In this video, I share my journey as a virtual assistant since 2018 and discuss the growing demand for VAs, especially post-COVID. I highlight the essential skills needed, such as organization and tech savviness, and the flexibility this role offers. If you’re interested in pursuing a career in virtual assistance, I encourage you to check out my upcoming courses and resources. I would love for you to send me your resume if you’re ready to take the next step!

Video Transcript:

00:03 so what is a virtual assistant? So, I’ve been doing this since about 2018. I got started, my sister was a copy editor working from home, and so just through her networking, she was able to get me.

00:13 hooked up with this type of work. So, and then, of course, when COVID hit and everybody started working from home, it actually was a huge blessing.

00:21 I was already working from home, nothing changed for me, everything was still set up the same. So, it was great.

00:26 And then now that I’m home working, and I have my son, I’m able to see him all day, I’m able to make my own schedule to work around what he needs, and then also what my husband needs, and then just make sure everybody’s schedules are staying on the same plan, basically.

00:42 So, but, let me talk to you a little bit about, more about what a virtual assistant is, and then kind of give you some ins and outs of the skills you’ll need, uhm, the type of technology you’ll need, and who you can work for, and then maybe you’ll see if you’re interested, and maybe you can end up taking

01:00 some of my other courses as well. Just to get a little bit more information, but I really have grown to love this job.

01:07 It is so fulfilling to help other people achieve their dreams. I think we always get focused on achieving our own dreams, but I can’t tell you how fulfilling it is to help others achieve their dreams, and just be a part of that and make that work.

01:20 And I love organization. Organization is something that really just, energizes me and gets me, um, ready for my work day to just make lists, get everybody on the same page, project manage, things like that.

01:35 So those are some things we’re going to talk about, but this is basically going to give you an overview of what a virtual assistant is.

01:42 All right. So intro to virtual assisting. So if we look at the definition in a virtual space. Virtual assisting, according to Google, virtual assistance is a growing field where professionals provide remote administrative, creative, or technical support to business and entrepreneurs.

01:59 Instead of working in a traditional office setting, virtual assistants use technology to complete tasks from anywhere in the world. So yeah, basically, what do you know that assistants do.

02:11 They do some inline inbox management for you, calendar management, travel booking. They just do it from the comfort of their own home or from a library or a coffee shop or just anywhere that works for them.

02:23 growing demand. Uh, of course, I think COVID definitely brought a growing demand for remote support. And so we’re seeing it more and more more businesses are turning to VAs to streamline their operations without the overhead costs of in-house employees.

02:38 This opportunities for skilled individuals to work from home while supporting a variety of industries. So this is one reason that a lot of companies are getting smart and looking at VAs.

02:52 Hiring at-home contract positions versus an actual, like, W-2 employee, it really saves them a ton of money. it does require them to give up some control, um, but ultimately, for me, I don’t want to work for a super controlling boss anyways.

03:10 I don’t want to work for a micromanager. I want to work for someone who trusts me, um, that empowers me.

03:15 It makes me just feel like I want to do a better job for them in the long run. allows for flexibility and financial independence.

03:23 So one of the biggest benefits of BNAVA is the flexibility it offers. Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent, or you’re looking for a side income, or transitioning to a new career, Virtual Assistant allows you to set your own schedule, choose your clients, and achieve financial independence on your own

03:38 terms. I will say that in the beginning you may have to not quite have the same, the exact terms you want, but you can still be flexible.

03:48 So like, in the beginning, uhm, I was always available from the hours of 8am to 5pm, and that was just to be there for, like, a phone call or for an email or things like that.

04:01 But now, that I’ve worked for a long time, my clients just know that I get to my work when I get to my work.

04:07 And then also, too, I have amazing clients who have been just super helpful and worked with me sure that I’m getting my work done when I can to help with working around my son’s schedule and everything that that so common tasks of a virtual assistant.

04:26 we can perform a wide range of tasks depending on the skill and the client needs. Some of the most common areas of support are administrative support.

04:36 Many VAs handle essential office tasks like managing emails, scheduling, appointments, organizing files, and performing data entry. These tasks help businesses stay organized and efficient.

04:48 Customer service can be a big one. I, personally, have never done customer service, uhm, but VAs can often assist with responding to customer inquiries via email, chat, or phone.

04:59 Some also manage social media, direct messages, ensuring customers receive professional responses. Content creation. This is a fun one. Businesses can rely on VAs to create engaging content such as blog posts, social media updates, newsletters, and even basic graphic design using tools like Canva.

05:21 Tech support. Many VAs can even offer technical assistance including website maintenance, updating plugins, managing customer relationships, management systems, and troubleshooting minor tech issues.

05:32 Um, if you are not super techy, you can learn. It’s not hard at all. I am going to have tons of courses for you guys available to teach you different tech things that you would need to know as a VA, and you would be able to master all these skills very easily.

05:48 E-commerce support. So, online businesses frequently hire VAs to process orders, manage inventory, update product listings, and provide customer support for online shoppers.

05:58 So, this is just a few VAs specialize in specific service base and their expertise and interests. So, like, for instance, I really am wanting to move now from the area of, like, admin support as a VA and move more into process and procedure creation.

06:16 So, I want to, like, help businesses streamline their processes and procedures to, uhm, just help, to get maximum efficiency. Uhm, and so, that is kind of what we’re talking about when we want to look at a specific service.

06:29 So, maybe you’re someone who does want to, you know, specifically help with social media. You’re maybe someone who wants to specifically help with just, like, admin tasks.

06:37 So, there’s just different can look into there and just what you like and what works best for you. skills needed to be a successful VA. So, we’re going to go over some skills here, but I’m going to tell you right now, this is nothing you can’t learn.

06:51 The internet is full of free information, free education, or for me, you can pay for it and I will help you as well.

06:58 Thank you. thrive as a virtual assistant, you need a combination of soft skills and technical abilities. So, these are the key ones that I think that make a great VA.

07:08 Organization and time management. VAs are often juggling multiple clients and tasks. So, staying organized and managing time effectively is essential to meeting deadlines and maintaining productivity.

07:20 community. Communication skills. This actually might be the most important one. Since most communication is done remotely, strong written and verbal skills are crucial.

07:30 VAs must be able to respond professionally via email, phone, and chat while keeping messages clear and concise. Okay, let me talk to you about this.

07:37 Just be open to responding. Like, I think sometimes some people just get nervous, they don’t know what to say. But, like, just let them know, like, hey, I can’t work on this right now, but I see it and I’m gonna answer it and get to it.

07:49 Uhm, they need to know they can trust you. They can’t be there with you. Like I said, they’re letting go of a little bit of control and so you’ve gotta just be someone who’s trustworthy and willing to work with them.

07:59 Savviness. So, again, you do need to be tech savvy, but these are skills you can learn. A VA should be comfortable using common business tools such as email platforms, project management software and our automation tools.

08:11 While advanced technical knowledge isn’t always required, the ability to learn and adapt to new software is very important because a lot of times you’re going to be the one going out and researching and telling them this is the best technology for you to use for your specific situation.

08:26 Self-motivation and discipline. Yes. Working remotely requires the ability to stay focused and complete tasks. Without direct supervision, a successful VA can manage their workload and stay productive without being micromanaged.

08:41 This is probably sometimes what I hear most from people who don’t work from home. They’re like, I just couldn’t be disciplined to do it.

08:49 You totally can’t. You just have to discipline yourself to do it. In the beginning for me, I was overworking. I was working.

08:57 And so I had to discipline myself to learn to not work as much. So it goes both ways. Problem-solving abilities.

09:05 VAs often encounter unexpected challenges from troubleshooting tech issues to handling difficult customer requests. So being resourceful and proactive in finding solutions is a valuable skill in this role.

09:18 Be a self-starter, go find things to do on your own. Don’t wait for your client. I’m not saying put things into action, but you at least can provide options for them until you get clarification on it is what they actually are wanting.

09:31 So by developing these skills, a virtual assistant can provide high-quality support to clients and build a successful remote career. let’s talk about the tools that are used by a virtual assistant.

09:45 So, as a virtual assistant, I rely on various digital tools to stay organized, to communicate effectively, and to manage tasks efficiently.

09:52 So, these are some of the most commonly used tools out there. So, for project management, you’ve got platforms like Trello, Asana, and ClickUp.

10:02 It helps just basically track tasks, set deadlines, and collaborate with clients or their teams. Um, these tools keep projects organized and ensure nothing falls through the cracks.

10:15 So, since VAs work remotely, effective communication is key, as we said. Tools like Slack, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams allow for instant messaging and video calls, collaboration, making it easy to stay connected with clients.

10:29 Admin and productivity. So, VAs often use Google Workspace, like Docs, Sheets, Google Drive, Gmail, and Microsoft Office, things like Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Outlook, to create documents, manage emails, and organize files for clients.

10:45 These tools are essential for daily administrative work. So if you don’t know Google, Google Workspace or Outlook, no worries. I’m creating a class where you can learn all about that.

10:58 media marketing. So many VAs assist with content creation and social media management. Canva is great for designing graphics, while Buffer and MetaBusiness Suite can help schedule your schedule out the social media posts effectively.

11:13 This area can get murky because there’s a difference between being an admin who helps with your social media versus being a social media marketing manager.

11:24 Okay. So a lot of times these lines can get crossed and you have to be really specific about that. So that is something I will cover in other classes.

11:31 So that way you guys can know like exactly like Hey, if you’re asking this of me, I need to be paid way more because the reality is a social media marketer gets paid a ton more money than a virtual assistant.

11:42 So never, um, do jobs that you’re not getting paid to do. Always ask for more. Finance and So to influence clients and manage finances, VAs use tools like PayPal, QuickBooks, and Stripe.

11:56 These platforms will help with sending payments, tracking income, and handling financial transactions securely. So these are some of the tools that you can master that will help you be efficient, stay organized, and provide top-notch support for your who hires virtual assistants?

12:16 So virtual assistants really are in high demand right now across various industries. So some of the most common types of clients that I have personally seen, but then also some of the research I have done, um, includes entrepreneurs and small business owners.

12:29 Many small business owners wear multiple hats and they need help with administrative tasks, customer service, and marketing so they can focus on growing their business.

12:38 So the small businesses that I have worked for, I have really come in and basically kind of helped them start from the ground up, set up different processes and procedures, help them find the right technology, things like that.

12:52 Coaches and consultants. So business life and health coaches often hire VAs to handle scheduling, client communication, social media management, and content creation.

13:01 This allows them to focus working with their clients. and content creators. So many bloggers, YouTubers, and social media influencers rely on VAs to manage email lists, schedule posts, edit content, and handle sponsorship queries.

13:18 businesses. Online store owners need VAs to assist with tasks like processing orders, managing inventory, responding to customer inquiries, and updating product listings.

13:30 Corporations and remote teams. So larger companies that operate remotely will often hire VAs for administrative support. Technology assistants and project management to keep their virtual teams organized and efficient.

13:43 And I know it sounds crazy, but like, as a VA, I totally have been project manager. Even though I’m project managing people in so many different locations, it’s totally possible.

13:54 is something you’re interested in, you would definitely be in high demand. let me start over. Alright, so let’s look at some of the benefits of becoming a virtual assistant.

14:03 It offers many advantages, making an appealing career choice for those seeking flexibility and financial freedom. Alright, flexibility. One of the biggest perks of being a VA is the ability to work from home and set your own hours.

14:17 You can create a schedule that fits your lifestyle, whether you prefer morning or evenings or part-time. This, for me, was the biggest thing.

14:27 Like, I love being able to sleep in. I’m not a morning person. Now, that has changed now that I have a child, but in the beginning, I just remember, I was like, I want to sleep in, so I would just work from, like, 10 a.m.

14:38 until whatever time I needed to work. Financial independence. So, as a VA, your income is based on your skills, experience, and workload.

14:46 You have the potential to scare your business, take on multiple clients, and increase your rates as you gain expertise. This is true for me.

14:54 I started off way less than I am making today, and also, too, I’m able to work for multiple clients. So, when me and my husband, who has no child yet, uhm, I was working a ton of hours like I was working for a lot of clients, a lot of hours, but I could, because I had nothing else to do.

15:12 So, this is something that you can work a lot of hours and make really good money, or it’s something that if you’re just wanting to make a little extra on the side, you can just work part-time and make that extra income.

15:24 Work-life balance. Okay, so this career is especially beneficial for parents, caregivers, or those looking for a job that allows them to prioritize personal responsibilities while still earning an income. So, for me with my son, my son has a lot of developmental delays, and so we’re taking him consistently

15:42 to physical therapy, physical therapy, speech, doctor’s appointments, all these different appointments that we have to go to. And then also during the day, I have to do his physical therapy.

15:50 I have to work with him. So, this work has allowed me to make my own schedule and work as needed with him.

15:59 Diverse work opportunities. Okay, so this is so true. Virtual assistants isn’t really a one-size-fits-all job. Like, you can choose to specialize in areas that interest you, such as social media management, bookkeeping, customer support, or tech assistants.

16:15 This allows you to build a career in that aligns with what your passions and strengths are. So, very naturally for me, everyone I work for now, well actually one exception, um, non-profits.

16:27 They love, I love working with non-profits. So, this is something that you can kind of find your niche of where you like to go.

16:35 I’ve worked for different pastors. I’ve also worked for a financial advisor. or I’ve worked very. I’ve worked for like a safety company. I’ve worked many, many different jobs and so now I’ve just kind of naturally leaned towards what I like the most.

16:49 So, these benefits provide a pathway to professional success while maintaining personal freedom and flexibility. So, not Not only can you work with anyone, anywhere, all over the world, but you can do it on your time, and you can make good money from it.

17:07 It just may take some time if you’re new, but also it depends on your degree, if you already have a degree, how much experience you have in your other work fields, things like if you like what you’re hearing so far, let’s talk about how you can get started.

17:22 So, here’s some key steps to get you started. You need to identify your skills and strengths. So, start by assessing what are you good at?

17:30 What tasks do you enjoy? Whether it’s organization, customer service, social media, or tech support, knowing your strengths will help you determine the services you want to offer.

17:42 You’re going to need to learn essential VA tools and platforms. So, you’re going to want to familiarize yourself with common tools like Google Workspace, Trello, Canva, and communication platforms like Slack and Zoom.

17:55 Having a basic understanding of these tools is going to make you ten times more marketable. And, the great news is, I’m going to be providing courses for you to do that.

18:05 a professional resume and online presence. You’re going to need to update your resume to highlight the relevant skills and consider creating a LinkedIn profile, or even a personal website sometimes to showcase your experience and services.

18:18 A strong online presence can help attract potential clients. And, I also am providing a resume revamp course to where you can send me your resume.

18:27 I will help you get it up to industry standards. Join a VA training program or communities. Welcome. Connecting with other VAs through online groups, Facebook communities, or training programs can provide valuable insight, job leads, and support as you start your journey.

18:43 That’s what I’m trying to do here. I’m trying to create a space where other people who want to do this. 18:47 You can come together, have training sessions. And tools to learn, but then also just be there for each other as we grow.

18:53 networking and social media. All right. So let people know you’re available for virtual assistant work. Share your skills on your social media, join networking events, and reach out to small businesses or entrepreneurs who may need your services.

19:07 You’ve got to put yourself out there. If you follow these steps, I can guarantee you will start to build a successful career as a virtual assistant and find opportunities that match your skills and interests.

19:20 challenges. All right. So while being a virtual assistant does have benefits, it does have many challenges. So here’s how we can successfully navigate some of them.

19:30 Manage time effectively. So balancing multiple clients tasks, it requires strong time management. So using scheduling tools, setting your priorities, creating a daily routine can help maintain productivity and prevent burnout.

19:46 Setting correct client expectations and boundaries. Like, if you’re going to pay attention to anything else, pay attention to this. It is very important to clearly define your services, your working hours, and communication preferences from the very start.

20:01 Setting boundaries ensures a healthy work-life balance and can prevent scope creep. What is scope creep? That’s whenever you said X, but now they’re trying to come on over into why handling inconsistent So work’s going to fluctuate. Your contractor position, so there’s going to be busy times, there’s

20:17 going to be slow times, so to manage this as a VA, you can secure multiple clients, offer retainer packages, and build savings to cover income gaps during the slow times.

20:27 learning and adapting to new tools. So, as you know, the digital world is consistently evolving. So, Staying updated on new tools, software, and industry trends is very crucial.

20:38 Taking online courses and engaging in VA communities can help you stay competitive. So, hopefully, that, if you join my community and you join my courses, that is something that can help you. challenges with the right strategies, virtual assistants can create a sustainable and successful remote career

20:56 . You can, and I can help you do it. So, next steps. The role and importance of a VA. Virtual assistants play a crucial role in helping businesses stay organized, have great production, and efficiency.

21:17 With the growing demand of this remote support, VAs have endless opportunities to work in various industries, while enjoying flexible and financial independence.

21:26 So, let’s take the first steps. If you’re considering becoming a VA, start by identifying your skills, learn the essential tools, and explore opportunities.

21:37 The best way to gain confidence is to take action and start today. So, I’m going to be creating a membership.

21:42 This membership will have ongoing support, training, and communities of like-minded individuals. So, if you join my, um, program, you’re going to get exclusive resources, coaching, networking opportunities to help you navigate with this new world.

21:57 if you’re ready to take this leap into virtualization, then let’s start today. The next step for you would be the resume revamp course.

22:04 So, I’m going to provide a link for that, and you can send me your resume, and then I can help you revamp that to get ready for submitting this to potential clients.

22:15 Also, the next step for you is you’re going to want to take my Virtual Assisting 101 course. In this course, we’re we’re gonna talk about.

22:23 Kind of the behind-the-scenes side of it, right? So, you are now a business. You’re selling yourself. So, there’s a lot of things you’re going to have to do.

22:31 You’re going to have to get ready for the contractor type work. You’re going to have to decide, do I want to be a sole proprietor or an LLC?

22:38 Where am I going to work? What technology am I going to use? Questions like So, like I said, next step, let’s do the resume revamp.

22:47 So, submit your resume and I’ll help you get that up to standard. And then take the virtual assisting 101 course.

22:53 And then what I have coming up for you is a membership that you’re going to be able to join and it’s going to have other people in there that you can learn from, but then it’s also going to have multiple courses available at discounted prices.

23:07 We’re also going to do monthly team calls where everybody’s going to get on the call with Me. And you’re going to have weekly email support.

23:13 So all that’s coming. But like I said, right now, the next step for you would definitely be the resume revamp and then get started into my virtual assisting 101 course.

23:23 So I’m so glad you guys have joined me today. I hope this has been helpful for you and beneficial and I’ll see you in the next course.