Most virtual assistant business owners began their new, exciting career while working another full-time job. At VA Biz Lady, we understand that life still goes on and it’s not always possible to quit a current job in order to begin a new career. Having a few systems in place while still working will place you in a favorable position to begin your new virtual assistant business on the best path possible.
Choose Your Niche
There are several areas within virtual assistance from which you can choose to specialize. If you’re unsure, consider these areas:
- Social media marketing.
- Research & data input.
- Email marketing.
- Customer service.
- Blog management.
- Blog & article writing.
- And more!
Choosing your niche depends mainly on two things: 1) Do you enjoy the task? and 2) Is the task marketable? If you’re starting your own business, be sure it’s something you’re passionate about. You also want to make sure it’s a service that is needed by fellow business owners.
Choose Your Business Name
Although you don’t want to take too long on this, you do want to choose a name that clearly describes what you do. Many people use their own name, such as “Jane Doe’s Virtual Assistance”, or simply “Jane Doe, VA” as their business name. If you plan to focus on a specific niche you can also include that area in your business name. Think “Jane Doe Social Media Marketing” or “Writing Services by Jane”.
Create & Design Your Website
Once you have your business niche and a business name chosen, you can now create your website. This does not have to be complicated by any means. Follow these steps to create a simple website from which you can market your business:
- Choose a domain name and website hosting.
- Choose a company to register your domain name, such as GoDaddy or Host Gator.
- Choose a platform and template for your website. At VA Biz Lady, we recommend a self-hosted WordPress site.
- Add content and images to your website. We recommend adding an About Me page, a Services page, and a Contact page.
- Use 2 or 3 colors and 2 easy-to-read fonts. Clean, simple, and concise is what you’re looking for.
Develop Your Onboarding Procedure
Onboarding is the process of accepting a new client. It involves both you and your client signing a contract and agreeing upon the expectations of work or services you will perform. This process clearly defines such items as:
- Amount of hours you are being hired for.
- The fee you will be paid by the client.
- How you will communicate with each other.
- Specific policies and procedures of your company.
- And more.
It sets clear expectations for both you and your client, as well as protects both parties in the case of any conflicts or disagreements. Having a clear procedure in place, along with any legal documents such as contracts, policies and procedures, client intake forms, and others will make it both easy and simple for you to accept new clients.
Begin to Market Your Services
Now that you have these essential steps in place, it’s time to begin marketing your services. There are several ways this can be done. Consider the following:
- Word of mouth
- Legitimate job boards
- Social media networks and groups
- Email business associates and introduce yourself
Starting a VA business while working a full-time job can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Following the steps above will make you prepared and ready to accept those new clients and begin a new, exciting career. We also provide many free and affordable resources for growing your virtual assistant business such as business forms, social media graphics, and more.