You have decided you want to become a virtual assistant, but you’re unsure what type of virtual assistant you can be. There are many different types of virtual assistants, and the best way to figure out what type of VA you will be is to figure out what skills you already have that you can leverage to make it on your own as a VA.
Some people choose to become a VA while they are still working their day job and work on it as a side hustle, and others choose to start a VA business while they stay at home with their kids. The options are endless for those who want to be a VA, but it’s important to eventually find a niche into the type of VA work you want to do.
Finding a niche means that you figure out what type of services you will offer to your clients. If you are good at design, you can think about being a graphic design VA, or if you are good with systems and tech, you can offer operations and business management as a service.
There are many different types of VAs out there, and here are a few that you might want to explore as you start out as a VA. Feel free to dabble in a bit of each of them if you find a few that resonate with you; eventually, you might find that you prefer one type of VA work over another.
Admin/General
Being an admin VA is perfect for those who come from an admin or corporate background to start. They are aware of the office lingo, the programs used, and how to connect with clients via email. An admin VA may complete tasks such as answering emails, making phone calls, managing the calendar, setting up meetings, organizing events, placing small orders, reconciling purchases, and more.
Bookkeeper
If you are good with numbers, or you know you have a background in corporate accounting work, then being a bookkeeping VA may be for you. Companies hire bookkeepers to ensure their transactions and receipts are all in good standing. It can be hard for some business owners to keep track of all of their finances, and this is where a bookkeeping VA comes in handy. Having knowledge of reconciling receipts, payroll, or using numbers/data sheets will be handy.
Copywriter
Do you love writing? Copywriter VAs are always in need, as some people honestly just do not like writing. As a copywriter, you are able to write captions, blog posts, articles, and more for clients in need. The good thing about being a copywriter is that there is no time constraint, you can write day or night, and work on your own schedule. If you have a way with words, or simply enjoy writing about any topic you’ve been given, this could be an amazing opportunity for you.
Graphic Designer
Those who are very creative, they can look into becoming a graphic design VA. This entails creating graphics online using a program like Canva or Photoshop to design images for the client. Graphics might be needed for large projects or simply for daily posts on social media. Social media is ever-present in today’s world, so having the ability to create unique designs for a client should be a breeze once you get your creative juices flowing.
Social Media Manager
It is one thing to know which social media apps are all the rage at the moment, but it’s another thing entirely to use social media to build a business. Many people have social media profiles for their business but are not optimizing it to the best of their ability. Being a social media VA or a social media manager is when you help clients with aspects of their social media accounts. It could be engagement, making the reels, posting the photos, adding captions, and/or checking on the analytics to see how their page is performing.
Customer Service
Some of the tasks you would do as a virtual assistant may overlap with other types of VAs. As a customer service virtual assistant, your main task would be to handle the day-to-day operations of interacting with customers on behalf of the client. That might mean answering the phones or responding to emails. Sometimes a client might have an inquiry program, and you would be responsible for answering the inquiries that come in.
Real Estate
The real estate market continues to be booming with real estate agents as well as real estate property owners who need help managing their workload. For real estate agents, it might mean answering calls and emails, as well as setting up showings at various houses across their region. You might also need to deal with the ins and outs of the real estate paperwork that comes with each new listing. As for real estate property owners, you may work to assist with tasks related to their properties. Booking in cleaners, connecting with tenants, scheduling maintenance requests, and more.
Tech
Another more specific type of virtual assistant would be a computer tech VA. They do all sorts of work such as tech integration, backend web development, or ensuring everything is working smoothly with your computer systems. Many go on to do more intense and challenging tech-related tasks as upskills once they become tech VAs. If you are a tech wizard or have knowledge of how tech operates on the backend, then this may be a good fit for you.
Overall there are a plethora of ways in which you can work as a virtual assistant. When you first start out, you may try to dabble in a few different areas until you figure out what works best for you. Perhaps you only want to work during daytime hours. Or perhaps you want the flexibility to work evenings or weekends to start out. Anything is possible when you work as a virtual assistant.
Remember, you most likely already have a bunch of skills to do the jobs, you just need to market yourself accordingly to showcase those skills. If you’re ready to begin your journey as a VA, check out The Guide to Becoming a Virtual Assistant.