How to Utilize a Virtual Assistant for Amazon & Ecommerce

Article Summary:
Virtual assistants have a wide range of skills and can help virtual businesses with a variety of tasks. In this article, we’ll cover the specific ways that a VA can help your Amazon, eBay, or other eCommerce business run smoothly, saving you time, money, and hassle. [4 minute read]
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Introduction:
Virtual businesses are becoming increasingly popular. In 2020 alone, the U.S. Department of Commerce found that American consumers spent $791.70 billion online with U.S merchants. This represents a 32.4% increase from the previous year! 

One of the major reasons that eCommerce is so popular is the convenience it offers consumers. In a Jungle Scout survey, 43% of consumers said they would be happy never going out to a store again. Furthermore, 73% said they think the majority of consumer shopping will occur online in the future. The COVID-19 pandemic has only accelerated this trend. Online shopping offers a number of advantages for consumers over retail shopping. The ability to avoid large crowds and concerns over the hygiene of shared public spaces was an early driver of online shopping in 2020, but data suggests it’s a permanent change.

One of the major reasons that eCommerce is here to stay is the convenience it offers consumers. In a Jungle Scout survey, 43% of consumers said they would be fine never going out to a store again. Furthermore, 73% said they think the majority of consumer shopping will occur online in the future. 

Why Hire a Virtual Assistant (VA)?
By hiring a VA, you can delegate tasks that are taking up too much of your time. It also gives you access to someone with specific abilities outside of your skillset or interest. This will free up your valuable time to drive sales or work on other business objectives that require your full attention. The end result will be faster growth for your business and reduced stress on you.

What kinds of tasks can a Virtual Assistant (VA) help with?

1. Fulfilling orders and managing inventory levels 
Are you tired of managing and processing orders? This is a very popular motivation for businesses to hire virtual assistants and for good reason. A virtual assistant (VA) can process orders efficiently and maintain the correct inventory levels. This is particularly important before big shifts in demand. You never want to have a situation where you have too much product in inventory. This will likely cost your business in inventory fees. Similarly, you want to be prepared if you have season demand increases for your listing. A VA will help make sure you are prepared no matter what. This will give you some much-needed peace of mind.

2. Writing product descriptions
A great product description is essential to growing sales and grabbing consumers’ attention. It’s incredibly important that the copy is not too simple or brief. Marketing studies show that persuasive, longer product descriptions produce more sales. A virtual assistant can take the raw product information and create a vibrant description that will connect with your target market. You will find that this service will often pay for itself several times over in the added sales revenue.

3. Helping with customer service
If you are selling multiple products, or your product is starting to take off after a launch, then you have experienced the influx of customer service tasks. For example, many customers will ask direct questions through the Amazon product page that need to be responded to in a prompt manner. It's easy to get bogged down responding to customer questions, dealing with return requests, or engaging with positive comments. A virtual assistant can take all of this off your plate, and can work on an “as-needed” basis so you can scale their hours up and down. This prevents you from paying for more hours than you need, thereby reducing your business’ costs. 

4. Reviewing your listings
Reviewing your listings is a key part of ensuring they remain profitable. A VA can check product images and descriptions, and make sure reviews are in order. They can also catch issues like inconsistent pricing quickly. This is particularly important if they are high-value listings because even the smallest inconsistencies can cause a big decrease in sales. If you encounter other issues which require assistance from Amazon or eBay, your VA can reach out on your behalf and get them resolved efficiently. Using a virtual assistant to review your listings will ensure they remain profitable and competitive.

5. Communicating with Amazon or eBay
Communicating with Amazon or eBay can be a tedious experience. When you have a problem with a listing, you are already stressed. On top of that, these email exchanges can take up hours of time better spent elsewhere. This just compounds the stress. Nevertheless, many issues like changing an incorrect fee, reactivating a listing, or getting rid of inappropriate feedback require someone to reach out to Amazon or eBay. That said, it doesn’t need to be you. Especially when you have more important things to do. Virtual assistants are experts in written communication and navigating bureaucratic procedures. They can promptly get things fixed when issues arise and take stressful processes off your plate.

The bottom line:
The key benefits of working with a virtual assistant include decreased stress, increased productivity, access to specialized skills, and more ability to focus on increasing scales or scaling your business. In short, they allow you to focus on your core competencies as a business owner. A good VA will help you stay on top of your listings and will keep repetitive tasks like communicating with Amazon or eBay from eating into your finite time. Ultimately, bringing on a VA can be the difference you need to take your business to the next level of financial success. If you are ready to get started with a VA, The First Pick VA Group can provide a free consultation.
 
Guest Author: William Morriss, MBA

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