3 Ways a Virtual Assistant Will Help You to Improve Google Rankings

To boost website on Google, you need a team of professionals. There has to be someone to analyze your current ranking situation, detect issues to be fixed, fix them, etc. You can do it yourself, but is it worth it? You can lose control over the business, website content, web design, and many other things if you only focus on SEO.

It’s crucial to hire a team or at least one SEO virtual assistant to do the job. This is a person working for you remotely from their own home or office. They get assignments from you or your managers and do them in the best way they can.

You can hire a freelancer or a service that will:

• Improve SEO
• Build links
• Create content
• Much more

There are hundreds of things a virtual assistant can do for you. Let’s group them into three main activities to trust to remote experts. After finishing this article, you’ll want to hire a remote team as well!

Task #1. On-Site: Content Optimization, Website Layout, Metadata, Security

The first set of activities a virtual assistant can be really useful for is on-site work. This includes:

• Web design.
  The design of your site determines how both readers and search engines will react to it at first sight. Trusting the process to a professional will ensure the result is worth your money and meets your expectations.
• Website layout.
  Making it easier for visitors to navigate the website will leave most of them for a longer time. During that time, they may reach your blog and become regular readers or even purchase the products and services you offer.
• Loading speed improvement.
  A large part of your traffic will leave if the website is loading for over 5 seconds. In this case, every second matters. Having a fast loading speed without losses in the design quality of the site is pure art.
• SEO optimization in code and content.
  SEO must be a responsibility of a professional. It includes so many tactics: code optimization, keyword analysis, proper blog posting, landings, reports, improvements, and much more. Besides, the trends change every couple of months, so it’s crucial to adapt your strategy to the updates.
• Metadata.
  It’s not too important, but proper metadata can improve the traffic flow to your website. As a result, the rating will also increase. Meta title and description will give users a taste of what they’re going to find on the page. A wisely written description will bring many more people to the site.
• Security
  According to Fromdev, there are many ways website security affects Google rating. And it’s logical. One of the requirements to be deemed a credible website is to add SSL protocols and increase site security.

That’s a lot of work. So, how to manage your SEO virtual assistant or a team?

Use tools for virtual team management to always be in control of the processes going on remotely. If you hire true professionals, there will be no need for additional control.

Task #2. Off-Site: Content Distribution, Backlinks, SEO

Off-site SEO and other processes are also essential for a better rating. To get the top in Google, you have to optimize backlinking, clean the link profile of all poor-quality, redundant mentions, choose proper anchors, hold negotiations, and more.

Article distribution is also a major task when it comes to off-page SEO. You can see this page to find out more about this fundamental step. Virtual assistant SEO services will save you time, money, and effort, achieving the best results.

If you don’t realize the scale, look at some of the backlinking tasks a team or one professional will have to do:

• Research proper keywords to create efficient anchors
• Find websites that will agree to put a backlink as a native advertisement on their page
• Find websites that can post a guest publication on your behalf
• Find a professional copywriter to write those guest posts not to tarnish your credibility
• Negotiate to link the unlinked mentions of your brand, website, or industry-related terms
• Negotiate to put your link in places with broken links from your competitors
• And more

A great expert or team should be fluent in link-building, keyword research, and have great communication and negotiation skills. It will be difficult to do it all yourself, given you have hundreds of other tasks to do. So, a virtual assistant is an essential addition to your team.

They don’t require a spot in the office. They work from home or their own offices. All they need is an Internet connection and a laptop or even a phone. It’s convenient cooperation for both sides.

Besides, if it’s an expert, they know all the types of backlinks and how to get them. Every type (editorial, guest-posting, badge, ‘recommended post’ links, etc.) can be acquired in a number of ways. The more options you have, the better the outcome will be.

Task #3. Analysis: Google Analytics, Domain Authority, Etc.

Analysis has to be done before, during, and after every process. Whether it’s a new SEO strategy implementation or a digital marketing campaign, or even a launch of a blog, you need to know where your website’s at.

Things to analyze:

• Keywords
• SEO tactics
• Current rating
• Domain Authority
• Competitors

The latter is very important. Taking a few competitors that rank higher and analyzing their strategies is a must-do. You can find gaps in yours and fix them with the help of that data. This won’t hurt other projects unless your virtual assistant copies their material, which an expert would never do.

This brings us to the topic of the choice of such a remote assistant. Always check their resumes, ask for test assignments or portfolios, and only look at decent job-seeking and similar services.

They have to know all digital tools crucial for the success of their mission, starting with the basics like Google Analytics and Google Search Console. A professional must be fluent in all kinds of software connected to their occupation since each one provides slightly different benefits.

Conclusion

Having virtual assistants takes a large load off your shoulders. Such a tactic is especially useful for startups where one person has many responsibilities. In order to achieve success, you need to focus on on-si and off-site optimization, as well as analysis.

As a result, you will always know how the website is doing, what ranking your pages have at the moment, and what improvements have to be made to level up. Hiring a virtual assistant for that is one of the best ideas. You’ll have more time to focus on the core business or digital marketing for further improvement.

Author: Frank Hamilton

Frank Hamilton is a blogger and translator from Manchester. He is a professional writing expert in such topics as blogging, digital marketing and SEO. He also loves traveling and speaks Spanish, French, German and English.

The Benefits of Hiring a Virtual Receptionist

With much to do and not enough time, businesses are beginning to realize they can outsource many tasks and focus on their core operations. That’s why the popularity of virtual assistants of all kinds is skyrocketing.

Since answering calls and other administrative tasks can be time-consuming, many businesses are taking advantage of virtual receptionist services. Virtual receptionists can do everything in-house receptionists can — answering and directing calls, scheduling, providing customer support, etc. — but they do it remotely.

So why should you hire a virtual receptionist over an in-house one?

Trained Professionals

Virtual receptionists are experienced in their job. They have both the soft skills and the technical knowledge to assist customers in the best possible way and do it efficiently. You can always choose professionals who already have experience in your particular field of work. This way, they won’t even need any training. You’ll just have to brief them about your company and its policies.

On the other hand, no matter whether you choose to perform the receptionist’s duties yourself or hire an in-house employee, you’ll need extensive training and adjusting. A receptionist is often your first line of contact with potential clients, so it’s vital that they know how to handle every situation.

Superior Customer Service

Research has found that 90% of people decide whether they want to work with a business based on their customer service. So the importance of great service can’t be overstated, and it can help your business thrive.

That’s why you can’t afford to have an unqualified person with no phone etiquette training handling your inbound calls. A virtual receptionist will know how to handle every difficult request as well as any disgruntled customer with much care and consideration.

Excellent service can make a world of difference for your business. In fact, even if you make a mistake, people are much more likely to do business with you if you have impeccable customer service.

Available Around the Clock

If you hire an in-house receptionist, they will be available during their work hours. However, if you want to cover all the shifts, you’ll have to hire multiple workers, even if some shifts are significantly slower.

With virtual receptionists, you’ll have someone covering the phone and other contact points 24/7, seven days a week if you want to. You pay for a full service, and the agency provides enough receptionists depending on your call traffic.

What’s more, you can have a digital AI assistant as your receptionist or use it to supplement your human workforce. They can help customers who prefer texts over calls, and they’re also available around the clock.

Cost-Effective

Whether you hire an independent virtual receptionist or an agency, your costs will be much lower than if you had an in-house, in-office employee. You get to save on office space, supplies, and professional training because you’ll have a remote worker who’s fully trained.

What’s more, by working with an agency, you get round-the-clock coverage without having to worry about what to do on your receptionist’s days off and absences.

Moreover, if you outsource to an agency or hire a contractor on a pay-per-use basis, you don’t have to pay a full salary and employee benefits for a full-time employee. This option is great if you don’t need a full-time receptionist all the time.

No Missed Opportunities

Whenever the phone rings and there’s no one to answer, or a person on the other end gives up because they’re put on hold, you miss an opportunity. You never know which call will be a game-changer for your business, and you can’t afford to lose any of them.

With full receptionist coverage at all times, even when you’re on vacation, you won’t miss a single opportunity and won’t have to worry about losing any potential clients.

This kind of customer care also means that your existing clients will be much more satisfied with your service because they can count on your support at all times.

More Time for Core Business

Taking calls, scheduling, handling complaints — these are all menial tasks that take a lot of time and energy, which are the most valuable resources you have in running your business. By outsourcing these repetitive and monotonous tasks to professionals you can trust to handle them with care, you’re free to dedicate more time to your core business.

That’s the main reason outsourcing is so popular these days. Running a business comes with many peripheral tasks that take your attention away from your core business. If you let others handle them, you’ll be much more productive and will get the space you need to explore new ideas and improve your business.

Improved Brand Image

Your customer-facing employees are vital for your brand image. They are the representatives of your business, and as far as customers are concerned, their attitude is your attitude. So if these employees are unpleasant or unhelpful, these negative traits reflect on your business’ image automatically.

By enlisting the help of virtual receptionists, you get front-line workers who will ensure that your image is impeccable. By having trained professionals handle customer relations, you broadcast an image of a professional, exceptionally trustworthy brand that cares about each individual client and is always available.

The good word will spread fast, and before you know it, your online reviews will be great, which will, in turn, lead to more customers.

Peace of Mind

Finally and most importantly, you can have peace of mind, knowing that your customer relations are in good hands at all times. Even when you’re not at the office or you’re on vacation, you can trust your virtual receptionists to handle any requests, issues, and similar.

If you’re not used to taking breaks or you’re somewhat high-strung with a tendency to micromanage, that will soon change. Once you realize how effective and efficient your receptionists are, you’ll be able to relax, let it go, and allow yourself not to think about work every once in a while.

Author: Michael Deane

Michael has been working in marketing for almost a decade and has worked with a huge range of clients, which has made him knowledgeable on many different subjects. He has recently rediscovered a passion for writing and hopes to make it a daily habit. You can read more of Michael’s work at Qeedle.

Canadian VAs – How they can help you build your business

Canada is no longer just America’s next-door neighbour when it comes to the world of online business– especially for virtual assistants. Whether you’re a brand looking for someone to manage your marketing, administrative tasks or accounting. Or you’re an individual who just needs someone to help them manage their own personal online presence, whether it be blogging, social media or other– a virtual assistant is your answer! We have highlighted some of the benefits of hiring Canadian VAs, now that technology has no borders (thank you zoom). 

Business

Since Canadians are so closely assimilated with American culture, we are typically educated on American business practices, systems and ethics. This translates well in the workplace because not only do you have a versatile team member who understands your business, but you also have a valuable asset who can assist in international business practices with Canadian businesses. 

Another bonus to Canada’s multiculturalism– many people who move to Canada come here for University or College. Typically, they will have some level of understanding of another culture, language or business from somewhere else in the world. This can also level up your brand even more so than you could even imagine!

Personality

Yes, Canadians are nice, but our personalities are more dynamic than just ‘nice’ when it comes to professionalism. When you come to Canada, the culture revolves around developing relationships with your friends, your neighbours, the person you met once at the coffee shop– going the extra mile (or kilometre) to make someone feel appreciated stands out. 

Plus, our Canadian humour is second to none– or at least, so we’re told. If you’re looking for someone more ‘laid back’ or matched with your personality and you find yourself getting overwhelmed with the thought of even researching a VA that could meet your standards, try reaching out to different VA agencies. VA agencies offer multiple different VAs, as well as a larger array of services (typically). Generally speaking, you can find at least one VA that will match your personal communication style and service needs. 

Multicultural

Canada is a multicultural nation, built on settlers and people immigrating to Canada from different countries. That being said, in a society where cultural diversity is so sparse– one less company can be one step closer to change. 

If you are seeking a way to implement multiculturalism or more diversity into your business– try reaching out to Canadians! You will almost certainly find someone whose heritage is from somewhere else other than Canada itself.

Affordable

One of the biggest challenges for companies when the COVID pandemic hit was managing their budgets. Canadian virtual assistants fare more affordable than their American counterparts when it comes to being budget-friendly in terms of payroll when they are employed by American companies. 

If you are an American business, by employing a Canadian VA, you are achieving a ‘savings’ of 20-30% due to the exchange rate from American funds to Canadian funds. If you are a Canadian business, the win or loss does not affect you, as you will be paying your VA in CAD currency regardless. 

For more information about VAs, or what services we offer, please visit our website at www.canadasvirtualassistant.com.

How to Decide What to Outsource to Virtual Assistants

Juggling multiple tasks and managing your time at once to ensure productivity is a challenge. There are so many important things you need to do, yet 24 hours a day is just not enough to accomplish it all. The lack of time for other things is probably one of the reasons why you think a virtual assistant might be the solution to your pressing dilemma.

You are right. If this is the case, the most convenient thing you can do to relieve the stress brought by your gazillion responsibilities is outsourcing some of these tasks to virtual assistants. Outsourcing will help you maximize your resources and ensure that you get back your time.

If you want to know how to outsource and what tasks you can outsource to virtual assistants, this is the article for you. We prepared a step-by-step guide to help you decide what tasks to outsource to your future virtual assistants.

Step 1: Write Everything Down

One of the main reasons why entrepreneurs seek help from a Virtual Assistant is because they want to free up some of their time. The first step to determine what you can outsource is to write all down all tasks that are currently eating up your time.

From there, write down the rates you are willing to pay and the expertise you need from a virtual assistant. Doing so will give you a clear view of what you really want and make it easier for you to choose who to hire.

Taking note of your needs will serve as your deciding factor in choosing most of the tasks you’ll have to outsource and the number of virtual assistants you need. This step ensures that you see the worth of outsourcing, and you can easily decide on different options available to you.

Step 2: Group them into Categories

Categorize every task in your business according to its relevance in operations. You can divide these tasks into four categories:

1. Things you don’t know how to do
2. Things you hate doing
3. Things you don’t have time to do, and
4. Things only you can do

Create a rough list of the priority tasks out of this step, and it will kickstart your outsourcing game. These sample categories will rid you of the hassle of enumerating each task and possible confusion. Ensure that you are clear with the categories and don’t miss any critical duties within the business.

You can also use this time to assess your needs and wants as a working individual or entrepreneur to get a clear view of the kind of service you will need from a virtual assistant. With this, you can find ways on how a VA can help you become more efficient and improve your business.

Step 3: Make SOPs

Writing down all your standard operating procedures (SOPs) is helpful in deciding what to outsource to virtual assistants and in building an organized standard operating procedure. This step will benefit you and your future virtual assistants.

Be clear and concise with the tasks that enable your business to operate. List them all down, describing how they work and their impact on your operations. With this, you will realize the value of accomplishing these tasks to your productivity and how viable it is to outsource them to virtual assistants.

Also, it is best to take note of the time frame of each task when you do it or when a VA takes over. Measuring the time will give you a view of the probable costs of the labor and how many days it would take for someone to generate quality output. The recorded time will provide you a baseline for your future virtual assistants to follow and comply. 

Step 4: Create a Budget Plan

Having a budget plan set specifically for having virtual assistants will help you decide on what tasks to outsource and how you negotiate rates with your future VAs. A budget plan also ensures that you will not go overboard with your costs and expenses.

Dismissing the creation of a practical budget plan can reverse the significant effects of outsourcing to virtual assistants. Instead of benefiting from lower costs and more time, you might be working twice as hard just to meet your targets.

Remember that your goal in outsourcing is to minimize costs and improve productivity personally or within your organization. Make a budget plan out of factual data, strictly follow it, and filter top priority tasks to outsource that will yield exceptional results. 

Step 5: Take an Outsourcing Course and Make a Decision

The last step in this guide is to enroll yourself in an outsourcing course. If you plan to invest in outsourcing and in virtual assistants, you might as well learn from the experts to get best practices and avoid mistakes as much as you can.

The internet is full of people you can trust and those who will take advantage of you. Taking an online outsourcing course from a proven and tested outsourcing school will prevent this from happening and will guarantee you high productivity. 

Outsourcing courses will make everything extra easier for you. They can provide a roadmap specific for your hiring needs, a list of tasks that you can outsource, places to find quality virtual assistants, templates for SOPs, and many more.

Conclusion

Anyone can outsource tasks to freelancers or virtual assistants. Outsourcing is not limited to entrepreneurs and CEOs since VAs cater to almost all functions that their clients require. Outsourcing will help people like you take back time and generate quality output from outstanding virtual assistants.

You foster growth when you learn to let things go and trust other people to do them for you. It does not mean that you will no longer be as hands-on as you once were. Instead, it is a sign that you are smart enough to utilize more ways to become efficient and productive in your.

About the Author

Connor Gillivan is currently an Owner of OutsourceSchool.com. He has been building businesses with virtual teams for the past 10 years and recently exited FreeUp.net in 2019. He regularly shares his advice on scaling companies online and has been featured on 200+ websites. He resides in Denver, CO.