Regularly working with a Virtual Assistant pays off during holiday season. The longer they’ve been working with your business the more they can do to help out. Over time a Virtual Assistant becomes familiar with how you like things done. They also learn how you prefer to handle holidays and special occasions. At the same time, you develop more trust in your Virtual Assistant and can leave them to handle things on their own while you’re on a break.
Some of these suggestions only require a small amount of trust; others need more. The one thing that is important: The ability of a Virtual Assistant to take up and run with these jobs increases over time. Even though most Virtual Assistants would be able to do any of these jobs on day one, familiarity with how you like things done requires less guidance from you.
Here are 10 ways that working with a Virtual Assistant pays off during holiday season:
- Your Virtual Assistant knows how your company works so they can quickly & easily jump in to provide extra support when needed. This makes staff leave easier to handle. It and also helps with end of year projects that might see one department needing extra help.
- They learn how you like to do things and after helping with it one year will be able to trigger things like purchase & sending Xmas cards and gifts. Then all you need to do is sign off on the purchases.
- A Virtual Assistant will make sure that your database is always up-to-date. So, you can easily get contact details to send out cards, gifts or invitations. The week / month before Christmas is not when you want to be doing a major database update. Nor do you want to receive a heap of Christmas cards back marked “not at this address”.
- Your Virtual Assistant can keep a gift and card register so that you’re sending consistent messages to your clients. For example sending someone a pricey bottle of wine one year and just a card the next can make it seem you no longer value the relationship.
- They can make sure your CRM is updated with personal details. Such as, the client doesn’t drink (so reconsider sending them wine); or that your client celebrates different religious or cultural holidays that you want to acknowledge. Then you won’t have to deal with any embarrassing or awkward moments.
- When booking flights they know whether you like the aisle or window, front or back of the plane. Then can organise your bookings and online check-ins on your behalf. Travel bookings can be painful. But, if you travel over the holiday period, your Virtual Assistant can find the cheapest flights; do your early check-ins; organise a hire car at your destination; and much more.
- They know what you like when you’re booking accommodation and can: organise a ground floor room; higher level room; and any other personal specifications you might have. Your Virtual Assistant can also confirm your accommodation bookings and make sure the credit card on file has sufficient funds at the end of your visit..
- Your Virtual Assistant can act as a gatekeeper while you’re on holiday. They can sort and prioritise messages and you can relax knowing that truly urgent things are handled. Meaning you don’t need to check your email every hour. You can just relax unless you get a call or SMS from your Virtual Assistant.
- They can manage your diary so you don’t get overbooked in party season. And, will always know where you’re supposed to be next and send you a reminder if necessary. Your Virtual Assistant can also set up meetings for the new year with anyone you meet at holiday parties and would like to catch up with later.
- They can help you source and order gifts for your friends and family. Because as much as you want to get out and do your shopping personally, the holiday season can get out of hand. Just give your Virtual Assistant an idea of what you’d like to get for someone and let them do the research. Or when you have no idea what to get, give your Virtual Assistant an idea of who your recipient is and let them come up with a few suggestions.
If you’d like some more ideas, check out my previous Working with a Virtual Assistant posts. Alternatively, click here to book a complimentary 30 minute catch up to discuss how I could help you.
