Why Virtual Assistants don’t have a business, but they have a job!

Task-based virtual assistants don’t have a business. They have a job!

That’s a pretty slap in the face statement, don’t you think?

If you’ve been working as a Virtual Assistant with multiple clients for many years, feeding your family and paying the bills but not growing or expanding, would you think you had a job or a business?

Back in 2020, I wrote a post about task-based virtual assistants. In this post, I said, “I’ve worked with many ‘task-based VA’s, and it has been self-evident. They do what they have to do to get paid. In some cases, that’s very little“.

I’ll reflect on that statement a little more. Task-based virtual assistants log on to do the tasks they need to do and log off when done. They’re often machine-like in their approach to what they do, extremely methodical. They don’t offer up solutions to do things better; they follow the client’s instructions, whether right or wrong, to the T. Often, task-based virtual assistants don’t have a steady SM presence. They belong to multiple groups, mining them for job opportunities as opposed to learning and growing. They may also be on Upwork or other job platforms where they bid for the work, often at reduced rates.

Task-based virtual assistants don’t invest in themselves, they don’t want to spend money on systems or processes that will take their task-based job to a money-making opportunity.

Often, a task-orientated Virtual Assistant does not think outside the square and most times will not ask questions about the instructions given to them. Whether right or wrong, the instructions are gospel, and that is what they work to, even if something doesn’t seem right; as long as they can tick that job off and get paid, that’s the most important thing to them.

There is an absolute place for everyone

Not every virtual assistant wants to run a business but is very happy doing the work need to maintain some extra cash, and that’s perfectly fine. If this is the case, then feeling empowered to be a contributor is important. But unfortunately, many task-based VAs don’t feel empowered, and as a result, there can be problems that often result in a lack of future work.

Whether you’re happy with your current situation or whether you want to go from job to business. There are a few things you can do to improve on what you currently have.

Below are 7 things you can do to stand out more, 10 things you shouldn’t do and 3 key things your client wants from you.

The secret to becoming a stand out Virtual Assistant

1. Always maintain lines of communication with your client
2. Be available when you say you will be available
3. Ask for work if it slows down, most times the client is busy doing other things
4. Send your account at the end of the week or end of the fortnight, sending after each task creates more work for the client
5. When given instructions, read through them before undertaking them. If something doesn’t seem right, question this with your client. They don’t want you wasting their time, and they must provide you with the correct information to do the job.
6. Review your work before you submit it to the client always
7. Respond to emails and requests promptly; if you need to negotiate a longer time to complete a task, let the client know

The worst things a Virtual Assistant can do for their client

1. Communication starts well but then disappears
2. Stop being available regularly
3. Don’t ask for more work
4. Avoid offering more services or consult up
5. Send an invoice for each task carried out
6. Don’t question processes or requests
7. Make mistakes because the procedures or request has been incorrect
8. Fail to learn from mistakes
9. Don’t check their work before submitting it
10. Not detail orientated enough

What clients want from a Virtual Assistant

1. Excellent communication skills – ask hard questions.
2. Attention to detail – so make sure you check your work first before submitting it.
3. Follow instructions – read everything first before carrying the task out. If something isn’t right or doesn’t look right, refer to #1 above.

Remember, you’re the boss of YOU, so act like the boss, be responsible and take charge. Your client is relying on you to provide the help you say you will when you will. Being the one for them to count on will help you become a stand out virtual assistant and get that fantastic testimonial to add to your website.