8 Things You Should Stop Doing If You Want to Grow as a Solopreneur
Chances are you’re carrying more than you should. Client work comes first, but behind-the-scenes administrative and marketing tasks slowly take over your week. What starts as, “I’ll just handle this myself” turns into long days, constant context switching, and very little time left for growth.
I see this constantly with fractionals, consultants, real estate agents, and other independent professionals.
Emails never stop.
Follow-ups fall behind.
Social media becomes inconsistent.
This is usually the moment when growth stalls. Not because of a lack of talent or demand, but because too much time is being spent on tasks that could be handled by a Virtual Assistant.
Let’s walk through eight things you should stop doing yourself if you want your business to see sustainable growth.
1. Spending Hours in Your Inbox
Inbox management is one of the biggest time drains for solopreneurs. With multiple accounts, junk mail galore, and no system for prioritization, email quickly becomes a full-time job.
A Virtual Assistant can organize your conversations, flag what actually needs your attention, and send emails on your behalf. This is one of the most commonly outsourced administrative tasks and one of the fastest ways to free up hours each week.
2. Managing Your Own Calendar
Calendar management often looks simple until it isn’t. Scheduling (and inevitably re-scheduling) meetings, time blocking tasks, and coordinating availability across accounts eats up far more time than most solopreneurs expect.
A virtual admin assistant can manage your calendar and help protect focus time. This is a core VA task and a major relief for anyone juggling client work, sales calls, and personal commitments.
3. Ignoring CRM Maintenance Until It’s a Problem
Whether you’re using HubSpot or another platform, it only works if properly maintained. Incorrect contact data and tasks that aren’t automated can cause opportunities to slip through the cracks.
Virtual administrative support services often include CRM maintenance and lead tracking. A Virtual Assistant can update records, monitor follow-ups, tag contacts properly, and support lead generation efforts. When your CRM stays clean, you close more deals with less effort.
4. Running Your Business Without Clear Workflows
If your systems feel messy, that’s usually a sign workflows were never fully built (or you’ve outgrown your existing processes). Growth requires structure.
Workflow improvement is one area where a general administrative Virtual Assistant adds serious value. Optimizing your tech stack, streamlining repetitive tasks, and improving processes can reduce decision fatigue and keep work moving smoothly as your workload increases.
5. Posting Inconsistently on LinkedIn
LinkedIn content writing is critical for consultants, fractional leaders, and other B2B service providers, but it often ends up as a last-minute scramble.
A virtual marketing assistant can support LinkedIn visibility by drafting posts and scheduling them in advance. This keeps your presence consistent without requiring daily effort or creativity on your end.
6. Designing Email Marketing Campaigns
Email marketing is one of the most effective ways to stay top of mind, but it also requires a good amount of time.
Virtual assistant services frequently include email marketing support such as writing newsletters, managing sequences, and scheduling campaigns. Some even create branded designs in Canva that can be plugged into Mailchimp or another platform. This allows email marketing to stay consistent instead of getting pushed aside.
7. Writing and Publishing SEO Blog Content Alone
Blog writing takes time and focus. Keyword research, post writing, optimizing headlines, and formatting are tasks that add up quickly. Especially if you use WordPress, you know what I’m talking about!
A Virtual Assistant for digital marketing can support SEO blog writing so content is published regularly without slowing down client delivery. This is one of the easiest ways to build long-term visibility while protecting your time.
8. Finding Your Own Prospects
B2B lead generation relies on consistency. List building, outreach messaging, follow-ups, and CRM updates are essential administrative tasks that support a healthy pipeline.
A Virtual Assistant can handle the backend of lead generation so your prospecting stays organized and your pipeline stays full. This is where virtual business support services create real leverage for solopreneurs.
Why Delegating These Tasks Actually Drives Growth
Administrative and marketing tasks often seem manageable on the surface, but together they take up a massive amount of time and mental energy. Yes, they all support growth, but they do not all need to be done by you.
Hiring a Virtual Assistant or virtual marketing assistant allows you to focus on the work that actually moves your business forward and requires your expertise.
If you’re ready to take back hours every week, let’s talk.
