What Can a Virtual Assistant Do for Your Business?

How much time do you spend selling?

Now consider how much time you spend doing "busy work" that doesn't add to your bottom line.  We are assuming that you have become a real estate agent because you recognize that you possess that ability to "sell" real estate and build relationships...

If the majority of your workday is spent responding to e-mails, answering phones, creating marketing materials, maintaining your website, creating and submitting ads, ordering & delivering signs INSTEAD of going on listing presentations and presenting offers, THEN YOU NEED VIRTUAL ASSISTANT!

If the concept of a virtual assistant is new and untouched territory for you, then pay close attention...

A virtual assistant is independent contractor or consultant that possesses the knowledge and experience to provide administrative, marketing and technical support to real estate professionals.  Virtual assistants perform the short or long-term tasks that you assign to them at their own office and then invoice you only for the time spent on your tasks - virtually removing any overhead that you have associated with in-house support.

In a nutshell, a virtual assistant can efficiently and economically perform the tasks that you need to have completed to make your business run smoothly and generate leads while you pursue and close new business.

WHAT ARE SOME TASKS THAT I COULD ASSIGN TO A VIRTUAL ASSISTANT?

Well, different real estate virtual assistants (VAs) have different core competencies.  However,  VAs are generally experienced in the real estate field (either licensed or unlicensed) and possess general technical expertise ranging from graphic design to web design to photography.  Most can provide or identify the resources to needed to accomplish the full range of marketing and administrative tasks needed to grow your business, including (to name only a few):

1. E-mail Marketing: from audience identification to copywriting to layout design to distribution - VAs can create a new targeted campaign or transform your current one.


2. Blog Development: Whether you currently have a blog in place or don't even know what a blog is, a VA can manage new posts, handle copywriting, improve layout, embed widgets and video, syndicate your blog, market your blog on the web, or integrate your blog into your web marketing strategy.


3. Contact Management: If you have ever lost a possible sale because you forgot to add a new prospect to your MLS updates or to you contact management database - a VA can definitely help!  Virtual assistants can get your contact online for easy access anywhere and create ongoing automated campaigns to stay in touch.


4. Market & Competitive Analysis: VAs can prepare CMAs and  provide you with the stats of your competition prior to a listing presentation!


5. Web Marketing Consultation: VAs can develop and implement a targeted campaign using leading web technology and social networking sites - site optimization, MySpace/Facebook marketing, and website maintenance are just a few competencies of a VA.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS? 

Working with a VA:

• You stay on track and on schedule.


• Works only when you need support. You are not obligated to pay for a certain number of hours a week.


• No time wasted on breaks or personal issues.


• No extra space is required. No loss of privacy.


• Provides ongoing, collaborative support to help you achieve your goals.


• No need to buy an extra computer, software, desk, chair, phone or supplies for her use.


• Learns and understands your business.


• Is a sounding board, if you need one.


• You and your Virtual Assistant choose to work with each other as equals. It is not a boss/employee relationship.


• A VA knows what it's like to own a business. She understands the importance of marketing and finances.

Hiring an employee:

• You must pay employer social security taxes.


• You must collect and pay FICA taxes.


• You must pay workers' compensation insurance.


• You must pay federal and state unemployment taxes.


• You must comply with OSHA.


• You must comply with the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) including minimum wage and overtime payment.


• You must comply with Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)


• You may possibly have to pay medical benefits, dental benefits, vision care benefits.


• You may possibly have to pay vacation time, sick time, and holiday time.


• You may possibly have to pay for other employee benefits such as 401K, retirement plans, etc.


• You pay someone to administrate the above.


• You have legal responsibilities that include employee policies on working hours, sexual harassment, vacation time, sick time, leave of absence, holidays, benefits, performance reviews, grievances, terminations, substance abuse and training.


• If you hire someone and lay them off, your employment rate may increase for years to come.


• If you have the unpleasant experience of needing to fire an employee, make sure you have legal grounds or you may face a lawsuit.

Want to learn more, contact RealEstateGeeks NOW (301) 288-7872 or send us a text message to (202) 489-2867