How to get hired as a virtual Assistant

If you want to start a virtual assistant business, you want to get in the mind of a business owner that is looking to outsource some functions including social media etc.  

Side Hustlers Income Reports 

Brock Johnson son of Chalene Johnson Social media expert talks about his experience of hiring a virtual assistant.   You can listen here

 Brock’s recent surprising answer while being interviewed on another podcast

The best decision of Brock’s business life

How to know when you’re really ready to hire your 1st hire

What Brock is currently outsourcing- email management, schedule management, event scheduling, influencer managing, content creation, graphic design, video and podcast editing, data analysis plus so much more      

Ideas on what you can outsource

Brock’s step-by-step process for his most recent VA hire -top places to find VA  upwork, fiverr freelance.com

The most challenging part of the interviewing process for Brock

Be able to talk about what devices you use   ie apple vs andriod/windows vs chrome etc 

What hours are you willing to work?   Is it 5 hour vs 25 vs 40 hours a week 

          If I hire you will you be looking for more work 

 9 Steps To Start Your Virtual Assistant Business

Why / how the best interviewees will turn a negative experience into a positive

Why it’s so helpful to have someone close in your life take part in your interviewing process (and who Brock uses)

9 Steps To Start Your Virtual Assistant Business

Virtual assisting is a field that is growing extremely fast.

Not only does the internet allow us to complete more daily tasks online, more and more people are doing work from home jobs such as running a website, social media, real estate, advertising, etc. This means there are more and more virtual assistant jobs.   I have been a real estate assistant for several agents over the years.  Yes they are local but 99% of the tasks are done online in the past 5 years. 

Virtual assistant (VA) tasks may include social media management, formatting and editing content, scheduling appointments or travel, email management, and more. Basically, you can get paid to do any task that needs to be done in someone’s business, but doesn’t need to be them. 

9 Steps To Start Your Virtual Assistant Business

1. Decide On Your Virtual Assistant Business Name

While you can keep this simple and just use your own name, some people want a catchy name and title for their new virtual assistant business.  Make sure you grab the domain name so you can set up a website later. 

2. Decide On Your Services & Rates

What are you good at? Are there any specific services that you’d prefer to offer?  What skills sets are you good. Here is a good list to get ideas on what you can do 

Technical Writing
CSS/HTML Coding
Podcast Editing
Editing
Proofreading
General Research
Customer Service
HR Management
Calendar Management
Bookkeeping 
Facebook Group Management
Social Media Marketing
Photoshop
Data Entry 
Excel 
Blog Management 

Alot of VA start off around  15-20  an hour  Remember you are not an employee so you can need to make sure you are covering all of your expenses taxes, business software etc .   For my real estate business, I have adjusted many times as I have learned and more of what my agents were asking.  

3. Create A Business Plan

A business plan doesn’t have to be a long, boring document. Your business plan really only needs a few points, including the services you’ll provide, the contract you’ll give potential clients, how you’ll pay for your business, and what you can offer that sets you apart from other VAs.

4 Develop A Marketing Strategy

Will you use social media as a tool to gain new clients? Do you want to have a blog and email list? How will you market your business to get new clients?

These are questions you need to ask and answer so you can pitch yourself and your services a little easier.  

5. Reach Out To Your Network

Once you’ve figured out the above steps, it’s time to reach out to your existing network! Even if they don’t fall within your virtual assistant business niche, they may need your help or know someone who does.   My first client was a friend of my husband who was in real estate.  

This is a great way to get your first client, and you don’t even have to step out of your comfort zone!  Check out local women business group both on social media and in person. 

6. Advertise Your Virtual Assistant Business

Post on social media, write a blog post, create a YouTube video — whatever you need to do in order to gain a new client. Part of doing business is advertising what you have to offer.   Also create profile on upwork  as you may get good experience doing some task on there as well. 

7. Providing White Glove Service aka keeping your clients

I have been really lucky to keep my clients long term because I provide white glove service. Finish your tasks on time, communicate, and go above and beyond for your clients.   They’ll appreciate that you care about their businesses  and will be more willing to continue working with you and refer you to others.  It's a lot easier to retain a client rather than having to find a new one.  

8. Ask For Referrals & Testimonials

Along with keeping your clients, you can ask for referrals and testimonials! Don’t be afraid of leveraging the work you’ve done for your current clients.   

9. You need to invest in software and tools 

As I’ve progressed with my business, I’ve also realized the importance of having the right tools at my disposal.

I have invested accounting tool, like  Quickbooks  I also use Monday.com  as my task management system, so I never forget anything that I need to do.

How to get Started with Upwork

Upwork is one of the largest global freelancing platforms where businesses and independent professionals come together for online work services. It has 12 million registered freelancers and 5 million registered clients.

Upwork use to be free to apply for jobs this no longer the case. They charge $0.15 charge per Connect. Connects are what you use to apply for jobs each job requires at least 2 connects

Also they have fees these fees are taken straight out of your check. This is not taxes so you still have to pay taxes consider this when you create your hourly rate. **
20% for the first $500 billed with the client
10% for lifetime billings with the client between $500.01 and $10,000
5% for lifetime billings with the client that exceed $10,000

How It Works: You create a profile on Upwork you choose your own hourly rate (companies can decide if they want to pay you your hourly rate of not). Once your profile is approved you can start applying for jobs. You use the search feature to find these jobs (advance search to narrow it down). You submit your cover letter to the job you would like. If the employer is interested they will contact you for an interview.

If your hired on a hourly contract you must use the Upwork time tracker to submit your hours. If you don't payment is not guaranteed. If you do payment is guaranteed.

Fixed price contracts are short projects that pay a flat rate (you have no guarantee with these)

Here are 7 tips how you can get work using Upwork even when you have no experience at all.

1. Have  a Good Profile Picture

One of the very first things that your clients will see from your profile is your picture. When you want to request work from someone, people will want to know your face and who you are. So upload and use a more professional picture of yourself. Unsmiling, grainy and poor quality picture will only show that you are unprofessional and nobody likes to work with people who are not professional.

Get a high-resolution head shot picture with a pleasant smile. And please, no naked shoulders, and try to wear professionally. Never be too shy to show your face when you are out there looking for jobs.



2. Your Language Skills are Important

In the online world, you will contact your clients through the power of words most of the time. And it has no exception when it comes to Upwork. Even if you have no experience, you should mind your language skills because they can win you the contract or worst, fail you.

Small things such as misspellings, texting lingo, and poor grammar are red flags to clients, and this is especially true when you are bidding for professional writing work. You should always check your spelling and read through what you have typed before you send out to your client. Use tools such as Grammarly to help you in this.

3. Create Samples

When you are totally new, you have no experience, no credibility, and no testimonials, but there is one very powerful tool you can create for yourself, and that is the sample of your work.

For example, if you want to be a writer, create a blog and publish some of your own articles there. When you request for jobs, you can use the articles on your blog as your samples. Better yet, you can contribute guest posts on other blogs and then use them as your samples. This will immediately increase your credibility, especially if the guest blogs are popular.

Well, this can apply to many services and not only to writing-related works. If you are into logo design, just design a few and publish them on your websites. You can showcase them to your clients to get them interested in your work.

Side Hustlers Income Reports 

4. Low-Paying Jobs Can be a Great Start

This is one of the mistakes that most beginners will do. They thought that low-paying jobs are not worthy because they have to spend a lot of time to get the work done, yet, the payment cannot justify their effort.

Never underestimate the low-paying jobs. In fact, most big businesses and long-term clients come from low-paying jobs. No one will award a $10,000 job to someone that they do not know or have no past experience with. This means that low-paying jobs are your best bet to connect with clients with a bigger budget. Start small and grow, so never mind the low-paying jobs, just do them.

5. Don’t Be Too Desperate

It is absolutely fine if nobody wants to hire you. The beginning is the toughest. And sometimes, you just do not want to show that you are desperate to get the job. Your desperation will scare your clients away.

Your clients will want to see you as in hot demand and successful. People will want to hire someone good and someone who can deliver a great work, not someone who is desperate.

6. Stay Active

If you are serious to make some money from Upwork, you need to take action and submit your proposals. Do not think that once you have created a nice and great profile, clients will come to you automatically. It does not work that way. You need to go and put your name out there to win the contracts.

Winning a contract in Upwork is a numbers game. The more prospective clients you contact and propose, the more likely you are going to get the work. Somehow, somewhere and someone will want what you have to offer. By the way, never forget to improve as you progress. Learn to create a better proposal and customize it to fit your client’s requirements.

7. Build Your Portfolio

One of the most important keys to success in the world of freelancing is to create your own portfolio. For example, if you want to get jobs on optimizing the search engine for a website, and if you have the Google search engine optimization certification, people will want to give you work.

Credibility and a strong portfolio count. Yes, it may be difficult when you have zero experience, but that does not mean that you cannot build your portfolio from scratch. When you successfully completed a job, request a testimonial from your client. Many freelancers start by picking smaller jobs so that once completed successfully, they can add a testimonial to their victory list. And you should do the same.

Start with one service, make sure it’s something you’re really good at. Fill out your FAQ’s so buyers understand the limitations around your service.

Take every project that you feel you can actually deliver on and get 5 stars.

Make your prices competitive with the competition. The goal is to move up the levels as quickly as possible. Then you can increase your prices. It can happen very fast so don’t over think having your prices low in the beginning

Now that you know what you should do to get work from Upwork even when you have no experience. The best advice is to just take action and do it. It is absolutely fine if you fail to win any contract, but never give up and keep learning until you landed your first job. And things will just get better from there.

I've been using upwork for years now and for you to not be scammed, you have to make sure that all your communications are inside upwork. The contract must also be inside upwork, and don't start any work without contract

Non phone work at home option

I've had many people who have emailed me and private message me on my facebook group  asking me where the non-phone jobs are. I have read on numerous work at home forums people asking for non-phone jobs mainly because they have babies, young children or because phone work is simply not their cup of tea. Add to this mix, some even state they have no experience.
Even to someone who has no experience, you have options.
One, you can choose to take a course online in a particular subject or choose to brush up on your skills such as your typing speed, learn Word or Excel. You can find a tutorial online

Two, your other option we are going to discuss multiple telecommuting job  and side hustle  options for people who have no experience and who prefers non-phone work.

updated for 2022 

1. Writing - Almost everyone can write and compose a sentence. You don't have to be a professional writer to get paid. I'm not talking about companies who require their applicants to have a journalism degree or writing degree.  Upwork  usually have writing jobs.  You can also consider proofreading.

2. Blogging - I'm sure you often wonder how you can make money blogging. It's really quite simple. Blogging, in my opinion, is a great outlet to practice and to hone your writing skills.
Once you have started a blog, you can bring in revenue by monetizing your blog in several ways. You can add Google AdSense ads, Text Link ads, sell ad space, and promote affiliate programs or business opportunities. Another way is to get involved with "Get Paid To Blog".

What is "Get Paid To Blog"?
Get paid to blog are companies who have advertisers who would like bloggers to write about their products or services. Pay varies from company to company.

Or there are many blogging companies who will pay you to write blog articles for their blogs.

First Steps 

here are a few simple steps that you will need to complete to start your blog:

Choose your blogging platform blogger or wordpress.

Secure a domain name and get hosting in place with Bluehost 

Configure your blog watch the series of setting up 

3. Chat   A chat agent works remotely to help answer customer questions or address their concerns. Chat agent jobs may involve  resolving customer concerns   Apple, Best buy regularly  hire Work at home chat agents 

We got a list of companies that regularly hire chat or email support here 

4. General or Legal Transcription - While general or legal transcription doesn't require specialized training, it does require a good ear, speed and accuracy. There are some companies who will hire without prior experience, but you are required to meet their standards.


5. Virtual Assistant - You can market yourself as a Virtual Assistant. There are many basic tasks you can perform if you're not an experienced administrative assistant. There are people who look to outsource easy clerical tasks such as article submitting, promoting or partial maintenance of their websites like link checking, answer general inquiries, advertising etc. Oftentimes, people are looking for ghostwriters because either they aren't good writers or they don't have time to write. It's a good idea to brush up on all of your skills or become more knowledgeable in areas where you are lacking so you can be more marketable and versatile.

6. Selling online  

While this might not be a job and more of business  You can do this around children if you build yourself a schedule and work hard at it. 

Best Tips & Tricks for Selling on Facebook Marketplace 

How to start an Amazon FBA reseller business with $100

5 Places To Sell Your Stuff Online Besides Ebay

How to get start selling clothing and make money online

How to be become a virtual assistant

If you have administration skills, you can be a virtual assistant. When I first wanted to work at home I didn't know how I was going to go about it. I knew what I wanted to do - work at home - but what kind of services was I going to provide, and for whom? What rates should I be charging and how long would it take to complete a job? Will I really make a living working at home?

Here is the best course on being Virtual Assistant How to become a Virtual Assistant!

Segment 1: Virtual Assistant Basics

•What a VA is
•Do you need experience
•Skills needed
•Do you need training
•When to bill the client
•Keeping track of different clients and projects
•Equipment needed
•Invoicing options
•Income potential
•Do you need a business license
•How much a VA can make
•Where to find business contracts & MORE!

Segment 2: Website 101

•Why you need a website
•Choosing a domain name
•Picking a hosting company
•Important pages to include on your website
•How to use a blog
•How to use a newsletter
•How to use audio
•Different options for building your website
•What services you could offer

Segment 3: Online and Offline Marketing Basics

•Using freelance websites to gain clients
•Offline advertising
•Online advertising
•Article marketing
•Growing your expert status
•Booking radio shows
•Using a press release & MORE!

Segment 4: Tips to Keeping the Client

•Ideas for using specials
•Referral specials
•And two very important aspects to keeping your clients!

How to become a Virtual Assistant!

5 steps to being a virtual assistant

Have you been a been an administrative assistant? Have you been an office manager? Worked in an office? Know how to type? Know how to organize? Know Mircosoft office products inside and out? Then you might a good candidate to be a Virtual Assistant
.


But you'd rather work for yourself and be in charge of your own time. Maybe you want to be at home when your kids arrive from school, or maybe you're just tired of commuting. Maybe you dream of living in the mountains or your rural hometown, but you still want to produce an income.



As a Virtual Assistants
, you take on the nitty-gritty work for independent professionals and small businesses that don't need a full-time secretary or office manager. Your tasks may include secretarial work, meeting and travel planning, project managing, and logistics coordinating.

Want to learn how to set up your virtual assistance business.

Virtual Assistant- 5 steps to get you started will give you hands on advice on how to get started.

Work at home accounting and bookkeeping jobs

Accounting and finance careers involve the processing of financial data, handling accounts payables and receivables, organizing records and assistance in tax preparation. Accounting and Finance professionals often work in positions where they assist customers with their accounting records, bill paying and collections. Some of the common terms to describe accounting and financial careers are Finance Manager, Business Analyst, Auditor, Controller, Collection Agent, Bookkeeper, Accounting Clerk, CPA and Accountant. Accounting and finance telecommuting careers are open to entry-level as well as more experienced professionals that are good with math, self-motivated and able to meet deadlines. There are opportunities for contract work, full and part-time flexible schedules. 

Updated for 2022

AccountingDepartment.com

AccountingDepartment.com is an outsourcing firm that hires CPAs, bookkeepers with experience providing A/P, A/R, payroll, general sales staff, and appointment setters for work-at-home positions. Accountants need five years of experience, and bookkeepers need at least two. Some office work or local travel may be required.



ABBM Group

 Seeking "telecommuting" staff accountants.  CPA required.  Should have at least 3 years of prior public accounting experience.  Must have own computer, including a modem.  We will furnish necessary software.  Will primarily prepare individual, partnership, and corporate tax returns, including reviewing accounting records and making adjustments necessary to prepare tax returns.  Not necessary that you live in Houston, but would prefer Texas residents, if possible.  Position is ideal for (a) moms or stay-at-home dads, who have their CPA certificate, and who left practice to raise children and now want to work part time at home, or (b) people who have retired from public accounting who want to continue to work some.   This will be a new concept for us, so there may be some kinks to be worked out.  However, we're convinced it can be done.  Please send us your resume.

Belay Solutions
Belay typically hires virtual assistants, but they also hire more specialized positions like virtual bookkeepers. Job duties include paying client's bills, reconciling bank statements, journal and data entry, 1099 preparation, and payroll processing. Candidates must have five years prior experience.

Bookminders
Bookminders hires accountants with 4-year degrees and with five or more years of accounting experience,   Our employment model is ideal for candidates who are looking for work/life balance and want to work part- to full-time.  The bookminder position offers the opportunity to work from home and visit clients on-site weekly. These “bookminders” must have suitable office space in their home, a computer, and a car to facilitate local travel to meet with clients.

ClickAccounts
ClickAccounts provides business process outsourcing (BPO) service provider for small and medium-sized companies. To apply for an accounting or bookkeeping position, email your resume to careers@ClickAccounts.com.

Intuit
Tax software giant Intuit employs work-at-home tax advisors for permanent and seasonal (November through April) jobs giving tax help to callers—no selling or tax preparation will be required. Intuit also offers seasonal jobs as a QuickBooks Live Senior Expert Bookkeeper. If you plan to work in the bookkeeping domain, a four-year degree is preferred; if you want to work in the tax prep domain, a four-year degree is required.

Check out Flexjobs for more work at home jobs in accounting, finance, and bookkeeping