Hello

Before embarking on a career as a Virtual Assistant there are many things to consider, and with some careful planning, you can be up and running in no time. Many of us worked from home through the Covid-19 lockdown and as a result, a whole new wave of self-employed workers has now emerged. If you crave the flexibility and freedom that working for yourself can give you, then read on!

Plan, plan, plan

You know that you want to be a Virtual Assistant and have no idea where to even begin, every self-employed VA will tell you that sitting down and creating a solid plan is your first mission. Grab a big piece of paper and brainstorm your ideas. Firstly list your skillset, much like a CV, and write down your skills and training. This will help you decide on the services that you can deliver.

What is your niche? What do you want to offer? Who are your ideal customers? What makes you unique? What will you charge?

Research

Research your chosen field to find out what others are doing. Are you up-to-date on all the necessary skills or qualifications required for example? How are other VA's marketing themselves? What do they charge? Have a look at other VA's websites and social media and connect with them, They will be happy to give you advice and guidance if you ask for it. Consider if you want to join an agency or go solo; way up the pros and cons in doing so. Join social media sites and groups that support and promote new freelancers. The more you can learn and engage with people at this stage, the better footing you will have for your business. Learn from the mistakes that others have made. We have all made mistakes that can easily be avoided if you take the time to engage with people that have already been there and found out the hard way, then you can avoid making those mistakes yourself.

Get Registered

You will need to register your business in order to pay taxes and national insurance. You might want to enlist the help of an Accountant, they can take much of the stress of setting up your business away from you. If you chose to do this yourself, make sure that you read the gov.uk website to make sure that you cover everything needed. Again, speak to other freelancers and ask for their advice.

Setting the Scene

Before you do any more, set up your workstation properly. Make sure you have a clear work area dedicated to your business. Check with your wifi supplier to make sure that your internet connection is the best it can be and your mobile provider to make sure that you have enough data and minutes available. You may want to consider having a contract specifically for your business rather than use a personal device, many providers offer a secondary sim on a contract that will have its own number (particularly useful when you are doing your accounting). Make sure you have all the stationary that you will need and plenty of post-it notes!

Sort your Socials

Now it is time to sort out your website and social media presence. You might want to employ a freelancer to do this for you. See if you can trade off some VA services for their help. If you are doing this yourself, make sure your profiles are on point, professional and up-to-date. Keep your website simple and easy to navigate. Remember to update your website frequently as you grow as a freelancer.

Network is your Net Worth

Visit networking groups online or in-person and don't just stick to one. There are tons of free networking groups that you can visit to find the one that works for you. Getting connected with other professionals and business owners will be where the majority of your referrals will come from and something that successful VA's make sure they do regularly. If you have never networked before then try not to be afraid, everyone was in the same position at one time as a new business owner. Prepare a 60-second pitch, as many networking groups ask you to introduce yourself and your business. Follow up with one-2-ones and get to know people that you think may be able to help you and your business. Creating solid relationships with your connections will help your business no end. When people connect with you on social media or you connect with them, make sure that you send a message to say hello and thank them for the connection. You never know where leads will come from! LinkedIn is a great platform for engaging with business professionals so get connecting!

Keeping your Sanity

Working from home and for yourself can get lonely at times especially when you are going through quiet periods, so make sure that you get out and about and take time to see other people. Go for a coffee with a friend or book in a zoom call to catch up with an old colleague. Set your work hours and stick to them. It is easy to fall into the trap of working all hours to get your business off the ground initially, but completely counter-intuitive. The quality of your work will suffer and you could end up making yourself ill. Take regular breaks away from your desk, much as you do in an office. You may not be able to have a gossip at the watercooler, so call a friend instead. Play quiet music in the background. Working in complete silence can be very isolating so having music playing in the background will certainly help.

Good to Go

Once you have gone through all the planning and organising you will be ready to launch and be sure to make a big deal about it too. because it is a big deal! Be sure to celebrate your successes and share them with your network of colleagues, friends and family. Make sure that you get testimonials from happy customers add them to your website and social media. Self-promotion is incredibly important as a freelancer. You need to be seen and noticed and why wouldn't you shout about your successes? Enjoy the journey and keep going.