The virtual assistant industry is booming, more new business owners are awakening to this wonderful alternative to an in-house secretary. Many business owners cannot imagine life without their virtual assistants and as their businesses grow instead of moving to in-house employees they add a few more virtual assistants to their teams.
Within the virtual community people are talking about the benefits of working at home, of owning one's own business and of getting out of the rat race. No wonder that there are so many eager to get on board. One frequently asked question by virtual newbies is "How do I define my niche?" or "what should my niche be?" This article will outline seven broad options as a start. After selecting an option you can decide on the people or industry that you "click" with to further define your niche. Until you do here are some available options.
1. Coaches
This is not an option for virtual newbies. Coaches need to be veterans of the industry, they usually have years of running their own successful virtual assistant practice. In addition to that coaches need to be able to communicate well, be patient and willing to learn as much as they are willing teach.
2. Internet Marketing Virtual Assistant
IMVAs provide services like online surveys, podcasts, blog creation and customizing, autoresponders, online branding, AdWord management, keyword suggestion, search engine marketing to name a few. If you've got the qualifications, experience and like doing this then this is the niche for you.
3. Human Resource Virtual Assistant
Do you have a background that involved verifying past employment and references, writing ads for job vacancies, conducting interviews and other human resource responsibilities then jump right in and supply this service virtually.
4. Bookkeeping Virtual Assistant
Are you a skilled bookkeeper? Can you support a client who needs account receivables, payables, account reconciliation, payroll and sales taxes completed. Consider bookkeeping for your niche of choice.
5. Legal / Paralegal Virtual Assistant
If you are a paralegal looking to get your own business started then this is the niche for you. Virtual Assistants in this niche provide legal research, preparation of trial materials, court transcriptions, court filings, notary republic and much more.
6. Real Estate Virtual Assistant
This is still very much an exploding area in the virtual assistant sector. Could it be because real estate agents recognize the importance of virtual assistants more than any other sector? I am not sure. REVAs assist their clients with branding, flyers and postcards, database management, listing, virtual tours, farming campaigns, website maintenance etc.
7. Public Relations Virtual Assistant
Another niche that is experiencing continued growth as a result of a growing need for small businesses to market their services and to get good publicity. Some tasks completed by Public Relations Virtual Assistants include submitting events online, to the newspapers and to radio stations, writing press releases, pitching for news coverage and developing communication plans.
Now that you have an idea of the various niches available go ahead and get your business started. As you start working with a variety of clients I have no doubt that you would narrow your niche even more by choosing to work with a particular industry. That is the direction that you would definitely want to go because it is only then you can fully meet the needs of your client and truly enjoy virtual assisting. Happy niching.
(c) Five Star Executives
About the Author:
Crystal Redhead-Gould is the managing principal of Five Star Executives a Virtual Assistant Practice that specializes in Internet Marketing and Graphic Design. She is a pioneer for Virtual Assisting in the Caribbean. She serves as President of the Caribbean Association of Virtual Assistants. Crystal draws on over 15 years of experience in the industry and seeks to help small and medium sized businesses with their marketing tools in order to increase profits.
Crystal is a frequent speaker at small business forums across the Caribbean. She is also author of Unwritten Rules: Become an In Demand Virtual Executive. Feel free to visit her online at http://www.fivestarexecutives.com or pop in on the Caribbean forum at http://www.caribbeanassist.com
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