Virtual assistants are becoming increasingly popular for small businesses due to increased flexibility and working arrangements for both parties. For many businesses, a VA is just like all other permanent employees - the only difference being they are based remotely. 

In terms of short term benefits, a VA is a great option if you need extra hands on board for project work or if you need to delegate tasks to free up time to meet deadlines. In the long-term, a VA is someone who will enable you to be more productive across the board. Hiring a VA may also help you to reduce your overhead costs. 

Every business owner hires a VA for different reasons, so it's difficult to pinpoint the short/long term value as this will look slightly different for everyone.

I currently don't use any VA services myself, but if I were to start I'd be looking for the following:

• Good communicator
• Cheerful / Pleasant personality and demeanor
• Reliable
• Detail oriented for capturing notes and meeting schedules
• Knowledgeable about my business so they sound integrated not phony