A virtual assistant provides services to solopreneurs and businesses to help them run their businesses. While many of these services are what you think of a typical administrative assistant handling in an on-site environment, including scheduling appoints, managing email accounts, and making phone calls, many virtual assistants provide more extensive services that include sending out marketing newsletters, uploading blog posts, posting to social media, and sometimes even writing posts or product descriptions.
A virtual assistant works remotely, providing virtual services that range from typical administrative tasks like managing email accounts and scheduling appointments to more extensive services like creating and sending out email newsletters, uploading blog posts, and posting to social media channels.
What does a Virtual Assistant Do?
A Virtual Assistant can provide from a variety of services. Aside from basic administrative services like managing email accounts and organizing online files, two popular services include creating basic images for blog posts and social media and uploading content to social channels.
Services provided by Virtual Assistants include:
- Creating basic images for blog posts, social media, and YouTube video thumbnails;
- Uploading content to YouTube and social medial channels like Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram;
- Writing introduction descriptions for YouTube videos;
- Uploading website blog posts and content;
- Sending email newsletters.
What is a Virtual Assistant Salary
Virtual Assistants may charge by the hour or by the project. Depending on the type of work done, most VAs can expect to make between $15 and $35 an hour with $25-$30 being the most common price range. Some virtual assistants make as much as $75.00 an hour which usually requires specialized skills.
Most Virtual Assistants are self-employed meaning they don't technically have a salary. They charge an hourly rate or sometimes a project rate for their work.
What are examples of Virtual Assistants?
Examples of Virtual Assistant services include almost anything you can think of completing online. From traditional administrative tasks to help with social media, research, and website updates there are virtual assistants who will provide these services. Learn more in the FAQ What does a Virtual Assistant Do?
- Managing email accounts
- Organizing online files and directories
- Scheduling appointments
- Creating images for blog posts, social media channels, and YouTube thumbnails
- Creating blog posts, adding the featured image, and sharing the new post to social channels.
- Creating and sending email newsletters.
- Making phone calls
- Uploading YouTube videos, configuring the settings, and adding the Closed Captions transcript
- Internet Research
- Proofreading
What do I need to become a Virtual Assistant?
As with any business, you’ll need to learn some basic business skills to become a Virtual Assistant and these can be learned as you go along. If you have any of the skills listed for Virtual Assistant services, you can start making money selling these services as a Virtual Assistant and continue to grow from there.
You'll need to be knowledgeable in the services you want to provide, and if you can help your customers as a trusted advisor helping them understand the best practices for the tasks you're completing, you will build more trust and can possibly increase your rates because you'll be offering an advanced service.
Summary of What is a Virtual Assistant FAQ
A Virtual Assistant provides virtual services for small businesses and entrepreneurs. These include a variety of services that go beyond just basic administrative tasks. While some people do hire VAs to help with email and calendar scheduling, many VAs work creating newsletters, helping update websites, proofreading transcripts, posting on social media, and even managing projects.
Most Virtual Assistants are self-employed, as opposed to working for companies as employees, and they charge either an hourly rate or sometimes a per-project rate.
