It’s no secret that running your own business requires a lot of hard work and dedication, no matter what industry you’re in. Now take all of the things that you need to do to grow your job, and add in managing a community, posting to social media, creating content… These are all things that bloggers and content creators are handling on a daily basis and more often than not, by themselves. At a certain point, tackling everything that needs to be done on your own is overwhelming (and can lead to major burnout!) and this is typically when creators start looking into outsourcing some of those tasks. If you’ve been wanting to work with creators to help take some of those tasks off their plates, becoming a virtual assistant is one of the best ways you can support them. And if you’re wondering what is a virtual assistant? and how to become one, this blog post is going to answer those questions and more!
What is a Virtual Assistant?
Before we dive into how to get started as a virtual assistant and how you can help creators in their businesses, let’s start with what exactly a virtual assistant is. A virtual assistant is an independent contractor (typically self-employed) that has a select skill set that they can offer to clients. This skill set is typically one that their ideal client needs help and support with.
Becoming a Virtual Assistant
If you’re ready for a new challenge and dream of being your own boss and supporting other business owners, becoming a virtual assistant is a great option! You’ll not only have the flexibility you’ve always dreamed of, but you will also be able to work with the clients you want to work with on the tasks you want to work on. Did I mention you also get to determine your own rates? Here’s what you need to know about becoming a virtual assistant.
1. Name Your Business – This will be one of the hardest parts about starting your VA business, but it’s a necessary step! Make sure whatever your name it is easy to remember and both the domain and social media handles are available.
2. Make Things Legal – When you start a business, you want to make sure you’re protecting yourself, your assets, and your business. To start, I can’t recommend registering as an LLC or sole proprietor enough. You’ll also want to apply for an EIN and set aside money for quarterly taxes.
3. Determine Your Services – Figure out what skills you’re good at and enjoy doing. These are ones you can consider offering to clients once you get your business up and running. These might be tasks related to social media, content writing, or email marketing.
4. Price Your Services – Once you’ve determined your services, it’s time to price them! To do this, consider your ideal salary, the cost of doing business, and how much you’ll have to set aside for taxes.
5. Determine Your Ideal Client – As a VA, you’ll quickly realize what types of clients and industries you like working with the most. While sometimes this comes with a little trial and error, sit down and outline who your ideal client is. This includes where they live, what they do for a living, and how you can help them.
6. Start Pitching Your Services – Now that you have all of the legal and admin stuff sorted out, it’s time to start pitching your services to potential clients. This can be on social media (Facebook groups are a great place to start!), word of mouth, and through client referrals.
The Benefits of Being a Virtual Assistant
Some days, it seems like being a VA is a dream job and I have to admit, it kind of is! Virtual assistants have so much flexibility on the job and no matter where you are in life, that flexibility can make a huge impact. You’re able to set your own hours, pick your own clients, determine how much money you make, and work on the things that fuel your fire. There’s truly a niche for any passion, especially as a VA. If you love putting together gifts, you could offer gift packaging and management for service or product-based businesses. If you love social media and content writing, you can support bloggers and content creators. The options are truly endless!
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