SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AND EFFECTIVE PERFORMANCE AMONG

FREELANCE REMOTE VIRTUAL ASSISTANTS

An Undergraduate Thesis
Submitted to the Faculty of
School of Business and Management
City College of Tagaytay
Tagaytay City

In Partial Fulfilment
of the requirements for the degree of
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Major in Human Resource Development Management

DIMAPILIS, BEVERLY JANE V.

GALANGLUE, ELLEN L.
MADDELA, PATRICIA ANNE
RONDINA, ROLLY
VIDALLON, MA. ANDREA C.
VILLARIN, WENDEL F.

October 2022
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This study wants to determine the contribution of social media platforms to effective

performance of freelance remote virtual assistants.

Specifically, it sought to answer the following questions.

1. What is the degree of preference in the usage of social media platforms among virtual

assistants?

 Facebook

 You Tube

 Twitter

 Instagram

Use 4 likert scale SA, A, D, SD, if possible 5 questions for each platform
Facebook
Ex. I like facebook in ……..
I prefer to use facebook when
So forth and so on…….

2. What is the degree of effectiveness of each social media platforms in terms of:

 Managing accounts

 Identifying and interacting with clients

 Calendar management

 Follow-ups
Suggestion: What is the degree of effectiveness of the social media platforms in managing

accounts?

You can use the same questions for each platform (focus on questions on managing accounts)

anyway you just want to measure the degree of effectiveness of each platform. Cguro pwede na

ang 5-10 questions…..talk with your tech adviser. D ako mk pg suggest nyan at hindi ako

tecki……

3. Is there a significant relationship between preferred platform and effective management of

account.

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter presents a review of related literature and studies related to the social media

platforms and effective performance among freelance remote virtual assistants

The art of delegation is not always simple for business owners. To cut costs, they

frequently try to take on too many tasks, overworking themselves to the point that they hurt their

personal relationships, skip holidays, and yet feel unsatisfactory. As crucial as it is to be

dedicated to expanding your company, a crucial trait of any successful entrepreneur is knowing

when to seek assistance. A virtual assistant can be an excellent choice to take into account if a

business owner is overburdened with obligations but does not want to commit to hiring full-time

staff (Fathima, 2022).

 There is a growing digital platform economy. Online structures are being built by

businesses like Amazon, Etsy, Facebook, Google, Salesforce, and Uber that facilitate a variety of

human activities. This paves the way for fundamental changes in the way we work, interact with

one another, generate economic value, and contend for the profits that follow. Although they are

undoubtedly not the only aspect of the fast restructuring global economy, their consequences are

clear and observable. These digital platforms function as multifaceted digital frameworks that

define the parameters within which people engage in communication. These online platforms are

structured and operated in a variety of ways. Together, they are causing a wide range of

marketplaces, work settings, and eventually wealth generation and capture, to be reorganized.

Numerous titles, deriving from some of its perceived characteristics, have been given to this

digitally based new economy. The labels we give this transition have an impact on how we

examine, employ, and govern these digital platforms, so choosing the right ones is important

(Baltimore et al., 2016).

Moreover, social networking is permeating all facets of society, including the freelance

workforce. Prospective customers don't just look at the bad reviews on your social media pages.

In fact, these networks have a major impact on growth and increased exposure of new talent in a

competitive labor market. Social media use will continue to grow and change the way work is

done as firms look to freelancers and their smaller competitors as an on-demand workforce.

Making connections with potential customers and other professionals in your industry is a crucial

component of using social media effectively (Wade, 2022).

Social media platforms are the ideal tool to carve out a niche, grow an audience, promote

work, and draw in new customers when used consistently and with determination. Despite the

fact that freelancers have grown their businesses without social media and will do so in the
future, the popularity and expansion of social media have changed how we live both personally

and professionally. These social networks are a useful channel and resource to advance your

company due to the steady changes they are providing (Jones, 2022). Social media is important

to independent contractors since it enables them to develop by increasing website traffic. A great

strategy to turn readers into customers is to share material on your site. Additionally,

communication is advantageous to them. Social networking is a tool that independent contractors

utilize to build their brands. Social media is already being used by customers to discuss brands

and services. In light of this, it can select the crucial social media postings that discuss goods or

services, highlighting the positive and addressing the negative. Although creating such a

corporate identity takes time, it gives the business the benefit of having its own voice (Wade,

2022).

Social media can take on many different form and functions, including blogs, wikis,

podcasts, and discussion forums. It can also utilize images and video. Each of these technologies

makes use of a specific type of social technology, the Internet's era in which anybody can publish

content online. The rapid improvements in software technology and the ability to create social

connections are fueling the social media wildfire, which is being fueled by the strong winds of at

least three convergent forces: the nature of the business environment, shifting workforce

demographics, and these forces.

The concept "social media" often refers to the numerous, publicly available, and

reasonably priced electronic tools that allow anybody to publish and access information, work

together on a project, or develop new relationships. The development of technology and shifting

social mores have given these activities a whole new meaning, boosting the amount of

interpersonal communication and expanding their scope to every issue on the world.
 This study examines the effect of social media use on workers' productivity. According to

the quantitative study's questionnaire survey, every employee uses multiple social media

platforms. All of the employees use Facebook and WhatsApp on a regular basis, while 68% of

them use Instagram. Twitter, LinkedIn, Youtube, and Snap Chat are less well-liked among

employees than other social media sites. Whereas the employee's performance was generally

above average in terms of accurate data entry and reporting, filling accuracy, timely completion

of tasks, and accurate performance of other job-related activities, it was discovered that the most

popular social media platforms (Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram) had a significant

detrimental impact on employee performance (Buadoo, 2021).

It is unquestionable that social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Orkut, MySpace,

Skype, and others are heavily used for communication given that the globe is in the midst of a

social media revolution. This method of communication can be used with an individual or a

group of individuals. Social media is a superset of social communication that is a medium for

social engagement. There are benefits and drawbacks to using social media. The ability for

different groups of individuals to exchange knowledge and information online is one of the most

significant benefits. In fact, social media is changing how businesses communicate given its

many social tools that are currently available are so much more affordable than more

conventional methods like email and internet advertising.

The study by Babu et. al (2020) concluded that more and more people are starting to use

social media to support communication and collaboration at work as its significance grows. This

study shows how network linkages, a common purpose, and trust can help social media foster the

development of social capital within an organization. Social media helps workers grow their

social capital, which improves their ability to learn about their jobs and do their jobs more
effectively. In the past, it might have been able to shun social media, but that's no longer an

option. Long-term success for freelancers depends on their ability to be present, accessible, and

communicative, which includes social media. These websites also make it simple to keep regular

clients, find new ones, and demonstrate the value and endurance of a freelancer's goods and

services (Smith, 2014).

A wide variety of outsourcing practices have emerged as a result of the three and a half

billion people who now have access to the Internet. A significant recent development is the

reception of platforms that enable global outsourcing by connecting millions of customers and

employees to trade money for labor in the form of digital gigs (Kuek et al., 2015).

Enterprise Social Networks are a growing trend in social networking platforms because

of the widespread adoption and use of public social networking sites (SNS) in the personal

sphere, like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter (ESNs). The primary goal of ESN deployment is to

provide several additional tools for communication, collaboration, knowledge consumption, and

knowledge creation in order to boost organizational knowledge creation processes, promote

employee engagement, and improve performance (Berger et al. 2014).

Virtual collaboration technology, skill shortages, the sharing economy, as well as

millennials' expectation for a more flexible employment model will drive the remote workforce

phenomenon (Dessain 2014). Each generation of leader- ships will need to embrace the new

paradigm of doing business. It is a new workforce and a new workplace. Remote working is

expected to increase substantially with the generational shift of the workforce, continued

technological advancements, and expanded globalization. Preparing for and addressing these

challenges enables the organization to inculcate an inclusive remote workforce culture.The right
leadership will build trust with constant contact, encourage open dialogue, and cultivate

collaboration (Kennelly 2015). As organizations move toward a remote workforce, the more

virtual they become, the more essential the leadership skills.

According to Soofastaei (2021) Virtual Assistants (VAs) are being used more frequently

in both our personal and professional lives. A virtual assistant is an intelligent program that can

carry out tasks or offer services in response to requests or questions. Users can instruct their VA

to perform a variety of tasks using voice commands, including managing household appliances,

controlling media playback, and handling email, establishing action lists, and scheduling

meetings on calendars. The use of voice commands to communicate with people is a common

service.

Since they enable businesses to assign work to freelancers online, social media has grown

in significance in the context of digital freelancing. The platforms for digital freelancing that are

currently available, though, are still far from being able to support the ecosystem of businesses

and professionals during the implementation of complex projects through an accurate definition

of the necessary abilities, roles, dependencies, and obligations (Scalabrino et al., 2018).

As stated in the study of Rawoof et al., (2021) the current state of unemployment has

made freelancing a crucial employment opportunity. We refer to situations where a person

typically works for himself, performs activities for several different businesses or individuals,

and is typically paid for each project through online self-employment. The freelancer frequently

works from home or from a location unrelated to the business or person that pays the

compensation.
 According to the study of Nawaz (2020) as a new market for service workers, the

freelancing business is rapidly growing. In light of the inherent flexibility, autonomy, and

financial rewards of freelancing, platforms for this type of work have been successful in

attracting professionals from a variety of service backgrounds. Young entrepreneurs are

especially motivated to join these platforms. Freelancers are business owners that can be hired by

organizations to work on certain tasks for a set amount of time. Freelancing's nature might be

viewed as a cross between an employee and an entrepreneur. As it offers independence, work-

life balance, and a different source of income, freelancing is growing in popularity among young

business owners.

Freelancers work for businesses but also autonomously of them, in their homes, places of

business, or in workspaces. It demonstrates that, especially in creative organizations,

independent contractors are nonetheless susceptible to the usual control mechanisms seen in the

workplace. The way freelancers use their time must match the measurement and evaluation

procedures used by clients. Different customer connections and the closeness they entail result in

various work cycles (Pitts, 2016).

Based on the study of Tzeng, 2016 the extent of the freelancing economy has expanded

along with the demand for contingent work, and as a result of technology advancement, attitudes

toward hiring on-demand have changed. People now find workers online with more convenience

and confidence because to online labor platforms, a more recent trend of websites and mobile

applications that connect labor supply and demand. Online labor platforms increase trust,

transparency, and competition by gathering task suppliers in one location and offering

standardized profiles and common metrics for all of them.

 In recent years, particularly during and after the epidemic, "telework" and "remote work"

have both expanded significantly. A teleworker employs personal electronic devices in addition

to physically working from a location other than an office or corporate premises, whereas remote

work does not necessitate trips to the primary workplace or the usage of electronic personal

devices. In addition to their homes, "mobile teleworkers" work from a variety of different

locations. Digital online telework is a widespread employment model that makes use of online

platforms to connect people, teams, and organizations with other people or organizations to solve

issues or offer services in exchange for remuneration. Teleworkers and remote workers

frequently collaborate on projects and teams online. Different forms of remote and telework are

more or less popular. Despite conceptual difficulties, it is predicted that hundreds of millions—

and possibly even more—of individuals currently make a career utilizing digital tools and

platforms from their homes or other locations (Vartiainen, 2021).

Williams, 2021 stated that digital platform labor is conducted as short-term, temporary

"jobs," which are arranged by platform companies that link independent contractors with clients

using an app. Platforms manage labor-capital relations and make money off of them, but they are

not employers. A qualitative, comparative research of 17 digital platforms' websites and terms

and conditions documents that offer online graphic design work and in-person care employment.

The research shows how platforms mix conventional hiring methods with cutting-edge

algorithms to create risks for platform employees based on their respective industries. More

generally, the study contributes to our understanding of how human resource management duties

and responsibilities are altered in the context of digital platform work by offering insights into

the hiring procedures utilized by digital platform companies.

 Hassan et al., (2018) stated to their study that according to the professionals who use it,

the location, the type of work, the surroundings, and the intended usage, there are several types

of remote working. Reviews indicate that using remote working has both positive and negative

effects on employees' performance, including the following: minimal physical requirements,

individual control over work pace, defined deliverables, a need for concentration, and a relatively

low need for communication. Information and communication technology (LCT) also had

positive effects on more results, including job satisfaction, performance, revenue intent, and role

stress. People who successfully worked from home were found to be highly driven, disciplined,

and to possess skills that allowed them to influence others through bartering. The strategy was

also created either due to family preferences or because they chose a small number of social

fraud facts outside of the family. The negative effects include time management stress, financial

stress or uncertainty, loneliness due to lack of contact with coworkers, separation in the

workplace and feeling "left out," the lack of a regular routine and the lack of sympathy from

those who follow more conventional paths. At the end of the day, it was difficult to switch off. in

intimate relationships, and pressure.

and its effective performance?

QUESTIONNAIRE

Answerable by strongly disagree to strongly agree or very unlikely to very likely

SOP #1 Frequently Used App

1. I frequently use Facebook more than any other social media platforms
2. I am more productive on Facebook as a virtual assistant than on any other platforms

3. I frequently use YouTube more than any other social media platforms

4. I am more productive on YouTube as a virtual assistant than on any other platforms

5. I frequently use Twitter more than any other social media platforms

6. I am more productive on Twitter as a virtual assistant than on any other platforms

7. I frequently use Instagram more than any other social media platforms

8. I am more productive on Instagram as a virtual assistant than on any other platforms

SOP #2 Preferred Platforms

1. Facebook is the most effective and convenient social media platform for me.

2. Youtube is the most effective and convenient social media platform for me.

3. Twitter is the most effective and convenient social media platform for me.

4. Instagram is the most effective and convenient social media platform for me.

SOP #3 Degree of Effectiveness

1. Social media helps me to acquire specific goals

2. Social media helps me to acquire specific usability

3. I use social media frequently for my work and clients.

4. I frequently visit my social media accounts because of follow-ups

5. Daily posting on social media helps me to become engage with clients

6. Social media is the best way for quicker and most effective feedback.

7. Social media helps me to enhance client’s interaction.

SOP #4 Is there a significant relationship between preferred platform and its effective

performance?

1. Social media platforms enable me to become access at work.

2. Social media has a significant impact in when it comes to managing works, calendar

management, follow-ups and identifying and interacting with clients

3. Social media immensely helps me to become efficient and effective at work.