Private Investigator Marketing: Should You Hire a Virtual Assistant?

At the start of your private investigator business, funds may be short. You may even be operating alone until you can afford to hire another associate. If you find yourself needing help, maybe hiring a virtual assistant will be a viable option.

When money is tight, things still need to get done. Reports need to be typed up. Then they need to be filed. Emails still need to be sent to clients. Marketing campaigns still need to be managed. Oh, and cases still need to be worked if you ever hope to get any money from your clients. That can be a lot for a one-man or one-woman operation. But, there might be a solution.

What is a Virtual Assistant?

A virtual assistant is an administrative professional who works for you, not as an employee, but a self-employed contractor. Most have experience in the business world as corporate personal assistants, executive secretaries or a variety of other professional titles. With their expertise they are branching out on their own to create a client base. Like you, they are a business owner.

Virtual assistants are not just glorified secretaries, however. Many have unique skillsets that make them valuable in just about any arena, including the world of private investigation. A few of the tasks that they can perform include, but is not limited to:

Responding to emails

Managing email lists

Handling customer service issues

Typing up notes, reports, presentations, etc.

Transcribing audio recordings

Managing social media activities

Ordering supplies

Drafting correspondence to clients

Managing accounts and bookkeeping

Website design and maintenance

Research

You get the idea. The tasks that are important to growing your business can be handled by them while you concentrate on other aspects of the business.

Benefits of a Virtual Assistant

Virtual assistants are business owners themselves, as we said. For you, that translates into several benefits.

Saving money - Instead of paying for disability insurance, retirement, medical insurance, vacation pay as well as wages, you are only billed for the time that was actually spent on your work. Without those costs, hiring an assistant looks more and more affordable.

Low overhead - If you are working out of your home right now through your website, the virtual assistant can handle your tasks as well from their home or base of operations. No building is needed.

Highly skilled - You can look for someone that already has experience working for a private investigator business. Training on your part is minimal so they can get started right away.

Many of the tasks that you handle on a daily basis as a private investigator can be outsourced. If you don't have the capital right now to hire support staff in an office setting, a virtual assistant may provide what you need and at a lower cost.

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