What Services Can You Offer as a Virtual Assistant?

People are always asking me which services they can offer as a virtual assistant. I always answer them back with several questions of my own:

• What skills do you have?
• What do you enjoy doing?
• Which services or skills is your ideal client in need of?
• Which industry do you plan on serving?
• What other skills are you willing to learn?

While this may seem like total overwhelm, it really isn’t. It is important now to know which services to offer to which industry, because it will save you many mistakes and marketing dollars in the future.

It will also prevent you from overbuying software packages and equipment. For example, if I don’t like making travel arrangements, then I probably won’t want to work for someone like a motivational speaker who will be traveling nonstop.

What If You Are Uncertain About What Services to Offer?

Most of us know what we are good at and what we enjoy doing, so make a list. Then make another list of the services that you are not excited about or would never offer. Your third and final list will be a “dream list” of services you would like to learn one day.

Please note that you should wait awhile after learning a new service to start charging for it.

I always recommend that VAs offer the service as complementary a few times until you are comfortable enough to charge for it. In other words, it could be a free incentive for a client who is currently using other skills of yours.

Also, if you are not sure exactly how good you are at offering a service, then why not go to Brainbench and see if you can certify?

If you don’t have the money to take the tests listed there, then set up an oDesk or Elance account for free and begin taking tests there. You can also do double duty and find clients at both places once you have taken a few tests and put together a portfolio.

What Services Can You Offer?

Really, the sky is the limit when it comes to services, especially in this digital age. Some of the more recognized services are:

• Pinterest pinning services
• answering services
• bookkeeping
• document formatting
• SEO
• editing
• social media management
• email management
• graphics
• marketing
• proofreading
• translations
• transcription
• typing
• video editing
• web design
• writing

It is also a good idea to break down your services or further explain them. For example, just because you offer writing doesn’t mean that you offer technical writing.

The same is true for translations in that you may only offer Spanish to English and English to Spanish translations as opposed to offering English to French. You can see how I broke my services down on my website.

Now keep in mind that each skill will need its own software, equipment, certifications, and updates. So, if you offer too many diversified services, it will be hard to keep up with the equipment, certifications, updates, and industry trends. You will be forever downloading a Kindle how-to book or buying new equipment.

How Much Should You Charge For Your Services?

That will depend upon you, your target market or industry, and what you are comfortable asking clients to pay.

One good way to sell your services is to offer packages or try bundling your services. In other words, offer translations, transcription, typing, editing, and document formatting all as one package for someone in need of an international transcription service.

Or you could offer to design a website and then do the content writing if you really can do both. Obviously, when you offer more services in a package you can charge more, plus the client benefits by not having to hire another virtual assistant or freelancer to complete the job.

In Conclusion

Pick services that you enjoy offering and become as skilled as you can offering them. Then find a client who could use those skills. When this happens, both of you will benefit!

Welcome to the wonderful world of virtual assistance!