Is there a game plan for starting with VAs?

I had a VA for a couple of years - biggest lessons for me were the following:

• Good Onboarding was very important and more importantly really appreciated
• Be available - they're not you, they'll have lots of questions especially at the start
• Make things into processes that are easy to follow, add videos and instructions to explain when you aren't available
• If they aren't performing then either make good efforts to change things or change them

I had a mixed experience but when things were working well it was great!

Some things I learned, additional to what MaxwellDavis already mentioned:

• Make sure to thoroughly document and specify what you want them to do. Really step by step. Word by word. Be very specific not only about outcome, but also about when you expect or need things.
• Use easy language (not because they are not capable of understand, but because easy language is more on-the-point - this is important).
• Try to maintain long-time VA relationships. There are definitely some inefficiencies at the start of working together with them
• Do not tell them "Please ask me anytime if you have questions". Depending on where they are from, asking questions can be seen as weakness - therefore they will not ask...
• At least in the beginning, make sure to have weekly review-sessions for training purposes
• Tasks I found easy to outsource to VAs: calendar management, research, data entry, customer service (at least 1st level).
• Tasks I found not so easy to outsource: Social media, writing in general