Are you an aspiring assistant looking to jumpstart your career? Look no further! In this article, we will provide tips and advice on how to find work as an assistant. From networking and building a strong resume, to leveraging job boards and professional associations, we will explore the various ways you can find paid work in the assistant field.
However, the biggest online marketplaces, mainly UpWork and Fiverr, are home to thousands of virtual assistant freelancers. Unfortunately, this means that the competition is stiff and you’ll have a difficult time setting yourself apart from others offering the same exact services that you do.
So I wanted to go a step further than just provide a “list” that will become a very competitive industry. I want to help you get clarity on how to land these VA jobs, even if you have no experience.
First, if you haven't seen our pillar post, start & bookmark here:
(and then, the freelance platforms to land a VA job, keep reading)
Before we get into the best platforms for freelance virtual assistants, allow me to create a few paragraphs to let the search engines know what this article is about.
What is a Virtual Personal Assistant?
A virtual assistant is an independent contractor who provides administrative services to clients outside of the client's physical location. A virtual assistant operates from a home office and has access to a client's calendar, a company's Slack account and a company's list of “Sweet Processes”.
How Do You Become a Virtual Assistant?
Becoming a successful virtual personal assistant means following some basic steps for most ventures. These include choosing your optimal business environment and outlining specific services offered plus pricing structure. From there, you launch your online game, focusing on networking, relationships, and work. Also, see Upwork Freelance.
With this, we've gathered six of the best and the most underrated virtual assistant companies and platforms perfect to help you become a virtual assistant.
FlexJobs
Flex Jobs has become a leader in this space because they started out in this space. It was founded in 2007 to provide a way for you to find professional remote and flexible jobs. It was founded by a mom who was put off by the scams while searching for a way to make money and raise her kids.
Who Should Use FlexJobs
The quick answer is “anyone who wants a job with some kind of flexibility – a remote, telecommuting, part-time, freelance, or flextime job”. With over 50 career categories and jobs ranging from entry-level to executive, freelance to full-time, we really do offer something for almost anyone!
Who Should Use FlexJobs
- People interested in working from home or remotely.
- Anyone looking for a career-oriented part-time job (on-site or remote).
- Freelancers looking for more clients and projects.
- Anyone looking for flexible or alternative schedules.
- Parents wanting to be more flexible for their kids and families.
- Someone looking for a second job or supplemental income.
- People who live in rural or local areas.
- People with physical or health issues wanting/needing to find flexible work or remote jobs to suit their needs.
- Caretakers of loved ones with health issues, for the same reasons as above.
- Retirees looking to stay professionally active and to earn some income.
- Military spouses who need the flexibility to work from anywhere, in case their spouses are re-stationed.
- Competitive athletes wanting a professional job that will fit around their training and competition schedules.
- And anyone else who would appreciate a job that better fits with their life, not a life that fits with their job!
Click Here for Our Full Review of FlexJobs
HireMyMom
BEST PLATFORM FOR FREELANCE MOMS
This one-of-a-kind online marketplace was founded in 2007 by entrepreneur Lesley Spencer Pyle who wanted to create an outsourcing service platform that would allow stay-at-home moms to work without leaving their homes. Today, it connects businesses with qualified freelancing mothers who offer bookkeeping, online research, graphic design, and a whole lot more.
HireMyMom helps you hire a virtual assistant.
Prices on HireMyMom are relatively good with most freelancers offering their services for between US$10 and US$35 per hour. So if you’re a mom wishing to earn extra income but can’t leave the house, then HireMyMom is the ideal platform for you.
Testimonial for HireMyMom
I recently used HireMyMom to find a remote assistant and I couldn't be happier with the experience. The website is user-friendly and the process of finding and hiring a qualified candidate was seamless. The candidate I ended up hiring was professional, reliable, and a great fit for my business. I would highly recommend HireMyMom to anyone in need of a remote assistant. It's a fantastic resource for finding talented, reliable professionals.
Pro’s of Working with HireMyMom
- Great mom-focused platform with a range of skillsets
- Three membership options for freelancing moms, ranging from US$9.99 to US$99.
Con’s of Freelancing with HireMyMom
- No Escrow protection or dispute resolution offered unlike other bigger platforms.
- All payments and negotiations take place off-site; freelancers have to collect payments and resolve conflicts with their clients.
FreeUp
BEST MARKETPLACE DIVERSITY FOR STEADY VIRTUAL ASSISTANT GIGS
For those wishing to offer their services as a virtual assistant – or those wishing to hire one – FreeUp is one of the best and largest online marketplaces out there. Launched in 2015, this platform targets companies in the e-commerce and marketing fields although they have a few clients outside of those sectors, as well. Most of the virtual assistants on this platform are based in the United States and the Philippines since stellar English skills are required.
As one of the biggest marketplaces, FreeUp offers a wide range of prices and skillsets with some freelancers boasting of expertise and abilities that are a great fit for organizations in niche markets.
With no sign-up fees and the capacity of setting your own prices, FreeUp is undoubtedly one of the best online platforms for virtual assistants looking to expand their customer base.
Pro’s of Working with FreeUp Platform
- No sign-up fees
- Large marketplace to fit your price and skills
Con’s of Working with FreeUp Platform
- Strict and rigorous applicant interview process to assess skills.
- Platform doesn’t allow buyers to browse through their directory.
- Rather, they’re assigned a virtual assistant candidate based on the requirements that they submit.
Related Article:
How to Turn Skills into Money with Fiverr
Insolvo – Freelance Platform
MOST DIVERSE NETWORK FOR JOBS
Based in the East African country of Seychelles, Insolvo is perhaps the most diverse virtual assistant platform on the Internet with freelancers hailing from all over the world. The site requires applicants to undertake a variety of tests to validate their skills, assigning them a rating that determines the price range of their services.
Virtual assistants on Insolvo offer a ton of different skillsets, ranging from digital marketing to audio transcriptions, and from website maintenance to generating social media copy edits.
Related Article: Which Website Platform is Right for your Business?
Pro’s of Working with Insolvo Freelance Platform
- Wide range of skillsets offered on platform
- Most diverse virtual assistant platform
Con's of Working with Insolvo Freelance Platform
- Monthly subscription fee required to be able to bid for jobs.
- Freelancers must stick to their set price range.
- Subscribers must have skills ranked through online assessments
People Per Hour
People Per Hour (PPH) is a well recognized, reputable job site for freelancers like you. You can set your hourly rate and wait for customers to come to you. You can also search for clients who need services and submit your bid for jobs.
Pros of People Per Hour
- Variety of Writers, Designers and Talent
- Easy to Use and Easy to Pay People.
- Safe, Secure Escrow for Payment.
- Variety of Bank Options to Receive.
Cons of People Per Hour
- Fees & Commissions Split is High.
- View Commission Fees here.
Acadium
LARGEST PLATFORM TO FIND DIGITAL ASSISTANT JOBS
Formerly known as GenM, Acadium is an emerging online marketplace with a unique business model. The platform houses over 20,000 student members who offer their services for free in exchange for mentorship, guidance, and digital marketing experience to help them get a leg-up in the real world. Instead of paying, buyers are expected to give in-depth feedback on the freelancers’ work to help them hone their skills and boost their resumes.
Acadium’s digital assistants – or remote digital marketing apprentices, as they’re called – encompass a wide variety of skills, such as content marketing, graphic design, marketing analytics, and more. What their freelancers lack in experience, they make up for in motivation.
Pro’s of Freelancing with Acadium
- Motivated students offer free services in exchange for mentorship
- Large, diverse database of skillsets offered
Con’s of Freelancing with Acadium
- Agreements may be “loose” due to unpaid nature of platform
Speedlancer
BEST PLATFORM FOR QUICK FREELANCE JOBS
This Melbourne-based online platform has been in the business since 2014, connecting freelancers with business owners looking to outsource their operations. What Speedlancer is renowned for, however, is their unique crowdsourcing methodology that allows them to quickly meet the needs of their clients.
The platform’s swift turnaround means that buyers on the site can have their required task within four hours. With Speedlancer, what takes businesses usually weeks and months to accomplish can be done in less than a day.
Freelancers on this online platform are located in different time zones, allowing them to cover every single request, regardless of when these come in. Because of their fast delivery times, Speedlancer’s price ranges are on the high side; for instance, a 500-word blog post would usually cost around US$29.
Pro’s of Freelancing with Speedlancer
- Quick delivery time appeals to many business owners and entrepreneurs
Con’s of Finding Jobs with Speedlancer
- Only a small range of services offered including graphic design, content writing, and research.
- Quick delivery time often leaves freelancers feeling exhausted and burnt-out.
GoLance
BEST PLATFORM FOR STARTUP ENVIRONMENTS
This online platform was founded in 2015 and is based in Delaware, featuring freelancers who can carry out the day-to-day businesses of companies from all over the globe. The site is famous for their state-of-the-art goMeter Time Tracking tool, which enables clients and buyers to monitor what their virtual assistants are doing. Additionally, freelancers are offered a work diary so they can summarize their monthly gigs effectively and efficiently.
This online platform was founded in 2015 and is based in Delaware, featuring freelancers who can carry out the day-to-day businesses of companies from all over the globe. The site is famous for their state-of-the-art goMeter Time Tracking tool, which enables clients and buyers to monitor what their virtual assistants are doing. Additionally, freelancers are offered a work diary so they can summarize their monthly gigs effectively and efficiently.
Services offered on GoLance include web development, copywriting, and graphic design. Clients can choose to set an hourly rate or pay a flat fee once their needs are delivered. The platform’s 10% commission fee is also highly attractive for freelancers as other online sites grab much higher percentages.
Pro’s of Working with GoLance
- Provides client the option of either flat fee or hourly rates
- Comparably lower platform commission fee
- Offers clients Time Tracking tool to monitor productivity
Con’s of Finding Freelance Work with GoLance
- Short-term tasks and projects, rather than ongoing relationships.
- Isn’t a likely platform for those looking to turn their freelancing work into a full-time job.
Other Places to Find Virtual Assistant Jobs
Frequently Asked Questions About Freelance Platforms for Virtual Assistants
A virtual assistant is an independent contractor who provides administrative services to clients while operating outside of the client's office.
We recommend that you narrow your specialty and decide on a pricing structure. Launch your website and position yourself as the go-to expert for your topic.
Virtual Assistants AKA Digital Assistants can charge $3 to $100 per hour, depending on the tasks. Simple programming tasks like installing a WordPress blog can charge a one-time fee or an hourly fee. Executive Assistants charge between $15 and $30 per hour while higher level positions charge $40 to $80 per hour.
We recommend positioning yourself as the expert u0026 go-to person for your topic. You would master writing skills, computer skills, and Word processing skills.
If you're looking for freelance gigs for writing, then check out these best freelance platforms for writing.
Executive Virtual Assistants help companies and entrepreneurs complete the following tasks:
Plan, Schedule, and Strategize Time
Prioritize Revenue-Generating Tasks
Batching Similar Tasks
Communicating More Effectively
Developing Sales Skills
Basic Accounting
Professional Development
There are many websites and places where you can post your ad offering virtual assistant services. Some good options include:
Freelance websites, such as Upwork, Freelancer.com, and PeoplePerHour
Job boards, such as Indeed, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn
Professional networks, such as LinkedIn and Facebook groups for virtual assistants
Online classifieds websites, such as Craigslist and Kijiji
Your own website or blog, if you have one
Professional associations or organizations for virtual assistants
By posting your ad on a variety of different websites and platforms, you can increase your visibility and reach a wider audience of potential clients. This can help you to find the right clients and grow your virtual assistant business.
The best niche for a virtual assistant will depend on the individual's skills, interests, and experience. Some popular niches for virtual assistants include:
Social media management
Customer service
Data entry and administration
Scheduling and calendar management
Email and inbox management
Content creation and writing
By specializing in a specific niche, a virtual assistant can become an expert in their field and offer a higher level of service to their clients. This can help them to stand out from other virtual assistants and attract the right clients for their business. It's important to choose a niche that you are passionate about and have the skills and experience to excel in. This will help you to provide the best possible service to your clients and grow your virtual assistant business.
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