Discover expert tips on getting started as a freelance virtual assistant.
If you’re looking to start a career as a freelance virtual assistant, you’ve come to the right place! Virtual assistants are in high-demand and opportunities are plentiful across many specialties and skills. In fact, a recent market report by Technavio stated that the global Virtual Assistant market share is expected to increase by 4.12 billion by 2025. So, now is the perfect time to get started! In this article, we will dive into what a freelance virtual assistant is, the opportunities that are available, and skillsets that would thrive in this role.
Let’s start with the basics. A freelance virtual assistant is a professional who provides administrative, creative, or technical support to clients remotely. Virtual assistants are often self-employed and operate as independent contractors, however, they can also be employed by a company. VAs typically fall into 3 main categories: generalists, specialists, and executive assistants. From administrative skills to niches such as marketing or bookkeeping, there are a variety of services VAs can offer that align with their skills, experience, and passions.
There are plenty of jobs that VAs can do. If a business has a need for the skill or service, then the opportunity is there. Some common examples include managing email and calendars, making travel arrangements, preparing reports and presentations, managing business processes, editing articles, providing customer service, managing social media accounts, invoice and payment management and beyond. Virtually any task that can be done remotely can be performed by a skilled VA.
There are also many industries where virtual assistant skills are necessary and in high demand such as tech and legal, marketing, accounting, real estate, and beyond. If you’re looking to breaking to VA work, the opportunity is there.
Although skillsets vary across VA categories and roles, there are a few skills that every virtual assistant should master.
We’ve listed a few of the top ones below:
When it comes to freelancing, it's necessary to understand what your clients need and how to best serve them. To be successful at that, you need to have a structure in place. Without a strong foundation BEFORE you bring on clients, you may find yourself struggling to deliver on your promised value. So, in the best interest of your business and future clients, invest in yourself first.
As mentioned above, a strong foundation is one key component of a successful business. Freelancers are business owners. Whether operating as a solopreneur or working with others, it’s important to ask yourself a few questions when getting started. Questions can include:
There are 4 core steps to take to set up a successful freelance business: (1) define your service offerings, (2) cultivate your client base, (3) build your credibility, and (4) establish a price point.
Read about each of these steps more in-depth in our blog: 4 Essential Steps for Getting Started as a Freelancer.
Breaking into freelancing can be a creative process, and it will likely be an iterative one. However, loving what you do, receiving a fair value for your work, and seeing every client interaction as a step to expanding your brand and business will make every step of the journey more enjoyable and productive. When you feel this way, it shows, and clients will respond.
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