Outsourcing jobs to a virtual assistant is a great way for busy business owners to get many small tasks accomplished at once.  A virtual assistant can do anything from reading and replying to customer service emails and placing orders for clients to setting up appointments and answering phones from a remote location.  However, if you are not careful, there can be some major pitfalls.  Here are some of the most important mistakes to avoid when outsourcing to a virtual assistant.

1.   Know Who You Hire

When you hire a virtual assistant to help with tasks that are important to your business, it is important to know your new employee as well as possible.  You need to treat this position as you would any other in your business.  Conduct interviews.  Look over resumes.  An outsourcing job generally performed remotely still means you need to get to know your candidates first.  The level of independence afforded by a remote position can be taken advantage of when an employer does not thoroughly check out a new hire.

2.  Communicate With Your Virtual Assistant

If work by your virtual assistant is done without keeping the lines of communication open, it is very possible that your assistant will not do as good a job at completing the tasks you need finished as you would have done them.  If you want your jobs to be done the way you would have done them, it is very important to be honest and open and communicate often with your assistant.

3.  Make, and Stick to, a Budget

If you have more than one outsourced job, it is easy to lose track of the funds you are spending for those jobs.  Some assistants will ask for hourly wages.  Others will expect to be paid by the project.  Still others may work through contracts, or even on commission.  If you do not keep accurate track of the funds you are spending, it will be easy for you to overspend on your budget.  Always keep accurate records of your spending, and never hire anyone you simply cannot afford.

4.  Use Your VA to His or Her Fullest Potential

Make sure when you hire a virtual assistant that you take some time to get to know his or her skills, and that you mandate tasks to him or her that are best suited for the particular skills offered.  If you neglect a talent your virtual assistant has, you may be missing out on a valuable resource.  Conversely, if you delegate more to your assistant than he or she can handle, you may be setting yourself up for disappointment.

5.  Never Overstep Your Boundaries

Always remember that you are likely not your virtual assistant’s only client.  Asking too much and being over-protective is not only selfish, but it could be a way to lose your virtual assistant.  Be respectful, above all else!