How To Become A Virtual Assistant: A Step-by-Step Guide

A virtual assistant can be a great career option for individuals who want to work from home. Professionals with knowledge of social media and great time management skills can earn an impressive wage as virtual assistants. Understanding the skills and duties of a virtual assistant can help you decide if this is the right career option for you. In this article, we learn how to become a virtual assistant, review their day-to-day responsibilities and find how much a virtual assistant can earn.

How to become a virtual assistant

Here are some steps that can help you understand how to become a virtual assistant:

1. Complete your education

Many candidates start applying for virtual assistants job roles after completing their higher secondary education. Some companies prefer hiring virtual assistants with a bachelor's degree. You can pursue a degree relevant to the services you can offer like marketing, business administration or communication. Virtual assistants can also gain the following certifications:

• Certified virtual assistant

• Google ads certification

• Microsoft office specialist

Read more: What Is A Virtual Assistant? (Definition, Responsibilities And Skills)

2. Develop skills

Aim at the services you are willing to offer and look for the best available resources to master them. Offering your services virtually may require knowledge and the use of certain software. There are many online courses and training opportunities available that can help you learn skills at a faster pace.

Having a good understanding of technical skills can help you complete the tasks in a much more efficient way. Candidates can also work on their written and verbal communication skills. Virtual assistants can use their skills to assist their clients and lessen their stress by organising their work lives.

3. Decide the services you can offer

Decide the services you can offer to your employers or clients. This can help you to build a perfect resume before you start networking and looking for potential clients. Virtual assistants can also change or add some new services to their portfolio.

Many clients prefer hiring a specialist over a general virtual assistant. Focusing on a few services can allow you to find key benefits which you can offer and make you an expert on that particular service. Here are some of the popular services that virtual assistants offer:

• Copywriting and web designing

• Shopping management for e-commerce companies

• Bookkeeping

• Managing social media

4. Develop your portfolio

Having a well-developed portfolio can benefit you as a virtual assistant. A website can allow you to showcase your services in a detailed way, along with the pricing and packages you are offering. Social media can also be a great way to market your business and search for potential clients.

Social media may serve as a free tool to connect with new people and build a client base for your future projects. Join virtual assistant groups on social media and get connected with new people. This can help you in getting answers to your confusion about the job roles and career guidance.

Read more: How To Make Money Typing From Home: A Complete Guide

5. Search for jobs

Finding suitable job roles can become easier with patience and practice. Candidates can search for potential clients on several freelancing platforms. You can also post your portfolio on your social media platforms or publish your services on your websites. Try reaching out to individual businesses or groups that provide services to the companies.

There are various websites that work as a bridge between clients and freelancers. Create your profile and add the services you are offering with the pricing. You can search for open jobs on an online marketplace or you can do direct research on companies and reach out to them. Virtual assistants can post their service listings on freelancing websites and clients can find them depending on their requirements.

6. Establish your personal brand

Develop a strategic plan to sell your services and establish your personal brand. Attracting potential clients to your website can help you in growing your virtual assistant business. Getting discovered in Google can also help you become a virtual assistant. You can use different strategies such as SEO and create an effective portfolio around specific keywords.

Before posting your portfolio on social media and websites, make sure it has a professional tone. Avoid spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. Here are some helpful tips for establishing a personal brand:

• Identify your niche.

• Keep learning new things relevant to the niche.

• Learn how to use SEO and SMM.

• Advertise your services.

• Contact fellow professionals and learn relevant skills and qualities.

What does a virtual assistant do?

Virtual assistants provide assistance to their clients or employers in many ways. Their day-to-day job involves transcribing documents, answering calls, making travel arrangements, organising files, making schedules and taking charge of administrative tasks. Virtual assistants may provide support to individuals, groups or businesses. Many virtual assistants work with a flexible schedule. Some virtual assistants may also work as personal, executive or administrative assistants. Here are some other duties and responsibilities of a virtual assistant:

• Managing schedules and calendars.

• Arranging travel plans.

• Managing bills and account activities.

• Keeping records and maintaining daily entries.

• Monitoring and filtering emails.

• Handling client's social media channels.

• Updating company's websites.

• Planning events.

• Editing and proofreading documents.

• Screening potential customers and clients.

• Email marketing.

• Answering and making phone calls.

• Providing customer support and processing orders.

• Preparing reports, letters and statements.

• Organising files, documents and spreadsheets.

• Researching content and keywords.

• Generating sales leads.

• Screening potential clients and projects.

Read more: The Best Online Jobs For Students (With Salaries And Duties)

Skills to become a virtual assistant

Here are some essential skills to become a virtual assistant:

Communication skills

Great verbal and written skills can help virtual assistants effectively communicate to clients and other professionals. Virtual assistants use phone calls, video calls, emails and messaging platforms to convey their messages to their team. The ability to write and speak fluently can help them get positive feedback.

Organisation skills

Virtual assistants may manage and oversee different activities as their daily responsibilities. Organisation skills can help them stay on schedule. Many companies hire virtual assistants for managing appointments, emails, client details, passwords, holiday timelines and other necessary items. Virtual assistants use organisation skills to accomplish these tasks and keep everything in place. It can help them track any changes in the work schedule.

Accounting skills

Many virtual assistants work as freelancers and require a basic knowledge of accounting. It can be helpful in identifying more profitable projects and clients. With accounting skills, virtual assistants can understand income statements and balance sheets.

Read more: What Does Freelance Mean? Definition, Tips And Popular Jobs

Computer proficiency

The job of virtual assistants may require great typing and other technical skills. A basic understanding of computers can make online communication possible for virtual assistants. Many companies demand fast results from virtual assistants. Learning to type quickly with accuracy so that you can accomplish the tasks assigned to you.

Virtual assistants can use different software and tools to improve their typing skills. They may also use a wide range of computer program to perform their daily tasks. Learn how to manage email, cloud-based communication like file sharing and teleconferencing. Virtual assistants can also gain proficiency in creating files, documents and spreadsheets.

Time management

Learn how to effectively manage your time as virtual assistants can also work with multiple clients and schedules. You can use online calendars for prioritising tasks on the basis of their importance. Time management skills can make multitasking more efficient. Many virtual assistants schedule meetings at a time when they have less pressure.

Creativity

Many companies hire virtual assistants with knowledge of social media branding and lead generation. Creativity can help virtual assistants bring ideas for new initiatives. From ad creation to content writing, creativity can help virtual assistants in different areas.

What is the salary of virtual assistants?

The average salary of a virtual assistant is ₹18,887 per month. Virtual assistants can increase their salaries by improving their skills and specialising in niche services. The salary of virtual assistants may vary depending on the type of organisation and their experience level. Virtual assistants in different locations can have different salaries. For example, the average salary of virtual assistants in Ahmedabad is ₹28,594 per month while the average salary of a virtual assistant in Kolkata is ₹17,962 per month.

Salary figures reflect data listed on Indeed Salaries at time of writing. Salaries may vary depending on the hiring organisation and a candidate's experience, academic background and location.

Please note that none of the companies, institutions or organisations mentioned i. n this article are associated with Indeed