Overview

Amazon sellers seeking faster growth are increasingly turning to virtual assistants (VAs) to handle day‑to‑day operations. A recent Helium 10 podcast episode walks listeners through the complete hiring workflow, from defining the role to scaling responsibilities. Mastering this process lets sellers offload repetitive work, concentrate on strategic decisions, and sidestep common recruitment mistakes.

Key Points

• Identify Repetitive Tasks — List duties that consume hours each week, such as daily inventory alerts or review monitoring, to match the VA’s skill set.
• Validate Skills with a Test — Assign a short paid trial, like building a product‑listing template, to confirm the candidate can follow Amazon’s standards.
• Set Communication Cadence — Use daily stand‑ups on Slack or Zoom to keep everyone aligned and avoid miscommunication.
• Structure Payments by Milestones — Pay a fixed amount after each deliverable—e.g., $150 once a batch of keyword research is finished—to keep incentives clear.
• Ensure Legal Classification — Treat the VA as an independent contractor and issue a 1099‑NEC (or the local equivalent) to stay compliant with tax rules.
• Define Performance Metrics — Agree on KPIs such as “handle 50 customer messages per day with a 95 % satisfaction score” to measure success objectively.

How Hiring an Amazon VA Works

1. Define the Role — Write a focused job description that lists exact Amazon‑related duties, for example “adjust daily PPC bids based on ACOS targets.” Example: A seller specifies that the VA must pause under‑performing keywords each evening and report spend limits.
2. Source Candidates — Publish the description on freelance sites, VA agencies, or seller‑focused forums. Example: The seller posts on Upwork and receives twelve applicants, three of whom have prior Amazon experience.
3. Screen and Test — Review resumes for relevant background, then give a paid micro‑task such as “audit a product listing for SEO gaps.”