A VA can be More Than a Desk Jockey

In the current world, where emails have replaced phone calls and web-meetings have replaced face-to-face meetings, Virtual Assistants (VAs) are rapidly becoming a more practical answer to the many gaps a small OR large business may have in pure muscle.

Virtual Staffing Agencies (and independent, freelance VAs) are constantly touting the myriad of reasons why VAs have become a profitable solution - they possess many skills already, they "work" online to facilitate support across state lines, eager and motivated to acquire just about any knowledge they don't already have. In addition, they only bill the hours they work, as they are not employees on salary...and the list goes on.

With regards to technical tasks, the list is virtually limitless to the number and types of things a VA can tackle. In this article, we are going to bring to light a few ideas that any RE firm can implement directly or hopefully spark more ideas to more completely and successfully utilize a VA.

1.) VAs can provide valuable advice and guidance for your website(s)

Whether it is customizing a current agent website you already possess and run on your own, or maybe it's creating a brand new site, a VA possesses the skills to design a custom template or adapt a template, and can maintain it on a regular basis, adding/removing listings or information as needed.

This expertise would be invaluable for any RE professional interested in keeping a listing of properties on their agent site. This would also be an excellent asset when creating and or maintaining single property websites, 1 website (URL) dedicated to 1 property. Its often said that many agents/brokers purchase technology, but never use it, as finding time during your day can be a limiting factor.

2.) Make your virtual storefront visible

Once you have a web storefront, how do you attract site-visitors? The answer is something known as Search Engine Optimization (SEO). SEO is a process of improving the ranking of your site amongst various web crawlers (or search engines). Generally, the higher the ranking, the earlier a site will appear in search results, which yields more site visitors. A VA can customize your site to utilize key words which can be submitted, along with your site name, on a weekly (or even daily) basis to increase your rankings as well as your site volume. They can also solicit other websites to reference (link to) the agent website...activities you simply may not have time for but are critical in SEO.

3.) Take your site to the next level

Your VA can take your agent website or single property site an additional step further with the creation of virtual tours. You've heard of them, you've seen them on other's sites, but you just don't have the time to learn how to create or execute one? Assign it to your VA! After you have sent the photographs, your VA can utilize their computer to create, finalize and publish virtual tours for each of your properties.

4.) Manage your important documentation

Your VA can even manage your paperwork for you, all virtually! For example, you have routine paperwork that must be executed through the life-span of a transaction. Simply fax your hand-written information to your VA. The VA enters the info into your standard form and faxes to the proper location OR they can even utilize online transaction management as a central repository for all your documentation needs. Your VA can maintain this repository for you, facilitating document execution of clients and peer real estate professionals throughout the lifespan of the transaction.

With the technology available today, VAs are definitely a viable resource for your business entity. The examples above are only a fraction of the types of activities VAs can accomplish that easilly puts them to work as more than just an assistant. Rather, they become your partner.