I offer a free 20-minute consultation for prospective clients. There have been quite a few times where, during that call, it becomes clear that I am not the person they are actually looking for, and here’s why.
People often reach out thinking they need me to connect their zoom link to their calendar or add new leads to their CRM system. That is what I would call Technical Virtual Assistant (or Tech VA) work. While I used to do it, my focus now is on setting up the core systems that bring in steady customers and sales.
The difference matters, because choosing the wrong kind of support can waste both your time and money.
My role as a digital marketing specialist is about setting up the systems that bring you steady customers and sales. That means putting together landing pages, checkout flows, funnels, and search-friendly content - not diary management or day-to-day admin.
What a Digital Marketing Specialist (Like Me) Does
When you bring me in, you are asking for the essential building blocks of your online business to be set up so they actually work together.
That might mean:
- Creating a landing page and linking it to your email system.
- Setting up a mini ecommerce checkout for your products or workshops.
- Building a simple email funnel so enquiries do not go cold.
- Making your site “AI search ready” with FAQs, schema, and clusters.
This is practical setup that gives you the structure to market your business without juggling ten tools.
What a Tech VA Does
A Tech VA is brilliant when you need ongoing support or small jobs handled. They can:
- Upload your weekly blog posts.
- Manage your diary and customer emails.
- Keep your website content updated.
They are the “doers” who keep everything ticking in the background.
When to Choose One Over the Other
If you need the core system built or fixed: hire a digital marketing specialist.
If you need tasks completed week by week: a Tech VA is a better fit.
For example:
A florist running a Mother’s Day campaign might hire me to build the landing page, connect payments, and set up reminder emails. After that, a VA could keep the seasonal content updated.
An accountant who wants more steady leads might ask me to structure their site with cluster pages and lead forms. Once built, a VA could help upload blogs or send newsletters.
The Common Mix-Up
Many business owners confuse the two roles. They reach out for “marketing help” when what they actually want is someone to upload a PDF or chase appointment bookings. That work belongs to a VA
Straight Talk
Here is the difference in one sentence:
Digital marketing specialist = builds your system so you can grow.
Tech VA = runs your tasks so you can breathe.
Both matter. But they are not the same.
Quick Checklist: Who Do You Need Right Now?
- Do you want more customers, leads, or online sales? → Specialist
- Do you need help uploading or scheduling? → VA
- Do you want your diary managed or inbox checked? → VA
- Do you need landing pages, checkout, or funnels set up? → Specialist
People often get in touch thinking they need me for Tech VA work. While I used to do that, my focus now is on system setup — because without those systems, marketing cannot work properly.
I have a collection of blog posts on working with Tech VAs that can help.
Is A Tech VA right for your business
