Running an e-commerce business is no small feat! It’s not just about having amazing products—you’ve got to market them, deliver them, build your brand, keep customers happy, manage inventory, and make sure you're getting paid.

When you're just starting out, handling everything by yourself might seem doable. But as your store grows, so do the demands. Before you know it, things can start to get pretty overwhelming, pretty quickly!

Without the right support, many business owners end up spinning their wheels, feeling stuck, and unable to move forward.

Whether you're running a growing online store or managing a larger e-commerce business, having a virtual assistant (VA) by your side can transform your daily grind, granting you more time to strategize, innovate, and, most importantly, enjoy the freedom that comes with being your own boss.

Here, we'll dive into seven key tasks you can (and should!) delegate to a virtual assistant.

How a virtual assistant can help your e-commerce business

While every business is unique, there are some administrative tasks that are essential to keep any e-commerce business running smoothly.

The good news? Most virtual assistants are pros when it comes to handling these responsibilities, so you can be safe in the knowledge that your tasks are in safe hands while you have more time to focus on what you do best!

1. Product listing and management

Appealing and accessible product listings are the backbone of any successful e-commerce business. Without eye-catching product pages and a well-organized inventory, things can go south pretty quickly.

Here's how an ecommerce virtual assistant can help:

• Crafting compelling product descriptions and uploading top-quality images: A virtual assistant with strong writing and creative skills can make sure your products shine, attracting customers and boosting sales.
• Updating inventory: Staying on top of stock levels can be overwhelming. A virtual assistant can track your inventory, making sure you don’t run out of best-sellers or overstock those niche products.
• Managing listings across multiple platforms: Whether you’re selling on Amazon, eBay, or other sites, a virtual assistant can keep your listings updated and even tailor the content for each platform.
• Tracking listing performance: An experienced virtual assistant can analyze how your listings are doing, helping you spot what’s working and where you could improve.

2. Order processing

When a customer adds an item to their cart, they’re counting on you to process and deliver it quickly and efficiently.

While processing orders might not be the most exciting task, it’s absolutely essential to your success as an ecommerce business. Missing the mark here can lead to costly mistakes, unhappy customers, and even damage to your reputation.

Thankfully, skilled virtual assistants are experts at handling this behind-the-scenes work:

• Tracking orders: Although most e-commerce sites can automate their order tracking processes, enlisting the help of a human to oversee the process can help eliminate errors and keep customers happy.
• Coordinating with suppliers: Virtual assistants are accustomed to building working relationships with a variety of people and can help liaise with third-party suppliers.
• Ensuring timely delivery: From monitoring shipping to confirming that packages go out on time, a virtual assistant can keep the process moving so your customers get their orders promptly and without hassle.

3. Customer service

The quality of customer service can make or break any e-commerce business. Recent stats show that 93% of customers are more likely to repeatedly purchase products from businesses with excellent customer service provisions, while 78% of consumers have backed out of making a purchase due to a poor customer service experience.

So, it’s clear that investing in top-notch customer service is worth every effort, but handling every inquiry yourself can be overwhelming at the best of times—let alone when you're juggling a million other things on your plate as a business owner.

Here’s where a virtual assistant can be a game-changer:

• Handling routine inquiries: Most customer inquiries are repetitive or follow a standard pattern. With plenty of guidance and instructions, virtual assistants can handle these routine questions efficiently and escalate matters to you or a suitable team member when needed.
• Processing returns: Returns are an unavoidable part of e-commerce. A virtual assistant can streamline the process of refunds, replacements, and shipping, making it hassle-free for both you and your customers.
• Responding to reviews: Engaging with customer reviews shows you value their feedback. With the right instructions, a virtual assistant can respond to reviews on your behalf and handle negative feedback with care, demonstrating your commitment to customer satisfaction.

See: How A Virtual Assistant Can Help Increase Customer Retention In Your Business

4. Social media management

Social media marketing is a vital ingredient for commercial success in today’s world. In fact, social media currently represents the preferred channel for product discovery for consumers aged 18 to 44.

However, with the average user logging into an average of 6.7 social platforms each month, maintaining a strong presence everywhere can be like another full-time job in and of itself!

That’s where a virtual assistant with social media expertise can make all the difference:

• Creating and scheduling posts: With plenty of instructions and brand guidelines, a virtual assistant can manage posts across various social media platforms, creating engaging content tailored to each channel and posting at optimal times to boost engagement from your target audience.
• Responding to comments: The beauty of social media is that it allows you to connect directly with your customers, but as your audiences grow, so will the volume of communication you'll receive. A virtual assistant can manage this for you, monitoring social media comments, sending responses, filtering out spam, and escalating any urgent messages promptly.
• Reporting on metrics: To help you make smart decisions about your social media strategy, a virtual assistant can track key metrics like follower counts, impressions, and click-through rates, giving you the insights you need to refine your approach.

5. Email marketing and management

Did you know that over 347 billion emails are sent and received every day? Or that return on investment for email marketing campaigns stands at around $36 for every $1 spent?

These impressive numbers show just how powerful email marketing can be for e-commerce businesses. Not just for attracting new customers, but also for keeping your existing customers loyal and engaged.

But let’s be real: with all the hats you’re wearing as a small business owner, it’s easy to see why this might not always get the attention it deserves. Finding time for all these email marketing tasks can feel like an impossible challenge when there are always so many other pressing matters to contend with.

Thankfully, virtual assistants can step in to help you make the most of your email marketing efforts without adding to your workload. Here’s how:

• Creating e-newsletters, press releases, and promotional emails: Experienced virtual assistants can create eye-catching campaigns based on your brand guidelines to help keep customers coming back for more.
• Scheduling regular emails: Keeping up with a consistent email schedule can be tricky when you’re always busy with other things. So as well as crafting your emails, a virtual assistant can help make sure your email campaigns are always sent at your ideal times and dates for maximum engagement.
• Managing subscriber lists: Crafting effective emails is only half the battle, you need to make sure they end up in the right inboxes. A virtual assistant can add new subscribers and remove any inactive or unsubscribed contacts so your databases and lists stay clean and current.
• Analyzing performance metrics: As with social media campaigns, tracking the success of your email campaigns is key to making the most out of them. A virtual assistant can help you track metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and bounce rates, helping you see what’s working and where there might be room for improvement.

See: 10 Email Tasks To Outsource To A Virtual Assistant Today

6. Market research

In a fast-changing industry, staying ahead of the curve is key to winning the hearts and minds of your key audiences. When you know how others are marketing their products and services, you can analyze what they’re doing well and use this information to make informed business decisions.

But in reality, keeping up with trends and monitoring competitors can feel like a never-ending task.

Instead of spending valuable time digging for information yourself, a virtual assistant can help streamline this process, allowing you to focus on strategic decision-making without getting caught down internet rabbit holes:

• Competitor analysis: A virtual assistant can help keep tabs on what your competitors are up to. They can track their marketing tactics, product lines, pricing, and customer feedback to find out where they're excelling and where they might be missing the mark. Armed with this information, you can spot potential opportunities for your own business to tap into, as well as avoid potential threats.
• Industry trends: Staying ahead of the curve is key to staying competitive in your target market. From industry publications and news reports to social media discussions, virtual assistants can scour the web to help you track emerging trends, technological advancements, and shifts in consumer preferences.
• Market placement: Understanding where your business stands in the market is essential for strategic planning. A virtual assistant can help you conduct a thorough market placement analysis by evaluating your position compared to your competitors, identifying your target audience, and assessing your brand’s reputation. This could include analyzing customer reviews, social media mentions, and market share statistics. With this data, you can make more informed decisions to shape your marketing strategies and reach and resonate with your target audience more effectively.

7. Invoicing

Accurate invoicing and timely payments are not just good practices, they’re essential for smooth cash flow management and overall business success.

Consistent and accurate invoicing, coupled with prompt payments, helps build trust and professionalism in the eyes of your buyers. And of course, receiving payments on time makes it possible for you to cover your expenses and invest in growth opportunities.

But let’s be honest, you didn’t start your e-commerce business just to get bogged down in financial admin tasks. Your passion lies in selling products, not chasing payments.

So, if the very thought of invoices makes you feel stressed and a little nauseated, here’s how a virtual assistant can make your life easier:

• Creating and sending invoices: Experienced virtual assistants can generate professional invoices tailored to your business needs. Using your existing templates or creating custom ones, they can make sure that each invoice includes all necessary details—such as item descriptions, quantities, prices, and payment terms—so that you present a polished and consistent image to your clients. Once created, your assistant can send them to your clients via email or your preferred invoicing platform.
• Following up on late payments: Late payments can seriously disrupt your business operations, and this is where a virtual assistant can save you a lot of time—and stress! They can track payment due dates and send polite reminders to those who haven't paid on time. By following up professionally and consistently, your assistant helps you maintain positive customer relationships while keeping your cash flow steady.
• Making online payments: Whether you need to pay utility bills, suppliers' orders, contractors' fees, or any other service providers, your virtual assistant can handle the online payment process for you. They'll help make sure that payments are made accurately and on time, helping you avoid late fees and maintain smooth business operations.

See: 5 Financial Admin Tasks To Delegate To A Virtual Assistant

What's the bottom line?

The success of your e-commerce venture hinges on how effectively you can manage your time and resources. The trouble is, a lot of the common tasks on your to-do list—managing inventory, conducting market research, coordinating with suppliers, and responding to customer inquiries—can burn through your whole day, leaving you with hardly any time to spend on actually growing your business.

Outsourcing these tasks to a virtual assistant will provide the mental space and peace of mind you need to get on with other tasks, such as expanding your product range, refining your marketing strategies, or building stronger relationships with your customers.

With the right virtual assistant by your side, you can streamline your operations, boost customer satisfaction, and ultimately, take your e-commerce business to new heights.

So, why not start today?

At Time etc, we know just how precious your time and resources are, so speak to our expert team and we'll take care of the rest!

Or, you can answer a few simple questions to get personalized task recommendations tailored to your unique needs (as well as $150 off your first month of virtual assistant support with Time etc!)