What is a Virtual Assistant?
Virtual assistants work remotely to provide administration services to their clients. An entrepreneur may be able to grow their business by using a virtual assistant. Many people start out as virtual assistants before moving into more traditional jobs. Administrative assistants and office managers often have several years of experience in a professional office setting, making them qualified for this position.
What does a Virtual Assistant do?
Small businesses can hire virtual assistants to perform various duties. This level of flexibility allows business owners to scale up or down as needed. A virtual assistant can help you manage your calendar, book travel arrangements, file paperwork, monitor email, call customers, etc.
Virtual assistants do many things for businesses. They help companies manage social media accounts, vet potential customers and partnerships, provide customer service, and more. If you’re looking to build a new business, hiring a virtual assistant could be the key to success!
Virtual Assistants Responsibilities
This job generally requires the ability of doing the following tasks: Assist your clients with any administrative tasks. Screen potential clients. Convince them to hire you as their VA. You need to be able to work from home or shared office space, but you need to act as professionally as someone who works in a traditional office. You must be able to do everything a typical VA does in a client’s office, only from your own home or shared office.
VA Education, Training and Certification
Virtual assistants work independently without supervision, though some companies may require them to have certain certifications. The most common certification is an associate degree in computer science, which provides basic knowledge of computers. Some virtual assistants also hold bachelor’s degrees in other fields such as marketing or psychology.
If you want to become a virtual assistant, you will likely need to take online courses or attend classes at a local college or university. Most states offer free training programs that teach individuals how to use Microsoft Office applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and others.
There are some local groups that do training and you can find them on FB. Check list below.
Skills & Competencies of a VA
Many of the skills needed to become a virtual assistant are the exact same skills needed to be an Administrative Assistant or Secretary. A VA must be organized to keep track for different clients. A VA also needs to communicate well by email and phone. Finally, a VA must be tech-savvy to use the most common software programs.Multitaskers should be comfortable switching tasks quickly and easily.
How Much Does it Cost to Become a Virtual Assistant?
The cost to become a virtual assistant varies widely depending on where you live and what type of education you choose. In general, the average salary for a virtual assistant ranges between $10-$20 ( Php 500-100) per hour, the more experienced and highly specialized ones can command as high at $50 per hour. However, there are many factors that determine how much you make including your location, industry, education, and experience.
The first step to becoming a virtual assistant is to find a company that offers employment opportunities. Once you have found a company that hires VAs, ask about the requirements they have for their employees. This includes whether or not they require specific education qualifications.
Some companies prefer applicants with a bachelor’s degree while others don’t care if you have a high school diploma. It all depends on the position you apply for.
Once you know what you need to get hired, start searching for schools offering these types of programs. There are many online universities that offer affordable degrees in areas like Business Administration, Marketing, Human Resources Management, Computer Science, Accounting, Nursing, Psychology, and more.
So Do you need a Virtual Assistant?
Business owners should consider hiring a virtual assistant if they are spending too much time on menial tasks. Virtual assistants can help with bookings, scheduling, email management, and other administrative tasks.Virtual assistants are ideal for businesses looking to offload one or more specific tasks. Businesses without the budget for a full-time employee should look into virtual assistants. Prepare a cost benefit analysis before hiring a virtual assistant.Hire a virtual assistant who fits your small business’s cultural needs.
How to Choose the best Virtual Assistant for you
Personal assistant services should be reliable, flexible, and affordable. They should offer security, supervision, project management, and backup assistance. They should be available when needed and on demand.
How many hours do Virtual Assistants work?
It depends on what you need, virtual assistants can work for a couple of hours a month and upwards or even a regular 8 hour day depending on your requirement. They work same as any office worker.. they just do it remotely.
How To Find a Virtual Assistant?
Virtual assistants work remotely, so you won’t see them physically. You can ask them questions about anything you want. You can also hire them to help you with tasks such as data entry, writing content, social media management, etc.Posting a job posting on your website is the first step towards finding an awesome virtual assistant. If you’re looking for someone to manage your social media accounts, then this person would be perfect for you.
You may also consider asking friends, family members, and coworkers for recommendations. Ask them who they think has the right personality and skill set to handle certain tasks.
If you’re having trouble finding a good candidate, try using sites like Upwork and Freelancer. These websites connect freelancers with businesses seeking help.
Facebook has groups to find them. Try Checking the following groups to find the Right VA for your requirement.
Virtual Assistants groups on Facebook
1. Philippine Virtual Assistant Network
3. Filipino Virtual Assistants & Online Freelancers
Benefits of a Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants are becoming increasingly popular among small business owners. They offer many services to businesses, such as customer service, data entry, marketing, and administrative support.
A virtual assistant can do much more than simply answer emails and take care of basic tasks. A virtual assistant can help you manage your entire business.
Here are four ways a virtual assistant can benefit your business:
1. Increase Productivity
Having a virtual assistant means you don’t have to spend hours each week doing mundane tasks. Instead, you can focus on what’s most important – running your business.
With a virtual assistant, you can delegate simple tasks, freeing up your time to work on higher value projects. This frees up your time to focus on growing your business.
2. Save Money
Many people think hiring a virtual assistant is expensive. But there are many different types of virtual assistants available. Some charge hourly rates, while others charge per project.
Some virtual assistants offer packages that include everything you need to run your business, saving you money.
3. Improve Customer Service
When you hire a virtual assistant, you’re giving customers access to a real person. Customers appreciate this personal touch.
Customers feel more comfortable talking to an actual human being rather than an automated voice. And they know their questions will be answered quickly and accurately.
4. Boost Brand Recognition
Hiring a virtual assistant helps you grow your brand. People often associate a company with its employees, so when you hire a virtual assistant to handle your daily tasks, you’re sending a message about your company.
People see you as a leader who cares about his or her staff. In addition, you’re showing potential clients that you’re serious about your business.
