What Is A Virtual Assistant?

The term “Virtual Assistant” itself describes its definition as a helper who assists remotely. The benefits this profession brings make it one of the fastest-growing careers for individuals today. Alone in the US, they predict 50% of workers will be hired virtually by 2028.

Doesn’t all of these seem like a lucrative position to jump into? The concept of a ‘workplace’ has significantly transformed, giving rise to the virtual assistant (VA). This is a role that represents flexibility, efficiency, and creativity.

However, the virtual assistant profession is a win-win situation for both the employer and the virtual employee. These remote individuals can earn $20 per hour sitting at home, and the companies can remove the burden of extra work and focus on generating more revenue.

So, today, we will be discussing the ins and outs of the tempting profession of a virtual assistant career.

What Is A Virtual Assistant?

A virtual assistant is a remote freelancer or worker who supports business administrative tasks or manages a wide range of tasks according to business needs. Virtual helpers typically work from their location, more like a home office. They communicate with potential clients via email, phone calls, or online collaboration tools.

One significant benefit of VAs, they work independently and enjoy flexible work hours. Or we can say, they are self-employed. They can earn whenever they want and also enjoy a great work-life balance. Because of this, this profession seems more tempting for most of the employees today.

What Exactly Does A Virtual Assistant Do?

Imagine a day in the life of a VA: it starts with organising the inbox of a busy entrepreneur, followed by scheduling appointments, email management, updating a website, creating a newsletter, and wrapping up with a social media marketing strategy session.

The capabilities of a virtual assistant depend on the type of virtual assistant you hire. There are different categories of virtual assistants, and each one specializes in a particular niche. For example, a YouTube virtual assistant may have a different skill set than a Wix virtual assistant and may not be able to perform all the tasks that the latter can.

However, each virtual assistant’s responsibility varies according to business-specific requirements. Some day tasks that a dedicated assistant does are: 

• Administrative tasks such as managing emails, scheduling appointments, and organizing calendars.
• Handle customer inquiries and provide customer support to potential leads.
• Research various topics.
• Manage social media accounts and schedule posts.
• Data entry and organization.
• Create and edit documents, presentations, and spreadsheets.
• Make travel arrangements and bookings.
• Provide transcription services.
• Manage and update databases.
• Handle billing and invoicing tasks.
• Assist with project management and coordination.
• Perform basic website maintenance and updates.
• Handle Business Calls, Do Cold calling.
• Conduct personal tasks such as booking appointments and making reservations.

How Does A Virtual Assistant Work?

Technology is the lifeline of a VA. With tools like Slack for communication, Asana for project management & calendar management, and Zoom for meetings, VAs can seamlessly integrate into a team’s workflow. As a result, VAs can work with clients across the globe, adapting to different time zones and work cultures.

Moreover, a virtual assistant has the privilege to select whether they want to work on a full-time, part-time, or freelance basis. They are self-employed administrative assistant, also known as freelancers. This depends on how comfortable they are.

From my personal experience of being a full-time on-site employee for years, I never had the privilege to select my own working hours. But now this life-long dream has come true, where I am pretty sure a lot of newbies are magnifying toward this section, more because of how a VA can work.

What Qualifies You to Be A Virtual Assistant?

Knowing what a virtual assistant is and how flexible their life is, this profession becomes irresistible to you, right? You might dream of earning money while enjoying the comfort of your home. But what qualifies you to be a virtual assistant is your concern now.

There are no strict educational requirements for being a virtual assistant. However, some companies might want a higher educational background. But as long as you have the necessary virtual assistant skills, do not worry about the certificates.

Here are a bunch of hard and soft skill sets that are needed to qualify as a VA:

Hard Skills:

1. Proficiency in using computers, project management tool, the internet, and various software applications.
2. Typing speed and accuracy for efficient data entry and document creation.
3. Basic knowledge of website management platforms and content management systems (CMS) for website maintenance tasks.
4. Familiarity with social media management.
5. Understand basic accounting principles for bookkeeping.
6. The Basic Idea of Email management & Email marketing
7. Technical skills related to specific tasks or industries (e.g., graphic design software, programming languages, digital marketing tools).

Soft Skills:

1. Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, for effective interaction with clients and colleagues.
2. Strong organizational skills to manage tasks, schedules, and priorities efficiently.
3. Attention to detail and accuracy in completing tasks to ensure high-quality work.
4. Time management skills to prioritize tasks effectively and meet deadlines.
5. Adaptability to work with different clients, industries, and tasks.
6. Problem-solving skills.
7. Ability to work independently.
8. Active listening skills are essential for providing excellent customer service and support.
9. Flexibility and willingness to learn new skills.

How Do You Become a Virtual Assistant?

Becoming a VA is more of an adventure than a straightforward path. It begins with a self-assessment of skills and passions, followed by a deep dive into learning tools and technologies that are in market demand. 

To help you start your journey I have highlighted some easy steps you can start with.

• Identify your skills: Start by identifying your core skills and what you can offer businesses or companies. You can learn new skills as per the requirements.
• Define the type of VA: There are a lot of VA types, such as YouTube virtual assistant, Airbnb virtual assistant, general virtual assistant, and many more. Search to learn the types and decide which field you are interested in.
• Build a portfolio: The better you can portray your skills, previous experience, and services in your portfolio, the greater your chance of getting a job faster in the hiring process. 
• Expand your network: There are a lot of marketplaces, such as LinkedIn, Fiverr, Indeed, and many more. Connect with your people there, share your thoughts, and expand your network. Spend your valuable time on this platform to get more success in your virtual assistant career.
• Market yourself: To survive in the 20th century, marketing yourself is the only way that can get you success. Share your services on different social media platforms to grab more people’s attention.
• Search for jobs: Now that you are all set, you can search for jobs. Find out about marketplaces and see the requirements that align with your needs.

How difficult is it to work as a virtual assistant?

The life of a VA, while flexible, is not without its challenges. First of all, a virtual assistant has to be self-motivated. If you cannot push yourself to complete your tasks and do better, it is not for you. This is the exact problem that many remote employees face.

Also, a VA can handle a wide range of tasks wide range. There can sometimes be tight deadlines and schedules. Or that sometimes you may need frequent interaction with other workers. Since VAs work remotely, this can be a barrier for them.

Benefits of a Virtual Assistant

Virtual assistants are the best option for small business owners or clients. Companies can hire remote helpers during their peak seasons for a short or long time. Clients can hire a virtual assistant for fixed hours and pay only for those hours. It can also be on a contractual basis. This reduces the extra cost and effort that would be required when hiring an on-site employee.

Statistics show that a remote worker can reduce costs by 78%.

This also enables business owners to focus more on other core tasks. They can be more attentive to their companies’ development and generate more revenue. They can free up their valuable hours by hiring a VA only.

How can I find clients as a virtual assistant?

Finding clients as a newbie can be tricky sometimes. It takes a lot of patience and trust in your skills. Also, you have to be consistent with your offerings. Over time, sometimes lately, or quickly but surely, you can hunt ideal clients. Try these techniques for getting your first, then continuous, clients.

• Build a strong online presence.
• Offer free or low-cost service at the very beginning.
• Provide valuable content and educate the audience.
• Check job boards and career websites.
• Reach out directly to clients that are cold-contacted.
• Ask for referrals.
• Attend industry events and job fairs.

How Much Does A Virtual Assistant Make?

According to Zip Recruiter, a job search website, virtual assistants can earn different salaries based on their experience and area of expertise.

On average, virtual assistants can earn anywhere from $15 to $60 per hour. Highly skilled or specialized virtual assistants may charge even higher rates. It can range from $75 to $150 or more per hour. Calculating the handsome figure, annually, these remote helpers may earn up to $65,000.

Interestingly, there are further opportunities for earning bonuses or incentives. But you have to make sure of full client satisfaction, project completion on time, and complete dedication.

Tip: The best way to boost your earnings is to build a loyal customer base and focus on specific services within a particular industry you are interested in.

Here is a rough VA income estimate that can give you a better idea of your potential incomes.

Hourly Rate Range	Low End: $15/hourHigh End: $60/hour
Weekly Earnings	Low End: $15/hour * 40 hours = $600High End: $60/hour * 40 hours = $2,400
Monthly earnings (assuming 4 weeks per month)	Low End: $600 * 4 = $2,400High End: $2,400 * 4 = $9,600
Yearly earnings (52 weeks per year)	Low End: $600 * 52 = $31,200High End: $2,400 * 52 = $124,800

Verdict

A virtual assistant is a remote helper for businesses, as they take on most of the burden and help with a wide range of tasks. The responsibilities of a VA can vary depending on their client’s specific needs. Since businesses can pay only for specific tasks, VAs are in high demand nowadays.

In my opinion, if you are frustrated enough with your traditional on-site job or about to start your career, VA is a profession you must give thought to. This is also a lucrative job, as you can work wherever and whenever you want. Also, it is not mandatory to have a higher educational certificate. By possessing a bunch of hard and soft skills, you can start your VA journey.

But on this journey, you have to be consistent and motivate yourself to do better. Otherwise, it would be quite difficult for you to withstand the huge competition of a virtual assistant job.