Virtual assistants joined the workforce in record numbers as the gig sector grew amid the pandemic.Increased interest in virtual assistants on social media is inspiring some to become entrepreneurs.Insider compiled a list of strategies to help aspiring virtual assistants thrive.Sign up for our weekday newsletter, packed with original analysis, news, and trends — delivered right to your inbox.Loading Something is loading.
Email address By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy .In August 2020, Jessica Hawks posted her first TikTok video that explained her experience working as a virtual assistant.
Specifically, she told viewers that she was earning $9,000 per month without a college degree.
Today, Hawks has more than 850,000 followers on TikTok who watch her content to learn more about the virtual-assistant industry.What’s more, #virtualassistant has more than 136 million views on TikTok.
Hawks is part of a growing number of people who’ve launched virtual-assistant businesses during the pandemic.
In fact, gig and freelance work became a significant sector of the economy throughout COVID-19, and virtual assistants reported a 41% increase in hiring in 2020 compared to 2019, said a report by NanoGlobals , a remote-work expert and market analyst.
“In the last five years, people recognized that everybody needs help,” Angela Lee, a professor of professional practice at Columbia University, previously told Insider .”Everyone I know needs a virtual assistant, and everyone I know has a really hard time finding one,” she added.
For those looking to take a leap toward entrepreneurship, Insider spoke with four virtual assistants and compiled a list of stories, strategies, and daily schedules that helped them build their businesses.
Virtual assistants are the labor shortage solution for small businesses The virtual, freelance, and gig industries have been growing for at least 10 years, said Arun Sundararajan, the author of ” The Sharing Economy ” and a professor of entrepreneurship and technology, operations, and statistics at New York University’s Stern School of Business.But since the start of the pandemic, businesses of all sizes have started using the workers in increased numbers, he added.
While some large companies are hiring virtual assistants, small businesses remain virtual assistants’ most reliable clients.When starting out, entrepreneurs aren’t sure if they will grow or what peaks and valleys lie ahead, Sundararajan said.
Hiring virtual assistants and contract workers can keep companies nimble without the cost of paying full-time salaries and benefits.
Read more: Why virtual assistants are the affordable solution to business owners’ labor shortage
Differentia te yourself from the market The virtual-assistant space has expanded greatly during the past year.Part of that was prompted by employees who left their full-time jobs and looked for more flexible work schedules in careers they were passionate about.
Simultaneously, a record number of small businesses and brands were created in the past year.In the first quarter of 2021, more than 300,000 new businesses were formed in the US, a number that continued to grow throughout the year, with more than 30,000 formations in November alone.
These trends joined together as virtual assistants sought new entrepreneurs to work for as social-media, marketing, or administrative assistants.
With the increased number of virtual assistants, it’s important to differentiate yourself from others in the field, people told Insider.This can be done by finding a specific niche of clients you’ll work with, establishing services specific to your skills or aesthetic, or selling additional products or services on the side.
Read more: I’m a virtual assistant making $10,000 a month in revenue.Here’s how I started my business and make 6 figures a year.
Choose your services When determining your services, it’s important to recognize what skills you already have and what skills you’re interested in learning, people said.Virtual-assistant tasks range from designing marketing materials, creating the social-media strategy, and sending invoices and receipts to clients’ customers.
Regardless of what services you decide to offer, there’s a tool designed to help you provide quality work for your clients.Some virtual assistants said paying for high-end online tools and platforms was a worthwhile investment, while others used free resources to complete their jobs.
Read more: A 23-year-old virtual assistant making $8,000 a month shares 11 tools she uses to run her business
Set your own schedule One of the benefits of working as a virtual assistant is the flexibility, people said.Virtual assistants can set their own schedules, decide how many hours to work per week, and leave time for family or travel whenever they see fit.Additionally, many start their virtual-assistant careers while holding full-time jobs.
Whatever your circumstances, setting a schedule that works for you is an important step in creating a sustainable business model, people said.If you’re an early riser, consider completing your work each morning so you have the afternoon off.
If you’re a night owl, allow yourself to sleep in, and start working when you’ll be most productive, said Hawks , who follows a schedule that allows her to wake up as late as 10 a.m.
Read more: I’m a virtual assistant booking 6 figures in revenue this year.Here’s how I landed clients and launched an agency all while keeping my full-time job.
Read more: A virtual assistant followed this daily routine to earn $9,000 a month and scale her business to $1.1 million in sales
Strategically land clients Additionally, virtual assistants can choose their clients and work with brands they admire.
Social media can be a great place to find brands you align with and potential customers, people said.Determine your ideal industry and tasks, then share your thoughts on how to improve or solve existing problems for clients.The most effective way to land a client is to show them that your work will make their life easier as a business owner.
Lastly, attending virtual events and webinars hosted by brands you want to work with is another way to connect with prospective clients, said Alanna Smith , who runs her own virtual assistant business.
Smith takes opportunities in breakout rooms to connect and network with potential customers.
Read more: I’m a 23-year-old virtual assistant making $8,000 a month.Here’s how I built my business and find clients.
Read more : A virtual assistant who makes $4,000 a month in revenue shares 4 tips for starting a business like hers, including how to find your niche
Grow your personal brand Virtual assistants are often responsible for completing digital tasks, such as social-media management or email marketing, for their clients.
As digital experts, they’re typically expected to have a curated platform of their own, people said.Whether that’s an artistic or clean Instagram page or a TikTok account that shows off their personality and creativity, a virtual assistant’s online presence can be the key to future professional relationships.
Marketing yourself online can be a tricky task, but experts have shared the most effective ways to do so, including specifically crafting your captions and the best social-media features to grow a following.
Read more: How to market yourself on social media according to a virtual assistant making $9,000 per month
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