The Virtual Staff Your Business Needs

As a small business owner, I know how tough it is to find reliable, qualified help. Even when you can get the right person, the financial challenges of running a small business may limit your ability to retain them. For the past decade, I've relied on my virtual staff to take care of the smaller tasks so I can focus on making sales and meeting new clients. When I'm in a crunch, I know that my virtual staff will help me meet my goals. As virtual office staff for my small business, I don't need a brick and mortar office or the overhead. For a fraction of the regular cost of staffing a virtual staff can provide you with services that can change the face of your business.

These three virtual staff members are invaluable to my business. There are plenty out there but in my small cosmetic business and my husband's construction company, we have found these three roles pivotal.

Ghostwriter

Today, everyone has a web presence. If they don't they should. Every quarter I rely on a freelance ghostwriter to provide me with new articles for my website. She sends me topic suggestions and I choose the ones I want. In just a few days, sometimes sooner, my ghostwriter provides my small business website with fresh insight on important makeup trends and tips. My customers love it. My ghostwriter keeps my blog updated and even posts notices on my chosen social networking sites about the new articles.

In my husband's business, we hired a ghostwriter to create detailed brochures about his services and products. The writer did all the writing, printing and even mailed the brochures to us. This saved my husband tons of time-he's no writer! Hire a writer to help you build your website and drive traffic to your online store. It's worth it!

Virtual Assistant

As a former sales director with a major cosmetics company, it was my job to stay in touch with my 50-plus unit members. For this, I hired a virtual assistant. She helped me create flyers, birthday and anniversary cards for my unit. She signed them, mailed them and popped them in the mail. Over the years, my virtual office assistant created PDF files, manuals, a monthly newsletter and whatever I threw at her. She sent me reminder emails about special events and important meetings. I never met her in person, but she was a valuable member of my company.

Call Center

Having someone to answer the phones really freed me up to focus on other business tasks. I hired a virtual call center to help me field questions, complaints and inquiries. My virtual call center sent me updates via text and email. If you'd rather be in the field instead of by the phone hired a professional phone bank.

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