I know from experience that when you first discover Virtual Assistants exist and you suspect you might want to be one, you research the subject to death and then quickly become overwhelmed with information. So, here are the most frequently asked questions about becoming a Virtual Assistant to help you decide if it’s the right career for you.
Being a Virtual Assistant is awesome. I have a fantastic lifestyle and have worked in countries all around the world. But the life of a freelancer isn’t all unicorns and fairies, it’s definitely not a “side hustle” or a way of making easy money. Let me tell you what’s actually involved in setting up and running a VA business so you can decide if it’s for you.
I’m not sure if there’s a Virtual Assistant in existence that doesn’t use Canva. The Swiss Army Knife of online design tools, Canva has more features than you can shake a stick at. Because Canva is a Virtual Assistant’s best friend, I thought I’d tell you how I personally use it and point out a few handy features you may not be aware of.
This is a Virtual Assistant case study and interview with Tom Lingard. Based in Birmingham, Tom set up his VA business, The Remote Assistant in August 2020 and specialises in creative projects. Outside of the office Tom enjoys exploring the wonderful sights and scenes of the UK and also loves travelling the world as a digital nomad.
At some point, a client is going to ask to change a clause in your Virtual Assistant freelancer contract. This is perfectly normal and there is no need to panic. However, while a contract is just a starting point, knowing how to negotiate a clause and navigating the process can feel overwhelming – especially if you’re a new VA.
What do we want? Fabulous, well-paying clients! When do we want them? Right this second! Every freelancer needs to find work, but do popular outsourcing websites like Upwork, People Per Hour, 3desk, Fiverr, and Guru actually lead to well-paid work for Virtual Assistants? Read on to find out.
This is a Virtual Assistant case study and interview with Anastasia Olson. Anastasia lives in a suburb of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and set up her VA company offering business support services in 2016. This is the story of how she got started, who she works with and whether she would do anything differently if she had to start again.
This is a Virtual Assistant case study and interview with Sarah Szekir-Papasavva. Sarah set up her award-winning business Apt Virtual Assistance (AptVA) in 2018 and provides small business owners with high-quality administrative and creative support. Originally from Brazil, Sarah currently lives in London with her husband and young daughter.
Confused about all the different platforms, apps and tools that Virtual Assistants talk about online? Worried that if you don’t know what they are and how to use them then you can’t be a VA? Uncertain whether a platform should be used by you or one of your clients instead? Not sure if you should upgrade or stick with the free version?
Having a Virtual Assistant niche comes with numerous benefits not least because you want to be the irreplaceable VA whose clients would pay anything rather than lose, than an average do-it-all VA who can be easily interchanged with a cheaper one. You definitely have an area of expertise in your repertoire, so let me help you work out what it is!
This is a VA case study and interview with Joanne Manville. Currently living in Devon with her husband and 4-year-old daughter, Joanne launched her business Joanne Manville Virtual Assistance in October 2015. Outside of the office, Joanne spends a lot of time walking on the moors and is also on the committee of the Exeter Districts Scouts.
If you’re still in the setting-up phase of your VA business wouldn’t it be great to receive some personal advice from established Virtual Assistants who have walked the path before you? I mean, imagine how helpful it would be to hear some words of wisdom, get some pointers and find out what the best course of action would be? Oh wait… there is!
