What is your time worth? Using a VA and the cost benefit…
Do you run your own business? If so, you know, there is so much to manage other than your “business” product. Whether it be social media, client prospecting, or various other administrative tasks, there are a number of things that must be kept up on in order to run a solid business and keep growing. In my world, the voice over world, I would love to just work directly with clients and provide an excellent voice for their project from my happy place (studio), but as I always look to expand and develop new client relationships, I found myself spending an incredible amount of time identifying prospective clients and gathering all of the information needed to start a genuine conversation. Some time ago, I took a fantastic marketing course with Marc Scott, in which we explored a little bit about virtual assistants (VAs). I thought a lot about this, and initially was up in the air about how to source a VA, how much it would cost, will I get what I need etc? Yup, I was making excuses, afraid of having to “figure it out”, and all the other fun that goes along with it. The first three VA’s were tough to work with, almost impossible for various reasons, and then I found “the one”.
I initially ordered information that I could measure. I ordered information that took me 14 hours to find on a Sunday to gauge. Well, I placed the order at 3pm my local time, and I received the data within 4 hours, with additional helpful info I didn’t even ask for, and at a nominal cost.
The data returned was so good in fact, I secured a new client and completed a project that paid 4x the amount I paid for the information within 48 hours of receipt. Yes! I realized a significant ROI almost immediately. Needless to say, I am all in on the use of a VA, and am glad I didn’t give up on the first three tries.
I was looking for very specific information. Once I figured out the secret sauce, I was amazed at exactly how efficient hiring a VA is. So what is the “secret sauce” when working with a VA? BE VERY SPECIFIC. What worked for me was creating a detailed spreadsheet with the fields in order of what I was looking for. Sounds pretty basic, but if you are looking for prospects and say you want to connect with executives, that is pretty broad and provides little direction to your VA. To minimize back and forth, create a list of actual titles of the individuals you are looking to connect with such as VP of Marketing, Director of Equity and Inclusion etc. By doing so, you are providing your VA with a very narrow and specific individual you are looking to connect with, and therefore will most effectively provide the results that you are expecting. Finally, check for understanding prior to agreeing to the terms. If there is a language barrier, be mindful of this and take the time that is required to ensure both parties are absolutely clear on the expectations and the deliverables. Your experience and your VA’s experience will be much more positive and this will greatly help in developing a positive working relationship.
About Bob:
Bob Benjamin is a professional voice over talent based in Orange County, New York with a unique background having worked with creative teams for decades in various capacities. He understands the need for excellence, honesty, and the importance of building strong business relationships based on results. Bob continuously works with professional voiceover coaches to improve his skills and ensure he is able to deliver the highest quality product, on-time and on budget. Recording from his own professional studio, Bob can connect with clients via Source-Connect and ipDTL if live directed sessions are desired.