Virtual assistants (VAs) are in high demand today. The reason being the boom in online businesses and remote jobs. Because of high speed internet, anyone anywhere can get tasks done. You don’t have to be in a city or even on a payroll. Managers are increasingly looking for virtual help rather than the traditional kind. A VA can be the perfect fit for companies around the world.
Being a VA is similar to the real world job. The only difference is that you will use online tools to complete your tasks. The best part is that you may already be aware of the tools that are used. This translates into a VA not requiring an advanced degree, or any experience.
If this sounds good to you, keep reading.
Who is a virtual assistant?
Before you are tempted into becoming a VA, take a step back. First determine whether it is indeed the right position for you. Here’s what the online role entails: A self-employed person that does administrative, technical, and sometimes sales or marketing tasks for a business.
Because it is a ‘virtual’ role, you can work from anywhere in the world with a stable internet connection. Does this sound like your dream job?
VAs are mostly part of the support staff of an organisation. The role requires you to: Keep someone’s calendar and daily schedule, respond to emails, and collect information on sales targets before meetings. The role could also include small details such as ordering water and snacks for the office.
You may ow be wondering that this role sounds too easy. But hold on.
There are VAs that engage in highly technical work. This could include: running multiple programs to find leads and business opportunities, scheduling social media posts and email campaigns, tracking marketing metrics, or performing bookkeeping. This brings us to an important consideration. What are you comfortable with? Before you apply for a VA role, consider the roles and responsibilities carefully.
How to become a virtual assistant with no experience
With just a few steps, you can become a full time VA. That’s right, no need for experience or advanced degrees. We will guide you through the process, step by step. You’ll need to know about the tasks to perform and how to do them. Then set up your own business information, and start applying to jobs.
Here are 5 easy steps for you to get started:
1. Target an area of specialisation
An easy hack to cracking the VA code is to pick a specialisation. There are countless people applying for generalist roles. Few apply for specialised areas. You can be one of the few. This leads to making more money and facing less competition. The first step is to carefully consider your skill sets. Is there anything you can do that others cannot? Pursue opportunities that uniquely fit your skills and experience.
2. Do Your Research
Research always helps you make more money. Especially when you research your area of specialisation. Get a sense for the typical rates. Then build a customer profile that you can use to look for potential clients. This also provides an opportunity to research the competition. Some of the questions you should be asking include: Do they have a website? Are they blogging? Do they have a well-connected LinkedIn profile? Answering these questions will help you set up a stable platform from where you can launch.
3. Make Your Online Profile
A VA needs to have a standout online profile. The reason being that more and more clients can then find you. Also, higher paying clients can find you. The first thing to do is create a website. This should clearly communicate your area of expertise and your special skill sets. The website can help attract the right kind of clients. The next step should then be to use your social media profile. This will help you interact with potential clients. Other platforms that can help you a great deal include LinkedIn and Twitter. Become active in groups where potential clients are present.
4. Search Job Opportunities
Searching for a job opportunity may seem like a daunting task. But we have your back. We have simplified the process into three simple steps. Consider each step that can maximise your chosen specialisation.
Step 1 – Check out freelancing websites. They pair virtual assistants with clients who are looking for their services. There are many websites out there you can scour. Some of the best options include Freelance, Upwork, and Guru.
Step 2 – Find clients through a professional network. This may be the most direct step that you can take. It could also make you the most money. You will face less competition on a professional network. The other advantage is that the clients are already familiar with your expertise and skill sets.
Step 3 – Reach out directly to potential clients. This step can really work if your talents are in high demand. In fact, specialised VAs often use this method to find the highest paying gigs. First, identify the specific type of customer or business that will need your skill set. Then contact them to offer your service.
5. Set Your Rate
The best way to set your rate as a VA is to check what others are being paid. The pricing varies according to specialisation and the tasks. Some VAs do earn more than others. A good advice is to set your price close to what other VAs are charging. This will encourage new clients to give you a job opportunity. The real benefit is that you avoid setting too low a price for your work.
An important point to remember: Your rate should be high enough to help you cover your business expenses and overhead. Plus other things like healthcare if needed. A VA does not get any of the benefits of a traditional role. Your income should cover everything you need.
Bottomline
It has never been easier to become a VA. Create your profile, then start looking for companies who need help. It really is that simple.