Are virtual assistants in demand?

Last Updated on December 13, 2022 by Ludiah

The demand for virtual assistants has never been higher than now! With the world increasingly becoming more technologically based, people are looking for ways to make their lives run smoothly using the available technology. Virtual assistants provide businesses with technological services while also helping out with a client’s personal life; therefore, the demand is definitely there. Are virtual assistants in demand? Let’s find out.

Are virtual assistants in demand?

Yes, they are. With the working landscape ever-changing, so are the jobs weighed upon it. The technological uprising has provided many new avenues for employment that once didn’t exist. Virtual assistants (VAs) are one of these up-and-coming professions that support businesses small to large and help further personal lives.

It’s interesting to note how quickly technology has become a major asset in modern workplaces and home life. Keeping up with technological advancements can be challenging, but VAs have adapted quickly, providing just what is needed to aid businesses to flourish.

What is a virtual assistant? 

A virtual assistant is a person that is hired to complete specific tasks over the internet, whereby they work virtually in an office setting. Many people are unaware that being a virtual assistant is more than just administrative services, typing duties, or directing phone calls; it requires one to be efficient at multitasking many projects simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail and other specific skills throughout each assignment. They must know about time management and workplace etiquette, although most can learn while working.

What do virtual assistants do?

There are so many things that virtual assistants can help their clients and therefore, it would be difficult to list them all. For instance, there are real estate virtual assistants, medical VAs, and more. Virtual assistants can help support many different needs for a business, whether that’s with typing up documents, sending business emails, website building, social media management, etc.; the list is endless.

Social media management

A VA can help you with social media management by updating and sharing content on popular platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. This can be done while also interacting with your followers and helping to grow your online presence.

They will create posts in line with strict guidelines, so everything is consistent across the board. Virtual assistants are trained to craft engaging posts full of witty phrases and brilliant content, encouraging people to follow you or like what you’ve said!

Podcast management

Managing a podcast is among the newest tasks that virtual assistants are taking on. Podcasts are audio clips that can be downloaded straight to smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc., for listening making them extremely popular among the modern-day workforce. A virtual assistant can help you record your podcast, edit any mistakes out, design a logo for it, and upload it to iTunes or Anchor, so it is available to download.

VAs who handle podcast management can also be called podcast manager or Podcast VA specialist.

Email management

One of the most important tasks that many companies ask their VAs to do, is to answer emails from clients or general inquiries received through their website. Answering these emails quickly and efficiently will generate more business and help build better relationships with current customers.

Website building & management

Having a VA build or manage your company’s website can save you time, money, and energy. For example, if you were to build the website yourself, not only would it take up much of your time but also potentially cost quite a lot too. Virtual assistants are web design experts. So they know exactly what is needed to create an effective website that will provide your company with business benefits.

It’s interesting how virtual assistant positions are trending as the workforce moves towards more technologically-based work. Not only do VAs aid businesses in complete technological fulfillment, but they also support their client’s personal lives! Many people apply for VA positions hoping for just this reason; it allows them to work from home while having flexible hours!

The demand for virtual assistants has never been so high as now. And thus this makes it a great career choice for anyone looking to build their own business whilst simultaneously being highly valued by clients.

Hotel & flight booking

This is another area a virtual assistant can help you with. They can help you find the best deals for your next holiday or business trip, whether it’s looking through alternative hotel options if your first choice is full, booking flights, or finding the cheapest route to get there. Virtual assistants can also help you with itineraries for your time away, whether that’s organizing transfers to and from the airport/hotel, making dinner reservations, or just answering any questions you may have about where to go while on holiday.

Calendar management

If your calendar is always full and doesn’t have time to fill it in, a virtual assistant can help you with this. They can fill your calendar with events such as dentist appointments, work meetings, and even social gatherings. All you need to do is give them a list of things that may be coming up, and they’ll take care of everything else for you.

Customer support

Good customer support is the backbone of a business, and that’s why many companies are now focusing on this. A virtual assistant can help by providing clients with the information they need when contacting you, whether it’s about an order they’ve made or something more personal.

Content writing

If you have a website and need material for it, a virtual assistant can help you write articles and blog posts. This will give your website a fresh look and attract more customers as they may tailor content around a certain topic or industry. Content writing is extremely valuable for any business as having high-quality material on your site shows that you’re an expert in this field and know what you’re talking about.

Social media promotion

Promoting your company’s brand online is crucial if you want your business to succeed, which is why many companies like these ones here now employ virtual assistants as part of their social media team. Tasks they may carry out could be sharing regular updates with followers, answering questions from clients, and posting interesting content relating to their company.

Brand monitoring

Virtual assistants can keep an eye on what people are saying about you online. They may find this information by checking out the company’s social media pages or searching through particular hashtags. The job of monitoring any comments can be daunting, but virtual assistants are trained to do this quickly and effectively without taking up much of your time!

Website research

Virtual assistants can carry out research for your website, whether that’s finding new business opportunities, looking into competitors, or scoping out the latest industry news. There is a lot of data online, so it will take you forever to find all this yourself. VAs have dedicated in-house researchers who can sort through all the noise for relevant information in no time at all!  

Blog management

If you don’t have time to post updates on your blog, a virtual assistant can help. They may research the topics you want to talk about and draft out content for your approval before publishing it online. This is an excellent way of saving time when blogging, as you’re left with more free time to focus on bigger tasks that require your attention!

Related: Learn how to make $100 a day blogging

What skills do you need to become a virtual assistant?

If you’re looking to become a VA, there are a few basic skills you should have. So you need to be:

• Tech-savvy: which means knowing how to operate programs such as Word and Excel, for example.
• A quick typist: You should also be able to type quickly without looking at the keyboard
• Have a good understanding of English: understand basic grammar and possess good knowledge of the English language. Other skills may include the following:
• Experience in customer service or sales: this will come in useful when you’re dealing with clients.
• Knowledge of CMS platforms: These include WordPress, Joomla!, Drupal, Weebly, Wix, and basic web design skills are also beneficial.
• Good organizational skills: You’ll need to keep track of all your work so it’s important that you have the ability to do this.
• A good communicator: You should be able to make calls, email, or chat with your clients on a daily basis if needed.  
• Benefits of being a virtual assistant
• There are so many advantages of working as a VA from home, so let’s take a look at some of them:
• Time to yourself: if you value your time, becoming a VA is perfect as all the work comes to you!
• Choose when you start and end work: if you don’t want to do any overtime then that’s not an issue. You can choose when you want to begin and end your day, which means you can fit in a lot of work around other commitments such as family or a second job.
• Choose who you work with: this is made possible by becoming a virtual assistant, so you can choose to work for companies that are local to you. This could be the best option if you want to get out and about during your working day.
• No commute time: No need to sit in traffic jams every morning!
• More free time for family and friends: If you’re tired after work, having more spare time means you can spend it with the people that matter most.  

As well as these perks, there are some downsides to think about before becoming a virtual assistant:   

• Expectations of clients may be different than in-office setting: when in an office, staff expect to receive support from their co-workers in case they get stuck on something. You’ll find this doesn’t happen too often when you’re self-employed but is worth thinking about before taking the plunge.
• Limited social interaction: finding yourself surrounded by four walls all day can be difficult to get used to, but this is something that you’ll likely adapt to after a while.  
• Remote working isn’t for everyone: Working remotely doesn’t suit all personality types. It’s important that your communication skills are good enough so people will want to work with you.
• It may not always go according to plan: You’ll never know if clients will come back after the trial period so keep in mind there is no guarantee of long-term employment right away.

How much do virtual assistants make?

The amount virtual assistants make in a month or day varies from company to company, but there are a few average figures that could help you get an idea of how much you might get paid.

Virtual Assistant websites: Virtual Assistants listed on Fiverr or PeoplePerHour charge anywhere between $10 and $75/hr.

In-house virtual assistant: In-house VAs save the company money so they can pay their employees a higher hourly fee. You’ll find someone in this position who earns anything from $20 all the way up to $150 per hour.

Freelancing VAs with different clientele offer more affordable rates when it comes down to it. When you work for yourself, you need to take care of your own expenses, such as rent or utilities. You can expect to earn anything from $10 all the way up to $50 per hour, but it depends on how experienced you are and your industry.

Where can I find virtual assistant jobs?

You can find virtual assistant jobs on job sites such as Fiverr, Guru, and PeoplePerHour.

Fiverr: This is an online jobs forum where you can find jobs from companies worldwide, with a range of industries hiring those looking for virtual assistant work. You can also create a gig on what you offer and sell.

Guru: Designed to help skilled freelancers and clients connect, you’ll be able to narrow down your search using several filters or even set up alerts so that only the best jobs will pop up in your email inbox.

Freelancing websites: Freelance websites such as PeoplePerHour and Fiverr allow freelancers to sell their services hourly or per project. You can also find clients on social media platforms such as LinkedIn and Facebook to find jobs.

How do I become a virtual assistant?

It’s possible to start your career as a virtual assistant straight away, but if you’re eager to learn more skills or have a better idea of the kind of work out there, it might be worth getting some experience first.   

Can you become a virtual assistant without a degree?

Yes. You can become a virtual assistant without a degree. In fact, there are many websites dedicated to giving people ideas on how to become a virtual assistant even though they have no experience.

Does being a virtual assistant require a degree?

You don’t need to have a college degree to become a VA, but it does help if you have previous working experience and knowledge of administrative or office skills.

Is it possible to be a virtual assistant from home?  

Yes! A career as VA has never been more achievable thanks to the wide range of flexible work opportunities available online today. You can sell your services through micro-job sites such as Fiverr and PeoplePerHour or connect with businesses worldwide using LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter.   

Conclusion: Are virtual assistant on demand?

Are virtual assistants in demand? Yes, there’s definitely a growing need for virtual assistants, so if you’re interested in becoming one, you shouldn’t have a problem seeking help. Keep in mind that there are some benefits and downsides to becoming a virtual assistant, but if you think it’s right for you, then go for it!