If you’ve read or seen the news lately, you’ve probably already heard of virtual assistants. Bestselling book The 4-Hour Workweek (#1 New York Times and Wall Street Journal) and countless articles in the business sections of most major newspapers and magazines have popularized the concept of low-cost, outsourced assistants. Despite the media attention, however, the concept hasn’t caught on quite as quickly as many thought it would. Unsure of the benefits, afraid of the risks, or concerned about the difficulty of communicating with a remote, possibly foreign assistant, most professionals haven’t taken the plunge. If you’ve thought about using a virtual assistant and just haven’t taken the risk, or if you’ve tried a virtual assistant and want to work even more efficiently and effectively, this article is for you.

This article will provide a brief overview of virtual assistants, explain how to effectively use them to save time and money, and offer some free tools for improving your VA experience. Read more to learn how you can save thousands of dollars per year, free up your time, and have fun in the process!