
What is virtual assisting and you can get started?
Virtual assisting is an amazing opportunity to create a stable financial outlook, provide freedom to work whatever hours you’d like, and make valuable contributions to businesses.
But what does a virtual assistant actually do?
Overview
The simplest definition of virtual assistants is that they virtually assist businesses with administrative tasks. These tasks vary depending on the business or client. Some common tasks to all businesses include:
- Email management ~ which is sorting a client’s emails and expediting the emails that need attention for the client
- Calendar management ~ confirming that the client has their appointments organized and knows where they are supposed to be and when.
- Customer service ~ this could mean responding to emails for the client, taking phone messages and responding, or answering questions via a phone call
- Social Media ~ this one is gaining popularity with virtual assistants as a separate service but some are also including it in their basic service packages.
Virtual assistants can also complete tasks such as updating blogs, responding to comments on social media, work on processes and flows for the business, and sometimes even manage teams for the client.
The more specialized the skill set the more the virtual assistant can charge. This means that it really pays off if you decided to specialize in say, bookkeeping. You can sell your services at a much higher rate than a general virtual assistant.
Virtual assistants are generally independent contractors when they start out. This means that they work for themselves and any companies they work for are their clients. Some virtual assistants start out with a business license and create an LLC immediately before starting to take any clients. Either of these options is completely legitimate and depends on personal preference.
Pay and Training when virtual assisting
A virtual assistant does not need a virtual assisting certification or any type of official documentation. While no specific education is required you must be able to perform the tasks that a client might need. This means that you should educate yourself on common virtual assisting tasks and continue to educate yourself whenever possible.
Pay as a virtual assistant varies along with the skillset that you supply as a virtual assistant. A new virtual assistant who has experience in admin tasks could start at $20/hour while a skilled tech virtual assistant could set their pay at $40/hour or more.
Skills Needed
The skills needed to start out as a virtual assistant are fairly similar to the skills needed to land a traditional job as an administrative assistant.
- Organized ~ VAs have to be organized to keep track of not only every client and the tasks do to them but each client’s unique needs
- Communication ~ Because VAs work remotely communication is one of the most important qualities a virtual assistant needs. You must be willing and able to communicate with the client to determine their needs, set your boundaries, and keep projects flowing smoothly
- Some Tech Knowledge ~ VAs need to have SOME tech skills or at least be able to run the most commonly used software and applications.
- Multi-Tasker ~ VAs must be masters of multi-tasking especially if you want to take on more than one client.
Becoming a virtual assistant is a big commitment. You commit to yourself, your clients, and your business to be the absolute best you can be every day. Clients will rely on your skills for EVERYTHING. You may not think that organizing an email inbox is saving someone’s sanity ~ but the client who has been staring at 2,000 emails for a month will think you are the best thing since sliced bread.
Are you ready to become an in-demand, money-making, rockin’ virtual assistant?
Check out my LEARN section to see more special offers, quick start guides, and information about becoming a virtual assistant!
Keep dreamin’