Summer is finally here and for many of us, thoughts are turning to holidays and long weekends away. However, when you run your own business, taking time off can seem impossible. There’s the worry of missing out on client calls and returning to an overflowing email inbox.
So, for summer peace of mind this year, why not work with a Virtual Assistant? A VA can look after your business while you’re away, meaning all you have to worry about is relaxing and enjoying your much-needed break.
If you’re still not sure, check out these five benefits of working with a VA whilst you’re on holiday:
1 | Your contacts get an excellent customer service experience
No one likes to think about their clients, partners, suppliers or colleagues having to wait a week for a reply to an email. When you work with a VA you put their contact details in your out-of-office reply. You can even include a VA’s phone number in your voicemail. That way, when someone does get in touch, you can be sure they’re being looked after while you’re away.
2 | Work doesn’t have to stop whilst you’re on holiday
This is very important for a lot of business owners that I work with. They worry that taking a holiday means that all business stops for a week or more. With a VA covering your holiday, some work can still carry on – e-mails are answered, meetings scheduled and some of your routine tasks are completed for your return. If you’d like an idea of the type of support I provide, check out my admin & business support services.
3 | Your inbox is being managed
We’ve all returned from a holiday only to experience the dread of opening up an overflowing email inbox. A VA can look after your inbox and filter out any emails that can be deleted or moved into other folders. Where there are emails that can only be actioned by you, these are marked as unread for your return.
4 | Social media activity can continue
Social media is a big part of most businesses these days. Sure, you can schedule posts to continue whilst you’re on holiday – but what about responding to comments, messages and mentions? With a VA, your social media accounts are in safe hands whilst you’re away and incoming enquiries can be responded to.
5 | Enjoy an ordered and simplified return to work
Sadly holidays do have to end! But a VA can help make your return to work as easy as possible. When I provide holiday cover, I send a summary email that lists details like meetings I’ve arranged and contacts awaiting a response. It’s a great way of getting a quick overview of everything that happened whilst you were away and ensuring that you have a clear idea of any actions you need to take upon your return.
….And a bonus benefit: holiday planning!
Don’t forget that a Virtual Assistant can also help you to plan your holiday. Why not ask them to do some travel research for you? Once you’ve found somewhere, they can book your flights, hotel and transfers and ensure that all booking details are safely in your calendar so you know where you need to be and when.
If you’re planning a big trip this summer, why not check out my top ten tips for surviving a long haul flight!
Of course, there is one final benefit of working with a VA that I haven’t mentioned. Having the right VA on your team can give you the luxury of spending more time with your family and friends this summer – something I think we’re all in need of.
What to do if you’re interested in hiring a VA to cover you whilst on holiday
So, if you’re new to hiring a virtual assistant, you probably have some questions. For help with these, why not check out my blog. You’ll find a whole host of useful articles, including insights on the following:
• Getting the most out of your virtual assistant;
• 10 questions to ask a VA before hiring;
• Writing a job description for a VA; and
• My step by step guide to hiring a VA.
Want to know more? Get in touch….
If you’re interested in hiring me as your VA, then please contact me. I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have and discuss how I could help you with your business.
