or other confidential information that they want to keep secret. If a virtual assistant gains access to this information and shares it with others, it could harm the momprenuer’s business.
Malicious software
Malicious software or malware is a program that is designed to harm or disrupt computer systems. If a virtual assistant introduces malware onto a momprenuer’s computer or network, it can lead to data loss or other security breaches.
Unsecured communication
There are some trade secrets you and your VA have to discuss. If communications between a mompreneur and their virtual assistant are not secured, it could result in sensitive business information being intercepted or accessed by un-authorized parties.
Security Measurements While Entrusting Your Business to a VA
To be secure from all the threats, apply these pro-measures to protect your business
Screen potential virtual assistants thoroughly: Momprenuers should conduct background checks and verify references to ensure that the VA is trustworthy and has a good track record.
Sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA): A signed NDA can legally bind the VA to keep business information confidential.
Use secure communication channels: Momprenuers should use secure communication channels, such as encrypted messaging or video conferencing platforms, to ensure that conversations and shared information remain confidential.
Limit access to sensitive data: Momprenuers should limit the amount of sensitive data that their virtual assistant has access to and only provide access to data that is necessary to complete assigned tasks.
No doubt that an individual VA may fit for more than one role, but my suggestion is to outline your needs first and then look for a best fit. Those who have teams can serve you most at one place. Like, Virtual Workhorse team, you will get almost all your demands fulfilled at one place. Top of all that, you will not have trust issues, security concerns and communication barriers.
Virtual Workhorse Team offers an exclusive 90-days streamlining transformation to mompreneurs. This is a one-time service for all your business essential needs. Get in touch and get rid of the stress of your business potential growth.
Last words
If your business is getting affected due to your family or personal life commitments or you cannot spend enough time with your loved ones because of business demands, hire a virtual assistant. Your life will become a whole lot easy. But while hiring a virtual assistant to elevate your business, keep in mind that you need a right fit. Consider the challenges and security measures. And still if you do not have enough time to conduct though research, reach out to Virtual Workhorse Team.