Update: While this post gives you a brief overview of Virtual Assistance, I highly, highly recommend Lisa Morosky's ebook on the subject called The Bootstrap VA which I reviewed here.
A virtual assistant offers assistance to someone via the internet. I can tell you from personal experience that it's a great work-at-home opportunity and something many people could do.
The internet makes it easy for people to work together even if they're miles apart. Any service you can offer from a distance such as writing, graphic design, bookkeeping, administrative assistance, secretarial skills, data entry, tutoring, consulting, etc. could be considered virtual assistance. And at rates ranging anywhere from $20 to $100+ an hour (depending on your skill), it's a great option for those who want to work at home.
I had a short stint as a virtual assistant when I worked for Crystal at Money Saving Mom®. Some of the things I did for here were:
- Answering emails.
- Managing comments on her blog.
- Helping her get her schedule under control.
- A little bit of data entry at one point.
- Handling various other administrative tasks.
- Brainstorming ideas. We did lots of brainstorming.
I'm not longer working with Crystal, but was an excellent opportunity that arose at a wonderful time for our family and could work for all kinds of people.
How to become a virtual assistant
- Get a website. You have to do this. People need to be able to find you. Your own presence on the web is crucial. It gives you a more professional appearance, the chance to highlight some of your skills and an opportunity to explain your process. If you've seen my step-by-step series which walks you through setting up your own website, you know how easy (and relatively low-cost) this can be. Note that my series talks specifically about blogs, but it applies equally to regular websites too. The setup is exactly the same. Being able to send potential clients to a website is key. Many (most?) potential clients work online so they want to know you have experience online yourself.
- Get involved in social media. This would include Google+, Facebook and Twitter, commenting on blogs, etc. Tsh at Simple Mom calls this "organic" and I couldn't agree more. Relationships are key. Being involved in social media is one of the best way to find clients and vice versa (at least until you are established and can rely on word of mouth).
- Be helpful. Some people looking for work as a VA come across as spammy. I didn't set out to work with Crystal. I had offered her some ideas about her website in a few of our conversations and that was the start of our working relationship. Again, organic.
- Do some research. Ask around, read some great articles (like this one at Simple Mom — great tips and links to resources!), do some googling and find some people that are already VAs (like Lisa). Check out their websites, see what they offer and get an idea of how it might work for you.
- Buy The Bootstrap VA by Lisa Morosky. I get a lot of request to promote ebooks, but I rarely do so. However, this is ABSOLUTELY one I recommend. I share a bit of my experience in the book, but oh my goodness, the finished products is jam packed with useful info. For $12.99, it will be the best investment you make. Seriously.
(Disclosure: Please note I have bought The Bootstrap VA and recommend it to you without hesitation. If you decide to purchase it here, at no cost to you, I will receive a small commission and would be grateful for your support of this site. Thank you!)
Thanks for the shout-out, Amy.
Yeah, I'd say the best thing you can do if you're wanting to become a VA, is to just focus on getting that first client. Take it one step at a time. You don't need to have it all together to start working with clients – the key is just to start!
And another thing: I've never paid for advertising in the almost 3 years I've been doing this. My clients and acquaintances are my advertisers and the referrals are steady. So treat your clients well, be involved in social media, and the clients will come.
Hi Amy,
I have a friend of mine her name is jane, she is applying now as a VA, and soon she will be starting her new job. She keeps on researching on how to be an effective VA. and I'm so glad that I found this site. I will give this link to her. for her to clarify and understand well, and read this wonderful tips. Thanks for sharing this content Its very informative and interesting. God bless..
So that's how all those probloggers manage to find the time to crank out a post a day. If I were making enough from my blog to justify the expense, I would love to hire a VA. How great t would be not to have to worry about social media, comments, and email all the time!
I am also a VA. I think a big part of this too is you need to have a good understanding of how to be an assistant. I don't feel just anyone can jump in and become a great assistant. You must be professional, organized, and above all else – trustworthy!
One of my current clients found me through my blog The Millennial Housewife – so NETWORKING is a huge key to success.
I love this blog and all of your tips and tricks!
Yes, good point about trustworthiness. That's why relationships first are key. Also, I recommend an agreed upon probationary or trial period too. That way, if it's not working for either party, you can back out.
The way I started was "organic" as well. I decided to stay home after my last pregnancy but I let my boss know if I could ever be of any help please don't hesitate to contact me. Well our industry was hit by the economy and she had to close her phsyical office but she remember what I said and contacted me to take over some of my old job responsibilities.
I do about 1/3 of what I use to, on my own schedule and all viritually from my home. My boss saw the value in what I was providing for her as well as the savings and gave me a raise
I'm looking at taking on more clients in the next six months.
I'm currently a blog designer, but I've been looking to offer something more. Recently, I designed my sisters blog, and i'm also handling all of her emails, site management, clients, etc. All of the things a VA does! I never really knew about VA's before, but after researching I know that this is what I want to be doing. Most people don't like the tasks of "management", but I on the other hand, LIVE for them! I'm going to be adding VA services to my website in June, and I'm so excited!
Thanks Amy, for this great and informative post!
Awesome! The flexibility of working online, learning new things, adding services (or removing them if you find you don't like them) make virtual assistance great!
thank you very much. I am trying to do this, key word trying. I'm floundering.. badly. this def. helps. thank you.
Slow and steady…
I like this blog. Virtual Assistant is an entrepreneur who provides professional executive, technical, or creative assistance to clients from a home sourcing business. Thank you for sharing this tips.
Hi Amy. Great share.
I am a VA myself and I now have a website offering virtual assistance. I believe that to be a successful VA, one has to offer great service, meaning giving more of what the customer/client expected and you loving the work you do and not just for money. When your client is satisfied with your service, you get referred to others. As a result, you build your reputation online.
Yes, great point! Nothing beats excellent service. It totally speaks for itself for sure!
A key to make you succed as a VA is to make your client satisfy, feel them that there are priority and make there all task done, if you encounter task that doesn't familiar to you, Google is your friend, thats I always do, I always go to Google and I make things done.
the key of success to become a great virtual assistant to clients business, is to make them smiled with your outputs and conversions, by that you can call yourself now a great Virtual Assistant, that I always do.
wow, this blog is very interesting and elegant, I love to read this everyday, thanks for sharing this to us, I definitely shared this to my friends.
Hi, thanks for all the brilliant ideas and advise on how to become a VA. I'm not a total green horn in the internet world complete with social media etc. I've been looking at a different career as a TEFL teacher and VA keeps cropping up in some of the websites I looked at. I'm very interested and will try to get a tutorial both residential and on-line about the subject. Thanks again and will touch base regularly for recent posts. More power!
Febris
Hi Amy,
I appreciate your informative tips. I'm looking forward for some post of yours. Thanks Amy for your tips!
I’m glad you’d come up for this Amy. Being a virtual assistant, it helped me a lot. These four tips is certainly helpful and hey, this very effective. Thank you so much for this and I enjoyed reading it.
Thank you so much for the useful advice. I am currently establishing my very own VA company, and I just wanted some guidance in addition to feedback and view points of others already involved in this field. It has been slightly intimidating for me along the way, and it's great to know that others care.
You're welcome, Chacara. All the best on your new business!
I never thought about supplementing my income as a VA. thanks for another great tip.
This a very informative post. Can't wait to read some more..
I need to find a great assistant – any tips on how to find one?
yes, hire me
Hi Amy: I am retired from Canada, and I am looking for a program to generate extra income.
Interested in email processing, but have read most are scams.
Can you steer me in the right direction as to what programs are legitimate and which you would recommend? (secretary before I retired)
Regards,
Lillian Sauve
Can anyone testify on their experience being a virtual assistant? Are your clients hard to work for in general? Are the hours ok? I don't want to rush in without an idea of what it's like
Love this .. so much great info and fantastic to see so many helping each other out. I have been working from home as somewhat of a VA for only a small number of hours after leaving my career to stay home with my kids. I am hoping to learn more about becoming a VA soon. I feel like I am unclear on the simple things like.. having actual work to do without having to meet with someone… if they have to type a message to me about what they want me to type… how am I of service to them? May seem silly..but can't help but wondering. Do VA's pay state and local taxes for the state they are in or any state their client is in? Any other tips people can share are greatly appreciated.
Hi Tricia, I highly recommend you get Lisa Morosky's book, The Bootstrap VA. I bought it and wrote about it here. Not only is the book itself extremely helpful, by purchasing the ebook, you also have access to her Facebook group where you can ask all sorts of questions from the other members.
Amy,
I was wondering if you had any info on websites set up for VAs that hire them instead of starting up your own? As a trial basis of course, I work full time but would love this as a side gig and don't have the time/effort to put in as my own business!
Thanks
Here are some sites I've heard mentioned (though I've never used them myself). I'm not sure what the process would be to work for them but here ya go: Zirtual Assistants and eaHelp.com. A google search would probably turn up some ideas too. Hope that helps!
Great blog post, thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much for all the advice Amy – I can't wait to get started on my own career…
Thanks so much Amy for sharing your tips and recommendation with us, I personally found this very helpful, thanks again
I've been wanting to start a VA business for so long. Just recently I started getting serious about it and now I feel completely overwhelmed! All of the sudden I'm hearing things like, "You've got to register a business name, get a permit, get a Fed Tax ID, find your DBA name, etc…" I don't even know where to start! I bought the Bootstrap VA book, but I couldn't really find in depth information on how to deal with these situations. I really wish there was a simple checklist like, "first do this, then do this…" I live in California, so I don't know if it's just our state that requires all this stuff or if I'm just not getting the right information. Help?
Hi Jessica, I hear what you're saying! It's hard to make a generalized checklist because the laws in every state are different. I would check out sba.gov and check out the link for local help.
Jessica, also, have you seen this post? I added a few links that might help get you started too.
Thank you Amy! The Blogging post info was actually very helpful. I'm going to check out these links and just go from there.
Hi,
Thanks for the tips that you have shared. It's very helpful. I think, I can apply this brilliant ideas of yours in expanding my business. And one thing, as a VA you must really establish a good relationship to your clients. Your way to success is through them, right? Keep posting..
Thanks for the post. I have been starting to look into becoming a virtual assistant and can't wait to start reading and learning more. I feel like it would be a great fit for me right now
It's important to remember that there are VAs out there that charge as little as $1.50 per hour (see oDesk). So, if you're an American virtual assistant, ensure that you differentiate yourself with your skills and American nationality.
I am wondering what sorts of things to put on a website to show your skills for being a virtual assistant? I have a blog, and could create a page, perhaps.
Hi Tazim, I would include all the things you do, your skills, past experience, etc. You might take a look at Lisa's own page about the services she offers. Hope that helps!