Starting or Growing a Virtual Assistant Business

We got a comment on one of our Podcasts from a visitor named Collette Schultz. Her question about the Virtual Assistant industry is one we get pretty frequently, so I thought I’d include my reply here as a post.

Collette Schultz on October 26th, 2008 11:21 pm

As a new virtual assistant subcontractor I’m getting into researching the VA industry through podcasts. I listened to this one last week and am bound to hear more. What I find most frustrating is knowing where to start. Do you offer a beginners series to help getting started?

While we have never blogged or done a segment specifically on Virtual Assisting, I do not believe it differs greatly from other types of internet based businesses: that is to say that it relies mostly on abilities and training, networking, and marketing.

There are several places people can obtain training to become a virtual assistant or, as in Collette’s case, improve their existing skill base; some of them offer certification:

Certification Programs

• AssistU
• International Virtual Assistants Association (IVAA)
• VA Certification
• Certified Virtual Professional (Thanks to Collette for this resource!)

Our Jumpstart Kit is also intended to improve people’s fundamental skills with virtual teamwork and remote work technology. Also, Phil wrote a book called Lose Your Commute about finding legitimate work-from-home opportunities in general and it contains a lot of insights and resources.

In terms of networking there are a growing number of professional organizations and communities for Virtual Assistants (this list is by no means exhaustive):

International Organizations

• Clayton’s Secretary
• Canadian Virtual Assistant Network
• International Association of Virtual Office Assistants (IAVOA)
• International Virtual Assistants Association (IVAA)
• International Association of Virtual Assistants

Networking and Support Groups

• Virtual Assistant Networking Forum (VANF)
• Virtual Assistant Forums
• Virtual Business Group
• Virtual-Professionals.com
• Real Estate Virtual Assistant (REVA) Network
• Work-the-Web

When it comes to marketing a good starting point might simply be exploring some of the reputable freelance job sites. Guru.com and FreeAgent.com have specific categories for virtual assistants and IVAA affiliate Staffcentrix bills itself as a “Virtual Assistant Internet Portal.” Other directories exclusively for virtual assistants include:

Free Worldwide Directories

• Elite Office Support
• Specialist Virtual Assistants Club
• VA4U

Beyond that, once someone has their own site or VA business there is a remarkable amount of advice about internet marketing online. Just shooting from the hip I would put Marketing Sherpa out there as a place to start an eye-opening trip into THAT rabbit hole. We also have a site that is specifically focused on internet marketing and running an online business: www.smallbizemarketing.com.

(thanks to Carolyn Moncel for compiling many of the resources I’ve listed here in an excellent article called Starting a Virtual Assistant Business).