US Virtual Assistants

Advantages of Working with US Virtual Assistants

There are a handful of benefits to gain if you choose to work with a US Virtual Assistant instead of outsourcing internationally and below are some of them:

Ease of Communication

Since you are working with someone with a native tongue, communication and language barriers will be less of an issue. (There are always communication challenges when working remotely, so I won’t say they’ll be completely eliminated.) Compared with overseas assistants though, the communication and understanding should be easier.

Miscommunication and repetitive explanations can certainly slow you down but working with a US virtual assistant automatically take those away from the equation.

This allows you to get more things done and amplifies both yours and your assistant’s productivity. In a way, that efficiency saves you time and money because there are likely to be fewer mistakes.

This isn’t to say that you can’t find excellent virtual assistants abroad, just that many employers prefer working with someone closer to home. It can help move things along faster without sacrificing quality.

Culture Fit

The benefits of working with a US virtual assistant goes beyond the language barrier. These individuals have a better understanding of the cultural norms that we usually take for granted.

Being a resident or citizen of the United States gives them a better baseline understanding of some important information. Those topics might include the general business climate of the US, the proper way of interacting with customers, and other information specific to the US alone.

For example, if you’re looking for someone to write a couple of blog posts about US Real Estate. It would be much easier for someone from the US to pull it off since they’re more familiar with the general policies and practices in place when it comes to the topic.

Identical or Nearby Time Zones

One of the biggest factors to consider when working with a virtual assistant is timezone. This makes a lot of difference if you need your assistant to work the same as hours as you do.

This is especially advantageous if constant communication is required, or if you have urgent requests.

Just make sure to set the expectations right from the get-go. It’s important they know what time of the day you usually need them, so they’ll be able to organize their schedule.

Drawbacks to Hiring US Virtual Assistants

As ideal as it is to work with US virtual assistants, going this route also presents a few drawbacks and below are some of them:

Higher Cost

The biggest drawback to hiring a US virtual assistant would have to be the cost since they are relatively pricey compared to virtual assistants from the Philippines or India.

It all has to do with the standard of living in the United States compared to the countries.

Look at it this way: While you can live well on $1500 per month in those countries, it’s just not going to work for a virtual assistant living in the United States. The basic cost of living and prices of commodities are simply higher.

If you have the budget to cover the cost of a US virtual assistant, however, it’s definitely worth every penny since there’s no language barrier and cultural differences you need to worry about.

Their Work Hours May Not Be As Flexible

Working in similar time zones doesn’t always work for everyone, especially if you work in an industry that requires someone to cover late night schedules and holidays.

This is also one of the disadvantages of working with a US Virtual Assistant. Some may be open to working odd schedules, which is something you usually get with international virtual assistants.

How Much Do US Virtual Assistants Cost?

The average rate of a US virtual assistant is anywhere between $25 to $75 per hour. This of course depends on the skills and experience of the individual.

Virtual assistants for more specialized tasks will probably cost you higher just like anywhere else so it can also depend on the kind of work or project you need them to cover.

As you might expect, hiring virtual assistants from a virtual assistant company would also cost you more compared to hiring an independent freelancer.

With most virtual assistant companies, the bigger the monthly package you sign up for, the better your equivalent hourly rate.

My Experience with US Virtual Assistants

I’ve worked with US-based assistants for a variety of things, but mostly one-off projects.

For example, I’ve hired help for:

• social media
• research
• creating presentations
• content writing
• book editing
• technical work
• personal tasks
• legal and accounting support

With all of those, I probably could have found a proficient VA overseas at a lower rate, but it made sense to hire locally for:

• Understanding of social media strategy and norms.
• Native English-speaking writing and editing expertise.
• Knowledge of US corporate law and accounting rules.

Some of the US-based services in my current “virtual assistant stack” are Fancy Hands and Zen WP (for WordPress support). Other specific assistants I’ve connected with through freelance platforms like Fiverr and FreeeUp.

Which US Virtual Assistant Company is Right for You?

Hiring a US virtual assistant can definitely help your business become more profitable, but the decision to proceed depends on the following considerations:

• Budget
• Schedule
• Communication

While it does come at a price, the value you’ll get may be worth every dime.

The Best US Virtual Assistant Services

If you’re still undecided and need more time and information to come up with a decision, you might as well check out the top-rated VA companies I’ve listed for you below.

The reviews and feedback from customers should give you more idea about and help you narrow down your decision.