If you don’t know my story, I kind of stumbled upon virtual assistant work. I had seen a post a woman shared in a Facebook group and asked if I could talk to her and learn more. This was back in 2011, quite some time ago. At that time in my life, I was married and had three kids at home, ages 3, 7, and 11. Free time was NOT something I had an abundance of. So when I started doing virtual assistant work, I wish I’d known these things then. It would have helped me so much rather than making mistakes and learning the hard way.
As a busy mom, you constantly juggle a million tasks at once. I’ve been in your shoes! Trying to work a traditional 9-5 job, caring for the kids, managing the household, and maintaining a social life (um, what’s that??), doing it all can feel impossible. But what if you could work from home, on your own schedule, while still earning a good income? That’s where becoming a virtual assistant comes in. And so I’m answering, how do you work from home?
If you are unfamiliar with Virtual Assistants (VA), they are independent contractors who provide clients with remote administrative, technical, or creative assistance. They’re in high demand as more and more businesses are outsourcing work to remote workers, and online businesses are starting up. And as a busy mom, you’re uniquely qualified to become a successful VA.
“My keyboard must be broken, I keep hitting the escape key, but I’m still at work.”
Here are some simple steps to answer the question, how do you work from home?
Step 1: Determine Your Skills
First, take an inventory of your skills and experience. What are you good at? What do you enjoy doing? Common VA services include social media management, email management, bookkeeping, customer service, general admin, and graphic design. Identify your strengths and find a niche that you enjoy and are good at. I also have a great free training here if you need help deciding on your skills.
Step 2: Build Your Online Presence
Once you know what services you’ll offer, it’s time to build your online presence. And no, a website isn’t needed. Start by creating a LinkedIn profile or a Facebook business page. I ONLY suggest a Facebook business page if you are committed to keeping it up. Otherwise, LinkedIn will be your focus. You’ll also want to make sure any existing social profiles look professional, which can help you connect with potential clients.
If you are still worried about this piece, I didn’t have a website until almost two years in! And what I did prior was created what I call a one-sheet. It was a one-page document that had a few sentences about me, a list of my skills and technology I knew, and how to reach me.
Step 3: Network, Network, Network
Networking is crucial to building a successful VA business. Join online communities and groups where your ideal clients hang out, the best I have found are on Facebook, but LinkedIn might be good too. Attend industry conferences and local events, and don’t be afraid to reach out to people in your network to ask for referrals or introductions. The more you network, the more opportunities you’ll have to connect with potential clients. When starting, be sure all your friends and family know so they can pass the word along. This is where that one sheet I mentioned in step #2 comes in handy!
Step 4: Set Your Rates
When starting, it can be tough to know how much to charge. Research what other VAs in your niche are charging and set your rates accordingly. Don’t undervalue yourself – you deserve to be paid what you’re worth. You can find great Facebook groups to research this or ask around your network. To be totally transparent, when I started, I started WAY too low, only $10 an hour. I did not know what a virtual assistant did, and in the rural town I lived in, most pay was $10-$12 an hour. Do not make the mistake I made of starting too low. The great thing is, is as you gain clients and experience, you can raise your rates. And a bonus tip, I suggest creating three packages; you can do hourly and have the smallest be the minimum hours you are willing to work. This helps create more consistent income.
Step 5: Start Pitching
With your skills, online presence, rates, and packages in place, it’s time to start pitching potential clients. Craft a professional pitch highlighting your skills, experience, and how you can help their business. Don’t be afraid to follow up with clients who don’t respond – sometimes, it takes a few tries to get noticed. I suggest you create a template to use adn save time. Also, make it about eth client, not you. Yes, they want to know how you can help, but they don’t care so much about you being top of your field or an award five years ago; they want to know how you can solve THEIR problems.
In my option, becoming a virtual assistant is an excellent way for busy moms to earn a good income while working from home. You can then make a great income and have the flexibility you desire for your family.
These tips are just the beginning. Once you become a virtual assistant, there are many possibilities, and I am living proof of that!
Action Step to Implement
Now that I’ve shared the answer to the question, how do you work from home? What do you think?
Are you ready to get started? With focus and dedication, you can do work that allows you to balance your personal and professional responsibilities and live life on your own terms.
If you have decided, comment below on your next step toward your dream. And if you are not sure, that’s ok too. Either way, I’d love you to comment below on your next step. Accountability is helpful when working towards goals!
Helpful Links
I have some helpful information if you have enjoyed this article and want more. If you are a mom wanting to work from home but have no idea how to get started, grab my free getting started guide, “10 Easy Steps to Get Started as a Virtual Assistant.” And if you are lacking confidence and wondering if you really can do it, If I can do it, living in a small rural town in Missouri with no formal business education or entrepreneurial background, so can you!
Go here to grab the free guide!
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And feel free to comment here with a tip of your own. The more we support each other, the better!
