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Not sure how to pick your services as a virtual assistant? I’ve been there before! Thanks to technology, there aren’t too many services you can’t do virtually. However, you also don’t want to provide every service under the sun. Therefore, what are you supposed to do, especially if you’re a new virtual assistant with little to no experience? Do you absolutely have to offer administrative services? Can you provide more than just one service? What services do clients even need help with? These questions can make it difficult to make a decision and leave newbies feeling stagnant.
Fortunately, there’s a solution! Below, I’ll share a few easy tips that’ll help you pick your services as a virtual assistant. So, if you’re new to virtual assisting and have no clue where to start, this should give you some clarity.
Table of Contents
Review Your Resume For Ideas
I’ve found that one of the easiest ways to pick your services as a virtual assistant is to review your resume. This one—to two-page document covers a lot of and can reveal exactly what service(s) you can start with.
Don't Overlook Your Previous Work Experience
I think the simplest way to select your service offering is to pick something you’ve done before. I see so many new VAs trying to offer services they have zero experience in, which just leads to more anxiety. This added stress can hold you back because you’ll be worried about how to learn this new skill before you get a client. In addition, you’ll get confused about how much you should charge and likely feel compelled to charge a lower rate.
Therefore, instead of overcomplicating everything, just offer tasks you’re already familiar with.
For example, if you previously worked in customer service, why not offer customer support services? One survey found that 95% of consumers say that customer service is essential for brand loyalty. Keeping up with customer service is challenging for a lot of small businesses so it’s a needed service. Although AI is expected to affect customer service and even replace 300 million full-time jobs, there will still be a need for a human touch.
Or, if you’ve been an executive assistant or office manager, wouldn’t it be easiest to begin providing administrative services to clients?
But what about if you were a teacher? How do those skill sets translate to virtual assisting? Well, teachers have great planning skills and know how to create curriculums. And guess who would benefit from that? Course creators! Teachers are also awesome communicators and might be good at customer and vendor relationship management.
No matter what kind of job you’ve held, look at the tasks and responsibilities you’ve had for each one and how that can be applied as a virtual assistant.
Your Education/Academic Accomplishments
While having a college degree isn’t a requirement to be a virtual assistant, it could help you in some ways if you have one. For example, my health administration and public health degrees allowed me to transition into Health and Wellness Content Writing. I occasionally offer this service to businesses in the healthcare industry and can charge more because of my education.
I’ll also share two other examples that may help you. I know people who have degrees in interior design and social work who have transitioned to virtual assisting. Virtual assistants with a Bachelors degree in Interior Design may support other interior designers by creating floor plans or providing vendor management. Those with a Bachelor of Social Work degree may decide to work with mental health practice owners. Whatever your degree is, there’s someone out who’s looking for a professional with your experience.
You shouldn’t sleep on any certificates you’ve earned over the years either. For instance, if you’re a Certified Cosmetologist, why not work with Beauty Salon Owners? Are you a Certified Medical Assistant? If yes, there are plenty of healthcare companies who need remote support AND want someone who understands the industry. And if you currently lack certificates, consider if it’s worth getting one. Some can be completed in three months or less and make you more marketable.
As you can see so far, picking your services as a virtual assistant doesn’t have to be hard! Your resume can point you in the right direction.
Your Experience With Tools & Software
Another item you might put on your resume is the tools you have extensive experience with. And guess what you could do with those? If you guessed offer them as a service, you’re absolutely right!
I know several business owners who use tools like Dubsado or HoneyBook, but they don’t know how to set up workflows or create forms. Therefore, if you’re a whiz at using either platform, you could offer CRM set-up services.
The same goes for course creation tools like Thinkific and Teachable. The course creation market is growing, but many business owners lack the time and technical ability to set them up. So, if you’re proficient at course set-up, you’ll be a huge asset to people like that.
What Kind of Lifestyle Do You Want To Live?
Another factor you should consider when picking your services as a virtual assistant is what kind of lifestyle you want to live. Do you want to work Monday through Friday, 9 to 5, or are you interested in having a more flexible schedule? If you desire a flexible schedule, offering administrative or customer support services might not be the best approach. Most businesses will want you to be available during regular business hours.
Services like social media management and CRM set-ups might be a better fit for those who don’t want strict work hours. It doesn’t really matter when you work with those services as long as you provide the deliverable by the agreed-upon deadline.
The services you pick also affect how much you can charge as a virtual assistant. For example, people expect to pay more for technical services than administrative ones. You’ll want to determine the price range for different services to see what aligns with your abilities and financial goals.
In addition, people will pay you MORE if you have experience doing something already. This is why I urge new VAs to pick tasks they’re already familiar with so they don’t have to charge an entry-level rate.
Ready To Pick Your Services As A Virtual Assistant?
Now that you’ve got these ideas, it’s time to put them to use. Try to select 3 to 4 services you can provide based on your current experience and start marketing them to potential clients. Don’t forget to make a portfolio website so you can also showcase examples of your work.
If these suggestions were helpful to you, please tell me in the comments!
How To Pick Your Services As A Virtual Assistant Video
