Too many small business owners wait until they’re overwhelmed to start outsourcing, either because they feel they’re the only one who can do the job right, or because they fear it’s simply out of their budget.

The truth is that there are many tasks you’ll come across in your web-based business that do not fall within your area of expertise. The right virtual assistant will get you set up, going and be on to the next task in the time it will take you to read the FAQ’s! Think of them as your virtual help-desk for developing, implementing and marketing your internet presence

1. Take a look at your current time spent on certain social media marketing related tasks? Do you find yourself losing hours on Facebook a day? While you may enjoy it, this could be a great first step to outsourcing, as you’ll immediately be more productive.

2. What parts of your online marketing strategy do you dislike? If there are things you know you should be doing, like looking at your analytics, but find you’re always putting them off, outsource them. You’re feeling guilt over a task you don’t like, instead of feeling positive about all the tasks in your business you do enjoy. This can immediately affect your perceived happiness/stress levels.

3. Or, if you find that you really enjoy social marketing, and aren’t getting your business must-do’s done (like bookkeeping, billing, scheduling, etc.) find a VA that can assist with those annoying tasks so you’re free to do the tasks you enjoy.

4. Find a VA by referral – the beauty of social networking is that it allows you easy access to all sorts of people that may be using similar tools as you. You can go to them for recommendations on programs, services and people. And this gives you more peace of mind as you start outsourcing projects.

5. If you’re so overwhelmed that you don’t even know where to start with outsourcing, find one tasks that stands alone (something like getting out your newsletter). You can send over your template, article, and site logins and know the task will get finished. That alone can help you see the forest for the trees and start to delegate more.

6. Know that sometimes you just have to stop and take the time to delegate, even if you feel too busy. It’s better for your peace of mind now, and you’ll never get to it later. So just do it!

7. Finally, remember that having a more objective perspective on your business can do wonders as well. A VA with good business sense can help streamline systems, suggest areas for improvement, strategize your marketing and generally provide you balance when things get crazy.

Rebecca Zwar is a Marketing Tech Coach, and owner of http://MarketingGeeksInc.com, a coaching & virtual assistance company. She and her team help entrepreneurs create web-savvy marketing plans, and have the tech-smarts to support them through blog design and maintenance, social media, ecommerce, search engine optimization and more. They help you connect the “what to do?” with “how to do it?”and finally grow your business online using all the tools you hear about, but don’t quite understand. Marketing Geeks Inc. provides virtual assistance support, training, and DIY marketing packages for every level of entrepreneur.

Share your ideas and expertise on this topic