In the digital age, every business needs a marketing expert on their team. Companies can no longer rely on old school advertising techniques to stay relevant. They need to adapt to modern marketing strategies, which can be an overwhelming task. Small businesses often find themselves struggling in this area, even if they are very familiar with the tasks that need to be completed. If you also feel yourself struggling in this area, you’re not alone. In most businesses, marketing requires an independent role in order to be effective.
Fortunately, within the last few years, there has been an increase of virtual marketing assistants. VMA’s are ready and willing to work remotely for companies of every size, and have the expertise to do so efficiently. They allow business owners and managers to focus on more significant, daily tasks.
What does a VMA do?
Virtual Marketing Assistants vary in expertise and experience, but typically focus on digital marketing and task organization. The overall goal of a VMA is to keep the client on track of their marketing strategy, and to ensure that those tasks are carried out. As a VMA myself , I have included my common responsibilities below.
Blog Writing
Researches and writes targeted content for end-user engagement for a variety of industries
SEO research
Leverages written content to create social media posts
Social Media Management
Conducts a SWOT analysis of current social media accounts
Manages accounts (Instagram, Twitter, Linkedin, Facebook)
Hashtag research
Writes effective captions
Researches platforms best for the business
Relevant algorithm knowledge
Email Management
Deploys email campaigns surrounding company information
Campaigns may include blog articles and short-term promotions
Includes email management for both company and individual emails
Developing Supporting Content
Consists of necessary marketing content and items
Newsletters & flyers
Website assistance
Business cards
Company presentations
These abilities are quite common in the remote assistant world, although some assistants focus on specific industries or clientele. For instance, I tend to focus on the needs of smaller businesses and marketing agencies. Some assistants will create greater niches for themselves, such as being a legal assistant with marketing capabilities.
So, what type of VMA is right for your business? First, think about what you need and realistically expect. If you want your assistant to simply post on social media a few times a week or update the website when necessary, you might not need an official VMA. You may actually want to look for an intern at a local college, especially a marketing student. If you definitely need more than the simple tasks (but not a full-time employee), you want to find a marketing freelancer. Most VMA’s are freelancers, although some only work through agencies as official employees.
Most business owners or managers wish that they had a little extra help throughout the week. Now more than ever, virtual marketing assistants are able to become a role of convenience for any company, without the difficulty of bringing on an in-person, official employee. They are also very affordable for small businesses, and typically have flexible working hours. So if you’re struggling to keep up with constant changes in the marketing industry, consider searching for a VMA.