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The demand for digital virtual assistants has grown rapidly, with a $14 billion increase in the size of the V.A. industry between 2015-2021. Since many positions are available, no matter your experience or education level, this is the ultimate career option to work remotely as a freelancer with the best hourly wages.

However, high demand also means high competition, right?

That’s why we’ve got you covered with a complete guide and the right resources to become a virtual assistant in the U.S. and give you a competitive edge to mark the epic beginning of your journey!

Now, let’s jump right in!

What do virtual assistants do?

Virtual assistants help business owners by providing remote administrative and technical services. Virtual digital assistance can be provided across various niches and tasks. It depends on the needs of your client and your own skill set.

A virtual assistant’s common tasks include answering emails, making phone calls, transcribing documents, providing customer support, and more.

This is a growing career field because it greatly benefits employees and those who employ them. Employers can save time and money by outsourcing tasks to virtual assistants instead of hiring full-time employees or doing the work themselves.

On the other hand, virtual assistants often have the opportunity to work as freelance contractors. This gives them much freedom and flexibility to manage their schedules and work.

Yet the question stands, exactly who can become a virtual assistant?

Who can become a virtual assistant?

Being a virtual assistant means doing what companies need through the online tools they use. In many cases, this means tasks you already know how to do, tools you already know how to use, and skills you might haven’t realized yourself but are there!

Becoming a virtual assistant doesn’t require any specific education or work experience. It’s safe to say that anyone can become a virtual assistant, depending on their skill set.

Whether you’re a college student looking to work part-time for a good wage or a professional pursuing digital assistance as a career, all you need is a dependable internet connection and smart devices.

Types of virtual digital assistants and their roles

Many types of industries require V.A.s. You can shortlist your options by determining your skills, interest, or experience in a previous industry.

There are several high-paying virtual assistant jobs out there, and we’ve listed some of the most popular options here:

1. Social Media VA

A social media V.A. works to manage social accounts for their employer. They help to schedule posts, write posts, and manage comments. They also help determine the type of content that should be shared and analyze how it affects sales or overall reach.

This is a remote, 24/7 virtual assistant job.

However, if you have the right social media marketing knowledge and the designing skills to make great posts, this is one of the highest-paying virtual assistant positions you can aim for.

2. eCommerce V.A.

An e-commerce V.A. helps manage online stores.

This includes:

• Handling transactions,
• Managing inventory,
• Writing product descriptions,
• Adding coupons or managing offers,
• Looking over order processes.

Shopify, Magento, and Amazon are the most in-demand marketplaces for this position.

E-commerce V.A.s are often paid for the diversity in their skills. So the more you know about the industry, the better you get paid. For example, many e-commerce V.A.s are also well-versed in SEO and content creation.

3. Real Estate VA

This category of a Virtual PA works for real estate agents as remote employees or in-office workers. They help agents with paperwork and showings on properties, schedule appointments, and take calls from potential buyers and sellers.

Real estate agents leverage the skills of V.A. remote workers to generate more leads and deliver better customer service. This is the only real estate job that requires no previous experience and gives you more insight into the industry.

4. Administrative VA

Administrative V.A.s help with all the work needed for business and act as full-time personal assistants.

It’s an all-around position where you work on bookkeeping, email management, scheduling appointments, preparing expense reports, and filing paperwork.

When working for solopreneurs or start-ups, you also deal with customer service and social media management. An administrative V.A. is always in-demand for corporate leaders or large businesses. Considering the responsibilities of this role, most virtual assistants are paid highly for their work.

5. Digital Marketing VA

Digital marketing V.A.s are giving marketing agencies a run for their money. This position is the most demanding out of all in terms of skills. But once you reach that milestone, numerous opportunities are waiting ahead.

Responsibilities of a marketing V.A. include managing social media campaigns, search engine marketing, Google Ads, Bing Ads, creating marketing strategies, Search Engine Optimization, email marketing, and many other parts of digital marketing.

6. Finance Management VA

This one could be a broad category for various virtual assistant jobs.

Finance management V.A.s help businesses with bookkeeping and accounts. They do things like managing inventory, processing payroll, and reconciling accounts.

At the same time, bookkeeping and accounting can be counted separately as specialized V.A. positions. You may also help clients with budgeting and record-keeping.

If you have accounting knowledge or experience, nicking this career could be a good way to make money and gain more experience at the same time.

Digital assistant market share – the scope of becoming one

Virtual assistants are on the rise. While being a daily new field of work, the digital assistant market share has skyrocketed in the past few years. The average hourly wage for a virtual administrative assistant is $32.15 in the U.S.

There are different average wage ranges for each V.A. role. Your income as a V.A. depends on your services, how much you charge, where you live, the number of clients you serve, and your skills and expertise.

As a beginner, the biggest factor that affects your earning prospect includes the platforms and strategies you use to attract clients.

So let’s dive into the step-by-step guide to improve your scope of becoming one! 

7 steps to become a virtual assistant in the U.S.

1. Determine your niche

When you decide what services you want to provide, you must consider your skills and what skills you want to learn.

A background or experience is optional to land your first job as a V.A.

But having an area of expertise and working with passion is important in the long run. So whether you have prior experience in the real estate or corporate world or a passion for digital marketing, you must choose a niche to help you stand out.

2. Polish your skills

To be successful as a virtual assistant, you’ll need to assess your skills and experience. You’ll want to know what skills your ideal clients are looking for and what skills you already have that can help you provide value to your clients.

After choosing a specific niche, it’s time to focus on the skills. You’ll also need to ensure you have the skills to provide a unique service and improve your existing skills.

As said before, the more you offer in this field of work, the better you get paid.

3. Stand out with certifications

To be a successful V.A. and run your online business, you must find some training to help you.

There are many free and paid resources available; some great courses for virtual digital assistance include:

1. $ 10K VA
2. Google Digital Marketing and E-commerce Professional Certificate
3. 90 Day VA
4. Work From Home as a Virtual Assistant

Virtual assistants need to learn time management, workflow management, and other skills; you must immediately start trial and error at the stake of your reputation. Certifications also help you find advanced tools and tactics other professional V.A.s use to help you get in line as soon as you begin.

Remember that some of the best courses are also the most expensive ones. However, learning from experts will help you build the skills and knowledge you need to be successful.

4. Create a portfolio

Take your time to build a portfolio, even if you have to reduce your pricing or volunteer for some work. A strong portfolio will help you attract more clients and establish yourself as an experienced professional.

The best way to create an online portfolio is by having an online presence, a social media presence, and a social network on platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook.

Following more people from the same industry will also allow you to land opportunities that could strengthen your portfolio.

5. Market yourself as a personal brand

Take your online presence beyond portfolios and connections. Once you’ve got the hang of everything you must do as a virtual assistant and the resources, it’s time to market yourself as a brand.

Make a website. Your social media page. Blogs. And everything it takes to reinstate your authority as a professional virtual assistant in your niche. Make sure to do SEO and use other marketing tactics to highlight your services in all the places your targeted clients are found.

6. Setup your schedule and offers

When you work as a virtual assistant, your fees will depend on many factors, like the type of work you do and the size of your clients.

You’ll need to determine what other V.A.s are being paid and price your services accordingly. So take your time to research marketplaces and go through some competitors.

Managing your schedule can also be tough when freelancing or working remotely. This is where you can utilize schedule management platforms to set deadlines and boundaries for your work and communicate them effectively with your clients.

7. Land clients with a strategy

To get high-paying job offers, you need a strategy. Everything from getting certifications to setting up your brand is part of the strategy to land high-quality leads and a client funnel for your career as a V.A.

The final step in your virtual assistant journey is to choose a platform where you can find clients, manage your schedules, and network within the industry.

Wrkio – Manage your schedule and land clients in one place!

Wrkio is a schedule management and online community workplace where you can connect with managers, executives, and other leading professionals to find the best V.A. jobs in the U.S.

As a virtual assistant, the platform will make it easier for you to communicate and organize deadlines in one place. You can also leverage the platform to strengthen your portfolio and grow your online presence in the community.

If you’re ready to land your first client as a digital virtual assistant, sign up for free on Wrkio and start the hustle with a head start!