}
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Can a Virtual Assistant Save You From Burnout?
Up until last year, I owned my own wedding photography business for nearly seven years. I spent day after day marketing, following up, emailing, doing bookkeeping, and of course meeting with clients and photographing weddings. I did this while going to school full time and holding down a full time job. My relationship with my husband (boyfriend at the time) suffered, I didn’t have any time to spend with our awesome dogs, take care of the house, or cook dinner. I thought I had to be super woman and take care of everything, but that only left me completely burnt out and with a messy house.
The Art of Delegation
I’ve since discovered that the secret to being able to handle a busy life is delegation. Messy house? Hire a housekeeper. Complicated accounting? Get a great bookkeeper. However, I’ve noticed that creative professionals hate to ask for help or delegate anything to do with their business. I was there myself – I had spent so many days and months and years building up my brand and my business that the very idea of handing off any part of it to someone else absolutely appalled me. In the end though, it could have saved my sanity if someone had just told me that I didn’t have to do everything, and it was okay to ask for help.
The Pros of a Virtual Assistant
Most wedding planners don’t have the time, space, or budget to hire a full or even part time assistant, train them, pay them, (and all of the taxes and benefits that come with an in-house employee,) and this prevents a lot of planners from getting the help they need. A virtual assistant, however, can help as much or as little as you want them to. They are already trained, and will tell you what they know how to do so you don’t have to worry about taking the time to train somebody. And because they are working for more than one client, you are only charged when your projects are being working on, and not for bathroom or telephone breaks. Virtual assistants are also incredibly productive, because they spend their time doing the same type of projects for a variety of businesses.
Most importantly, because virtual assistants are not employees, but independent contractors, you don’t have to pay worker’s compensation, unemployment tax, health benefits, etc. If you only need them for five hours each week, that’s also not a problem, whereas if you were to look for in-person help, that might not be enough hours to get someone in the door.
What to Delegate?
Unless you are really ready to get things off your plate, it might be best to start small getting help in your business, and built trust with your chosen helper. Have your virtual assistant work on curating content and scheduling your social media posts, or post blogs for you and moderate the comments. Try having them do research and find guest blogging or networking opportunities.
When you are more comfortable with the process, you can have your virtual assistant move on to answering client inquiries, scheduling consultations, and following up via email after your meetings. They could help you design a marketing campaign, connect with other vendors in your area, update your website, chase down the photographer after the wedding for photos, or send out vendor thank you notes.
More Help = More Free Time
What could you do with an extra five hours a week? What about an extra ten? You could spend more time with your family, catch up on your housework, attend a few network events, or sit on your porch and read a good book.
It is so hard to ask for assistance with something as personal as your wedding business, but the help is out there if you are willing to take the next step and look for it.
What are some simple things you could delegate to a virtual assistant? Please share in the comments!
This is a guest post from Alyssa Johnson.
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Hi Debbie,
Great article! As someone who is looking to niche her Virtual Assistant services to focus on my experience & love for event planning it’s great to know what things I can market myself to wedding/event/party planners for. Are you aware of any resources or hubs best to target? I’m sure more people know about the world of Virtual Assistants but many probably have no idea/or haven’t quite decided to take the leap:)
Thanks so much in advance for any guidance!!!!!
Thanks for your comment Adrienne. This site is a great place to consider advertising on if you want to work with wedding and event planners specifically. Email us at info@plannerslounge.com if you would like more information!
What would be the best way to find a virtual assistant for a wedding business?
There are websites such as peopleperhour.com, elance.com, and odesk.com that have a lot of virtual assistant options.
Hi,
I wonder can a virtual assistant help with new event planning companies on campaigns? I love this idea of having a virtual assistant. this is great information? thanks for supplying this.
Michelle, I’m sure you could find a virtual assistant who has experience with campaigns. Good luck!
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