This blog post has been researched, edited, and approved by expert Hannah Peake. Join our newsletter below to get our free marketing guides.
Hey everyone, I'm Brad Smith, and today I've got something really special to share with you. If you're a busy business owner who wants to focus on what you do best and leave the rest to an efficient team, you're in the right place.
I've been using a tried-and-true system for the past eight years to manage my business. With over a hundred clients, I've found that having a team of virtual assistants to support every aspect of the workflow is invaluable.
Let's dive into how you can build this system for your own business, including training, hiring, and managing a team of virtual assistants—all for less than $500.
First, let's talk about why you need a virtual assistant team in the first place. You're excellent at what you do, whether that's graphic design, consulting, or selling real estate. You probably want to continue doing just that, without being bogged down by tasks like email marketing, data entry, or social media management.
By building a virtual assistant team, you can ensure that all these tasks are handled efficiently and effectively, freeing you up to focus on your core competencies.
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, I'd like to share a story about a local business that was in a similar situation. They were swamped with daily tasks and client commitments, leaving no time for essential marketing initiatives.
Despite knowing the importance of digital marketing, they simply couldn't manage it themselves and were also hesitant to spend thousands on an agency.
So, I helped them build out a system and hire a team of virtual assistants to manage it.
Not only did they get all their tasks completed in a timely manner, but the quality of work also exceeded their expectations. They could finally focus on what they were good at, leaving the marketing chores to a competent team.
Creating a solid system is the cornerstone of this entire operation. You need a well-defined structure that delineates the roles and responsibilities for each team member, along with specific processes for different tasks.
Once you have this system in place, it becomes a playbook you can give to your virtual assistants to follow.
Training is a critical aspect of this strategy. Once you've got your playbook ready, the next step is to train your virtual assistants to ensure that they understand every single aspect of what needs to be done.
Take the time to onboard them properly, perhaps through a series of training videos or one-on-one sessions, so that they can become valuable assets to your team.
You don't need to break the bank to find a good virtual assistant. There are multiple online platforms where you can hire skilled individuals from across the globe.
The key is to find people who are not just competent but also align well with your company culture. After all, they will be the ones running your entire online business.
The ultimate goal is to have a team that not only gets things done but also delivers quality results. Monitor their work closely in the beginning to ensure that they're meeting your standards and deadlines.
As time goes on, you'll find that you can trust your team more and more, allowing you to focus on growing your business while they handle the day-to-day operations.
So, let's dive right into step number one: evaluating your existing resources and systems. Chances are, you already have a website, some social media presence, and possibly even an email list. The real question here is, are these systems refined and functioning smoothly?
It's crucial to consider whether your existing infrastructure is optimized. Are your social media channels aligned with your branding? Is your website user-friendly and driving conversions?
Do you have automated emails in place to nurture customer relationships? If not, don't worry; the idea is to build on what you have, but make it function seamlessly.
The key is to have a system in place that operates like a well-oiled machine, handling not just one but all aspects of your online presence. This includes your website, social media, and email marketing.
They should not only co-exist but also complement each other to help you build better relationships with your audience.
To make things easier, I've created an Automation Playbook that you can download here, or from the description of my video. This playbook is designed to help you align these three core components of your online presence—your website, automated emails, and social media.
With this playbook and the help of virtual assistants, you can set up a system that runs on autopilot, saving you time and effort.
With Step 1 out of the way, you're already well on your way to optimizing your business operations and automating crucial elements of your marketing. The playbook serves as a foundation, enabling you and your virtual assistants to streamline your efforts and create a cohesive online strategy.
The second step in our journey towards automating your marketing is to establish what we commonly refer to as a "lead magnet." Essentially, a lead magnet is an offer—something of value—that you provide to your audience in exchange for their contact information.
The end game here is to capture names and email addresses so that you can build a more lasting relationship with potential customers through targeted email campaigns and social media interactions.
Most customers don't make a purchase the first time they encounter your brand or product. People like to shop around, conduct research, and think things over. That's where building a relationship comes in handy.
By using lead magnets effectively, you can keep the conversation going with your potential customers, warming them up until they're ready to make that purchase.
Once you have a concept for your lead magnet—a free eBook, a discount coupon, a webinar, or whatever else fits your business model—you can have a virtual assistant take over the task of creating it.
They can design the lead magnet, draft the content, and take care of all the technical aspects like landing page setup and email automation.
Your lead magnet isn't much use if you don't have a way to distribute it and capture leads. This is where your email marketing software comes in.
Your virtual assistant can connect the lead magnet to your email platform so that when someone signs up, they automatically receive the offer and get entered into your marketing funnel. Once that’s set up, you can then focus on nurturing these leads through a series of automated emails, driving them closer to a sale.
The third step takes us deeper into the world of customer relationship management, focusing specifically on copywriting. The words you use in your emails, lead magnets, and landing pages play a significant role in whether or not a visitor converts into a lead or a customer.
Good copywriting is the linchpin of effective online marketing; it's what will turn your automated systems into money-making machines.
Many businesses make the mistake of using their email lists merely as a vehicle for direct sales. While sales are obviously the end goal, you'll achieve much better results by focusing on building a relationship with your audience.
So, it's not just about sending out newsletters, promotions, or purely transactional emails. Instead, aim to offer real value and establish trust, which will naturally lead to increased sales over time.
Now, not everyone is a gifted writer, and that's okay. The key is to find a virtual assistant with strong language skills. Whether you're operating in an English-speaking country or elsewhere, you'll want to hire someone who can write compelling, error-free copy that resonates with your audience.
This person can take on the tasks of creating engaging copy for your lead magnets, landing pages, and email campaigns.
In my Automation Playbook, I've outlined the six crucial types of emails you should be sending to nurture your leads. Your virtual assistant can take these templates as a starting point, customizing them to fit the specific nuances and needs of your business—or even your non-profit organization, as the principles of effective communication apply universally.
The fourth step in this process is all about content creation. Whether you're comfortable in front of a camera or prefer to stay behind the scenes, creating content is non-negotiable.
Content serves multiple purposes: it establishes you as an authority in your field, enhances your brand's visibility, and drives organic traffic to your website, among other benefits.
Depending on your comfort level and skill set, you can choose to focus on blog articles, YouTube videos, podcasts, or any combination of these. The aim is to create a consistent stream of high-quality, relevant content that will engage your audience and provide them with value.
Technological advancements, specifically in Artificial Intelligence, have made it easier than ever to create content. With the right tools, you can automate parts of the content creation process without sacrificing quality.
My Content Marketing Playbook provides a step-by-step guide on how to leverage AI for creating personalized, original content that won't get you flagged for plagiarism and will improve your site's SEO ranking.
Your virtual assistant can be invaluable in this step. By following the Content Marketing Playbook, your virtual assistant can focus on relevant keywords that are crucial for your business.
This ensures that the content produced is not just original but also optimized for SEO and in alignment with your overall business strategy.
The end result? Your website and/or YouTube channel becomes a magnet for organic traffic. When you show up on Google searches and YouTube recommendations, that's free advertising that can translate into more leads and ultimately, more sales.
This traffic isn't just any traffic—it's from individuals who are genuinely interested in what you have to offer, making them far more likely to convert into paying customers or loyal followers.
Step 5 brings us to the realm of video content. If you've been hesitant to jump into video, now's the time to cast those doubts aside. Video content provides a dynamic, engaging way to connect with your audience.
It can be more effective than text-based content in delivering your message and establishing a relationship with your audience.
Your comfort level in front of the camera will dictate the approach you should take. If you're a natural, then all you'll really need is a little polishing up. If the thought of being on camera makes you cringe, there are still options.
Animated videos, narrated slideshows, or even well-edited stock footage can convey your message effectively.
Here's where a virtual assistant can be a game-changer. You can task them with either editing the videos you've made to improve their quality or, if you're not comfortable on camera, they can create videos independently.
Imagine recording a rough draft of an educational video on your smartphone. You discuss key points, share some insights, and provide value to your viewers. Once recorded, you can send this video to your virtual assistant for editing.
They can enhance the video quality, incorporate engaging visuals, and even add captions or subtitles to make it accessible to a broader audience.
After the editing is done, your virtual assistant can take on the task of distributing this video. They can upload it to your YouTube channel, share snippets on social media, and even incorporate it into your email marketing campaigns if relevant.
At the end of the day, it's all about building relationships with your audience, and video content helps achieve that in a compelling way. A virtual assistant can streamline this process, allowing you to focus on what you do best—providing invaluable insights and solutions to your audience—while they handle the technical aspects.
Step 6 takes us to the pivotal world of social media. In today's digital age, having an active and engaging social media presence is not just a good-to-have; it's a must.
However, managing multiple social media platforms is a time-consuming process that could take you away from what you do best—serving your clients and growing your business. This is where a virtual assistant comes into play.
Just like how I have a team to manage my social media, you can have a virtual assistant handle yours. I'm busy helping clients and creating educational content; my social media team ensures that this content reaches the right audience at the right time.
They edit videos, add relevant hashtags, write compelling descriptions, and even engage with the audience. This enables me to focus on creating value for my clients and audience.
Remember, social media isn't just about broadcasting messages to your followers; it's also about engagement. Your virtual assistant can monitor comments, questions, and messages, ensuring you don't miss out on opportunities to connect with your audience or potential clients.
While you continue to deliver services to your clients or create new products, your virtual assistant engages with your online community, nurtures relationships, and builds your brand reputation.
What I've shared here outlines a holistic system for business management that can be established for less than $500. As an example, I've helped a client scale his business exponentially, month-over-month, with an investment of just $300 per month in virtual assistants.
The focus is on quality content. It's critical not just to have any virtual assistant but to have one trained to deliver premium content that aligns with your brand. The risk in hastily hiring a virtual assistant is that you may end up with poor-quality content, and that can be more damaging than having no content at all.
To showcase this powerful system, I invite you to join a live webinar where I'll go over every detail. This is your chance to learn how you can set up a similar structure for your online business, nonprofit, or any other venture—effectively and affordably. The link for this webinar is provided on my Youtube Channel above.
By leveraging these playbooks and virtual assistants, you can focus on what you excel at while your business keeps growing. This isn't just a theoretical system; it's already built, tried, and tested. All that's missing is a dedicated team to manage it, and we can help you get that team.
Thank you for watching, and I look forward to your participation in the webinar and your comments below. Cheers to your business growth!
A virtual assistant is a remote professional who provides administrative, technical, or creative support to individuals or businesses. They typically work from their own location and communicate with clients through online platforms such as email, chat, or video conferencing.
Virtual assistants can handle a wide range of tasks, including managing emails, scheduling appointments, conducting research, social media management, content creation, and much more. They are skilled professionals who can adapt to different industries and provide specialized assistance based on the client's needs.
Virtual assistants are highly flexible and can work on a part-time or full-time basis, depending on the client's requirements. They offer a cost-effective solution for businesses by eliminating the need for physical office space, equipment, and employee benefits.
With the advancements in technology, virtual assistants have become an integral part of many businesses' operations, allowing entrepreneurs and professionals to focus on their core activities while delegating time-consuming tasks to capable assistants.
Virtual assistants are highly adaptable and can be a valuable asset to businesses across various industries. One way they can adapt is by acquiring industry-specific knowledge and skills.
For example, if a virtual assistant is working with a marketing agency, they can learn about different marketing strategies, tools, and platforms to better assist with tasks such as social media management, content creation, or email marketing.
By staying up-to-date with industry trends and best practices, virtual assistants can provide more targeted and effective support to businesses in different industries.
Another way virtual assistants can adapt is by being flexible in their approach. They can easily adjust to the specific needs and requirements of different businesses. Whether it's managing customer inquiries, scheduling appointments, or conducting market research, virtual assistants can tailor their services to meet the unique demands of each industry.
By understanding the specific challenges and goals of a business, virtual assistants can provide customized solutions that align with their industry's standards and practices.
In summary, virtual assistants can adapt to different industries and business needs by acquiring industry-specific knowledge, being flexible in their approach, utilizing various tools and technologies, and continuously upgrading their skills. Their ability to adapt and provide customized support makes them a valuable resource for businesses looking to implement automation and grow online.
When it comes to hiring and managing virtual assistants, there are several best practices that can help ensure a successful working relationship. Firstly, it is important to clearly define the tasks and responsibilities you want your virtual assistant to handle. This will help you find a candidate with the right skills and experience for the job.
Additionally, setting clear expectations from the beginning will help both parties understand what is required and avoid any misunderstandings later on.
Once you have hired a virtual assistant, effective communication is key to successful management. Establish regular check-ins and provide clear instructions for tasks. Utilize project management tools and collaboration platforms to facilitate communication and track progress.
Regular feedback and constructive criticism can help your virtual assistant improve their performance and ensure that they are meeting your expectations.
Lastly, it is important to continuously evaluate the performance of your virtual assistant. Regularly assess their work, provide feedback, and address any issues that arise. If necessary, be prepared to make adjustments or even consider finding a new virtual assistant if the current arrangement is not meeting your needs.
By regularly reviewing and refining your management approach, you can maximize the benefits of having a virtual assistant and help your business grow online.