7 Ways Authors Can Use A Virtual Assistant
Writing is intense — and often solo — work. You have to know everything about your topic. You spend hours staring at a computer screen. Authors have thousands of hours of research. Journalists and online writers have to keep up with what’s current. Writing — whether it’s a book, a blog, or a long form article — is intense, stressful work.
So maybe you need a little help?
Zirtual has a wide variety of college-educated virtual assistants who have years of experience in supporting the work of authors and writers. Our virtual assistants are ready to assist you with everything from research to fact checking to proofreading and editing — so you can focus on the actual writing.
Spend More Time Where It Counts
We know that writing isn’t just about writing. It’s about setting up interviews, hours of research, even managing social media or book tour schedules. But we also know that you became a writer to write, not to do all that other stuff.
So why spend your precious time on mundane and repetitive tasks that could easily be delegated to a virtual assistant? Focus your time on perfecting your art, and leave the rest to us. Our VAs have years of experience in inbox management, scheduling, travel booking, event planning, research, proofreading, editing, formatting, setting up interviews, and much more. Basically, if there’s an administrative task you hate, one of our VAs can take it off your hands.
You may not need to invest in a full-time, in-house administrative assistant, but with a virtual assistant you can pay only for the times you actually need them to be on. And that frees you up to really go heads-down into your work. Who couldn’t use some uninterrupted creative time?
Hand Over The Research
No matter what kind of writing you do, you have to do research. And you know that it’s possible to spend hours — or even days — chasing down an important, but obscure, fact. Our virtual assistants are skilled at doing the deep digging, so you can move on to the next thing on your list.
Don’t Stress About Edits
Every writer needs an editor. But in this day and age, that’s not always possible. Rest assured that your work is free of typos and grammatical errors by working with one of our virtual assistants. They’ll make sure that everything you send out is error-free, every time.
Stop Wasting Time Tracking Down Interview Subjects
Every writer knows that interview subjects can be… Tricky. First you have to figure out who to talk to. Then you have to spend hours going back and forth in email to set up a time. Then, when the time is set up, they may or may not actually show.
Our VAs will take care of the whole process for you, including sending follow-up emails before the actual interview takes place to ensure that they’ll actually be there when they say they will. No more waiting for 30 minutes, only to have them be a no show.
Your virtual assistant can also arrange any follow-up emails and requests for assets after the interview is complete, so you don’t have worry about chasing those down, either.
Keep Up Your Online Presence
When you dreamed of being writer, you didn’t know that it would require all this social media stuff, too. (Not your fault — it probably didn’t even exist yet!) But to stay in front of your audience and keep them engaged, you have to have an online presence these days. That means keeping on top of social media, maintaining a website, and — especially if you’re an online writer — building up your brand.
But social media and website building and maintaining takes up a lot of time. And, frankly, most people just aren’t that good at it. Your Zirtual assistant can manage and maintain your social media, follow up with leads, keep track of the trends in your field, and even respond to any fans (or trolls) who reach out. Our VAs can help with social media and marketing and any other small business support services that you need.
The average salary for a personal assistant is $39K per year — and outsourcing to a social media management company can cost any where from $36K to over $200K — but a Zirtual virtual assistant is only around $4 to $16K per year. Hard to beat those numbers.
Stay In Touch
When agents, clients, or potential sources reach out, they expect a speedy answer. And it’s all too easy to let voicemails and emails pile up. Have your Zirtual assistant check your voicemail and emails regularly throughout the day in order to make sure you never miss an important call. Once they get down all of the important info, they’ll send you the messages as an action item list that they can help you tackle.
You can also give your virtual assistant template messages for commonly asked questions or frequently requested information. Then, those emails get responded to in record time without you even having to glance at them. It’s like having a one-person customer service team to take care of all of the questions that you simply don’t have time for.
As for your current sources and contacts, our administrative and executive virtual assistants know how to give a personal and personable touch to interacting with your clients. They’ll feel listened to, taken care of, and like they’re being treated with the utmost respect. Plus, having an assistant always makes you look more professional — and that never hurt.
Go Beyond The Office
With your busy schedule, who has time for a personal life? You’re working long hours, but success in your business doesn’t have to mean chaos at home!
Let your Zirtual assistant support you with tasks like scheduling a haircut, ordering your Mom flowers for her birthday, and paying your bills.
Have them remind you of special occasions and research fun destinations for your next family vacation. Let them order your groceries online and keep the family calendar on track.
Having your virtual assistant take care of both your work and personal schedules also ensures they already know not to book a showing during your daughter’s piano recital.
Who says you can’t have it all?
Put more time into what you do best
Meet the Zirtual Assistant who will support you
Don't just take our word for it.
Zirtual has simplified my life. Just recently I've had help with getting a visa for Russia, talking to real-estate brokers, booking hotels, researching SXSW events and even getting my shoes resoled.
Now that I have Renee, my VA, to handle all the small stuff, I'm more productive. I'm closing more transactions, and I can finally exhale — truly enjoying my chosen career!
As a tech entrepreneur and father of two young kids, I have more things to do everyday than I possibly can. My VA, Molly, takes care of many day-to-day tasks and helps make my life manageable.
