Businesses nowadays look for solutions to increase productivity and efficiency within their processes. The two best options small business owners and large corporations opt for are freelancers and virtual assistants.
Although both work remotely, there is a misconception that freelancers and virtual assistants are the same. While this may be generally accurate, there are still key distinctions between the two.
In this blog post, we will discuss the difference between freelancers and virtual assistants and the benefits of working with a virtual assistants company for long-term tasks and projects.
What are Freelancers?
Freelancers are independent contractors who work remotely at home or in a co-working space. They are not bound to work for a single company. Instead, they can work with multiple clients at the same time. Freelancers are mostly project-based — a perfect option for businesses looking for short-term support.
A freelancer typically has mid to expert-level skills tailored to a client’s needs. These include blog writing, copywriting, social media management, graphic design, and more.
Furthermore, freelancers “sell” their skills to gain clients. They use platforms like Freelancer.com, Upwork, and Fiverr to showcase their portfolio and attract potential clients.
What are Virtual Assistants?
Similar to freelancers, virtual assistants work remotely. The difference is that they may work as part of a team or a company that provides clients with administrative, creative, or technical support.
Independent virtual assistants can work for individuals. On the other hand, VA companies often work with small businesses and large corporations that need additional support. Clients hire VAs as a cost-effective alternative to hiring in-house employees.
Virtual assistants have a variety of skills depending on their client’s needs. Their tasks may include customer service, bookkeeping, social media management, receptionist tasks, etc.
What are the main differences between freelancers and virtual assistants?
Although freelancers and virtual assistants work remotely to provide support and additional workforce to businesses, they differ in skills, control, availability, cost, data security, experience, quality, and hiring process.
Check out this infographic to further explain the main differences between freelancers and virtual assistants:
Why should you choose a VA company over a freelancer?
Choosing between a freelancer and a virtual assistants company depends on your needs. If you need support for short-term projects that require specific skills, hire a freelancer.
However, if you’re looking for versatility, availability, genuine transparency, and a more efficient replacement and hiring process, your best option is a VA company. Moreover, virtual assistants are perfect for long-term projects and continuing partnerships.
Unlike freelancers, virtual assistants have predefined skills and competencies tailored to your needs. You don’t need to hire multiple freelancers for various tasks. VA companies like Synergist Corporate Solutions offer packages for various tasks, all for the price of one. This means that VA teams can work on different tasks without you having to pay extra.
Virtual assistants are often part of a team/company as well. You don’t have to worry about hang time and delays when a VA stops working with you. Your third-party provider can quickly find a replacement for tasks that are left vacant. They will also be responsible for the entire hiring process, which includes training and management. You will only need to oversee the process.
Lastly, if you’re a business that wants to scale, virtual assistants can help you achieve that goal. VAs are better for long-term partnerships. Whenever you need support for specific tasks, a VA company can assign a virtual assistant for a more affordable price. Furthermore, VA companies are more committed to working with you to ensure quality output.
The Takeaway
To sum up, freelancers work remotely to provide specialized support to businesses. On the other hand, virtual assistants are part of a team or company that provides support and an additional workforce to businesses. VA companies have a larger talent pool compared to individual freelancers.
Freelancers are great for short-term projects that require specialized skills. A VA company with experienced professionals is the better option for long-term support and scalability.
Working with SynCorp’s Virtual Assistants
Are you looking for a better way to increase productivity and efficiency throughout your business? Do you want to scale your business through a long-term partnership that guarantees quality work and genuine commitment?
Synergist Corporate Solutions has a talent pool of specialized skills tailored to your needs. Our virtual assistants are trained professionals who are experts in their fields of work, whether it’s customer service, bookkeeping, social media management, receptionist tasks, or back-office support.
Want to find out how you can start working with our VAs? Get in touch with us today!
