What is a VA!? (Virtual Assistant Meaning and Definition)

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Abbey Ashley

You’ve been searching for a real definition… you’ve maybe even googled “Virtual Assistant Meaning” and ended up here.

Well, welcome to my little corner of the internet. Grab some tea… you may be here awhile.

Maybe you’ve heard of working as a “Virtual Assistant” or “VA”… but you don’t really know what a Virtual Assistant does?

Today – I’m here to answer your questions.

Watch the video below and I’ll give you a full definition of what a Virtual Assistant is and what it really looks like to work with clients.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asGgVVrGw0M

Hint: For the best advice on starting your own Virtual Assistant business, make sure you subscribe to my YouTube channel and hit the bell to be notified when I post a new video!

Whether you feel completely stuck in your 9-5 job or you are just looking for a way to make money working from home, by the end of this post you’ll know exactly if becoming a virtual assistant is the right next step for you.

I’ve helped over 30,000 people discover virtual assistance in my online community for VAs and I can’t wait to share this “working online” world with you!

In order to know if virtual assistance is right for you, you first need to know the answer to this question: What is a Virtual Assistant?

You may have heard of virtual assistants like Siri or Alexa, but that’s not what I’m talking about here. Sure, those systems can tell you the weather or make a grocery list for you — but the Virtual Assistant services you will be offering are much more valuable.

As a Virtual Assistant mentor who answers hundreds of questions related to Virtual Assistance daily, here’s my definition of what a Virtual Assistant is:

A Virtual Assistant is any type of remote assistant who provides administrative, creative, or technical support services for online or brick and mortar business owners.

What tasks can you do for a small business owner remotely? As a Virtual Assistant, this is what you’ll be doing!

There are literally hundreds of tasks that you could do as a Virtual Assistant, but some of the most common services are:

  • Answering customer service emails
  • Posting on social media for business
  • Writing or blogging
  • Invoicing
  • Calendar management
  • Research
  • Appointment setting

I want to hear from YOU. What services do you think you would like to offer as a virtual assistant? Comment below and let me know!

When you start a Virtual Assistant business, you’ll be your own boss. You’ll work as an independent contractor (NOT as an employee) for your clients.

This means three things:

1. You set your own hours.

Unlike a boss, a business owner (client) can’t tell you WHEN to work. A client cannot require that you work 9-5 or 8-4 (or any specific, set hours).

You can work at 5 a.m. if you’re an early bird or 10 p.m. if you’re a night owl.

Hate Mondays? Work Tuesday – Friday.

Want a long weekend? Take Fridays off.

Want to take off in the middle of the day to take your kid to the park? Go for it!

Need to take 12 weeks vacation in one year? It’s actually possible with your very own business.

2. You set your own rate.

Just like the contractor that comes to your house to fix your sink or paint your office sets THEIR own rate, you will set your own prices as a Virtual Assistant.

You can charge hourly, package your hours for more money, or set a flat rate for a project or service. You can start your rate at $20/hour (minimum) and charge more from there. You can choose to charge newer clients higher rates or adjust your rates depending on your current workload.

You can add rush fees for work that a client requests to be done on the weekend, during the holiday, or in less than 24-48 business hours.

Your business, your rates, your rules.

Click here for more information about how to set your rates as a Virtual Assistant.

3. You decide where and how you work.

Yep – working in your pajamas has finally become a reality.

Want to take a road trip? If there is reliable internet access, you can work on the open road, from a hotel, in a coffee shop, or anywhere you want as a Virtual Assistant!

Hate the harsh winter weather and want to move some place warmer? Your location-independent business makes that possible.

You’ll also set up your own systems for working, which means you decide how and how often you want your clients to pay you, how often you want to meet with your client, the system you prefer for communication, etc.


Now, you know what a Virtual Assistant is. But you want to know — how do you actually get started?

Virtual Assistant Checklist Link

Download my FREE Virtual Assistant Checklist and Starter Kit and get started on your Virtual Assistant business RIGHT NOW.

If you liked this post, please let me know by commenting below what services you think you would like to offer in your own Virtual Assistant business!

 

AbbeyAshley3-21Print-5033

Meet Abbey

Abbey Ashley is the Founder of The Virtual Savvy. She helps aspiring virtual assistants launch and grow their own at-home business from scratch. She's since gone on to grow a multi-six figure business and retire her husband ALL from her at-home business. It's now her passion to help others start their own VA business so they can taste the freedom and flexibility of entrepreneurship as well.

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This free one-hour training combines thousands of hours of research, years of experience in growing a virtual assistant business!

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8 Comments

  1. Danka Gajic on October 28, 2019 at 5:11 am

    Great post for an introduction to the VA career. I think I cleared up what service I want to provide, and it would be writing. Although I haven’t written much, I’m currently attending an article writing and copywriting course. I also really enjoy fast typing. In this post, I also got more ideas about how can I organize work and how to organize payment. I’ll also read the article about that.

    • Abbey Ashley on October 28, 2019 at 3:00 pm

      Hey, Danka! Thank you for the feedback! It sounds like you’re already ahead of the game– narrowing down services is one of the hardest parts! Wishing you all the best! 🙂

  2. clara tribbiani on December 17, 2019 at 10:09 am

    thank you for the assistance looking forward to working as an intern at uiz berlin

    • Abbey Ashley on December 27, 2019 at 12:11 pm

      You’re welcome! Glad you enjoyed the post! Best of luck 🙂

      • Silindeni on June 17, 2021 at 10:09 am

        Hie Abby, l’m interested in the appointment setting . How do l go about it.

        • Abbey Ashley on June 17, 2021 at 10:14 am

          That is awesome!!! Have you watched my free training about how to become a booked-out VA? I share some really great tips on how to get that first client! You can check it out at thevirtualsavvy.com/bbo

  3. onyebuchi on May 30, 2020 at 3:49 pm

    Thanks for ur elitment is wounderfull but there ,s many things I want to know and ask please am not mush educated but am intelligent

    • Abbey Ashley on June 4, 2020 at 12:48 am

      Hey, there! Thanks so much for your comment. Feel free to email my support team at any time at [email protected] and we would be happy to answer whatever questions that you have 🙂

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