The success of a virtual assistant depends upon a number of different things, from dedication to work to how good they are at what they do. The most successful virtual assistants utilize a small toolbox of secrets that they use to develop their work life and to build on the potential that they already have. Let's take a look at five of the secrets of the most successful virtual assistants.
1. Set up tools that position you as a professional: Virtual assistants are a new breed of professional, and as such, for you be considered a professional, the presentation of your work as well as things like your invoicing and business correspondence should reflect your professional nature. A professional website (preferably with a domain-specific email address), billing and invoicing software such as Freshbooks and time tracking and scheduling tools like MinuteDock and Google Calendar that are essential to getting your job done in an efficient and timely manner. There are a number of tools out there that can do these things quickly and easily.Choose the one that feels right to you.
2. Develop a strong relationship with your clients: Interpersonal marketing is a major issue when it comes to virtual assistants. Let’s face it, email exchanges and web conferences don’t help to build the kind of strong interpersonal relationship you want to have with your client. To truly develop a rapport with your client, consider the things that you can do to make your client’s project easier. Always have him or her up to date with what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. Learn their business so you can make valid contributions to their discussions and spot the things they may have missed. All of these things lead toward your client considering you much more than just another virtual assistant.
3. Have a dedicated work space: One of the major problems that digital assistants face is their non-work lives interfering with their work. The best way to deal with a situation like this is to have a dedicated work area such as a home office. Having all your equipment in one dedicated place that is sequestered away from the rest of the house does wonders for your productivity and are far more conducive to the type of work a dedicated virtual assistant does.
4. Ask for referrals: Your business grows based on referrals. A good way to deal with referrals is to approach your client as soon as you complete a job and ask for feedback. This helps you in two ways: first by giving you an honest appraisal of your work, and second by allowing you to approach the client for a referral on the same questionnaire. Leveraging your clients to help boost your business is a tried and tested method of building your virtual assistant business.
5. Specialize: The virtual assistant market is becoming quite competitive. There are a number of ways that you can face this problem, but the most effective would be to specialize in a particular field. Virtual assistants can develop skills that can lead to becoming experts in a particular field such as Search Engine Optimization or Social Media. Going the extra mile to become an expert in a field makes you far more suited for some positions and allows you to get hired over other virtual assistants that lack your specialization.
Through it all, virtual assistants are at the forefront of technology and have been featured in a number of different business magazines. Virtual assistants represent the evolution of the personal assistant industry and growth into the information age. Embracing technology has made life easier for these professionals in many different fields, but only now are they realizing how much of an impact a virtual assistant can make in their day to day lives. Are you ready to use these secrets of successful virtual assistants to further your business goals?
Should You Become a Virtual Assistant?
I get asked A LOT, what it's like being a Virtual Assistant. I am more than happy to share because I know there are many moms/women stuck in miserable dead-end jobs feeling like they have no options. I was in that same position once too; I know how "that" feels. But I think people also ask because they secretly want to know if I am starving to death or ready to fade away from boredom.I am happy to say, NO to both :)
Creating a Virtual Assistant Resume
Working as a virtual assistant doesn't require you to have certain credentials and qualifications. If you want a successful home business and don't have prior experience, offer services to your clients based on your existing skills. There are additional factors to take into consideration. You should have a well equipped home office and the necessary certifications if you are going to offer services that require them, but one of the most important tools that a successful virtual assistant has is a well written resume. Unfortunately, a lot of people don't know how to write a resume that gets noticed by potential clients.
Virtual Assistant Tips for Communication
If you're going to be a successful virtual assistant, then you absolutely have to be an effective communicator. In this line of work, you will be expected to communicate with your employers and, in some cases, with clients several times throughout the day. If you are not good at expressing yourself both verbally and with the written word, then there is no way that you can succeed. Fortunately, being a good communicator isn't all that difficult if you keep a few simple tips in mind.
