There are some virtual assistants who perform highly technical tasks. For example, this might involve managing multiple tools to find leads and business opportunities, scheduling social media posts and email campaigns, tracking marketing metrics, and performing bookkeeping tasks.
In most cases, however, virtual assistants provide support to business leaders. For example, you might be responsible for maintaining a person’s calendar and daily schedule, responding to emails, collecting information regarding sales targets before meetings, and even ordering water and snacks for their physical office.
Become a virtual assistant if you are interested in working remotely with skills you already possess. Virtual assistants make good money, whether you believe it or not. We’ll walk you through the process.
We will teach you how to become a virtual assistant, where to find your first clients, and how to scale your business to make money on the side or work full-time.
Who Are Virtual Assistants and What Do They Do?
Administrative and technical assistant is a self-employed individual who provides support to a company on a virtual basis. A virtual assistant can work from anywhere since all of the work is done online.
It is common for small business owners to outsource work to virtual assistants in order to focus on growing their business. As a result, business owners can focus on larger projects by utilizing virtual assistants to complete daily and routine tasks at a lower cost.
There are no degrees or certifications necessary to become a VA. All you need is a skill you are good at and enough experience to perform it well for multiple clients.
Are Virtual Assistants Paid Well?
The pay scale for virtual assistants varies, just like it does for any other job. There are several factors that can contribute to the decision-making process, including:
- The type of work that was performed
- Level of experience
- Working hours per week
It is possible for more experienced VAs who perform more highly technical skills to earn upwards of $50 per hour, while new VAs might start out earning around $20 per hour. In time, as your skills and client base grow, you will be able to charge higher rates and earn a higher salary. ZipRecruiter reports that the average salary for a virtual assistant checks in at just over $60,000 on a yearly basis, which is a little more than the national average.
Here Are the Most Sought-after Virtual Assistant Services
Virtual assistants are capable of performing a wide range of tasks. In the role of a virtual assistant, you are free to choose which tasks you are willing to perform. So if there is something you really dislike doing (such as proofreading blog posts), you do not have to include it as part of your VA package.
While this list covers some of the most popular and in-demand online tasks that virtual assistants can perform, it only scratches the surface. Think creatively when deciding what services to offer as a virtual assistant. Think about how you can make your clients’ experiences and skills more valuable.
Customer support
Customer satisfaction is crucial to a business’s success, but it can take a lot of time to maintain. Answering questions, processing orders, and moderating comments are always necessities. In most cases, small businesses are not able to offer such one-on-one service due to a lack of time.
The reason for outsourcing customer-related tasks is that virtual assistants have a quick response time and are detail-oriented.
Administrative support
Most of these services can be easily outsourced since they are fairly straightforward. A good place to start is with administrative support if you’re looking to become a VA.
Among the duties of a virtual assistant in this category are entering data, creating spreadsheets, managing calendars, and making travel arrangements.
Social media management
The field of social media is more specialized for virtual assistants. The role can be a great way for an individual to move beyond administrative duties and onto something more creative and stimulating.
Among the tasks you can perform are posting on social media, responding to comments, updating profiles, and anything else you feel comfortable with. It is even possible to offer services such as creating Pinterest images if you are skilled in graphic design.
You will be able to charge more for premium services such as social media management, which has a premium price.
Website management
Management of a website doesn’t have to intimidate you. The only thing you need is a little bit of tech-savvy or experience with coding.
Blog and website management services can be provided by virtual assistants who are familiar with WordPress or another CMS (Content Management System). It might include editing posts, responding to comments, fixing broken links, and maintaining the website as a whole. It is even possible for you to write blog posts or other types of content as part of your services.
It is possible to find a virtual assistant website of any size or shape. The idea is that you will be able to display an online portfolio of your work to potential clients as you gain experience.
Email marketing
In the same way that social media marketing requires specialized knowledge, email marketing does too. Setting up autoresponders, segmenting email lists, and designing email templates with MailChimp or ConvertKit are all things you need to know.
It’s another specialized service that many VAs don’t provide, so learning this skill will help you stand out and earn more money.
Facebook ads
Using Facebook advertising to find more clients or customers is an easy and effective way for businesses to grow. Many people do not take advantage of this opportunity due to a lack of time or a lack of knowledge about how to do it. A premium VA service can be offered in this way. The fact that many VAs do not offer this option allows you to charge more.
Small business owners could benefit from this type of VA service by creating ads, monitoring their reach (how many people see the ad), or managing their budget and timeline.
Bookkeeping
Keeping track of finances is a challenge for business owners. The amount of money they are earning, the amount of money they are spending, and where and to whom the money is going. Providing small business owners with this service can be a good fit if you’re organized, detail-oriented, good with numbers, and know how to balance a checkbook.
The Best Way to Become a Virtual Assistant Without Any Experience
Getting started with your own VA business can be as simple as following these steps.
Become a virtual assistant by taking a training course
The process of starting a business can seem overwhelming at first. You’re not alone, which is fortunate for you.
Kayla Sloan is an expert when it comes to how to become a virtual assistant. Over $10,000 per month was earned by her VA business in less than a year after she began it in 2014.
She developed a course to assist others in following in her footsteps once she realized how lucrative virtual assistant work can be. With her best-selling course 10K VA, Kayla teaches aspiring virtual assistants how to start their own businesses and land their first paying clients.
Being a successful virtual assistant doesn’t require you to take a course. In any case. Learning from an expert can save you time and help you reach your goals faster if you’re looking to speed up your VA business.
Decide what services you will offer
When it comes to becoming a Virtual Assistant, the first step is determining what kind of tasks you will be able to perform. Start by making a list of the things you already know how to do if you aren’t sure what you need to do.
Is there a website or blog that you manage on your own? If this is the case, it might be a good idea to add blog/website management to the list. Do you consider yourself to be an online influencer? Then maybe social media management would be a good fit for your repertoire as a virtual assistant. Can you design spreadsheets quickly and efficiently? Provide data entry and spreadsheet management services as a part of your business.
Keep in mind that this isn’t the final list you’ll make. This is just the beginning of your offerings. The more skills you learn and the more software you use, the more services you can provide.
Set your prices
It is probably the most difficult part of setting up your VA business to decide how much to charge for your services. Fairness and competitiveness are important, but you should also earn a profit.
There are four main pricing categories for virtual assistants:
- Paying by the hour: Your client pays you according to the number of hours you work.
- Project-Based: Clients pay a flat fee for one-time projects (setting up social media accounts, designing websites, etc.).
- Hourly package: Your client pays for a set number of hours to use over time. They can expire after a set period of time, such as 6 months or a year, depending on your contract.
- Retainer: A client pays an ongoing monthly rate for a specific set of tasks or number of hours.
If you want to know what other VAs charge for similar services, you can do some research online. You can look at some of their websites, ask questions in Facebook groups, and do a quick search on Google. Taking the average of those rates will give you a good place to start.
When setting your prices, take into account your skill level and experience level. Even if you have been blogging for ten years but have never been a VA, you can still charge a higher rate. Alternatively, if you’ve never designed a Pinterest image before, you might want to start at the bottom of the pay scale.
Choose a name for your business
You need a name for your VA business, just as every other business does. While it doesn’t have to be incredibly creative or clever, you want it to be memorable, easy to spell and match the brand you’re building.
It is helpful to do some research before choosing a name. Find out what other VAs have named their businesses by searching Google. Consider asking your friends and family or your professional network what they think of the name.
Check to see if the one you chose has already been trademarked or is already being used. Try saying it out loud to hear how it sounds.
Use resources like the Shopify Business Name Generator if you’re having a hard time coming up with a name.
Make sure the domain name for your business is available as well. The name of your business should match the URL you use to direct potential clients to your website when you’re setting up your website. Your clients may experience confusion if they’re completely different or inadvertently be referred to the competition if they’re completely different.
First and foremost, the name must be something you are happy with. This is how you will present yourself and your services to potential clients.
Pick the type of clients you want to work with and your target market
In addition to determining the services you’re offering, you also need to identify the types of clients you want. Do they own small businesses? Legal professionals? Managers of websites or blogs?
Regardless of who your target client is, give them a face. Create a client avatar that represents your ideal client. Give them a name, describe all the characteristics you’d like your clients to have (or not have), and explain why you’d like to work with them.
Consider whether the work they do interests you or whether the industry is one you are comfortable with. You should also explain how and why you can help them, as well as why they should choose you over another VA. As a result of this step, you will later be able to create your marketing plan.
Make sure the legal details of the business are in order
Creating a VA business is probably the most challenging step since it involves navigating government agencies and legal language. It is impossible to skip over these, however, since they are the foundation of your business.
In order to get started, you will need to do the following:
- Decide if you want to operate as a sole proprietorship or a limited liability company
- Licensing and permitting should be taken care of
- Contracts for clients should be drafted
In order to double-check your work on this part of setting up your VA business, you might want to consult an attorney or accountant.
Your VA business website should be designed and developed to promote your services
The creation of a website isn’t a requirement for landing your first client or starting your VA business, but it will make you look more professional and established. In addition, it will enable you to direct prospective clients to your website.
It’s easy and inexpensive to set up a website, and you don’t need to hire someone to do it for you. With drag-and-drop tools, most websites can be designed to look like they were designed by a pro.
Make sure your business finances are in order
You need a way to track your income and expenses, and your clients need a way to pay you.
The first few clients you have may be able to handle with a simple spreadsheet and a PayPal account, but as your business grows and clients multiply, you’ll need more robust services like FreshBooks or Quicken. For business expenses, you should also consider opening a bank account and obtaining a credit card.
It will be much easier in the future and at tax time if you get organized with your money from the start.
Develop a marketing strategy
As soon as your business is up and running, it’s time to start marketing yourself. Advertising oneself is the most effective and efficient way to find clients, despite many people’s reluctance to do so.
The good news is that you can create a marketing strategy that doesn’t feel forced or overblown. If you already have social media accounts, you can use them to share your services or announce that you have started your own company with your friends, family, and colleagues.
Create social media accounts for your VA services and advertise there if you want to separate your personal life from your business life.
If you already have a blog or website and have a mailing list, let your list know about your new venture. Since these are people who already support and follow you, you can ask them to share information about your VA services with their networks so that they can benefit from your work.
Facebook ads and blog posts can also be used to market to online business owners. Advertising with flyers and business cards is a great way to reach out to potential clients both locally and offline.
Networking
You should connect with other VAs now so you can get tips, ideas, and leads for finding clients, as well as feedback on your new business.
There is no need to be intimidated by networking. In online forums on Facebook, LinkedIn, or paid membership sites offered by experienced VAs, you can connect with other VAs. Networking with prospective clients can also be accomplished through online conferences and summits.
When you use the internet for networking, you can do it from your couch and expose yourself to people all over the world, so you can reach more clients.
The best way to connect with local business owners is to attend networking events in person. Additionally, you can attend meetings at your local chamber of commerce or any other organization that connects local businesses.
How to Find Virtual Assistant Jobs Online (and Offline)
It’s time to find clients now that you’ve determined what you’re offering, and how much you’re charging, and created a website.
In the beginning, finding clients is often the most challenging part for new business owners. The good news is that there are a few places to look that are likely to be more successful than others.
Check out freelancer websites
It is relatively easy to find virtual assistant positions on freelance websites such as Upwork and People Per Hour. If you do not have much experience or training, this might be a good route for you if you are new to working as a virtual assistant.
There are generally lower-paying jobs available on these sites. You should raise your prices as you gain more experience and become more valuable to your clients if you take this approach at the beginning. It is always possible to renegotiate pricing with clients at a later date.
Using social media
Share your list of services on social media to let your family, friends, and professional network know you’re open for business. The power of networking cannot be overstated. It may surprise you who knows someone who knows someone who’s looking for help and can connect with you.
Businesses in the local area
If you offer services to small businesses in your area, ask them if they would benefit from your assistance. Because virtual assisting is still a relatively new field, many brick-and-mortar business owners haven’t considered outsourcing.
Persuade them to hire you by letting them know what they’re missing out on. As well as practicing your marketing skills, it will be a good learning experience.
Engage influencers in your network
Is there a blog or business that you follow religiously? If the owner needs assistance with anything about their business, send an email to them. Your pitch should be friendly, brief, and confident. Don’t forget to tell them what services you can provide.
You can give them the address to your website and ask them to keep you in mind for future positions if they are not currently looking for help. It would be a good idea to follow up in three months to see if anything has changed.
If you haven’t already, sign up for their email list. Owners of online businesses advertise open virtual positions through their email lists.
Connect with other virtual assistants
The best way to grow your business is to connect with other virtual assistants. Aside from getting advice on pricing, services, and resources like training courses and conferences, you might find some job openings as well.
VAs often find themselves with clients who need services beyond what they can provide, so they turn to their network for assistance. For one reason or another, they might not be able to take advantage of the opportunities they come across.
Work From Home as a Virtual Assistant
Working as a VA is an option for anyone who wants to work from home, regardless of their previous experience or education. Getting started is simple; you just need your skills and a computer or smartphone (with Wi-Fi).
The rates you charge, the services you provide, and the hours you work are up to you. Virtual assistant businesses require minimal up-front costs, making them viable and accessible to most people. Invest in your knowledge by taking an online course like 10K VA.
It can be challenging to land your first client, but with some creative marketing and networking, you can make money as a virtual assistant online.
