A General VA handles the everyday admin work to run the back end of the business. I refer to General VAs as ‘implementers’.

While the services differ, a General VA maintains records, handles customer service calls, sorts emails, keeps spreadsheets as needed, maintains the website (full list of duties to follow).

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A Strategic VA can do General VA work too but more often than not, they come in with marketing and a technical background rather than assume a basic administrative role.

More often a Strategic VA may not post social media posts for example, while a General VA will handle pre-written posts.

The Strategic usually creates the content and they typically follow a strategy to lead followers/users/members toward some place (website or squeeze page) you wish them to go so you can ‘get visitors to do something’.

That ‘something’ could be signing up for a free ebook, registering for a webinar, purchasing a program, participating in a contest, or booking a seat for an event, for example.

A Strategic VA can lead potential customers on a prescribed customer journey toward ‘getting them to do something’ and ultimately convert that ‘something’ to a sale.

Using social media as an example..

..the initial post might be to garner interest and might include an inspirational quote or custom image. The next post might have a clip of one of your videos…the next post might the announcement of a freebie whereby they must input their name and email into a web form on your website to download said freebie. And then that builds your list.

From that email list you continue to communicate valuable information the subscribers can use. And when you have built trust, you can announce a webinar with some incentive for them to sign up.

The Strategist VA creates the plan for subscribers to engage in that path of intrigue for those who sign up. (Note that freebies, eBooks, videos are often created by specialists in those fields.)

In some cases the client actually creates the content where the General VA posts it as needed. Whereas the Strategic VA can also do the creating and implementation of the posts however, in some cases it is passed from a Strategic to a General VA to do the implementing. In that instance, a team is formed. This arrangement frees up the Strategic to do more planning for more customer journey strategy-type work.

Note: Because Strategic VAs charge higher fees than General VAs, remedial implementation is not always the best use of their time.

It is important to know that it is not possible for one VA to have all the skillsets needed. Thus the need to build a team may be evident for a business owner to capture the expertise from more than one individual.

General VA or Personal Assistant (PA)

– Bookkeeper – as Implementer
– Customer Service Rep
– Marketing Assistant/VA – implementation only (email, social, affiliate)
– Content Writer (writing for engagement)
– Website Maintenance
– Podcast Management
– Personal/Executive Assistant
– Research & Data Entry
– Graphics Designer (with non-technical programs)

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Strategic/Technical VA

Strategy Management Level and Creative (creates strategy, vision, ideas

– Accountant/Bookkeeper
– Customer Service/Experience Director
– Project Manager- Oversees  special projects with a team
– Creative Director/Designer
– Social Media Manager – strategy & implementation with a team
- Affiliate Managers- Oversees the affiliate programs who work with small teams of General VAs to implement the leading emails
- Online Business Managers – Oversees the day-to-day of the team
– Copywriter (writing for sales)
– Marketing Director/Manager with a team
– Media Strategist with or without a team
– Video Producer with a team, writer, videographer, etc.
– Legal
– Head Coach with a team
– Head Sales with a team