Q & A with virtual assistant Mollie
What does Mollie do for BC?
BC: Mollie is SO helpful. Every month she edits, schedules + promotes 4 blog posts with 1 Insta feed post + 2 Insta stories + 1 email per post plus one email with a monthly roundup of all blog posts. She so willingly answers any and all questions I have throughout the month as well as serving as a sounding board for all of my wild ideas.
What other services do Mollie offer?
Mollie: I offer just about anything within the digital marketing realm. Social media management and consultations, graphic design, website design, influencer programs, and email management are just a few of the many services I offer through the marketing side of Emerge EdComm. Emerge EdComm is also a curriculum development company where we work with Ag in the Classroom programs and other agriculture groups to design learning experiences for their members, stakeholders, and clients.
What does being a VA look like for Mollie?
Mollie: Working with BC is a dream. We are both planners, so we are always planning content several months in advance. This allows me to sit down and work on six to eight weeks of content at a time. It takes me about two full days to get through that amount of work, which includes editing and scheduling the blogs that BC has written, designing email graphics and InstaStory graphics, writing Instagram posts, and scheduling out emails and Instagram content. I prefer to work way ahead because then I just help monitor comments, etc. as content is posted.
I also pay attention to social media trends and trending topics to help BC brainstorm upcoming content and strategies. Anytime I open up our shared Google Excel sheet where we plan content, I review and add content ideas to help BC always have a running list of blog post ideas.
Why did BC decide to hire a VA?
BC: I decided to hire a virtual assistant when I knew I needed to be doing more digital marketing, blogging + building my email list but I knew 1. I didn’t enjoy it all that much and 2. I couldn’t do it alone.
I wish I would’ve learned (re: not been stubborn) years ago that outsourcing is a GREAT asset to any business. We’re getting twice the work done in the same amount of time. Mollie is so great to work with + her willingness to be flexible is worth it. After a few months of trial and error to see what best fit us- it has grown into a flawless system.
Tips for working with together
BC: It’s really been a super easy transition into working with Mollie. Her open line of communication is priceless to me. I think us knowing each other before working together has definitely been beneficial because we are both laid back + go with the flow.
My biggest piece of advice when working with someone is to be flexible about your methods but stubborn about your goals. Make sure you’re both on the same page with what needs accomplished and what is always expected. Find someone that you mesh with and be graceful with yourself if the first person you hire isn’t a perfect match. It’s so important to be compatible on a personal level.
Mollie: As I mentioned above, working with BC is a dream! We work together really well, which has absolutely lent itself to the success of our partnership. The biggest piece of advice I can offer is transparency. 2019 was an extremely hard year for me personally as I dealt with one family emergency after another. I immediately notified BC (and the rest of my clients) about what was happening and what my immediate plans were in terms of work that needed to get done. I did that simply so they would know what was happening + why I may not be as responsive in the coming days or weeks. I also did it to reassure my clients that the work will still get done because I was still committed to them and their mission. BC and the rest of my clients were all incredibly understanding as I navigated difficult waters and I firmly believe it was because I was transparent from the beginning. I can’t stress this enough - transparency is SO important.
Also, be there to build each other up. BC + I are both small business owners, which comes with highs + lows for both of us. We chat about those times + build each other up as we go along. I’m always there to listen to BC (just as she does for me) as she comes up with new strategies for growing BC Photography and I share my marketing expertise with her to help her move forward with new ideas. And while I’m on the topic of listening to each other, listening to each other’s needs is important when working together. BC + I both can be upfront with each another about what we need from the other, which is especially important since we are in two different states relying on text, email, and FaceTime to communicate with each other.
What to look for when hiring a VA?
BC: When I was looking to hire a VA, the first thing I looked for was personal references. I wanted someone that worked with someone I knew or had first hand experiences with. Then it came down to what specific work I needed down + what that would look like cost wise. I wanted to work with someone who was flexible and willing to adapt as my needs/wants/business changed. I wanted to work with someone who understood agriculture and how that industry effects my business. I wanted someone who had social media + writing experience. Because I am self-aware I knew I needed whoever I worked with to be organized and structured. I found all of those things with Mollie! But realistically it isn’t always that easy with the first person you work with.
Follow Mollie on Facebook at www.facebook/emergeedcomm and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/molliebranch
