How to start your business as a virtual assistant?
You are passionate about organization, management and accounting... To be honest, you dream of becoming an independent virtual assistant and supporting entrepreneurs who hate administration!
In this article, I take stock with you on the job of virtual assistant, the prerequisites necessary for your launch and the steps to follow for an optimal business.
But before continuing, let me quickly introduce myself: I am Clémentine Hédont, business and social networks coach. I support ambitious entrepreneurs on a daily basis who want to take off their business and become sales queens. And in all of this, my favorites remain virtual assistants (I love organized, methodical and rigorous people!).
What is the job of freelance virtual assistant?
Being a virtual assistant is a bit like having an assistant position in a company, except that here, you are the boss! By working for yourself, you can decide which clients you work with, which missions you accept and which organization you prefer to choose.
As a freelance virtual assistant , you work on several projects at the same time and for different companies: varying company size, changing number of employees and above all... sectors of activity that you choose!
The missions you will be responsible for (if you accept) will revolve around administrative management, business organization, customer invoicing, pre-accounting, etc. Of course, the nature of your missions must be defined with each of your clients.
re there any prerequisites to becoming a virtual assistant?
To become a virtual assistant, there are indeed certain conditions. First, you must have solid administrative skills: excellent organization , very good management and a rigorous methodology . The tasks of a virtual assistant can be repetitive from one mission to another (although they are always different), so it is wise to put certain processes in place, so as not to forget anything.
The little extra to set you apart!
In recent years, the virtual assistant profession has been growing and attracting more and more companies. To stand out, you will need to develop differentiating expertise.
To do this, you can choose the added value that best suits you (and put it in place): mastery of a particular tool (like Notion for example), legal skills, video editing, or whatever. yet another.
What steps should I take to get started as an independent virtual assistant?
My specialization in virtual assistants allows me today to offer you a well-crafted launch methodology (I would like to take this opportunity to thank the assistants I work with and who enrich my knowledge on a daily basis).
1) Define your “why?”
You will see this notion come up several times if you start out as an entrepreneur, and believe me: it is essential. Your "why?" is the reason why you choose this profession, what pushes you every day to get up and carry out the missions entrusted to you by your clients.
2) Determine your differentiating axes
What I call “the differentiating axes” is the added value that you bring to your work, which makes professionals want to work with you and no one else!
As I told you above, it's up to you to choose the way you want to stand out: by agreeing to create content for your clients, by writing certain documents, by editing videos or by overseeing internal projects.
If you ask me, your area of differentiation should above all be found in something that you like to do (beyond virtual assistant administrative), that way it will be easy for you and you will not force yourself to carry out these tasks.
3) Provide an offer with services and a price (per hour or per package)
To build the foundation of your business, you will need to know what you are selling and how much you want to sell it for. To do this, the best thing is to create a reference document on which you note all the services you would like to offer and the price you would like to receive for them. Don't panic: over time, you will be able to adjust your service book and/or review your prices.
4) Define a precise target
In entrepreneurship, the "target" is the audience you are aiming for, the audience you are addressing. For example, if you only want to work with companies that work in the event industry, you will have to adjust your communication to bring value to that audience. Taking a position in your communication allows you to position yourself as an expert with the audience you are targeting, to build their trust and make them want to work with you.
5) Implement a communication strategy to be visible
If your goal is to become a virtual assistant and make a living from your activity , you will have to communicate about your existence. Because to sell your services, you have to show what you offer! For that, nothing better than a high-impact communication strategy! All you have to do is choose and define the one you want to implement.
6) Create an acquisition channel to generate sales
An acquisition channel is a means by which your potential customers will find you and interact with your business. Just like with communication, it's up to you to choose what you prefer: Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, website, podcast, etc. Don't forget: you are an entrepreneur and you are the one who chooses what you want to do (or not)! However, if you want my opinion on the subject, I am a fervent fan of Instagram and Linkedin ! ✔️
7) Prospect
Prospecting is of considerable importance when you are an entrepreneur, and if you don't like it, sorry (or not) to tell you that you will have to do it anyway! From experience, let me tell you that people who prospect and those who don't have completely different results. Moreover, it is because I deeply believe in prospecting that I created a coaching dedicated to prospecting !
8) Make sales calls
Making sales calls means taking the time to talk with your prospects, answer their questions, build their trust and position yourself as an expert in your field! So when it comes to sales calls, we go into them with our heads held high, like a girlboss ready to tear it up and we close with signed contracts! 👸🏻
9) Sign your first clients
You'll see, signing your first missions will sound like a real victory (and it is one)! Then, you will gradually gain confidence in yourself, so that you no longer doubt your abilities and continue on the path of entrepreneurship like a boss!
10) Develop your organization and divide your time
By becoming a virtual assistant, you decide to sell your time to companies other than your own. But you shouldn't forget your business! You will have to think about organizing your time and dividing the time slots you have available to work both on the missions entrusted by your clients and on your business. Welcome to the world of entrepreneurship girl! 😎
Bonus: my tips for success!
I told you, I support virtual assistants every day, and I was able to learn from their own mistakes (yes, mistakes are normal!), so today I'm sharing some advice with you.
As a virtual assistant, the worst mistake is to wait for clients to come to you through word of mouth or a showcase website. All of this is not enough to develop a profitable business. This is why, when your business is launched, your number 1 priority should be to implement all the actions that allow you to achieve your financial objectives.
To know your ideal turnover amount, I recommend that you calculate how many hours (or packages) you need to sell to reach your goal.
For example :
To reach €2,000/month, I need to sign 40 hours at €50.
Once this point is defined, all you have to do is set a daily slot to communicate, train yourself in sales and prospect! Sorry to tell you, but… you don't get anything for nothing, darling !
However, if you need a helping hand, I invite you to consult the coaching that I offer, to help you with prospecting, selling and managing your social networks.