How Can I Be a Virtual Assistant?

Time & Money

Becoming a virtual assistant (VA) requires minimal upfront investment, making it an affordable side hustle or full-time career. You’ll need a computer, reliable internet connection, and any specialized tools depending on the services you offer, such as project management software or accounting tools. Initial costs are low, as you can start by offering basic administrative services and scale up as you gain experience.

Difficulty
6/10

Weekly Time Commitment
10-20 hours

Earnings Per Month
$1,000 - $5,000+

What Are The Skills Needed to Be a Virtual Assistant?

If you have found yourself asking the question, 'How can I be a virtual assistant?' the first thing to do is consider whether this is the right gig for you. You will need to take an honest look at yourself and consider whether you have the skills needed to be a virtual assistant, otherwise you are likely to struggle. Virtual assisting is a great fit for people who are organized, good communicators, and enjoy working independently. If you like handling administrative tasks and don’t mind learning new software and tools, this can be a rewarding career. However, it may not be ideal if you prefer a more structured, 9-to-5 office job or if you’re not comfortable with a significant amount of self-management. If you don't think you have these skills currently, you don't need to fret. You can pick these skills up with the right training, and like with most things, practice makes perfect.

Preparation: How Can I Be a Virtual Assistant?

So now you've ascertained that you have the right skill set, you can begin tackling the question of 'How can I be a virtual assistant?' First, establish which services you want to offer first, whether that's email management, scheduling, customer service or data entry. Online courses may be worthwhile if you plan on specialising in social media or bookkeeping. Next, prepare a professional resume and portfolio highlighting your experience and skills, even if these stem from another career field. Set up a reliable work environment and figure out which tools you will use to speed up your day-to-day operations.

Execution

Set Up Your Virtual Assistant Business

Get started with a business structure - whether as a freelancer or as a registered business. Get yourself a business name that fits your services - and start building a website so that you can showcase your portfolio. It can also be worthwhile to get yourself a professional email address and set up a business account on sites like LinkedIn to promote yourself. At this stage, you will have already considered whether you have the skills needed to be a virtual assistant, but it is a good time to think about any of your weakest areas, so that you can work on them. There are lots of free courses online as well as hundreds of hours of YouTube content which can help you brush up on your typing, email etiquette, and spreadsheet management skills.

Find Clients

When it comes to sourcing your first clients, you may want to join popular freelancing platforms such as Upwork and Fiverr, where clients are posting VA job vacancies. Potential clients can also be reached through social media and virtual events. Take the plunge and reach out to small businesses and entrepreneurs who might benefit from your services. Bear in mind that not all of these clients will realise they need help. You can even pinpoint struggling businesses and identify their needs before reaching out to them. This can really help you net clients as it demonstrates your business sense and your ability to be proactive.

Market Your Services

It is unfortunately a competitive world out there, and you will need to market yourself in order to get noticed. Offer up client testimonials and work samples, and create content highlighting your expertise on LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram. Start a blog or a YouTube channel to offer virtual assistance tips. This will help you build your authority and attract more clients.

Set Clear Boundaries and Pricing

When you begin, it’s important to set clear expectations with clients regarding your working hours, availability, and pricing. Set hourly rates based on your experience and the type of service you offer. Some VAs also opt for retainer packages, where clients pay for a set number of hours each month.

Bumps In The Road

Finding Clients

The biggest challenge with starting as a virtual assistant is finding clients. The first few clients may be tough to land but with persistence and networking you can overcome this hurdle. Try contacting friends, family, and professionals, and offering discounted service in exchange for testimonials.

Handling Multiple Clients

Once you've sourced some clients, managing their different tasks can quickly become overwhelming. However, you can mitigate this overwhelm by getting extremely organized. Use task management software & set realistic deadlines to avoid burnout. With experience, you will find systems that work for you and streamline your processes.

Dealing with Changing Expectations

One occupational hazard of being a VA is something referred to as scope creep. This is when a clients expectations change as the project progresses, and they come to have unrealistic expectations of what you should be doing for them. To avoid this, be really clear from the start, about what you can offer them. Agree on quantifiable deliverables and results, so that there is no confusion later on.

Final Thoughts

If you've read through this guide and you're still wondering, 'How can I be a virtual assistant?' the best thing you can do is just get started. There will always be a reason to put things off, but in reality, clients can't find your services if they aren't out there. So now is a better time than any to get yourself a profile on Upwork and Fiverr, and start delivering something great for your clients!