How Virtual Assistants Can Help with Online Sales

In today’s fast-paced online business world, entrepreneurs and executives often find themselves wearing too many hats. Between managing websites or e-commerce stores, nurturing leads via email, handling customer inquiries on social media, and keeping up with inventory or service delivery, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. When you’re trying to grow online sales, every minute counts – but too often, business owners are bogged down by routine tasks. That’s where virtual assistant services come in. A skilled virtual assistant (VA) can take a significant load off your plate – boosting productivity, improving customer service, and freeing you up to focus on high-value activities that drive revenue.

This article explores how the best virtual assistant companies and professionals can support online sales growth. We’ll discuss the benefits of hiring a virtual assistant vs. an executive assistant or full-time employee, outline top virtual assistant tasks that contribute to sales, and highlight specific tools and platforms (from CRM systems to AI sales tools) that VAs leverage. You’ll also see real-world examples – including insights from MySigrid – of businesses scaling efficiently with remote staffing solutions. Finally, we’ll share data-backed insights and best practices (like project management and delegation tips) for outsourcing work and managing remote teams effectively, so you can reap the full ROI of hiring a virtual assistant. Let’s dive in!

The ROI of Virtual Assistants in Online Sales (Why Businesses Are Turning to VAs)

Running a business that sells online requires juggling countless tasks, many of which are essential but don’t directly generate revenue. Studies show that business owners spend roughly 36% of their week on busywork like scheduling, invoicing, and data entry. Every hour spent on such routine tasks is time not spent on strategy, innovation, or closing deals. It’s no surprise that founders who delegate effectively see significantly higher revenue and profit growth than those who try to do everything themselves. In other words, handing off low-value tasks isn’t just about freeing time – it’s a smart investment in your business’s growth.

One famous quote from leadership coach Cameron Herold puts it bluntly: “If you don’t have an assistant, you are one!”. High-performing entrepreneurs understand this mindset. Your time is extremely valuable, and every minute you spend acting as your own assistant is a minute you’re not focusing on high-level business drivers.

Virtual assistants save businesses money as well as time. Over 40% of small businesses in the U.S. now use virtual assistants to streamline operations. For startups, the appeal is clear: hiring a virtual assistant can cut operating costs by about 30–50% compared to a full-time employee. Some estimates show that using offshore virtual staff can reduce costs by up to 78% by eliminating overhead. These savings improve your bottom line and can be reallocated to marketing, product development, or other growth initiatives.

Flexibility is another big draw. With remote executive assistant services, you can scale support up or down as needed without the commitments of a permanent hire. Need extra help during a holiday sales rush or product launch? Increase your VA’s hours or add a temporary assistant. If things slow down, you can scale back. This agility in remote staffing solutions allows businesses to stay lean and responsive. It’s one reason about 70% of startups use virtual assistants to grow their business without hefty overhead.

Top Tasks Virtual Assistants Can Handle to Boost Online Sales

One of the top virtual assistant tasks is taking over the routine but critical work that keeps your sales engine running. By outsourcing administrative support and repetitive processes, you free up your core team to focus on closing sales and building customer relationships. Here are several key areas where virtual assistants shine:

• Customer Support and Lead Nurturing: Outstanding customer service can make or break your online sales. When you hire a virtual assistant for customer support, they can manage your support inbox and live chat, respond to frequently asked questions, process returns or refunds, and ensure no customer inquiry goes unanswered. Quick, personalized responses increase customer satisfaction and trust. For example, one e-commerce company had a VA provide around-the-clock email and chat support, leading to faster response times and a boost in customer satisfaction. Virtual assistants can also nurture leads by following up with prospective clients via email or social media DMs, sending thank-you notes after purchases, and scheduling sales calls with interested prospects. In essence, they help you deliver “big company” service quality on a startup budget.
  
  
• Content Creation and Social Media Management: Effective content marketing drives traffic and online sales, but it requires constant effort. Virtual assistants for digital marketing agencies or e-commerce businesses can take on content creation tasks so you always have fresh material to engage your audience. This might include writing blog posts and product descriptions, designing email newsletters, or updating website copy – all aligned with your brand voice. VAs skilled in social media management can schedule posts across Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other platforms, respond to comments, and grow your social following. If you’re a busy founder, hiring a virtual assistant for content creation ensures your marketing doesn’t fall by the wayside when things get hectic.
  
  
• E-Commerce Operations (Inventory, Orders, and Listings): Virtual assistants for e-commerce companies are game-changers when it comes to managing online store operations. They can update product listings (ensuring your items have accurate descriptions and prices), monitor inventory levels, and coordinate restocks with suppliers. VAs also handle order processing tasks: tracking shipments, updating customers on order status, and resolving any fulfillment issues that arise. If you sell on multiple channels (your website, Amazon, eBay, etc.), a VA can help keep each platform in sync. During busy periods, you can scale up your assistant’s hours instead of frantically hiring and training temporary staff. The result is a smoother operation, where orders go out on time and customers stay happy – without you burning out trying to do it all.
  
  
• Industry-Specific Examples: Virtual assistant services are adaptable to nearly any industry or niche. For instance, virtual assistants for real estate agents can handle online listings, respond to buyer inquiries, and schedule showings, allowing agents to close more deals. In the legal and healthcare fields, remote assistants for legal professionals and medical offices manage appointment scheduling, billing, and paperwork behind the scenes, improving efficiency for attorneys and doctors. Even specialized businesses benefit: the best virtual assistant for financial advisors might organize client data and schedule review meetings, while virtual assistants for digital marketing agencies tackle tasks like social media scheduling and marketing reports. No matter your field, a skilled VA can streamline operations and free you up to focus on revenue-generating work.
  
  

Virtual Assistant vs. Executive Assistant vs. Full-Time Employee

How does a virtual assistant compare to a traditional in-person assistant or adding full-time staff? Here are a few key points in the outsourcing vs. in-house team decision:

• Cost Savings: With virtual assistant services, you pay only for the productive hours or a flat monthly fee – no office space, equipment, or employee benefits needed. This makes a virtual assistant vs. full-time employee dramatically more cost-effective. Companies report saving 50% or more on operating costs by hiring remote assistants instead of on-site staff.
  
  
• Flexibility: A full-time employee works fixed hours, but a VA can scale their support up or down as your needs change. During a busy quarter, you might increase a VA’s hours or add another VA; in slower times, you can scale back. You’re not locked into long contracts, which is ideal for startups figuring out how to scale with remote teams.
  
  
• Global Talent Pool: When you hire offshore assistants, you gain access to skilled talent worldwide. Many freelance virtual assistant professionals on platforms like Upwork or Fiverr offer specialized services at competitive rates. Whether you need a bookkeeper or a bilingual customer support rep, you can find a VA with the right expertise – often at a lower cost than a local hire. Different time zones can even work to your advantage for round-the-clock coverage.
  
  
• Executive Assistant vs. Virtual Assistant: An executive assistant typically works in-person for one executive, handling both business and personal tasks during office hours. A virtual assistant can perform a similar role remotely – managing your calendar, travel, inbox, etc. – but often supports multiple clients and has more flexible timing. Thanks to tools like Slack and Zoom, a remote executive assistant can communicate and coordinate almost as seamlessly as on-site staff. The key is to establish good workflows and trust. With a service like MySigrid’s “human premium” model, you still get a dedicated assistant who learns your preferences, just like a traditional EA would.
  
  

Integrating AI and Automation: The Future of Virtual Assistants

No discussion of virtual assistants today is complete without addressing technology. AI-powered virtual assistants (in the sense of chatbots and automated tools) are becoming more common in customer service and sales. In fact, over 53% of businesses plan to use AI assistants more for customer support tasks in the next few years. Tools like chatbots can instantly answer simple customer questions 24/7, and AI-driven software can help schedule appointments or sort incoming emails.

However, as useful as automation is, it rarely replaces the human touch entirely. There will always be scenarios where a real human assistant is needed – whether it’s calming an upset customer, making a judgment call on a special request, or crafting a personalized sales email that doesn’t sound robotic. The most successful companies find a balance: they use AI and automation in administrative support for speed and efficiency, but keep humans in the loop for quality control and empathy. For example, a chatbot might handle initial FAQs on your website, but forward the conversation to a human VA for complex queries or VIP clients. This hybrid approach gives you the best of both worlds.

MySigrid’s co-founder Paul H. Østergaard emphasizes leveraging technology and human expertise together. MySigrid uses advanced AI tools and a centralized knowledge platform to assist their team of VAs behind the scenes, but they focus on the “immense value in the uniquely human touch” that a talented assistant provides. In practice, this means your VA isn’t just a task robot – they learn your business, adapt to your work style, and can even proactively suggest improvements to your workflow. That kind of insight only comes from a real person who is engaged with your company. By combining AI efficiencies with human judgment, AI and outsourcing together are shaping the future of work. The future of online sales support will likely involve smart software working hand-in-hand with proactive human assistants, delivering efficient yet customer-centric service.

Tools and Platforms that Enable Remote Sales Support

Even though a virtual assistant works remotely, the right software will make it feel like they’re in the room with you. Here are some of the best remote work tools and platforms that help VAs integrate seamlessly into your online sales processes:

• CRM & Sales Tools: Platforms like Salesforce or HubSpot are essential for tracking leads and customer interactions. A VA can keep your CRM updated, log interactions, and ensure follow-ups happen on time so that no sales opportunity is missed.
  
  
• E-Commerce Platforms: If you run an online store on Shopify, WooCommerce, or Amazon, a virtual assistant can manage product listings, monitor inventory, and process orders. Your VA keeps your store running smoothly behind the scenes, updating prices or stock levels as needed.
  
  
• Email Marketing: Email campaigns drive repeat sales. VAs use tools like Mailchimp or ActiveCampaign to schedule newsletters and drip campaigns, segment your email list, and monitor campaign performance – ensuring your audience stays engaged and nurtured.
  
  
• Customer Support Systems: To handle customer inquiries efficiently, VAs often work with helpdesk software such as Zendesk or Freshdesk. They track support tickets, send prompt responses, and maintain a friendly tone that keeps customers satisfied.
  
  
• Project Management & Communication: Collaboration tools like Trello or Asana help organize tasks and projects for your VA, while Slack or Zoom enable real-time communication. These ensure everyone is on the same page, making it easy to manage remote teams effectively and transparently.

Using a combination of these platforms, an experienced VA can handle complex workflows entirely online. Technology minimizes the friction of remote work, so outsourcing tasks feels as natural as working with an in-house team member.

Best Practices for Working with Your Virtual Assistant

To maximize the ROI of hiring a virtual assistant and improve time management for executives, it’s important to set the engagement up for success. Here are a few best practices to keep in mind:

• Clarify Roles and Goals: Define what success looks like when you hire a virtual assistant. For example, you might aim to respond to all online inquiries within 2 hours, or to free up 15 hours of your time per week. Clearly communicate the tasks and priorities to your VA from day one. When expectations and key performance indicators (KPIs) are transparent, your assistant can focus on the work that drives results.
  
  
• Establish Processes and Communicate Regularly: Provide Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) or guidelines for important tasks (even a quick how-to video or document helps tremendously). Use a project management tool to assign and track tasks, and schedule brief check-ins (e.g. a weekly 15-minute call) to review progress. Consistent communication ensures nothing falls through the cracks and allows you to delegate tasks effectively without micromanaging.
  
  
• Build a Strong Partnership: Treat your VA as a true team member, not just an outsourcer. Share context about your business, and give them feedback and recognition for jobs well done. The more invested your virtual assistant is in your company’s mission, the more proactively they will contribute. Also, if you’re using a VA agency, take advantage of any support they offer to continually improve your collaboration.

Following these practices will help you integrate your virtual assistant smoothly into your operations. Many entrepreneurs find that once they adjust to delegating, they can’t imagine going back – their VA becomes an indispensable partner in the business.

Conclusion: Scale Your Business with Virtual Assistants

Online sales success often comes down to efficiency and timing – responding to leads quickly, keeping your website updated, and executing marketing campaigns on schedule. Trying to do all of this alone (or with a small in-house team) can stunt your growth and lead to burnout. Virtual assistant services offer a smart way to scale up your capabilities without scaling up your costs at the same rate. From handling routine customer emails to managing complex projects, a good VA can be the behind-the-scenes hero that keeps your revenue engine humming.

In fact, as one MySigrid client enthused, “My dedicated VA is one of the hardest working and most responsive people I have had the honor to work with… I don’t know what I did before you all helped organize my life! You truly make everything possible.” This kind of result is typical once you experience what a skilled VA can do for your business.

Ready to supercharge your online sales with a virtual assistant? Take the next step by reaching out to the experts. Visit MySigrid to learn more about our human-centric virtual assistant services, connect with Paul H. Østergaard for insights on scaling with remote teams, or book a consultation now to explore how a virtual executive assistant can drive your business growth.