11. Virtual Assistant

A Virtual Assistant is an invaluable asset to any business or company. It’s just like having a Personal
Assistant, but one that works from home normally for one or even a number of clients.
Companies benefit as they obtain the help to run their business without the cost and risk of employing
someone full-time. You benefit from being able to work from home and choosing the hours that suit
you.
What Skills Do I Need?
You need to be organized, good at researching, have good computer skills, be able to communicate
effectively and have an excellent telephone manner.
By working as a virtual assistant, you could be asked to do a number of things, some involving
general administrative duties such as letter writing, organizing meetings, writing up reports or even
researching other companies!
These may be asked of you when becoming a Virtual Assistant:
● Can you promote using Social Media such as through Twitter or Facebook?
● Do you have the skills to create web designs or create email promotions?
● Can you write a press release and/or articles for the company?
● Do research through the internet or even in printed form?
● Manage customer service, perhaps dealing with orders, complaints or follow up calls to
customers?
● Coordinate travel plans with a number of staff using different forms of transport? Arrange visa's if
required?
● Help plan an event from the booking of a venue, organizing catering, decorating and so on?
● Answer letters and e-mails promptly in a timely fashion?
● Do transcription of speech into text?
● Create a database using the appropriate software?
in order for you to become a virtual assistant, here are some steps you can take:
● Look out for virtual assistant openings on freelancing sites such as Freelancer.com, Guru.com,
Upwork.com, etc.
● Start applying for those jobs, make sure your applications are detailed and you include any
appropriate skills and experiences that you have.
● Advertise yourself on social networks, amongst friends, previous work colleagues or business
contacts.
● Sign up to an agency – there are many on line companies such as Time ETC which is the largest UK
VA agency.
What You Need To Consider Before You Start Apply For VA Positions:
● Categorize your skills and experiences. Consider any large projects you have handled and break
them down in order that you can add this as experience in your applications. Consider what skills
you can offer such as event management, handling customer service, handling telephone calls and
so on.
● Consider your work space for running as a VA, the basic requirements may include a spare room,
or a desk in a quiet room, a phone, good reliable internet access and an up to date computer with
web cam access, appropriate software programs and of course the time during the day {or night!}
that you can offer as a VA.
● Consider whether you may need any additional training, perhaps in web design or particular
software packages such as spreadsheets or databases.
● Identify your target market, for example you may have a medical background and you can focus
on doctors or medical companies.
● Register with LinkedIn to create an online presence.
● Create your own website – remembering that it is possible to build and run a website for little or
no cost through free website services.
● Sign up to an agency that offers support to VA’s around the globe such as Society of Virtual
Assistants.
● Join one of the many Facebook groups for Virtual assistants. Virtual Assistants Savvies is a great
group to share experiences and knowledge on this kind of work
How much can I make from being a virtual assistant?
You can make anywhere between $3 to upwards of $100 per hour depending on your ability, skills and
experience.
Your pay rate will depend on training and the skills that you can offer to your clients.
Continue to look at training to further develop your skills and therefore increasing your pay rate.
Obviously the more skills you have the more money that can be earned.
So if you have the skills and experience, time to spare and an appropriate place to work you can launch
as a virtual assistant. Remember to keep a diary of the work you have completed, look for
opportunities to develop and gain new skills and the sky’s the limit!