A virtual assistant is one of the most demanded careers in 2022 and is projected to continue in the coming decade. People choose to become virtual assistants because they can do it on their own time, in their own comfort of home from anywhere in the world.
Becoming a virtual assistant means that you are the backbone of businesses and entrepreneurs helping them get things done on a day-to-day basis. A unique part of this article is giving you tips to become a high-paying virtual assistant.
In this article, We will discuss:
1. Pick A Niche
Once you have decided that you want to become a Virtual Assistant, you need to decide, what will be your specialty. Most “VAs” Virtual Assistants do all busy work like helping businesses create graphics, manage posts on social media, put tracking on shipping for ecommerce, answer support tickets or calls or even mundane things that keep small businesses operational.
However, there are Virtual Assistants who make a lot of money if they pick one unique task and focus on growing their business by scaling to having multiple clients at the same time. For example, you could ONLY focus on Social Media or Maybe Book Keeping. These sorts of niche will allow you to focus on one path where you are seen an an expert.
2. Essential Skills
You will have your main skill that you are an expert at which could be photoshop, Excel or using a specific tool, however, if you want to succeed as a Virtual assistant, you need to make sure you cover these essential skills that you need no matter what kind of services you are offering.
- Communication: You need to be able to communicate clearly and consisely with your manager or business owner to make sure both parties understand what is expected out of you.
- Technical Skills: You need to know how to use basic technology like common tools like Canva, Social Media, Microsoft Products, Adobe Products etc
- Organization : You need to be able to organize the task properly so that you can scale your business.
- Time Management: VAs have families and kids. You don’t want to ruin your personal life for the sake of work, not worth it. So make sure you manage your time and speak with your spouse about what you are doing and what they can expect, so there is no misunderstanding.
3. Brand & Social Media
You want to stand out, so you will need to build a basic website using tools like WIX. You can create your logo at Canva and get a domain at Godaddy. ( or search godaddy domains, most likely, you will find .99 cents coupons from registrars)
Once you have your website, create your social media on FB, IG etc, so that you can use that to reach out to new customers via DM. You want to show your potential clients that you are serious about what you do. If you don’t have anything to show, no one is going to hire you.
4. Portfolio
Depending on your expertise, you will need some sort of portfolio. If you are a video editor, you will need video edited samples. If you are a illustrator, you will need samples of those.
If you have never had any clients, you can create sample works with fake brands and use them on your portfolio. No one has to know and everyone does that when they are starting out.
5. Testimonials
Testimonials help prospect choose you over other VAs. So, you need to fill your social media and website with testimonials. If you don’t have clients, ask few friends to help you create a video testimonials to start. Once you get clients, start by asking for a testimonial as soon as possible so that you can use that in future.
6. Finding Work
Finding VA work is not that difficult but most people expect to get clients overnight. You can find clients by consistently reaching out to businesses and applying for bids on Freelancing sites like Upwork, Freelancer.com or TopTal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is A Virtual Assistant?
A virtual assistant is an assistant who works remotely, usually online, to perform tasks and provide services to clients.
Virtual assistants are often used by small businesses and entrepreneurs who need help with administrative, marketing, or technical tasks but do not have the time or resources to hire a full-time employee. Virtual assistants can perform a wide variety of tasks, including customer service, data entry, appointment scheduling, and social media management.
What Does Virtual Assistant Do?
The best part about becoming a virtual assistant is that you can almost anything, but often a VA (Virtual Assistant) will do the “busy” work that businesses and entrepreneurs don’t have time for.
- Scheduling and Booking Appointments
- Cold Calling
- Data Entry
- Booking Travels
- Managing Emails
- Social Media Management
- Transcribing Audio/Video
- Proofreading/Editing Articles
- Creating Presentations
- Excel/ Google Sheets Work
- Research
- Podcast Editing
How Much Are Virtual Assistants Paid?
Virtual assistants are typically paid by the hour, with rates ranging from $15 to $75 per hour. Many times, they are also paid a fixed fee based on the project.
You will probably start out with a small hourly pay as you increase your experience, you will start getting paid more.
High Paying Virtual Assistant Jobs
While most of the work you do as a VA will be fairly average, there are some skills that you can learn to boost your income almost instantly.
- Cold Calling
You will make calls to prospects to get them to book a meeting or to promote a product. As you get better, you can demand a high-paying hourly fee and even a commission per sale! - LinkedIn Lead Generation
You will learn how to use LinkedIn Sales Navigator, find leads, and do research to find their contact information. You can get paid as much as $1 per lead. - Running PPC Ads
You will run ads on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Google, etc. You can learn these for free on the Facebook blueprint and Google’s Skillshot This is probably one of the highest paying task as a virtual assistant. Learning how to run ads takes time and little money that you will need to use to learn the task.
How To Become A Virtual Assistant?
Becoming a Virtual Assistant might feel overwhelming but it’s a rewarding career for those who can get through the initial “boring part”. Here are the steps to becoming a virtual assistant.
- Learn The Skill
Before you start, you will need to decide what services do you want to provide and learn how to do those tasks decently. You do not have to wait till you are perfect, you should know how to figure out how to do the by doing research.
Initially, start by finding free videos on sites like YouTube or Udemy about the specific skill that you are trying to gain. Remember, it’s best to have multiple skills and keep learning as you earn money as a virtual assistant. - Profile On Marketplace
Once you have trained, you will need to create a profile on sites like Upwork, Toptal, Freelancer.com Make sure to explain clearly what you offer and your dedication to the work. As you get some projects done, add those on your portfolio. - Apply At Jobs
Next, you will need to search for jobs and tasks on those sites. Use keywords like “Virtual Assistant” to find jobs. Make sure to only apply for jobs that have Payment verified and you can even go to extent to only working with people who have spent money on the platform to make sure that they are not going to waste your time.
When you reach out to them, make sure to read the job posting. A lot of VA simply send out canned cover letter to as many people as they can try to fish for a job but you will not stand out that way. You need to start out your cover letter with something unique to get their attention then tell them what you can do for them and end the message with asking for a call or conversation.
For example: yay! you read this! Hey! Bob here from [X], I would love to help you with your [x] and i can help you by fixing [x,y,z] and this would help with this [x]. I have helped other clients just like yourself. Can we get on a quick call to discuss more? - Keep Clients
Getting clients is one thing. Keeping clients is another task. To keep a client for a long time, you will need to deliver results or at least improve a little bit each month. Try to have an honest conversation with your client about their expectation and what you will do to get there. - Try to add “Recurring Aspect To It”
As you earn income as a VA, you will need to spend time doing task but try to enroll your clients into some sort of recurring aspect like, ” i will write 5 articles each month for $250 per month” or ” Social Media Management for a recurring fee.
Becoming a virtual assistant is a lucrative choice because it will always be on demand and you can earn a consistent income. You will need to keep up to date with your skills and try to learn new things often so you don’t get left behind.