Virtual Assistant Skills
October 10, 2008 by Reba
Filed under Blog, Hot Topics, Virtual Assistant
Internet Business Model Series
Service Business / Charge by Hour or Project
A virtual assistant is a business professional who provides a service for other businesses and as such, the skill set of a VA must be exceptional. The area of virtual assisting has grown by leaps and bounds over the last several years and so has the competition to get hired. The skills that a virtual assistant brings to the table make a huge difference between getting hired and being passed over.
The survival of a virtual assistant falls on the strength of his or her skills. When a client is considering a virtual assistant for a project, the VA that understands that the client has a choice will normally be the one hired. Why is that? Because understanding that the client has a choice entices that virtual assistant to expand on her strengths and keep her skill set updated. By working on and improving the skills that the virtual assistant likes and is strong in, she will naturally be led to a niche where she can stand out and set herself apart from the rest.
When the virtual assisting industry first began, the only skills needed were those that were used by executive assistants. These mostly revolved around tasks like transcription, mass mailings, mail merge documents, proofreading, and such.
As the industry grows and evolves so does the types of people becoming virtual assistants. Many former executive assistants have become virtual assistants, but now you also find business executives, paralegals, graphic designers, copywriters, and many other types. The skills developed during their careers are assisting these people in developing new niches for the virtual assisting industry.
A good example of differentiating your skills to serve a niche would be the virtual assistants who have built their businesses by extending their skills to include the maintenance and upkeep necessary to have a website. Most businesses have an online presence and managing that enterprise can be a lot to handle. Having a skill set that involves the internet will interest clients looking for someone who can help in that regard.
Internet skills include all areas of website management and upkeep. Website skills include but certainly aren’t limited to skills like:
- website design
- website hosting
- blog management
- affiliate management
- copywriting
- internet marketing
A virtual assistant who can take a set of email addresses and handle an email or viral marketing campaign is a valuable asset to any business. Basically, anything that’s needed to maintain a website right down to answering email will be considered for website maintenance type projects.
Website skills are not learned overnight. They require overcoming a learning curve and in some cases, lots of classes. Many businesses are in search of people skilled in this area. Since the product sold by virtual assistants is their skill set, when a virtual assistant adds website skills to what he or she offers, there will be much more opportunity in the marketplace for that virtual assistant.
Adding website skills to a skill set isn’t the only way to set yourself apart from the crowd, other niches can be served with different skill sets. Take the paralegal for instance, many attorneys and corporate legal departments can use the skills a paralegal offers. Anyone wanting to become a virtual assistant just needs to recognize what strengths they possess and then create a plan for marketing those strengths.
If you can type, transcribe, master Microsoft Office tools, and respond to emails you can probably start your own virtual assistant business as these are valuable skills. But by adding a skill set that appeals to a particular niche, you will be desirable to many more potential clients. The secret to being a highly successful virtual assistant is providing skills beyond what is proven to be “customary.” So, if you have to, return to school and take a few classes to increase your skill set. Even a novice can succeed if they have the right skills and the drive to be a virtual assistant.
P.S. If you’re interested in upgrading your internet skills and want to take some classes, check out the following website, they offer online classes for $69. I personally have not taken any of these classes but the syllabus appeared to be comprehensive and I know a lot about building websites, I’ve built many. One class alone will not teach you everything you need to know but after a few, you should possess enough skill to set-up and/or maintain a website. Follow the links below for the classes I would recommend, and just for your info, HTML is very necessary (see free course link below):
- Free HTML Training Course
- Web Design & Graphics Series
- Web Publishing and Design with HTML 4.01 and XHTML Series
- Running An Online Business
Lastly, if you’re interested in learning internet marketing, don’t waste your time with a class from E-Learning Center. Learn those skills from top internet marketers like John Reese, Internet Marketing Center (IMC), and StomperNet. Follow the links to reviews on this website.
Cheers!
Reba
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Hi Reba
Great article. I started my virtual assistant business earlier this year and was lucky enough to have more than enough skills to get me started from my previous career as a legal secretary and paralegal. Since starting my VA business I have discovered the fabulous world of internet marketing and now I’m absolutely hooked! I’ve heard of John Reese and am following him on Twitter and have recently discovered StomperNet. Another great internet marketing resource (and it’s FREE!) is the 30 Day Challenge. I can not recommend this enough. Oh, and for new virtual assistants, get onto a couple of virtual assistant forums and chat to others who have been there, done it. Where other VAs are happy to share their experiences with new and aspiring VAs.
Cassie Hower
Your Extra Office
Cassie Howers last blog post..Why this Virtual Assistant prefers Digital “Divinity” over Analogue “Agony” – Digital Transcription Part 1
Cassie, thanks for commenting. You’re so right about the VAs on forums, they are so helpful to the new or aspiring VA. And I can’t say enough about the internet marketing courses you mention above, I’ve purchased them all and they are reviewed on this site, just click on the Product Reviews link on the navbar at the top of the page to read what I thought of them.
Good luck with your business, I’m positive you will have all the business you can handle when it gets out that you know something about internet marketing and SEO.
Reba
Yes!Really many people are interest on internet services that leads to earn money online easily.virtual assistant adds website skills to what he or she offers, there will be much more opportunity in the marketplace for that virtual assistant.
Absolutely, and not just website skills, things like real estate, Quickbooks, and graphic design are big too.