Thinking about applying for a work from home job or starting a work from home business, then you must definitely consider being a Virtual Assistant. For the ones who don’t know, a virtual assistant provides various services to entrepreneurs or businesses from a remote location. From digital marketing tasks, scheduling appointments and managing events to personal errands. A virtual assistant is the best way to earn money by being at home. You don’t need any sort of degree or certificate to be a Virtual Assistant. All you simply need to do is provide the information and complete the task given by the client, on time. Furthermore, most of the companies need a virtual assistant, to boost their growth as VA is known for providing effective solutions and thus freeing up the business owner’s time for large scale projects. This sort of job requirements are increasing in the coming years and are quite profitable. Also one can work in different fields and profiles after being a VA which includes: Social media management, managing calendars, proofreading, writing articles, bookkeeping, managing appointments, website management, managing emails, and customer support.
If you’re ready to start your own VA business, here are some of the tips upon how to become a Virtual Assistant. Do take notes
1. Take Virtual Assistant Training Course
For doing anything in your life, you need certain training and guidelines. One must not simply jump without being able to swim. Before deciding to be a Virtual Assistant, be sure to read about and research it online. Though being a Virtual Assistant is not that strenuous job, but taking an online VA training course is not going to hurt you either. Furthermore, you would get certain tips and effective guidelines about being a better VA as you’re not the only one thinking about being a VA. Many others who are good at it are there in competition, so you must take care to be the best one. Various online courses are available, if you search it properly you might find a perfect one for you which would help you towards achieving success. Kayla Sloan started her VA business in 2014 and in a year was earning a good amount. Once she understood how high demand is there for Virtual Assistants, she took the initiative to teach individuals how to start their own VA business in her best selling course 10KVA.
2. Determine What Services You Will Offer
A Virtual Assistant has many tasks in their hand, so first of all, you should decide what services you can offer. You must take into consideration, whether a specific task can be accomplished by you or not. Make a list of all the things which you know and you can do. Don’t add the services which you have no knowledge of just to improve your profile. Be sure that you’re best in what you’re going to provide as services because that’s what going to bring to you more clients. If you’re good with accounts you can add Bookkeeping in the list. If you write a blog or manage a website then website management would be easier for you. Have a look at your skills and decide what else can go on your potential provided services’ list. Also, remember that this is not your final list. You can go on adding more services to it once you learn more new things. This would bring more opportunities to your door.
3. Set Your Prices
Virtual Assistant is a highly paid job and its demands are also increasing in the market. So in terms of deciding the charges for the services rendered by you, don’t settle for less just because you’ve just started. Fixing the charge for your service is probably the most difficult part of establishing any business. Make sure to be fair and competitive along with ensuring your own profit. Most of the Virtual Assistant decide their charges on the basis of:
Hours: You will get paid hourly, on the basis of the number of hours you have worked for your client.
Project-Based: Your client will pay you on the basis of the project at once after it’s completed successfully.
Package of Hours: Your client can also pay you for a set number of hours and is most of the time contractual.
Retainer: Your client would pay you monthly on the basis of ongoing project and number of hours.
The easiest way is to ask or research what other VA’s are charging and fix your fees on the basis of your skills and knowledge.
4. Figure Out A Business Name
Selecting a business name can be a tricky part but one must not neglect it, because your entire business depends upon it. You don’t have to be more creative about it. Although, one must make sure their business name describes their services offered. It should be easy to remember. For that, you must research a little upon business names and can also take the help of their friends and family to help them with it. You can also go to online business name generators which would help you with it. After selecting a specific name make sure that the name is not in use or has been trademarked. Furthermore, check whether there is an already similar name existing in the VA industry or not. Also, one must see whether the domain name is available for their business name and mostly ending in .com. Don’t settle for for .org or .in etc. Most importantly you need to be happy with your selected name.
Pro Tip: keep it simple, creative and easy to pronounce.
5. Choose Your Target And The Type Of Clients You’d Like To Work With
Once you’re done settling down with your services offered and have settled its charges. It’s time for you to think about your targets and the type of clients you would like to work it. Whether they are banks or corporate sector or lawyers or researchers. You must take into consideration your interests, skills and comfort zone as well while selecting your targets. You should not find the work monotonous or tedious and should be interested and hypes up while doing it. Make a list again, this time describe the types of the client which you want to work with along with their characteristics. Simultaneously write down why do you want to work with them. You need to also write down why they should pick you as a VA and how can you help them. These small steps would help you plan your marketing strategy.
6. Figure Out Legal Business Details
Starting up a business is not as easy as it seems. One of the hardest steps in creating your VA business in that, you have to navigate through a lot of legal languages and governmental agencies. An association, corporation, partnership, proprietorship, trust, or individual that has legal standing in the eyes of law, are only allowed to do business. For the strong foundation of your VA business you’ll need to do:
- Decide whether you’re going to operate as a sole proprietor or LLC
- Secure any license or permits
- Draft your client contract
For this part of establishing your VA business, you’ll find it a need to consult an attorney or accountant to double-check what you’ve done.
Recommended Read: How to come up with a great business name? Read now and use the free tools here
7. Create Your Website and Blog Posts to Promote Your Virtual Assistant Business
Having a website is not that necessary for being a Virtual Assistant, however, having one would surely make you look more professional. Creating a website is far easier than you think. You can even get guidelines online if you want. Furthermore, it is cheap and reliable enough to ensure your business growth. You don’t need to hire someone to do it for you also most of the websites can be designed with the help of drag-and-drop tools. It will nothing less than designed by a professional. Also, a website would describe your profile and the services provided by you more elaboratively.
Recommended Read: Top 10 must have features of a business website
8. Get Your Business Finances On The Right Track
Running a business includes expenses, even if it’s a Virtual Assistant Business. You might need appliances and tools, gadgets to help you with work at home and also their maintenance. It would require funds which you need to manage properly. Also, your client needs a way to pay you. Be sure to have a PayPal account and a bank account that would provide you with a credit card for business expenses. You can start balancing your expenses my managing a spreadsheet about your income and expense. Getting organized with money at the beginning would help you in the future when your business expands and also during tax time. Create a budget and use your budget to plan for the growth of your business. Furthermore, Invest in Cloud-based Accounting Software and separate your personal finances from business finances.
9. Marketing Strategy
Now your business planning is done and you’re ready to put your VA business in the market. This is the best time to think about your marketing strategy. One must fix it prior or it will be a great loss to their business. Think about how are you going to create awareness among people and your potential clients of your VA business. If you already have a social media account to try to use it for announcing your services to your friends and family and ask them to share it with others. If you’re not comfortable in mixing your personal and professional life then start a social media account for your VA services and advertise there instead. Also, you can make use of email and send them to your potential clients. You can also make use of Facebook ads or blog posts to market to online business owners. Flyers and Business Cards are great for advertising with potential local and offline clients.
10. Networking
Networking will help you develop and improve your skill set, stay on top of the latest trends in your industry, meet prospective mentors, partners, and clients, and gain access to the necessary resources that will foster your career development. Networking is the most important task in setting up any business venture, even if it’s something online like Virtual Assistant Business. You must connect with other Virtual Assistant to get tips, ideas and leads for finding clients, and feedback on your new business. Networking is easier than you think. You can connect with them through Facebook, Linkedin, Quora or other online forums. Furthermore, you can ask them for tips and guidance. You never know you might get a big opportunity just by sitting at your home. Also, it would help expand your business circle. Offline networking is even more profitable. Connecting with local business owners in person would help you bang a good deal.
The following platforms are ones that I can recommend as the best sites to get the VA clients.
1. Timeetc
The company interested in adding freelance people looking for flexible, part time work they can do at home in all the VA areas.
2. Virtual Staff Finder
One of the trendy platform with lot of opportunities for senior virtual assistants.
3. Fiverr
You can list yourself as a seller and provide your gigs with the competitive pricing.
4. Upwork
One of the largest freelance platforms with a lot of opportunities to build a career in VA.
5. Flexjobs
The best at the last, Flexjobs is the largest platform for the virtual assistants and location-independent opportunities.
As it is said, the beginning is always the hardest. You will find a few difficulties in your initial days of business but that doesn’t mean that you must give up. Keep trying and your Virtual Assistant Business will flourish soon.
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