A strong social media presence is crucial for connecting with customers and building your brand, but managing it effectively is a full-time job, time that many business owners simply don’t have. And hiring someone in the western markets to that ads significant costs to the operations. This is why many companies and business owners choose to hire a social media virtual assistant in the Philippines.
Over the years, the Philippines has become an increasingly popular destination for hiring remote employees, especially in the field of marketing and social media management. There is no lack of skilled marketing professionals with english proficiency that often cost 40-60% less than many other countries. And understanding of western market norms is a cherry on top.
If you are planning to do the same, this article will provide an overview of key responsibilities and benefits of hiring a social media VA in the Philippines, and explains how you can do it compliantly.
What Can a Filipino Social Media & Marketing VA Do for Your Business?
A skilled social media VA from the Philippines can take the entire weight of social media management off your shoulders, allowing you to focus on other core responsibilities related to your business. Their responsibilities often go far beyond simple administrative tasks.
A. Strategize and Create Social Media Content
A skilled social media virtual assistant can help you develop a comprehensive social media strategy tailored to your business goals. They can analyze your current strategy and see if your content and objectives are on point.
Moreover, based on the new strategy, they can create content, such as posts, videos, reels, and graphics to promote your business.
B. Manage Your Social Media Accounts
In addition to content creation, your social media VA is also responsible for managing all your social media accounts such as Instagram, Linkedin, TikTok, and X.
They schedule your posts across all channels to ensure the content goes out at the best time. This frees up your time to focus on other critical aspects of your business.
C. Engage with Customers
Another important aspect of a social media virtual assistant’s job is interacting with customers and addressing their concerns. Your VA can promptly answer customer queries, improving customer satisfaction and loyalty.
D. Keep up with the Latest Trends
Social media platforms are constantly evolving, introducing new features and algorithms. For instance, Instagram introduced the Collab feature that allows two accounts to post the same content on their feeds and reach out to cross audiences.
A seasoned social media virtual assistant stays up-to-date with such trends, ensuring your social media strategy remains effective and relevant.
That also improves the chances of your content being seen by your target audience and helps you generate more leads and sales.
E. Optimize Social Media Performance
By utilizing analytics tools and interpreting data, your Filipino social media VA can provide you with regular insights into your social media performance.
They can identify what is working best for the business and areas of improvement. Moreover, they can adjust the current strategy and optimize efforts for maximum return on investment (ROI).
Key Benefits of Hiring a Social Media VA in the Philippines
Foreign companies consistently report several key benefits when hiring Filipino social media virtual assistants.
1. Cost Advantage
One of the primary advantages is the cost savings. Labor costs in the Philippines are generally lower than in many Western countries, allowing you to access high-quality, professional services at a more affordable price point. Here’s a general overview of social media VA monthly salaries in the Philippines depending on experience:
| Experience | Salary Range |
| 1- 2 years | 25,000 PHP – 35,000 PHP ($450-$630) |
| 3- 4 years | 35,000 PHP – 60,000 PHP ($630-$1100) |
| 5 & above | 60,000 PHP + ($1100+) |
2. Round-The-Clock Availability
Virtual assistants from the Philippines are highly experienced in working with international companies across different time zones. If your business requires 24/7 social media monitoring or needs support during your specific business hours, they can easily adapt their schedules to meet your needs.
3. Broad Skillset
A common misconception about VAs is that they are only good for basic tasks such as scheduling content, etc. Filipino social media VAs are often well-educated, with many holding degrees in marketing, communication, or business. This provides them with a strong foundation in digital marketing principles and content creation.
Combined with their high level of English fluency and cultural adaptability, they can be a true asset to your marketing team.
How to Hire Your Social Media VA: Key Considerations
While the benefits are clear, hiring directly in another country comes with challenges. You must consider local labor laws, compliant payment methods, and statutory benefits. For example, a direct long-term engagement may classify your VA as an employee, making you responsible for social security (SSS), health insurance (PhilHealth), and other contributions. This is where many foreign companies run into compliance risks.
Hiring with an Employer of Record (EOR) like RecruitGo
An Employer of record like RecruitGo is the simplest and safest way to hire a social media virtual assistant in the Philippines. We act as the legal employer, handling all the complex local HR, payroll, and compliance matters for you, so you can focus on working with your new hire.
Here’s how RecruitGo simplifies the process:
- Define Your Requirements: Tell us the skills and experience you need, and our experts will find and shortlist the most suitable candidates for your review.
- Choose Your Social Media VA: You interview the shortlisted candidates and select the perfect fit for your team.
- Compliant Onboarding: RecruitGo handles the rest. We draft a locally compliant employment contract and onboard your VA correctly, reducing any risks of worker misclassification and protecting your interests.
- Payroll Management: We manage payroll and benefits, ensuring your VA is paid on time and in compliance with all local regulations.
Ready to hire your social media VA? Fill out the form below and our experts in the Philippines will be in touch.
Frequently asked questions
A Social Media VA often focuses on executing tasks within a given strategy—scheduling posts, responding to comments, creating graphics. A Social Media Manager typically has a more strategic role, developing the overall strategy, managing campaigns, analyzing high-level data, and often managing a team. Many skilled Filipino VAs have the experience to perform manager-level tasks.
When hiring a social media VA in the Philippines, look for a combination of skills: excellent English communication (written and verbal), graphic design basics (e.g., Canva), experience with social media scheduling tools (like Buffer or Hootsuite), understanding of platform-specific analytics, and strong organizational skills.
If the working relationship is deemed to be one of employment (rather than a temporary freelance contract), then yes, you are responsible for employer contributions to social security (SSS), PhilHealth (health insurance), and the Pag-IBIG Fund (housing fund). An EOR like RecruitGo automatically handles these mandatory contributions, ensuring you stay compliant while your employee gets all mandatory benefits.
While there are various online payment platforms, using an EOR in the Philippines is the most compliant method for long-term employment. An EOR handles payroll through official local channels, ensuring correct tax withholding and contributions, which protects both you and the employee.
