Need to put your group and communication abilities to work from the consolation of your individual house? Excellent news: busy professionals want your assist — and are keen to pay for it.
As a digital assistant (VA), you possibly can make a profitable profession out of serving to folks and companies with knowledge entry, social media administration, web site upkeep, analysis, customer support and extra. Sooner or later, you could be serving to a small enterprise arrange their social media accounts; the subsequent, you possibly can be researching journey locations.
Full-time VA and proprietor of TheOnlineVirtualAssistant.com, Nica Mandigma, says she’s seen alternatives for VAs develop over the previous six years. “I get inquiries now greater than ever. And I don’t see the demand abating anytime quickly,” she explains. “VAs will probably be in demand so long as folks search for extra methods to stability their work and private lives.”
A very powerful step to discovering work as a contract digital assistant most likely gained’t shock you: networking.
“I all the time suggest telling folks you’re a VA — particularly at networking occasions,” says part-time VA Tatiana Christian. “[Try] becoming a member of an entrepreneurial neighborhood… and the apparent: organising a weblog the place you discuss being a VA.”
Mandigma agrees, including, “Ensure you have good presence on social media. I discovered my ultimate purchasers by way of Fb, Twitter, and Pinterest. It additionally pays to learn and touch upon blogs about digital assistants and outsourcing as a result of many individuals who learn these posts are those that want digital assistants.”
In different phrases, the talents it’s worthwhile to get hold of work as a VA are the identical ones it’s worthwhile to carry out the job: group and nice communication.
Need to strive your hand at working as a VA? Listed below are eight of the most well-liked web sites for locating purchasers:
These firms have all the time been comparable, they usually merged in late 2013. On every website, potential purchasers put up their wants after which sit again whereas hungry freelancers “bid” on an opportunity to work for them.
Whereas this technique may match effectively for sure professions, Tatiana Christian means that VAs use warning, stating, “I hate bidding websites. Individuals solely use these websites to get actually good assist for little or no cash.” Mandigma agrees, saying, “I nonetheless have a profile [on oDesk] however don’t use it in any respect as a result of bidding for jobs takes a variety of time. I might quite give attention to advertising myself by way of my weblog and social media.”
TaskRabbit focuses on connecting folks domestically; nonetheless, they’re now providing restricted “distant” work, a lot of which is ideal for a VA.
If you happen to’re over 21 and dwell in a metropolis talked about in TaskRabbit’s listing, apply to analysis, vacation-planning and usability-testing jobs.
Whereas Craigslist doesn’t supply any security internet companies (equivalent to Elance’s escrow service) to guard freelance VAs from fee dangers, it stays one of the handy, easy-to-use, websites to search for work. Mandigma names it as one in all her private favorites, however provides, “Simply watch out for scams!”
VANetworking.com is a social community and discussion board for VAs based by a VA. About half the posts are from VAs swapping suggestions, and the opposite half are from potential clients sharing jobs.
Additionally really useful by Mandigma, WAHM.com supplies a job board for distant staff. And though “WAHM” stands for Work At Residence Mothers, they cater to everybody, no matter gender or whether or not you will have youngsters.
PPH is well-recognized as one of the respected job websites for freelancers. Merely title your companies, set your hourly fee and wait for patrons to return to you. Or, you may seek for purchasers who want your companies and submit an (hourly) proposal.
The youngest website on this record, Zirtual was “invitation solely” for each purchasers and VAs, however as of January, they’ve opened their digital doorways to the general public.
Zirtual works as an company for VAs, assigning them to purchasers. They pay a minimal of $10 an hour for part-time work; nonetheless, they solely settle for functions from United States residents.
Beneficial by Entrepreneur‘s Lisa Druxman, HireMyMom caters solely to work-at-home moms. Mandigma added that, though she’s heard nothing however good issues about their companies, “it’s worthwhile to pay if you wish to turn out to be a member of HireMyMom. I used to be discouraged [from joining] as a result of I didn’t have that form of cash after I was beginning out six years in the past.” It’s the one paid website on this record.
Lauren Tharp is a contract author and the proprietor of LittleZotz Writing. By her web site, Lauren helps small companies deliver their manufacturers to life by way of written content material; and she or he additionally helps fellow writers get began as freelancers through weekly weblog posts, bi-monthly newsletters, free e-books, and one-on-one mentoring.
