I Want to Become a Virtual Assistant. What Kind of Services Should I Offer?

by Sara Dahlman

There are many facets to being a virtual assistant (VA). We are a unique group of individuals offering a variety of services. One VA may specialize in secretarial services while another focuses more on bookkeeping. There are VAs that do only data entry while others encompass the entire scope of an office manager’s duties. It really depends on what skills you have and what you want to include in your services.

A good place to start when deciding what services you will offer is to look at your work experience. If you were a secretary you may want to offer off site telephone support, data entry and possibly even a reminder service. If you were in the accounting department you may want to focus your services on bookkeeping and payroll. Sales associates may want to offer marketing and sales advice. Think about what computer programs you used: email, word processing, spreadsheet creation, accounting programs. Add those to your services offer as well.

Next examine your education and the skills you acquired there. Did you take an Excel or Word course? Do you have a secretarial diploma or certificate? What programs did you learn with? Make a list and you will find more services you can offer. Another option is to upgrade your skills now. Maybe it has been a while since your last course and you need a refresher. There are many courses that can be taken in the evenings and on the weekends. Some can even be completed via correspondence and web classes. Go to the website of your local university or college and see what they offer. Check on distance courses at other institutions. You can easily find a course to fit your needs. And thus you can add a new service to your business.

Whatever services you offer, make sure you represent your skills properly. Do not take on creating a complicated spreadsheet if you are a beginner at Excel. Your services should only include those tasks you can do and do well. Your reputation will be determined by the work you present back to your client. And try to offer services that you enjoy doing. If you do not like typing, then do not accept a 100 page typing project. The more you like what you do the better the final outcome will be. And the more you will enjoy your virtual assistant business.



Sara Dahlman is the owner of Small Business Office Solutions, a virtual assistant business. Please visit her website at www.smbusinessofficesolutions.com for more information.

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com