Digital Assistants do many several types of work for a lot of several types 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 working social media accounts of my very own. I made a decision to make use of these abilities by providing my providers to social media influencers.
This job has allowed me to make money working from home, make my very own hours, and even journey the world. Touring just isn’t 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!
đ©âđŒ My Background
I began as a content material creator in 2018 by posting YouTube movies. I took it SO severely and watched a few thousand âEasy methods to Edit a YouTube Videoâ movies. I discovered all the things that I might probably find out about content material creation and gaining a following.
Quick ahead a number of years, and podcasts began changing into increasingly more widespread, so my greatest good friend and I made a decision to begin one. Once more, I watched movies and did hours of analysis to be taught all the things about creating and modifying a podcast.
Alongside the best way, I discovered quite a bit from my expertise and from watching different content material creators. Social media is constructed on traits, so itâs arduous to be a YouTube editor if you happen to donât watch YouTube. I studied traits and modifying kinds that had been changing into standard.
As I used to be watching influencersâ movies, I seen that they had been so busy and infrequently talked about having to cancel plans with buddies or household in order that they could possibly be house and edit a video. Some creators even talked about that they hate modifying, and it looks like such a chore.
Itâs not all the time simple to generate income as a content material creator when platforms are oversaturated, so I assumed that aiding others would result in a extra secure revenue.
đ Getting Began
I had all of those abilities that may be so useful to liberate another personâs time. I spent so many weeks, if not months, finding out modifying and social media, and I felt tremendous assured in my talents. The truth that I had been doing all of it for myself for years was a bonus.
My first thought was to develop into a video editor for YouTubers, however I knew that I might accomplish that rather more than simply edit movies. Thatâs once I considered changing into a Digital Assistant.
đ The important thing to success as a VA is to determine your abilities 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 an important 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 following step was to make a resume and a piece pattern to point out potential purchasers what I might do. I assumed again to those self same creators that talked about that they didnât like modifying or needed to cancel plans, and I despatched them an e-mail with my work connected.
Sadly, I didnât even hear again from fairly a number of of them, and thatâs the truth of chilly emailing. A few of them might not have had it of their price range to rent one other particular person, or some might haven’t wished to surrender some management of their work. That’s all the time arduous for purchasers, so I strive my greatest to be taught their âtypeâ to start with and be taught to do issues their approach.
I made a decision to achieve out to potential purchasers as an alternative of utilizing a freelancing web site as a result of I assumed that some influencers might not even know that they need assistance till it’s supplied. Typically folks donât understand how overwhelmed they’re, or that VAs even exists till itâs talked about to them!
At some point whereas conserving 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, they usually had been all issues that I knew I used to be able to! She ended up being my first shopper, and it will definitely become a full-time gig.
All through my time together with her, I even had potential purchasers reaching out to me by means 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 become a full-time job that gave me the liberty and adaptability to be my very own boss.
Duties of a VA
Digital Assistants do many several types of work, and your duties will differ together with your employerâs wants. Iâm certain there are much more avenues than I can consider: anybody in any area can all the time use help!
đ As a digital assistant to influencers, my duties embody:
- Modifying (photographs, movies, or podcasts)
- Content material brainstorming
- Organizing emails
- Partaking on social media
A âwork day in my lifeâ video the place I present all of my normal day by day duties
đ§ A typical day in my life normally begins out with checking emails. I donât wish to maintain anybody ready too lengthy for a response!
đ± Subsequent, Iâll go to Instagram and see if there are any feedback or messages from the day before today that want responses. I additionally create any graphics that have to be made for promotions, web sites, or Instagram.
đ„ Modifying YouTube movies or podcast episodes takes up the majority of my day. Modifying one YouTube video can take anyplace from 3-10 hours, relying on the size, and one podcast episode can take about 6-8 hours.
What Expertise Do You Want?
The primary qualification to develop into a VA is to be tech-savvy. No two purchasers are alike, they usually every have completely different wants. The secret’s to be able to be taught something that they could need assistance with.
To be taught modifying abilities, I’d suggest beginning with iMovie for video modifying, and GarageBand for podcast modifying (they each come free on Macbooks!) I really like each of those and havenât encountered a lot that I canât do on them.
It additionally helps to be organized and good at time administration. Working as a VA, you’re normally in control of your personal schedule. In the event youâre not good at managing your time, you possibly can rapidly develop into overwhelmed and miss deadlines.
Shoppers typically even search help as a result of THEY arenât the very best at time administration or group, so itâs your job to supply them with that and be their proper hand.
Expertise
For many positions, expertise just isn’t wanted. Lots of the duties are easy on a regular basis issues that purchasers now not have time to do him or themselves.
For an Influencer VA, modifying is most definitely a should. Some influencers have a selected editor, so it might not be mandatory in your job, nevertheless itâs all the time good to know easy methods to deal with their work and present your worth.
You possibly can even take abilities from earlier work expertise, and share how that has helped you develop into extra organized, accountable, and so on. Expertise doesnât all the time have to be in the identical area!
What Are The Hours Like?
As I discussed earlier than, you possibly can normally make your personal hours. There are some issues to remember with that, although, like time zones. Relying on the work that you justâre doing, chances are you’ll be in a back-and-forth together with your shopper to ask about their choice for colours, designs, and so on.
In case your shopper is in a special time zone, this may trigger you to work early mornings, late nights, and even weekends. Additionally, your shopper might have one thing performed with a brief turnaround, so typically itâs like being on name.
The best half about being digital is which you could journey as a lot as you need and work from anyplace on the planet, so long as youâre keen to deliver 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 your corporation begins to select up.
In the event youâre modifying movies for the shopper, chances are you’ll be working anyplace from 20-40+ hours per week. It actually depends upon precisely what your purchasers need assistance with!
How Do I Discover Shoppers?
Discovering purchasers will be troublesome, however if you happen to 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 means of social media.
You possibly can join freelancing platforms like Upwork or Fiverr, however because itâs extra aggressive, you could have a tougher 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 Instagram for an assistant, I’ve an opportunity of popping up. Additionally, since I try this on my private Instagram, it virtually acts as a slight âinterviewâ. The purchasers can take a look at my footage and see if my content material is much like their type or if we have now 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’re is taken into account a âchilly e-mailâ. One of the best ways to ship a chilly e-mail is to maintain it quick and candy. These folks get a great deal of emails per day and donât have the time to learn an extended one from somebody they donât know.
đ Right hereâs a listing of issues I be mindful whereas chilly emailing a shopper:
- Say one thing private that exhibits that you just do know of them or their firm. (e.g., âI heard you point out in your new videoâŠâ or âI noticed that you just simply launched a brand new productâ)
- Clarify that that their time is effective and you’re keen to take a few of their workloads (making their life EASIER is difficult to show down)
- Depart one name to motion (e.g., âLet me know if this seems like one thing youâre interested byâ)
- Thank them for his or her time studying your e-mail.
- Comply with up inside about 5-7 days. This exhibits that you justâre organized and didnât simply ship out a mass e-mail to everybody .
- If there isn’t any response after 1 follow-up, I assume that they arenât . Sending greater than 1 or 2 follow-ups can come off as pushy!
In the event you give attention to personalization, this final one shouldnât occur, however: donât ship mass emails! Thatâs 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 all the time a good suggestion. Earlier than I had skilled expertise on this area, 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 modifying my very own movies since 2018, to point out that I did have information of the social media world. Even when that you must listing your personal content material creation as expertise, DO IT!
Easy methods to Showcase Your Expertise to a Potential Shopper?
A piece pattern is simply as vital as a resume. This place is all primarily based in tech, so it is sensible to showcase your abilities that approach! 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 abilities to make it look cohesive and nonetheless present my accomplishments. It is a artistic job, so donât be afraid to make use of some colour and present that you’ve got a superb eye for design! Even my resume is colourful and features a photograph in order that they will match a face with my identify.
A web page from my work pattern. Itâs colourful and exhibits off my ability whereas remaining skilled.
Easy methods to Journey the World as a VA
I all the time get requested how my digital job become changing into a world traveler. Principally, I bought actually fortunate. Journey is normally not a part of the job description, however if you happen toâre , it’s doable. Influencers journey typically, and in the event that they donât have an âin-personâ assistant, you possibly can categorical that you’re open to journey and that your schedule permits it.
âïž Your touring duties might embody:
- Checking into the lodge and/or reserving the reservations
- Calling for room service or automotive service
- Taking photographs and movies
- Holding monitor of private belongings
- Operating errands
Some journeys permit for plus-ones, and the shopper may take pleasure in having a private assistant all through their work journey. Your job description will 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?
In case you are simply beginning, a superb vary is $30-$50 per hour, relying on the work and the workload. After gaining some expertise, you possibly can cost anyplace from $60-$80 per hour. That is what Iâve heard from others within the enterprise, however Iâm 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 be taught as a lot as you possibly can and broaden your ability set!
As I discussed, some purchasers might solely want your assist for about 10 hours per week. In that case, you possibly can have a number of purchasers without delay, relying on how a lot free time you could have. Because youâre in control of making your personal hours, bear in mind to not overwhelm your self!
Getting Paid
Itâs not unusual to have a shopper that doesnât have a typical payroll that you’d discover at an workplace job. In these conditions, you should use PayPal, Venmo, Money App, Smart, or different dependable cash switch providers.
You possibly can select whether or not you wish to be paid weekly, biweekly, or month-to-month, and you’ll work out what works greatest in your shopper. Oftentimes, it may be just a little overwhelming for a shopper to pay weekly, nevertheless it all relies upon. As for taxes, I put aside a proportion of every paycheck to save lots of for when taxes are due. Ensure that to maintain this in thoughts, or tax season is not going to be enjoyable!
Issues to Keep in mind
If you wish to develop into a VA, simply bear in mind to know your price and take probabilities! Attain out to the corporate that you justâve all the time admired, or ship an e-mail to your favourite influencer. This job is studying as you go, and all the time doing all of your greatest to accommodate your shopper.
Iâm joyful 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 will help you in your journey www.patreon.com/leannasal. I additionally put up âVA Work Days in my Lifeâ movies that yow will discover right here: www.youtube.com/leannasal.
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