Skills for Virtual Assistants: The Essential Guide to Thriving as an introverted VA

I wasn’t an overnight success. When I started my VA business in 2017, it took me about 3 months to sign my first client. I kept working my but off to find them. Did course after course, but nothing seemed to work. My skills were very generalist for a virtual assistant.

I offered admin because that’s what I was used to, and I also offered social media planning because I thought that would make me money.

To my own surprise, I absolutely loved working on the project for my first client. She asked me to build an online course for her. Something I’d never done before. I never considered myself tech-savvy. I had no idea how to build a website or that there was a thing called MailChimp.

But she asked me to build it for her even though I had no experience. That was the first step into pivoting my business.

I became a tech & ops specialist, and the rest is history, so they say. Because with the right skills and specialisation, you can sign clients who want to pay you 4 figures a month. Not only for one project, but month after month.

I’ve been working with one of my clients since 2018!

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Why Skills Matter for Virtual Assistants Who Want More Than Survival

When I pivoted my business and became a tech & ops specialist, I started attracting clients who first wanted to work with me and second wanted to pay me good for my services.

It became so much easier to sign new clients. Because tech is something business owners want to outsource.

It takes a lot of energy and time to do the tech you need in your business. And tech is something every business needs month after month.

Tech helps them grow their business because they don’t have to do everything manually. That saves them time they can spend marketing their business and supporting their clients.

How the right skills reduce client-chasing and create stability

Most business owners don’t want to learn all the tech they need for their business. Because it’s a lot. I come back to this later on in this blog.

They would much rather hire someone who is a specialist and takes care of it for them. Like I mentioned before, I had no idea how to build an online course. But my client let me learn on the job.

Something most business owners have no problem with. Because it was something that kept happening to me. A client asked me if I could work with a certain tool, and if it sounded interesting to me, I told them no, but I love to learn.

So, by learning the right skills, you no longer have to worry about making ends meet or where your next client is coming from.

Hard Skills for Virtual Assistants

There are soooo many hard skills for virtual assistants you can specialize in. But the most in-demand skills are those of a tech & ops specialist. Even if you’ve already started your VA business, you can, just like I did, pivot to become one.

In my membership, 4-figure Tech VA Membership, I teach you all the in-demand skills you need to become one. No, figuring out all by yourself which tools and systems you need to learn.

Tech systems

One of the skills you need to master is editing website pages. My philosophy is that every business owner needs a website. It was one of the first things I did for my business. I created my website in Squarespace. Now, I can work with Squarespace, WordPress, Wix, and a couple of other website platforms.

I work exclusively for coaches, and most of them give a webinar or challenge. So, having this hard skill under your belt can be very helpful.

These are just two of the skills you’ll be learning in my membership. As a matter of fact, it’s the first module in my membership because the sooner you learn these in-demand systems, the sooner you can start signing clients.

Operations know-how

It’s not only important to know these tools and systems, but you also need to know how to let them talk with each other.

When your client is going to give a webinar, you need to do more than just set up the webinar. People need to subscribe and need to be able to buy the product your client is selling.

And when you know how they work together, it’s also easier to give advice to your clients. They love that because, remember, they’re not the experts. They don’t want to be the expert in these skills.

How amazing would it be if you could suggest a new tool that would make their clients’ experience in their program better?

That’s a way to become an integral part of their business.

Soft Skills for Virtual Assistants

Soft skills are also important for a VA. You’re working with other people, so you need some skills to create an environment for you and your clients that makes them want to keep working with you. You can’t be rude or unreliable.

You’re not going to become a successful VA when you don’t care.

The following soft skills are going to make you a rock star for your client and seal the deal to sign clients who want to pay you 4 figures every single month.

Communication that builds trust without being “loud”

We, as introverts, are amazing at being virtual assistants. You don’t have to be loud to work with clients. You’re the quiet, trustworthy woman who makes your clients shine. When you say what you do and do what you say, you build a strong relationship with your clients.

Maybe you think this is logical to you, and you’re thinking Why am I mentioning this. It turns out, not everybody is like you. Having this soft skill as a virtual assistant is amazing and ensures your clients want to keep working with you.

Organization and focus while working from home

Keeping things organized as a VA is crucial to keep yourself sane. Nothing is worse than not knowing where you saved a document or where you’re clients' passwords are. I use LastPass; this is one of the free tools I absolutely recommend you use as a virtual assistant.

Not only do you need to organize your own business, but having things organized for your client is essential. Make sure your clients know how to reach you [and no, you don’t have to give them your phone number]. Maybe you want your clients to email you, or you’re working with a project management system, like Trello.

Before you start your business, you need to know if you have this skill for virtual assistants: focus. If you’re not disciplined enough to work from home because you keep doing other stuff than working for your clients or on your business, then don’t become a virtual assistant.

Most of the time, you’re alone in your home. I love that, by the way. It’s one of my favorite things about being a business owner. I did not fare well in open offices.

So, if you can’t focus and keep watching Netflix, you’re just not cut out to be your own boss. And that’s alright. Not everyone can become a virtual assistant.

Problem-solving with calm confidence

We are so freaking creative when it comes to solving problems for our clients. I never thought I was creative because I’m not a painter and I can’t draw for shit, but the solutions I have for some of my clients’ problems are mind-blowing, if I say so myself.

So, if you think, but, Marit, I’m not creative at all. You just see with what you come up with when a client asks you she wants so and so tool to communicate with each other. Or she comes up with a solution, and you think, but we can establish that way way easier.

You’re the down-to-earth, all-seeing woman who is in their corner.

Summary of Skills for Virtual Assistants Who Want Higher-Paying Clients

When specializing in tech & operations, you don’t have to learn everything all at once. I didn’t either. I focused on learning the most in-demand tools and systems while I was working for my clients. Because I want you to be able to know which ones they are, I created the module, Which Services are You Going to Offer, with all the hard skills for virtual assistants. Like website platforms and webinar setup, but also how every tool can work together.

As introverts, we are amazing at being virtual assistants. Working in the background and making other people shine is our superpower. We are incredibly creative in our solutions, we see the bigger picture, and we don’t mind working alone from the comfort of our own home.

All these are the best skills for virtual assistants to sign clients who want to pay you 4 figures month after month, year after year.

Build a successful virtual assistant business as a tech & operations specialist!

The 4-figure Tech VA Membership is a virtual assistant membership designed for new and existing introverted VAs. It allows you to become a tech and operations specialist, charging four figures per client per month, having clients who want to work with you for years, and living the quiet life you crave.

The doors open this fall. You can join the waitlist for founding member pricing and a 1:1 bonus only available for people on the waitlist!