StalwartVA
Junior Member
- Jan 5, 2020
- 132
- 43
Planning on working as a Virtual Assistant but don't know how and where to begin?
Here's a little beginner friendly guide on starting up on your own.
Part 1.
To start of, we need a couple of tools (Free tools).
1. Gmail ( Although other emails work, gmail allows you to access all other google products and tools)
2. Appointment setter and scheduler ( I personally use Calendly which you can easily link to your google calendar)
3. Google Drive/Dropbox/ One drive (Allows you to safely store you files, curate/organize them, and is collaboration friendly - which would be very useful if your client has his/her own team and other members)
4. Marketing Design tool - Canva (Although Photoshop, indesign, illustrator, corel, and other designing tools work, canva can save you lots of time)
5. Loom/Screencast-o-matic (Allows you to present and walkthrough clients)
6. LastPass/Dashlane (Allows clients to give you access to their accounts without providing you the actual password.)
7. Easy Social Media Manager (Quuu, Buffer)
Others (Depending on your target clients)
8. Trello (Project Management Tool)
9. CRM tools such as Clientlook, Apto, Salesforce
10. Quick video tool (Headliner)
11. Grammarly (For creating/proof-reading contents)
12. Google Hangouts
Study these list since a lot of the tasks you will be having will revolve on these. (You can also check google for alternative products).
(Watch youtube videos about these)
Part 2.
Set your browser. (I would highly recommend using google chrome since we'll be using chrome extentions)
Part 3.
Create you linkedin profile. (I personally use a local site for this since most of my clients are based in my locality)
This profile will also serve as your resume/CV and your clients will want to know what you are capable of.
*Create your own website (Optional) - I won't be elaborating much of this since it will be a long tut.
*Most clients will want skills such as:
If you have these skills, then you have an advantage, if not, then study - guides are everywhere especially in this forum.
*Set your rate and tell your clients that your minimum work load is 40 hours per week, this will assure you that you won't be wasting much time looking for a new one each day.
*Clients should also train you (But not from scratch since you're expected to have the skills you said in the first place)
Part 4.
Fishing for some clients.
There are a lot of ways you can gain clients, but I'll just reveal 1 method (perhaps one of the best).
Offer your services here on BHW (Link: https://www.blackhatworld.com/forums/hire-a-freelancer.76/)
*Be creative
Best of luck!
-jariolne (StalwartVA)
--Feel free to post your corrections/suggestions/additional advice here
Here's a little beginner friendly guide on starting up on your own.
Part 1.
To start of, we need a couple of tools (Free tools).
1. Gmail ( Although other emails work, gmail allows you to access all other google products and tools)
2. Appointment setter and scheduler ( I personally use Calendly which you can easily link to your google calendar)
3. Google Drive/Dropbox/ One drive (Allows you to safely store you files, curate/organize them, and is collaboration friendly - which would be very useful if your client has his/her own team and other members)
4. Marketing Design tool - Canva (Although Photoshop, indesign, illustrator, corel, and other designing tools work, canva can save you lots of time)
5. Loom/Screencast-o-matic (Allows you to present and walkthrough clients)
6. LastPass/Dashlane (Allows clients to give you access to their accounts without providing you the actual password.)
7. Easy Social Media Manager (Quuu, Buffer)
Others (Depending on your target clients)
8. Trello (Project Management Tool)
9. CRM tools such as Clientlook, Apto, Salesforce
10. Quick video tool (Headliner)
11. Grammarly (For creating/proof-reading contents)
12. Google Hangouts
(Watch youtube videos about these)
Part 2.
Set your browser. (I would highly recommend using google chrome since we'll be using chrome extentions)
1. Create a new chrome user (Use your newly created gmail, I highly recommend creating one for a new empty slate, less confusion)
2. Create your password manager account (LastPass/Dashlane), then install extension.
3. Login/Create accounts from the tools above, your password manager will automatically remember your passwords for you.
4. Install all necessary extensions.
2. Create your password manager account (LastPass/Dashlane), then install extension.
3. Login/Create accounts from the tools above, your password manager will automatically remember your passwords for you.
4. Install all necessary extensions.
Part 3.
Create you linkedin profile. (I personally use a local site for this since most of my clients are based in my locality)
This profile will also serve as your resume/CV and your clients will want to know what you are capable of.
*Create your own website (Optional) - I won't be elaborating much of this since it will be a long tut.
*Most clients will want skills such as:
- Email Marketing (try to study MailChimp if you don't have a background with this)
- Graphics Design (Canva for ease)
- Social Media Management (Youtube has lots of tutorials, you can also learn alot from BHW threads and members)
- Proof-reading (Grammarly and lots of study)
- Writing reviews and article submissions
- Data entry
- Link submissions
- Wordpress Development
- Affiliate Marketing
- Keywords Research
If you have these skills, then you have an advantage, if not, then study - guides are everywhere especially in this forum.
*Set your rate and tell your clients that your minimum work load is 40 hours per week, this will assure you that you won't be wasting much time looking for a new one each day.
*Clients should also train you (But not from scratch since you're expected to have the skills you said in the first place)
Part 4.
Fishing for some clients.
There are a lot of ways you can gain clients, but I'll just reveal 1 method (perhaps one of the best).
Offer your services here on BHW (Link: https://www.blackhatworld.com/forums/hire-a-freelancer.76/)
*Be creative
Best of luck!
-jariolne (StalwartVA)
--Feel free to post your corrections/suggestions/additional advice here