What Does A Virtual Assistant Do? A Comprehensive Guide For 2025

The concept of virtual assistant (VA) emerged in the early 1990s as advancements in technology-enabled individuals to work from home while staying connected to their employers.

This transformation allowed VAs to evolve from traditional clerical roles into versatile contractors equipped to handle nearly any task that supports a business.

While they can't serve coffee in person, they can adeptly manage everything from scheduling appointments to executing complex projects in fields as diverse as real estate and digital marketing.

If you've been contemplating whether to employ a virtual assistant, now is the time to overcome those hesitations.

In this blog post, we will explore the wide-ranging responsibilities of virtual assistants, shedding light on how their skills can dramatically improve your workflow and overall efficiency.

Whether you're looking to outsource basic administrative duties or find support for more specialized tasks, understanding a virtual assistant's diverse roles is crucial.

Let's dive in!

Who is a Virtual Assistant?

Four key pointers defining a VA are

• A professional
• Remote worker
• An expert who specializes in skills like bookkeeping, accounting, etc, plus handles administrative tasks like calendar management, phone calling, etc
• Works on a contractual or hourly basis on behalf of an agency or as an individual

A Virtual Assistant is a remote employee who provides administrative, creative, technical, or other specialized services to clients from a home office or any location outside the client's premises. They use technology to communicate and collaborate with clients. This includes email, video conferencing, project management software, and instant messaging.

The role of a virtual assistant may vary depending on the client's needs. However, the primary goal is to help clients manage their day-to-day tasks and free up time for more important responsibilities. They can perform various tasks like email management, scheduling appointments, data entry, etc.

What Does a Virtual Assistant Do?

A Virtual Assistant (VA) works remotely, helping manage your inbox, calendar, appointments, bookkeeping, phone calls, and task lists. But their role doesn’t stop there. A VA can also help with writing, editing, design, marketing, and social media tasks. In short, a virtual assistant is a jack of all trades.

This role is carried out remotely, using technology to accomplish assignments, even when the assistant is not physically present in the same office as their colleagues or employers.

Virtual assistants can also work at flexible hours, as they are not constrained to an office and can work even from the comfort of their homes.

Ready to start your virtual assistant business? ZenBusiness can help get you started. But what tasks can a virtual assistant do for you?

Top 10 Tasks You Can Outsource to a Virtual Assistant

The tasks of a virtual assistant can vary depending on the client's needs, but some common responsibilities include:

Social media management

A virtual assistant can manage a client's social media accounts. If you are still wondering what do virtual assistants do, they can also create content, interact with followers, and analyze engagement metrics; based on that they can also help you to get followers on your IG profile to expand the reach of your content and boost engagement.

Email marketing

A virtual assistant helps you create and execute email marketing campaigns. They will also manage mailing lists and analyze email performance to optimize future campaigns.

Inbox and travel management

A virtual assistant can manage your inbox by sorting and prioritizing emails and responding to messages. They can also assist with travel arrangements, such as booking flights and hotels and creating itineraries.

Bookkeeping

A virtual assistant can handle basic bookkeeping tasks, such as invoicing, expense tracking, and reconciling bank statements.

Customer service

A virtual assistant can provide customer support by responding to inquiries and resolving issues.

Calendar management

A virtual assistant can manage a client's calendar by scheduling appointments, coordinating meetings, and sending reminders. For example, they can set up a calendar system, such as Google Calendar, and share it with the client to ensure they can access it.

Lead generation

A virtual assistant can research potential leads and prospects, create targeted outreach campaigns, and manage the sales pipeline.

Project management

A virtual assistant can manage projects by creating timelines, delegating tasks, and meeting deadlines.

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Data entry

A virtual assistant can enter and organize data into spreadsheets, databases, and other systems.

Content creation

VAs can create content for creators, client's websites, blogs, or social media channels and schedule social media posts across various platforms, ensuring consistent and timely updates.

Phone answering

A virtual receptionist will help your business resolve the most common problem of no show by timely responding to queries, sending reminder.

The tasks mentioned above are examples of a virtual assistant's various responsibilities.

A virtual assistant's services can vary widely, depending on the business's or individual client's needs. Therefore, VAs can be versatile and cater to your unique needs.

This makes them a valuable resource for any business looking to streamline their operations.

I hope this section answers the question - “What does a virtual assistant do?”

Benefits of Hiring a Virtual Assistant

To know more about “what does a virtual assistant do?”, you also need to understand the benefits.

Hiring a VA can provide numerous benefits for businesses and entrepreneurs.

Virtual assistants can help businesses grow and thrive by improving productivity and efficiency, reducing stress, and achieving a better work-life balance.

Efficient time management

A virtual assistant can help manage a client's time more effectively by taking on time-consuming tasks, freeing the client to focus on more important matters.

Improved organizational productivity

They can streamline business operations, increase efficiency, and improve overall productivity.

Reduced stress and increased leisure time

By delegating tasks to a virtual assistant, clients can reduce their workload and enjoy more leisure time, reducing stress and improving work-life balance.

Increased scale of operations

A virtual assistant can help businesses expand their operations by taking on tasks that might otherwise require hiring additional staff.

Expanded reach

A VA can work remotely, allowing clients to reach a global talent pool and benefit from a broader range of skills and expertise.

Improved customer service

A virtual assistant can provide excellent customer service by responding to inquiries and resolving issues.

Cost savings

By hire a virtual assistant, clients can save on costs such as office space, equipment, and benefits.

Enhanced emotional well-being

By delegating tasks to a VA, clients can reduce their workload and improve their mental and emotional well-being.

Improved work-life balance

A virtual assistant can help clients achieve a better work-life balance by taking on tasks that might otherwise interfere with personal time.

A renewed focus on core business services

By outsourcing non-core tasks to a VA, you can focus on your core business services and increase your overall effectiveness. This way, you can get to know what does a virtual assistant do.

Points to remember while hiring a Virtual Assistant

When hiring a VA, it's important to consider various factors to ensure you find the right fit for your business needs. From assessing their skills and achievements to asking insightful interview questions, here are some key points to remember.

Look for Career Advancement

When hiring a virtual assistant, consider whether the candidate is interested in advancing their career. You want to hire someone who is motivated and looking to grow professionally. This will ensure that your virtual assistant is invested in their work and is committed to providing high-quality services.

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Look for Accomplishments and Achievements

Check the candidate's resume and online profiles for notable accomplishments. This will give you an idea of the candidate's work ethic and potential to excel. Look for any specific skills or experiences that are relevant to your needs.

Ask Insightful Interview Questions

During the interview process, ask questions beyond the candidate's basic qualifications. Ask questions assessing their problem-solving, communication, and ability to work independently. Ask about their experience with specific tools or software that you use and how they handle tight deadlines or difficult clients.

Consider Pre-Interview Tests

Depending on the nature of your requirements, you may consider giving candidates a pre-interview test to assess their skills. This can include data entry, social media management, or customer support. This will give you a good understanding of their capabilities and whether they fit the job well.

Learn More Best Practices for Hiring People

Hiring a virtual assistant is not much different than hiring any other employee. Take the time to understand the best practices for hiring and managing people. This includes creating clear job descriptions, setting expectations, providing training and feedback, and establishing clear communication channels. By keeping these points in mind, you'll be able to find a qualified and motivated virtual assistant who can help you grow your business or manage your tasks.

How to Hire a Virtual Assistant?

Hiring a virtual assistant can seem daunting. However, it is a straightforward and rewarding process with the right approach. Here are some detailed steps you need to follow when hiring a virtual assistant for your business.

Identify Areas Where You Need Assistance

Before hiring a virtual assistant, you must identify the areas where you need assistance. This will help you find a candidate with the right skill set and experience to fulfill those needs. Make a list of tasks you need help with, and determine the expertise required for each.

Sign up for a Free Consultation

Many virtual assistant companies offer free consultations to discuss your needs and match you with a suitable virtual assistant. Take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about the process and ask any questions. This will also allow you to gauge the company's communication and responsiveness.

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Onboard Your Executive Virtual Assistant

Once you've selected a virtual assistant, providing clear instructions and expectations is important. This includes sharing access to relevant tools and software, outlining specific tasks, and setting deadlines. Establish communication channels and schedule regular check-ins to ensure the work progresses as expected. Other things to keep in mind when hiring a virtual assistant:

• Consider the virtual assistant's availability and time zone. Make sure that their schedule aligns with yours.
• Look for a virtual assistant with experience in your industry or similar tasks. This will ensure that they are familiar with the terminology and best practices.
• Check references and reviews from previous clients to ensure the VA has a track record of delivering high-quality work.
• Be clear about your budget and payment terms to avoid misunderstandings later on.

By following these sub-points and considering these additional factors, you can successfully hire a virtual assistant to help you increase productivity and achieve your goals.

Why Hire Virtual Assistants from Wishup?

Wishup is an online platform offering virtual assistants, online personal assistants, and bookkeepers to businesses and entrepreneurs.

With a highly qualified team, cutting-edge tools and technologies, and exceptional customer service, Wishup can benefit businesses looking to hire virtual assistants.

Top 0.1% of Applicants

Wishup follows a rigorous screening process that ensures only the top 0.1% of applicants are hired as virtual assistants. You can be assured that the virtual assistant you hire from Wishup will have the skills and experience to handle your tasks efficiently.

Onboarding in Just 60 minutes

Wishup provides 60 min onboarding to ensure a smooth transition for you and your virtual assistant. This means your virtual assistant can start working on your tasks right away without any delay.

Instant Replacement

If, for any reason, you're not satisfied with your virtual assistant, Wishup offers instant replacement. You don't need to worry about going through the hiring process again or paying additional fees.

Dedicated Account Manager

Each client will get an account manager who will oversee the work of your virtual assistant and ensure that everything is running smoothly. This means you have someone to turn to for any questions or concerns.

3-Day Risk-Free Trial

Wishup offers a 3-day risk-free trial, so you can test the services and see if they fit your needs. If you're not satisfied, you can cancel without any obligation.

In-House Training in 70+ No-Code Tools and 200+ Skill Sets

Wishup provides in-house training to virtual assistants in over 70 no-code tools and 200+ skill sets. Your virtual assistant will have the latest tools and techniques to handle your tasks efficiently.

Conclusion

So, what does a virtual assistant do? or what does a VA do? Hiring a VA can offer several benefits to business owners. It may include increased productivity, cost savings, and more flexibility. They can handle various tasks, including research, scheduling, travel, social media, expense management, and communication. If you need help with these tasks, this is where Wishup comes in.

Wishup is an online platform for hire a personal assistant to help improve business operations.

By hiring a virtual assistant from Wishup, you can have access to skilled and efficient assistants who can handle a range of tasks.

If you're interested in hiring a VA for your business, schedule a free consultation with Wishup today or email [email protected] to learn more about how their services can benefit you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a virtual assistant actually do?

A virtual assistant remotely provides clients various administrative, technical, or creative services. They can handle scheduling, email management, research, data entry, social media management, content creation, and more. The scope of work can be different depending on the client's needs and the virtual assistant's skills.

What is an example of a virtual assistant?

An example of a virtual assistant could be someone who provides administrative support to an entrepreneur. They could handle tasks such as managing emails, scheduling appointments, etc. Virtual assistants can also specialize in certain areas, such as bookkeeping, graphic design, or website maintenance.