Digital Assistants do many various kinds of work for a lot of various kinds of employers. Your expertise as a VA will rely largely on the folks you’re employed for. Once I began my VA journey, I used to be already operating social media accounts of my very own. I made a decision to make use of these expertise by providing my providers to social media influencers.
This job has allowed me to work at home, make my very own hours, and even journey the world. Touring shouldn’t be normally a part of the job, however relying on the circumstances and your availability, you may make that occur too!
I used to be invited as a plus-one on a visit to Paris!
👩💼 My Background
I began as a content material creator in 2018 by posting YouTube movies. I took it SO critically and watched a couple of thousand ‘Learn how to Edit a YouTube Video’ movies. I discovered all the things that I might presumably study content material creation and gaining a following.
Quick ahead a number of years, and podcasts began changing into increasingly more widespread, so my finest good friend and I made a decision to start out one. Once more, I watched movies and did hours of analysis to study all the things about creating and enhancing a podcast.
Alongside the way in which, I discovered quite a bit from my expertise and from watching different content material creators. Social media is constructed on tendencies, so it’s arduous to be a YouTube editor in the event you don’t watch YouTube. I studied tendencies and enhancing types that have been changing into fashionable.
As I used to be watching influencers’ movies, I seen that they have been so busy and sometimes talked about having to cancel plans with pals or household in order that they could possibly be residence and edit a video. Some creators even talked about that they hate enhancing, and it appears like such a chore.
It’s not at all times simple to earn a living as a content material creator when platforms are oversaturated, so I believed that helping others would result in a extra secure earnings.
🚀 Getting Began
I had all of those expertise that will be so useful to unlock another person’s time. I spent so many weeks, if not months, learning enhancing and social media, and I felt tremendous assured in my skills. The truth that I had been doing all of it for myself for years was a bonus.
My first thought was to change into a video editor for YouTubers, however I knew that I might achieve this far more than simply edit movies. That’s once I considered changing into a Digital Assistant.
🔑 The important thing to success as a VA is to determine your expertise and work out who would profit most out of your assist. Most influencers have to rent a number of completely different folks for every particular outlet that they need assistance with, so I noticed it could possibly be a fantastic promoting level that I used to be well-versed in most types of social media. From YouTube movies to TikTok, to Instagram, and Podcasts, I had it coated.
The subsequent step was to make a resume and a piece pattern to point out potential purchasers what I might do. I believed again to those self same creators that talked about that they didn’t like enhancing or needed to cancel plans, and I despatched them an e-mail with my work hooked up.
Sadly, I didn’t even hear again from fairly a number of of them, and that’s the truth of chilly emailing. A few of them could not have had it of their finances to rent one other individual, or some could haven’t wished to surrender some management of their work. That’s at all times arduous for purchasers, so I attempt my finest to study their ‘fashion’ to start with and study to do issues their means.
I made a decision to succeed in out to potential purchasers as an alternative of utilizing a freelancing web site as a result of I believed that some influencers could not even know that they need assistance till it’s provided. Generally folks don’t understand how overwhelmed they’re, or that VAs even exists till it’s talked about to them!
In the future whereas holding my eyes peeled on social media, a creator that I adopted posted that she was in search of an assistant on her Instagram story. She listed the issues that she wanted assist with, and so they have been all issues that I knew I used to be able to! She ended up being my first shopper, and it will definitely became a full-time gig.
All through my time along with her, I even had potential purchasers reaching out to me by way of emails and Instagram messages asking if I had any availability. I needed to flip them down as a result of what was as soon as my little facet hustle for myself had became a full-time job that gave me the liberty and suppleness to be my very own boss.
Duties of a VA
Digital Assistants do many various kinds of work, and your duties will fluctuate along with your employer’s wants. I’m positive there are much more avenues than I can consider: anybody in any subject can at all times use help!
👉 As a digital assistant to influencers, my duties embody:
- Enhancing (photographs, movies, or podcasts)
- Content material brainstorming
- Organizing emails
- Participating on social media
A ‘work day in my life’ video the place I present all of my standard each day duties
📧 A typical day in my life normally begins out with checking emails. I don’t wish to preserve anybody ready too lengthy for a response!
📱 Subsequent, I’ll go to Instagram and see if there are any feedback or messages from the day past that want responses. I additionally create any graphics that should be made for promotions, web sites, or Instagram.
🎥 Enhancing YouTube movies or podcast episodes takes up the majority of my day. Enhancing one YouTube video can take wherever from 3-10 hours, relying on the size, and one podcast episode can take about 6-8 hours.
What Abilities Do You Want?
The principle qualification to change into a VA is to be tech-savvy. No two purchasers are alike, and so they every have completely different wants. The secret is to be able to study something that they could need assistance with.
To study enhancing expertise, I’d suggest beginning with iMovie for video enhancing, and GarageBand for podcast enhancing (they each come free on Macbooks!) I really like each of those and haven’t encountered a lot that I can’t do on them.
It additionally helps to be organized and good at time administration. Working as a VA, you might be normally answerable for your individual schedule. In the event you’re not good at managing your time, you’ll be able to shortly change into overwhelmed and miss deadlines.
Purchasers generally even search help as a result of THEY aren’t the most effective at time administration or group, so it’s your job to offer them with that and be their proper hand.
Expertise
For many positions, expertise shouldn’t be wanted. Most of the duties are easy on a regular basis issues that purchasers not have time to do him or themselves.
For an Influencer VA, enhancing is almost definitely a should. Some influencers have a selected editor, so it might not be essential on your job, nevertheless it’s at all times good to know learn how to deal with their work and present your worth.
You’ll be able to even take expertise from earlier work expertise, and share how that has helped you change into extra organized, accountable, and so forth. Expertise doesn’t at all times should be in the identical subject!
What Are The Hours Like?
As I discussed earlier than, you’ll be able to normally make your individual hours. There are some issues to bear in mind with that, although, like time zones. Relying on the work that you just’re doing, you could be in a back-and-forth along with your shopper to ask about their choice for colours, designs, and so forth.
In case your shopper is in a special time zone, this would possibly trigger you to work early mornings, late nights, and even weekends. Additionally, your shopper may have one thing executed with a brief turnaround, so generally it’s like being on name.
The best half about being digital is which you can journey as a lot as you need and work from wherever on the planet, so long as you’re prepared to carry your pc with you.
On common, every shopper will want about 10 hours of labor from you every week. That is nice as a result of you can begin out whilst you have one other job, and be a VA on the facet till what you are promoting begins to choose up.
In the event you’re enhancing movies for the shopper, you could be working wherever from 20-40+ hours per week. It actually depends upon precisely what your purchasers need assistance with!
How Do I Discover Purchasers?
Discovering purchasers could be troublesome, however in the event you market your self appropriately, they will come to you! I’ve had a number of purchasers attain out to me as a result of they discovered me by way of social media.
You’ll be able to join freelancing platforms like Upwork or Fiverr, however because it’s extra aggressive, you will have a more durable time discovering purchasers. Many individuals on these platforms are determined for work and ready to underbid you, so charges could also be very low.
On my Instagram, which is only for private use, I began utilizing #virtualassistant or #videoeditor. If somebody is looking out Instagram for an assistant, I’ve an opportunity of popping up. Additionally, since I do this on my private Instagram, it virtually acts as a slight ‘interview’. The purchasers can take a look at my photos and see if my content material is much like their fashion or if we’ve any widespread pursuits.
I discussed that I’ve been posting YouTube movies for years, and that additionally helps purchasers to seek out my web page and see precisely what work I can do.
What To Say?
Reaching out to somebody that has no concept who you might be is taken into account a ‘chilly e-mail’. The easiest way to ship a chilly e-mail is to maintain it brief and candy. These folks get a great deal of emails per day and don’t have the time to learn an extended one from somebody they don’t know.
📋 Right here’s a listing of issues I have in mind whereas chilly emailing a shopper:
- Say one thing private that exhibits that you just do know of them or their firm. (e.g., “I heard you point out in your new video…” or “I noticed that you just simply launched a brand new product”)
- Clarify that you recognize that their time is efficacious and you might be prepared to take a few of their workloads (making their life EASIER is difficult to show down)
- Depart one name to motion (e.g., “Let me know if this feels like one thing you’re considering”)
- Thank them for his or her time studying your e-mail.
- Observe up inside about 5-7 days. This exhibits that you just’re organized and didn’t simply ship out a mass e-mail to everybody you recognize.
- If there isn’t a response after 1 follow-up, I assume that they aren’t . Sending greater than 1 or 2 follow-ups can come off as pushy!
In the event you concentrate on personalization, this final one shouldn’t occur, however: don’t ship mass emails! That’s a good way to finish up within the spam folder, after which your e-mail won’t ever be seen.
Do I Want a Resume?
A resume is at all times a good suggestion. Earlier than I had skilled expertise on this subject, my resume included my present job on the time (which had NOTHING to do with being a VA and even being tech-savvy). I used that job to point out that I’m accountable, able to studying new issues, and arranged.
I additionally included that I had been enhancing my very own movies since 2018, to point out that I did have information of the social media world. Even when you have to checklist your individual content material creation as expertise, DO IT!
Learn how to Showcase Your Abilities to a Potential Consumer?
A piece pattern is simply as essential as a resume. This place is all primarily based in tech, so it is smart to showcase your expertise that means! A piece pattern or portfolio can embody a few of your digital work like web sites designed, pictures edited, or graphic designs.
My work pattern is sort of a presentation, the place I used my expertise to make it look cohesive and nonetheless present my accomplishments. It is a inventive job, so don’t be afraid to make use of some colour and present that you’ve got an excellent eye for design! Even my resume is colourful and features a picture in order that they will match a face with my identify.
A web page from my work pattern. It’s colourful and exhibits off my ability whereas remaining skilled.
Learn how to Journey the World as a VA
I at all times get requested how my digital job became changing into a world traveler. Mainly, I obtained actually fortunate. Journey is normally not a part of the job description, however in the event you’re , it’s doable. Influencers journey usually, and in the event that they don’t have an ‘in-person’ assistant, you’ll be able to specific that you’re open to journey and that your schedule permits it.
✈️ Your touring duties might embody:
- Checking into the resort and/or reserving the reservations
- Calling for room service or automobile service
- Taking photographs and movies
- Holding observe of private belongings
- Operating errands
Some journeys permit for plus-ones, and the shopper would possibly get pleasure from having a private assistant all through their work journey. Your job description could be utterly completely different whereas touring with a shopper, and change from all digital duties to all in-person duties.
How A lot Ought to I Cost?
If you’re simply beginning, an excellent vary is $30-$50 per hour, relying on the work and the workload. After gaining some expertise, you’ll be able to cost wherever from $60-$80 per hour. That is what I’ve heard from others within the enterprise, however I’m not there but!
Earlier than you get too excited, your charge additionally depends upon your ability set. A VA that edits movies or creates a complete web site can cost greater than a VA that solely organizes emails. So study as a lot as you’ll be able to and broaden your ability set!
As I discussed, some purchasers could solely want your assist for about 10 hours per week. In that case, you’ll be able to have a number of purchasers without delay, relying on how a lot free time you’ve got. Because you’re answerable for making your individual hours, bear in mind to not overwhelm your self!
Getting Paid
It’s not unusual to have a shopper that doesn’t have a typical payroll that you’d discover at an workplace job. In these conditions, you need to use PayPal, Venmo, Money App, Sensible, or different dependable cash switch providers.
You’ll be able to select whether or not you want to be paid weekly, biweekly, or month-to-month, and you’ll work out what works finest on your shopper. Oftentimes, it may be somewhat overwhelming for a shopper to pay weekly, nevertheless it all relies upon. As for taxes, I put aside a share of every paycheck to avoid wasting for when taxes are due. Ensure to maintain this in thoughts, or tax season won’t be enjoyable!
Issues to Bear in mind
If you wish to change into a VA, simply bear in mind to know your value and take probabilities! Attain out to the corporate that you just’ve at all times admired, or ship an e-mail to your favourite influencer. This job is studying as you go, and at all times doing all your finest to accommodate your shopper.
I’m pleased to assist and reply any questions that you’ve got! I’ve a Patreon account the place I share all of my suggestions and even templates that can assist you in your journey www.patreon.com/leannasal. I additionally submit ‘VA Work Days in my Life’ movies that yow will discover right here: www.youtube.com/leannasal.
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