July 3, 2013
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Virtual assistants come from a variety of industries and backgrounds, offering various services and expertise. If I had to provide a definition, I would say that virtual assistants (also called VAs) are highly skilled professionals who use remote technology to perform administrative, creative and technical services on a contract basis from a home office. They work alone or as part of a team to help small business owners and independent professionals grow their business.

They support busy professionals by performing important, but nonetheless non core business tasks. Virtual assistants are not located physically in the same office, but technology allows him or her to perform basically any function that doesn't allow a physical presence, as if they were sitting in the same room.

The arrangement allows small business managers and solopreneurs to work with professionals with strong administrative, creative and technical skills on a retainer or on an as needed basis.

This article will show you what a virtual assistant is and give you some ideas on how to get started in this industry. Being a virtual assistant requires skills that will enable you to help your clients reach their sales and marketing goals.

If you’ve worked as a secretary, administrative assistant you likely have the skills needed to get started as a virtual assistant. 

Virtual assistants do everything from scheduling appointments to conducting research. Some positions focus solely on administrative tasks like maintaining calendars and schedules and invoicing clients while others require experience in copywriting and social media management. 

Some of the Tasks a Virtual Assistant Might Perform:

  • Turn unorganized information (notes, interviews, lists, photos, diagrams, etc.) into clear and concise documents.
  • Draft and edit customer correspondence in paper and email format
  • Create and update event programs and presentations
  • Design and update brochures, sell sheets, event management, email marketing
  • Conduct keyword and article research
  • Create and manage calendars and schedules
  • Create web banner and advertising images
  • Moderate social media sites and schedule updates
  • Respond to customer comments and email inquiries
  • Optimize photos and images on your site for SEO
  • Create and maintain document templates
  • Update manuals, training materials and forms
  • Create charts, graphs, reports and tables
  • More...

Virtual assistant positions pay an average of about $15 an hour but can go up to $20 an hour for candidates with public relations, writing and editing, and social media skills. 

Most virtual assistants work directly with several clients at a time.

  • According to Value Walk, “companies that hire virtual assistants benefit from lower costs because they are not required to provide any benefits, equipment, paid training, or bonuses.”

We start with this statistic, because it captures why virtual assistants can be such an affordable alternative while still providing plenty of high-quality work. In short, it costs a lot to get a full-time assistant working. It requires each of the four elements listed above: benefits, equipment, training, and bonuses.

For the benefits associated with hiring a virtual assistant, click here

The Benefits of Using a Virtual Assistant

  • Increased Productivity - Using a virtual assistant for business and marketing support tasks frees up your time to focus on your primary business and revenue generating activities.
  • Fewer Expenses - There are no benefits, payroll or equipment expenses to pay for; you only pay for time spent performing actual tasks.
  • Scale Up or Down as Needed - Add team members as needed to meet your goals. We can work full or part time and on a per project basis as needed.

Industry Information

The virtual assistant market is poised to grow by $4.12 billion during 2021-2025, progressing at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of almost 12% during the forecast period.

For more information about industries that work with virtual assistants click here.

Companies in the virtual assistant industry are 

  • Alphabet Inc.

  • Amazon.com Inc.

  • Apple Inc.

  • CX Co.

  • eGain Corp.

  • International Business Machines Corp.

  • Nuance Communications Inc.

  • Oracle Corp.

  • Synthetix Ltd.

  • VA Company LLC

Because of that, the virtual assistant industry started to soar higher than it was before. We listed some facts to know why having a remote team will benefit you and your business.

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Qualifications

Six Must Have Skills for Virtual Assistants Skills

  • Word Processing skills and experience.

  • Strong written and oral communication skills. ...

  • Computer skills

  • Self Motivation and Discipline

  • Quick Thinking and Effective Decision Making. ...

  • A Love for Continuous Learning and personal development

Equipment and Gear

You’ll need the following equipment and gear to set up your virtual assistant home office:

  • A computer with high-speed internet

  • Personal phone line

  • Google Suite: Gmail, Calendar, Chrome, Drive, Plus, Hangouts, Voice

  • Social media management skills

  • Knowledge of Microsoft Suite: Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook

How to Get Started

Here are seven ways to market your virtual assistant business that really work.

  1. Create a Professional Website and Blog.

  2. Make connections on LinkedIn

  3. Set Up Professional Social Media Accounts. ...

  4. Start an Email List.

  5. Join Professional Associations

  6. Participate in Mastermind Groups

  7. Send Direct Mail Locally

With a virtual assistant, you can accomplish the goals set for your primary business.  You’ll notice a difference, when you can relax and concentrate on the things that you went in business to do, and let us concentrate on the rest!

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About the Author

Marvelyn Brown is the founder of Making It Remotely. a blogger and digital marketer focused on online sales and marketing, digital products, crafting and web design. When she's not working, you'll find her working on hobbies and crafts, having fun and relaxing with family and hanging out with friends.

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