What is Virtual Assistant?
A virtual assistant (VA) is a
person who provides support services to other businesses from a remote
location. It is the ability to work virtually due to technology improvements,
such as high speed Internet, document sharing, and other advancements, made
working remotely a reality.
Virtual assistants are especially
in demand by entrepreneurs and online businesses that need help, but don't want to bring on staff
in their location. However, many small and mid-size businesses use virtual
support, especially in specific tasks such as social media management.
What do
Virtual Assistants do?
Theoretically, a Virtual Assistant can do anything any other support staff does, except bring the coffee. (Although when home-delivery coffee is created, the VA will be able to do that too!). However, virtual support duties are not limited to clerical work. Many Virtual Assistants provide marketing, web design and other services. A basic list of services include:
·
Calendar management
·
Email management
·
Social media management
·
Appointment setting
·
Marketing and PR
·
Research
·
Writing
·
Graphic creation
·
Website management
·
Bookkeeping
·
Customer support
·
Project management
·
Travel booking
·
Customer service
Tips to
become a virtual assistant
1. Get a website
People need to be able to find you, so a presence on the web
is crucial. It gives you a more professional appearance, a chance to highlight
some of your skills and an opportunity to explain your process.
Use my step-by-step guide to set up a website or a blog if
you want to regularly add articles. (Note that the post title is “How to Start
a Blog” but the same steps work to start a website with this one small tweak).
3. Get involved in social media with this tip
Possible social media platforms to pursue include Facebook,
Twitter, Pinterest, Periscope, Blab, YouTube, Google+, LinkedIn or one of many
others. It will be impossible to devote enough time to all of them, so, where
to start? Focus your social media efforts wherever your potential clients hang
out.
Relationships are key. Being involved in social media is one
of the best ways to find clients and vice versa, especially until you are
established and can rely on word of mouth.
4. Be helpful
Be very careful not to come across as spammy. Mass emails or
“cold” emails to people that don’t know you are rarely successful. I understand
the need to make an income, but take the time to offer useful information
first. This might come in the form of really useful articles written on your
blog, or it might come in the form of genuinely helpful (and respectful) advice
to someone you meet online.
In my case, I casually offered some ideas to a friend on
Twitter and it turned out to be the start of a working relationship that lasted
quite a while.
5. Hustle
One of the most common misconceptions about working online
is that it picks up quickly. This is usually not the case. This is a business. Just
like any other business online or offline, it will require hustle. You can’t
just build a website and watch the money roll in. Be proactive, enthusiastic
and keep at it!
The nice thing about working online is that the barrier to
entry is low and the cost to start is very reasonable. This allows you to make
it a side hustle until you pick up enough steam to go full time.
6. Network with other VAs
Ask around, read great articles, do some googling and find
people who are already VAs. Check out their websites, see what they offer and
get an idea of how it might work for you.
7. Work for a VA service
If finding your own clients is not your thing, you might
consider working for a company that matches VAs with clients. For some, the
help received from the company finding clients is worth sharing the profits.
Some companies to consider are Belay Solutions (formerly
eaHelp) and Upwork. I’ver personally hired VAs from both. Priority VA or Fancy
Hands. I don’t have personal experience with Priority VA or Fancy Hands, but
have heard good things about them.
Sources:
https://www.thebalance.com ›
... › Home Business › Home Business Toolbox
https://amylynnandrews.com/how-to-become-a-virtual-assistant/
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