Becoming a virtual assistant is one of the easiest ways to make money online.
This involves using the skills you already have to start a freelance career or create an online business, from scratch, in less than 30 days.
interested? great! Let me show you how to get started.
What is a virtual assistant and what do they do?
A virtual assistant is someone who trades the task for pay from afar. Or in other words, an individual who provides services almost as a contractor or a self-employed individual.
Virtual assistant services offered can include everything from email management, content creation, bookkeeping, graphic design, social media, etc. There are many services you can provide
Can anyone become a virtual assistant? Do you need virtual assistant training or equipment?
Becoming a virtual assistant to make money online is not for everyone, but people who are self-motivated, eager to learn, and possess decent computer skills are good candidates.
Most clients use their own tools/software, so having it is not a prerequisite. Having a computer and reliable access to the Internet are probably the two most important when it comes to equipment.
How do virtual assistants get virtual assistant jobs and who are their clients?
Virtual assistants typically work with small business owners and entrepreneurs. Customers can have their own business and online store.
What are good virtual assistant rates and how much can a new virtual assistant be expected to earn monthly or annually?
Virtual assistant prices really depend on the services you provide – the more specialized your skills are, the more control you have over them.
It also depends on how much you need to earn to make it worth it – a starting wage of $15-20 per hour for general tasks is normal, but most virtual assistants charge $25-40 per hour locally with more specialized service offerings.
Any challenges new virtual assistants should be aware of?
There are always challenges in starting and growing a small business!
Analysis paralysis (lack of action because there are too many options) and fear are probably the two reasons that hold most people back. We want to “know” everything before we take action, but we rarely take action because we don’t feel like we know everything.
Who is a virtual assistant?
A virtual assistant (usually abbreviated to VA, also called virtual office assistant) is generally self-employed and provides administrative, technical, or creative (social) assistance to clients remotely from a home office.
In simple terms, this is a professional who works at home and provides his services online to individuals and businesses.
What types of tasks can you handle as a virtual assistant?
Virtual assistant tasks
The types of tasks virtual assistants handle vary depending on the client's needs. But some of the most common ones are:
Email management
Web or keyword search
Create content
set specific time
Social media management such as posting on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn
Format and publish eBooks on Kindle
Website maintenance services
These are just some of the tasks you can handle as a virtual assistant.
You will see that many of these tasks go along with transcription.
There are clients who may ask you to transcribe their interviews or webinars and then convert them into eBooks and publish them on Kindle, or into articles and publish them on their websites/blogs.
For example, you could charge $40 per audio for transcription jobs and then include $20 or even $100 for publishing on Kindle or writing an article and publishing it on their site. Building a successful online business will not depend on providing just one service. You can combine a number of similar or related services so that you're not leaving money on the table when serving your clients.
Now that you know what services to offer and how to package them, the next step is to ask your client to:
Do I have to be online at the same time as you?
I am confident that I can complete most of your assignments with ease, but I also understand that there may be some that I am not familiar with but are willing to learn;
Will you train me or will I need to train on my own?
If you are offering training, will it be paid training or free training
How long will the training last?
After training, will I start working immediately?
Will I work alone or with a team?
What salary can you ask for as a virtual assistant?
When I go to sites like Upwork, I see that some VA fee amounts are lower than they should be charged. I think this is the wrong approach when working online. The thing I always say is, “Charge what you're worth.” Don't charge too much and don't charge too little either.
Go to Upwork and find out what others, who do the same things you do, are charging. If it's $10 an hour, charge it the same way. If the project is a fixed value of $100, don't charge $50. Some clients may want to negotiate this $100 project. Depending on the client and the relationship you have with him/her, you can offer a discounted rate of perhaps $8 per hour of audio or $90 if it is a $100 fixed project.
In online markets there are serious specialists who know their job and do it to the best of their abilities. But, there are others who simply do not like to put in the effort required.
So, in order to get paid what you deserve, you need to do the following:So, in order to get paid what you deserve, you need to do the following:
1. Under-promising and over-delivering
If you tell a client that their tasks will be done in 4 or 5 hours, make sure you do them in 3 hours or less. Give yourself some space to get it done in time. When a client sees that you are delivering before the specified deadline, they will know that you are professional and may refer you to others. That's more business for you.
2. Provide great customer service (communication matters!)
Often times I give freelancers work to do and they take hours before they respond. This is completely wrong. A good tip is, follow up with the client at least every two hours if the client is one who expects you to be online at the same time as them. If it is a static project, it is recommended to communicate with the client at least once a day. Don't make him wait and wonder whether you are working on his project or not.
3. Be professional at all times
Address the client by name and do not tell him the reasons for not working. If you get a job and know for a fact that you won't be able to complete it in a specific period, be polite enough to let them know that and perhaps ask for an extension. A good customer will be happy to extend the period. I've seen this happen with my clients.
They'll just say, 'Okay, Virginia. You don't have to deliver in the next 4 or 5 or whatever time you agreed. They might just say, “Tomorrow morning will be fine.” And make sure by tomorrow morning the first thing they see is your email notifying them of the completion of their project.
How to create a cover letter that will guarantee you a job
Online marketplaces have many VA services that offer the same type of service as you. Before you get a VA job, you must first write a cover letter to your future client and you must stand out from the crowd.
When writing:
Avoid generic cover letters. Customers hate them with a passion
Make sure it is specific to the job you are doing
Follow the client's instructions
Keep it simple, sweet, short and to the point
Use power words
Don't gurgle. Results of the talk
Cover letter example
Welcome -
I saw your job posting (describe the exact post) and read it with keen interest.
You mentioned that you want a dedicated virtual assistant with at least two years of VA experience. I am an accomplished VA who worked at XYZ Company and helped boost their business from 10 paying clients to 15 paying clients in the 6 months I worked there as a Customer Service Representative. (Show your portfolio or show examples of your work, if possible)
English 
Arabic