How to Become a Virtual Assistant: The Ultimate Guide (2023)

A virtual assistant job is a great way to have a remote job and could be a stepping stone to starting your own virtual assistant company

Are you looking for a way to work from home? Do you have administrative skills and a passion for helping others? If so, becoming a virtual assistant may be your perfect career.

Becoming a virtual assistant is one of the best ways to make money online and to make money from home.

If you don’t have any skills and are looking for a job that you can do as a beginner, becoming a virtual assistant is a great job for you. With a little hard work and learning some basic skills, you can become an accomplished virtual assistant in no time.

Task Virtual can help help you find virtual assistant jobs.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about how to become a virtual assistant. We’ll discuss what virtual assistants do, their services, how to become a freelance VA, and where to find work. So whether you’re just starting or are already working as a VA, this guide has something for everyone.

Let’s get started!

What Is a Virtual Assistant?

A virtual assistant (VA) is a professional who provides administrative, creative, or technical support to clients from a remote location. VAs are self-employed and work remotely, often from home. They are sometimes called virtual office assistants, online assistants, or telecommuters.

Balancing Your Virtual Assistant Business and Client Work

Virtual assistants aim to assist in managing and growing small businesses and can be very helpful in this area. It’s very rewarding to help people create visions and achieve goals.

One thing virtual assistants can do easily is to start their own freelance virtual assistant company. Keep in mind that your job is to build your own enterprise. It will surely help you set expectations and set the best business plan for you. When one doesn’t have enough of a business, one will most likely struggle to grow it and get better.

Once you start your company and grow it, you’ll be able to hire virtual assistants yourself!

People Per Hour can help you find freelance VA jobs.

How Much Do Virtual Assistants Make?

The virtual assistant’s salary varies widely according to many factors.

You could earn anywhere from $25 to $50 an hour, depending on skill levels. Getting clients is often tricky. It is important that we remember this when starting our professional careers.

If you start your own business being a virtual assistant, you can charge rates based on your virtual assistant skills and how many potential clients you have. Many virtual assistants start with a few clients and charge more as they get better at their job.

What Does a Virtual Assistant Do?

Virtual assistants typically provide a variety of services to their clients, including but not limited to:

Social Media Management

If you’re a social media butterfly, there’s good news: your skills are in high demand. More and more business owners are recognizing the importance of having a presence on social media, but they don’t have the time to keep up with it all. That’s where virtual assistants come in.

As a social media virtual assistant, you would be responsible for creating content consistent with your company’s content marketing plan, engaging with followers, and generally keeping things updated and fresh. It’s a fast-paced job that requires staying up-to-date with the latest trends, but it can be a lot of fun if you’re interested in social media. Plus, you get to flex your creative muscles with copywriting and design.

So, if you’re looking for a job in social media, a virtual assistant job might be the perfect fit.

E-commerce Assistance

Running an eCommerce store can be challenging, especially for small and mid-size businesses.

Business owners have an endless list of tasks to manage every day, from fulfilling orders and tracking inventory to responding to customer inquiries and updating the website.

This is where a virtual assistant comes in to help.

Virtual assistants can take on various tasks, from managing customer service to tracking orders and dealing with returns. They can also help with marketing and website maintenance.

If you’re good at dealing with customers and numbers, consider becoming a virtual assistant to someone who runs an eCommerce store to help lighten their load.

Blogging Support

If you have always wanted to start your own blog but don’t know where to start, becoming a virtual assistant for a more successful blogger is a great way to learn the ropes while earning some extra money.

You’ll get an inside look into how successful bloggers operate their blogs, and you can help them with more administrative tasks.

Some of the tasks you might find yourself doing are:

Writing, editing, and proofreading blog posts
Moderating comments on the blog
Creating graphics for blog posts or social media platforms like Pinterest
Improving SEO
Removing broken links
Adding affiliate links
Managing readers’ emails
Scheduling social media posts

Being a virtual assistant is a great way to learn about blogging while getting paid, so if you’re interested in giving it a shot, definitely look into it.

Content Production

Are you a creative type who loves producing content? If so, you could start a virtual assistant (VA) business specializing in content production.

Creating content is very time-consuming, and most businesses don’t have the time to dedicate to this task. They will look to outsource these tasks to VAs.

As a content production creator, you can offer your services to help with:

Writing blog posts
Researching content ideas
Creating graphics
Sourcing photos
Taking product pictures
Editing pictures
Creating videos

Getting a job as a virtual assistant focused on content production is a great way to use your creativity and talents to help businesses. It’s also a great platform to start running your own VA business.

General Administration Tasks

Becoming a virtual assistant specializing in general administrative tasks is a great way to start your virtual assistant career.

You can do many tasks as a general admin VA, including

Managing calendars and schedules
Data entry
Setting up spreadsheets
Booking appointments
making travel arrangements
File management
Almost every task a general office assistant on-site would do.

As a virtual assistant, you can market yourself to small business owners that need help with these essential tasks. Virtual assistants are crucial to most businesses, and general administrative support is a straightforward way to get started in this field.

So if you have previous experience in an office job, becoming a virtual assistant specializing in general administrative tasks is the perfect next step.

Financial Help

If you’re looking for a virtual assistant job that’s both lucrative and relatively easy to do, then you should consider offering finance and bookkeeping services.

Payroll
Payments processing
Bookkeeping
Invoice creation

These tasks require attention to detail and good organization skills, but they’re not overly complicated.

Plus, if you have any previous experience in finance or bookkeeping, you’ll be able to hit the ground running and start earning money right away.

So if you’re looking for a profitable and manageable virtual assistant niche, finance and bookkeeping are worth considering.

Digital Marketing

There are many ways to get a job as a virtual assistant, but specializing in digital marketing can give you a real leg up.

Start by scouring job boards and classifieds for virtual assistant openings that mention digital marketing specifically. Or, if you have a background in marketing, reach out to companies directly and inquire about freelance or contract work.

Once you’ve built a strong portfolio, you can start your own virtual assistant business and market your services to small businesses and entrepreneurs. With hard work and dedication, you can soon be an expert virtual assistant helping clients with all their digital marketing needs.

Other Virtual Assistant Specialties

Search engine optimization
Consulting
Website development
Coaching
Data analysis
Customer service
Lead generation
Product management

Belay can help you become a virtual assistant.

How To Become a Virtual Assistant

Now that you know how everything there is to know about being a virtual assistant, here are the six steps to becoming a freelance virtual assistant.

Identify the Type of Virtual Assistant Jobs You Want

From the list above, choose which kind of virtual assistant job you want to specialize in.

Many virtual assistant jobs are available, from administrative tasks to customer service. As a result, it’s essential to determine which type of virtual assistant you wish to become.

Do you have experience with bookkeeping?
Are you a whiz at scheduling appointments?
Or maybe you’re a great listener and want to provide customer service.

Once you know what virtual assistant job you want, you can search for positions.

You can also use this information to help you organize the prerequisites for virtual work, such as creating a work schedule or setting up a home office.

Knowing which type of virtual assistant you wish to become is essential before starting your job search, and it can also help make your virtual work experience more enjoyable.

Take Some Courses

A great way to get ahead to be a virtual assistant is by taking a physical course to help you gain a virtual assistant certification. Some colleges offer short courses on virtual assistance with certificates at the end of the programmes.

These programmes can be helpful if you’re seeking a virtual assistant job, as employers often seek candidates with certification. However, check if the national licensing board has reviewed the course and if the syllabus meets your needs.

If you’re looking for a more self-paced option, another method is studying from books. You could visit your local library to borrow books or shop online for books or free E-books that will help you gain the knowledge you need for a virtual assistant job.

No matter your route, ensure you acquire the skills and knowledge necessary for the virtual assistant job you’re hoping to obtain.

Get Any Licenses or Certifications You Might Need

Anyone can become a virtual assistant, but some assistant jobs and employers require you to be licensed.

For example, suppose you plan on becoming a virtual assistant in real estate. In that case, you might need a license from the local, provincial, or national licensing board after studying for the same in an accredited school.

In addition, virtual medical assistants may require medical licensing. The licensing requirements vary according to the field you wish to work in and your chosen career path.

So if you’re interested in becoming a virtual assistant, research the licensing requirements for your chosen field. You might also consider virtual assistant training from an online course. You’ll be well on your way to a successful virtual assistant career with the proper license and proper training.

Gain the Required Skills

While some virtual assistant jobs will require specific skills, there are some skills that all virtual assistants are required to have to be the best they can be. Here are the skills all virtual assistant jobs need:

Cold Calling

You’ll need to know how to get people on the phone for the person you work for. Cold calling is part of many office jobs and should be a skill you possess. You’ll most likely be reading from a script, but you must learn how to handle rejection well.

Word Processing

You’ll need to be able to type well and know how to do data entry.

Oral Communication

Virtual assistants are constantly in communication with many different people. You will have to know how to talk to people pleasantly and positively and diffuse any issues with customers.

Computer Skills

In addition to word processing skills, you’ll need at least basic skills with navigating the internet and using spreadsheets, among others.

Time Management

One of the essential skills needed by a virtual assistant is time management. Your employers are constantly busy (why else would they need a virtual assistant!), so you need to be able to schedule your time to fit their needs. Punctuality for meetings and deadlines is also good to have.

Email Communication

Virtual assistants need to be able to write emails correctly, manage incoming emails, and even write a newsletter or promotional material.

Social Media Marketing

Almost every business has a social media presence, so knowing how to write and post social media posts is necessary. Knowledge of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and more is a requisite for virtual assistants today. Knowing how to write social media ads and how ad platforms work is a bonus.

File Management and Maintenance

Companies usually have a filing system that other people can use. Quickly acclimating to your new company’s filing system will be a great help to your employer. Virtual assistants will need to be able to find documents quickly and ensure they’re in the right place. You will also want a basic understanding of programs like Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox.

FreeUp can help you find freelance VA jobs.

Find Virtual Assistant Jobs

Now that you know what virtual assistant services you want to offer and have acquired the necessary skills and knowledge, it’s time to make a plan about how to find virtual assistant jobs.

You can search online using job websites such as Indeed. To narrow down your search, use advanced job searches. You can also network during seminars and events. Explore networking to help you land a job or hear of a job opening. When you introduce yourself as a virtual assistant, you increase your chances of landing an interview.

Another way to look for jobs is to talk to family and friends. Family members may know of companies recruiting or have connections to employers.

You can also try a recruitment agency. Recruitment agencies may have information concerning job offers.

Finally, you can attend career fairs. Career fairs may lead to you finding out about a job opening.

Apply For Jobs

As anyone looking for a job knows, the process can be daunting. There are so many options, and it can be hard to know where to start. Thankfully, it is possible to find the perfect job for you with a little effort.

The first step is to search for jobs that fit your skills and interests. Once you have found a few possibilities, take the time to read through the job descriptions carefully. This will help you to identify which positions are the best match for your qualifications.

After you have found a few jobs that you are interested in, the next step is to send in your resume. Be sure to customize your resume for each position, using the keywords from the job description to highlight your relevant skills and experience.

You can increase your chances of landing the perfect job with little effort. Good luck!

Websites To Check Out To Find a Virtual Assistant Job

To help start your virtual assistant job search, here are a bunch of websites you can check out.

Wrap Up

Becoming a virtual assistant is a great way to start working from home. With so many businesses moving online, there is a growing demand for virtual assistants.

To become a virtual assistant, you must have strong communication and organizational skills. You should also be proficient in email and social media marketing.

Additionally, having experience with file management and general administration tasks is helpful. Once you have acquired the necessary skills, you can search for jobs using job websites or networking with family and friends.

When applying for jobs, customize your resume for each position. With a little bit of effort, you can land the perfect job as a virtual assistant.

And if, after reading this post on how to become a virtual assistant, you decide you don’t want to be one, there are many other online business ideas you can try. Or you can check out some more great small business ideas as well. Whatever you decide to do, there are many resources for you to get the perfect job you want!