Virtual assistant China: Top services, tips

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Want to hire a Chinese virtual assistant?

From accounting and improving customer experience to data analytics and more — virtual assistants can do a wide variety of tasks.

And while the process of hiring them can sound intimidating, it doesn’t have to be. All you need are clear expectations, job platforms, and a little expertise.

So how do you hire a virtual assistant from China?

In this article, we’ll cover what a virtual assistant is and how you can hire them. We’ll also highlight five essential tips to find a great virtual assistant.

This article contains:

(click on the links to jump to a specific topic)

• What Is A Virtual Assistant?
• How To Hire Virtual Assistants In China?
  • Sinostep
  • VAhut
  • FREEIVA
  • Entering China Market
  • Other Ways To Find A Virtual Assistant In China
• 5 Practical Tips To Find A Good Virtual Assistant In China

Let’s get started.

What is a virtual assistant?

A virtual assistant (VA) is a self-employed individual who works as an assistant from a remote location.

Usually, a virtual assistant provides any secretarial, administrative, creative, or technical support services to your business. 

Some of the tasks they handle are:

• Data entry.
• Managing schedules.
• Handling emails and call answering.
• Social media management for networks like Facebook, Twitter, etc.
• Digital marketing, and more.

With advancements in technology, you can also use a digital assistant to assist your business operations. A digital assistant is an advanced form of a chatbot (a computer program) that performs electronic tasks based on a user’s voice command. 

Why should you hire a virtual assistant?

Virtual assistants help with a lot of day-to-day tasks.

But why should you hire them from another country like China?

Here’s a look at a few reasons:

1. They’re cost-efficient

A VA is self-employed and covers all of their own costs. 

As the cost of living is lower in China, it reduces the hiring cost for an employer. 

Additionally, with a high exchange rate between USD and Yuan, you’ll be spending less as compared to hiring a skilled American VA.

Moreover, you don’t have to invest in them as you would for a full-time employee. 

You’ll be able to cut down on expenses like: 

• Office rent. 
• Computers and internet usage.
• Healthcare allowances.
• Food and other refreshments.

2. They can be industry experts

Since it’s impossible to be good at everything, you can get help by hiring an industry expert.

Usually, virtual assistants provide services that they excel in or have some prior experience. This takes the burden off your shoulders, and you’ll be able to focus on other tasks that you’re good at. 

And once you find the right VA, you’ll be able to handle all your tasks effortlessly. 

3. They can provide 24 x 7 support

China is approximately 14 hours ahead of the USA.

This means hiring virtual assistants from countries like China can prove to be advantageous for businesses that work around the clock like customer support. 

While you and your in-office team are off work, your Chinese VAs can carry forward the tasks for the day — helping you operate around the clock.

Moreover, China observes different holidays than the United States. 

They can step up for days when your in-house team is out of the office for holidays like Independence Day, Labor Day, etc.

How to hire virtual assistants in China?

Let’s take a closer look at a few China-based virtual assistant platforms, the services they offer, how they work, and their pricing structure:

1. SinoStep

SinoStep is a service provider run by Chinese partners from mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Europe, and the United States.

It offers various services like sourcing agent, SEO (Search Engine Optimization), etc. They also offer virtual assistants that enable you to efficiently sell and distribute your products in the Chinese market.

A. Services

• Administrative and customer service: Email response, telephone support, and data entry.
• Business services: Project manager, payroll, and HR outsourcing.
• Website management: Simple web design, website maintenance, and server administration.
• Writing and online marketing: Web research, conducting surveys, updating blogs, and managing social media profiles.
• Trade services: Products sourcing, supplier search, and production inspection. 
• Sales and research: Market research, lead generation, and sales assistance.

B. How it works

Here’s how you can hire a VA through Sinostep:

Step 1: Analyze your tasks and workload, and pick a suitable plan.

Step 2: Hire a virtual assistant based on your preferences.

Step 3: Delegate tasks, work with your virtual assistant, and accomplish your objectives.

C. Pricing

Sinostep provides three pricing plans:

• Baby: $698/month – for 20 hours + includes administrative tasks, customer, and business services.
• Standard: $898/month – for 20 hours + includes administrative, services, business services, and website management.
• All-in: $1198/month – for 20 hours + includes “Standard” features, writing and online marketing, trade and sourcing service, and sales and research.

2. VAhut

VAhut is a China-based virtual assistant and remote and executive assistant (REA) service provider. 

It offers services like product sourcing, factory audit/inspection, and more.

A. Services

VAhut’s virtual assistants can help you with tasks like:

• Setting up a virtual office.
• Acting as a liaison between you and your supplier.
• Offering cost-effective quality control services in China.
• Providing travel assistants for your personnel on the ground.
• Entering the Chinese social media network.
• Providing purchase assistants for online Chinese stores like Taobao.

B. How it works

To hire their services, contact the VAhut team via their contact page.

C. Pricing

VAhut offers three options to pay for virtual assistant service:

• Pay By The Hour: Provides the flexibility of booking for the required number of hours. 
• Monthly Subscription: Offers a certain number of hours a month for a flat fee.
• Project-Based: Provides a quote based on task, time frame, skills, and more.

3. FREEIVA

FREEIVA, established in 2004, provides interpreters, quality inspectors, and Chinese virtual assistant services across 130+ cities of China like Shanghai and Beijing.

A. Services

A VA from FREEIVA can assist you with:

• Event coordination.
• Business research.
• Preparing presentations.
• Social media account management.
• Staff recruitment.
• Website localization.
• Shopping in Chinese markets with a personal assistant.

B. How it works

Here’s how you can delegate your tasks with FREEIVA:

Step 1: Sign Up for a plan.

Step 2: Send your task through Email or via the portal.

Step 3: Your tasks get assigned to a virtual assistant or team.

Step 4: The FREEIVA team works on the tasks and responds with the results.

C. Pricing

FREEIVA offers the below pricing plans:

• Basic-20: $399/month – 20 hours/month + includes customer support, web research, and entry into the Chinese market.
• Pro-40: $769/month –  40 hours/month + includes working as a liaison with local companies, virtual assistance, and email management.
• VIP-80: $1399/month – 80 hours/month + includes translation, data entry, and an exhibition assistant.
• Pro-20: $499 – includes Weibo and Baidu promotion, Taobao store setup, and more.

4. Entering China Market

Entering China Market is a local market consulting company based in China that offers strategies and marketing services. These will allow you to enter the China business network and sell to native consumers.

They help foreign enterprises develop, communicate and establish their brand in China.

A. Services

Entering China Market’s VA can help you with administrative tasks like:

• Receptionist services.
• Taking messages.
• Call answering and transfer services.
• Order taking and processing.
• Telephone support.

B. How it works

Here’s a rundown of how it works:

Step 1: Choose and request a service from the given list.

Step 2: After a mutual agreement and payment, fill in the Chinese VA service request form emailed by the Entering China Market team. 

Step 3: Provide a detailed account of the service requested and other supporting documents.

Step 4: The Entering China Market team will initiate the hired service.

C. Pricing

Price available on request.

Other ways to find virtual assistants in China

Virtual assistant services are not limited to specific platforms. 

It can also be provided by freelancers, contractors, consultants, and more. You can even hire Chinese virtual assistants from general job sites or freelancer networks like Indeed and Upwork.

All you need to do is visit the desired website and search for ‘virtual assistant China.’

Let’s learn more about these websites:

1. Upwork

Upwork is an American freelancing platform that connects millions of businesses with independent individuals around the globe. 

It offers virtual assistants across categories, like:

• Accounting and consulting.
• Customer service.
• Data science and analytics.
• IT and networking.
• Web, mobile app, and software development.

You can quickly sort the search results based on an hourly rate, job success, English fluency, and more.

Read our detailed review on Upwork.

2. PeoplePerHour

PeoplePerHour.com is an online marketplace that allows small businesses and freelancers from all over the world to connect on a single platform.

PPH provides VAs across categories like:

• Technology and programming.
• Writing and translation.
• Digital marketing.
• Branding and sales.
• Social media.

PeoplePerHour offers a robust filter that helps you sort results by industry, language, popularity, rate, availability, and more.

3. Freelancer.com

Freelancer is an Australian freelancing, outsourcing, and crowdsourcing marketplace where employers can hire freelancers to work in a diverse range of functions.

To hire virtual assistants through Freelancer, you need to:

• Post a task or project.
• Wait to receive competitive bids from freelancers.
• Browse through freelancer profiles and compare proposals. 
• Chat with them and make your pick. 
• Pay when you’re satisfied.

You can make payments through Freelancer’s Milestone Payment system. It releases payments when your VAs have finished your task and you’re 100% satisfied.

4. Indeed

Indeed is a global search engine for job listings. It offers features like job search, industry trend analysis, salary search, job competition index, etc.

To hire virtual assistants via Indeed, create a free account, and follow the below steps:

• Build your job post by adding a title, description, and location.
• Post your job on the platform.
• Use the in-built tools to find a suitable VA.

5 tips to find a good virtual assistant in China

Let’s take a look at a few tips that can come in handy while hiring a virtual assistant from China:

1. Offer fair pay

As discussed in the benefits section earlier, hiring from Asia Pacific countries like China and the Philippines is cost-efficient. 

However, if you’re looking for top-notch services, then you should be willing to invest more and offer a fair wage to industry experts. 

2. Ask the right questions

After making your top picks for your new executive assistant, you need to interview the candidates to learn more before hiring them.  

Here are three different types of interview questions:

A. Candidate background questions

These questions help you gauge their communications skills, availability, or how familiar they’re with the latest tools.

B. Skill-based questions

Ask technical or skill-based questions to test their strengths and weaknesses. This way, you can see if they’ll be able to meet your expectations. 

And if you feel that the candidate is an intelligent virtual assistant, you can expand the scope of their responsibilities.

C. Teamwork questions

If you’re hiring more than one virtual assistant, you need to know whether they would be able to communicate and collaborate with each other.

Teamwork questions help you understand how experienced a candidate is at working in a team or interacting with people.

3. Phone call test

English is not the native language of China. 

That’s why you need to ensure that your virtual assistant is fluent in English – both in written and verbal communication.

Why?

Virtual assistants might need to engage with you or any client over the phone. 

You should also ensure they have great internet and phone connectivity, language fluency, and are approachable over the phone.

4. Hire based on the VA’s capability and not english fluency

Remember, most of the tasks that your VA will be handling will require strong language skills, so keep that in mind during phone interviews. 

However, an individual’s English language fluency can’t be used as a measuring scale for their skills. 

You should also look for someone who is keen on asking questions, has a proven track record, and is great at time management.

5. Hire from the right place

China is a vast country.

So if your target market is mainland China, you should find freelancers from that region specifically, not Hong Kong.

Additionally, you should keep the time difference in mind.

During the interview, you can ask VAs for their working hours to ensure they’re available during your business hours. You should also specify how soon you expect them to join your virtual team.

Wrapping up

Finding the right virtual assistant in China is easier than you think.

Whether you’re a tech startup manager, CEO of a marketing agency, or a business owner looking to expand in China, you can easily hire a virtual assistant.

They enable you to manage your repetitive yet essential tasks — allowing you to focus on more important aspects of business development.

Go through the websites mentioned in this article and use the tips to pick the right candidate today!