Are You Struggling To Figure Out What VA Services To Offer?

Melissa Smith
Aug 28, 2017 · 4 min read

One of the most common questions virtual assistants ask is, “What services should I offer?” It’s hard to narrow down because chances are you have many skills desirable to potential clients.

This is especially difficult if you come from an executive assistant background. You’d get fired for doing less, let alone doing one thing no matter how well you did it. Remember EAs and VAs are not the same. They are like cousins. What worked for you as an executive assistant will work against you as a virtual assistant.

The more services you offer the more likely you are to confuse the client. More importantly, if you offer too many services you will be pulled in different directions without mastering a certain field. It’s no longer just about the work. You’re also a business owner so you need to act like one.

Why is it so important to master a field? This is how you become known. When you are known in your area of expertise you can learn to duplicate your systems, diversify the way you earn income and charge higher rates because you know the return on your client’s investment.

The biggest resistance to this idea of niching VAs have is the thought of not being able to use all their skills. They are worried about becoming bored. This isn’t your business model forever. When the time is right you can expand your services and clientele. Niching is for now.

If you can’t monetize with one service you can’t do it with two, three, or four. When you offer that many to begin with you won’t know what works and what doesn’t. We all love what we do, but love doesn’t put food on the table or keep a roof over our heads. Either you’re earning a living or you have an expensive hobby.

So what is the right time to begin offering more services? It’s when you’re making money in the niche you’re in. If you can’t figure out a way to make money in that field you need to change until you find out how you can earn a living.

Here are five questions to ask yourself to find your niche:

  1. What do you L-O-V-E?

You’re going to be doing it for a living. Every. Single. Day. You better love it or you will get burned out very quickly.

2. What comes naturally to you?

When you think about this question don’t limit yourself to your business life think about your personal life as well. Don’t dismiss something because it is easy for you. That is a huge mistake! What is easy for you is very difficult for someone else. It doesn’t mean you would pay for your own service. Take any kind of crafting. You may live for crafting and couldn’t imagine paying for a fancy frame or beautiful centerpiece. Instead, you’d make it. Then there’s me. I would never craft, attempt crafting, or even watch crafting videos. I will gladly pay someone else to do those things for me.

3. What do you dislike?

Inspiration can come from need but it can also come from frustration. Is there a product or service you want to offer because what is currently available is no good? Do you think you can do something better or for a greater good? Is there no one already addressing your specific needs? Remember you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Slight changes can cause huge shifts.

4. Are you part of a niche market already?

Often times we start looking outside ourselves and the answer you’re looking for, is in fact, you. What unique qualities do you possess? What groups are you a part of which you can tap into? Do others ask you questions about certain topics or markets because they consider you the expert, or at least you know more than they do? Use all these things to your advantage.

5. What do you believe in?

When you believe in something you exude passion and excitement. It’s undeniable to those around you and they want to jump on your train.

Finding your niche isn’t meant to be difficult (although it can feel that way!). It is tapping into the person you are already, simply doing less and getting paid more! That is why it is so difficult. Our natural instinct is to be all things to all people and that won’t get you anywhere but frustrated and burned out.

Because you can’t do it all yourself….Melissa Smith, The PVA is the bestselling author of Hire the Right Virtual Assistant and host of the Admin to VA Summit. To learn more about working with a Virtual Assistant contact Melissa here.

The Personal Virtual Assistant

VA Matchmaker, Bestselling Author, Too Personal to be Artificial

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Melissa Smith

Written by

World traveler. Virtual Assistant Matchmaker. Remote Work Consultant. Entrepreneur. Bestselling Author. Mother. Sister. Daughter. Human. Everybody is somebody.

The Personal Virtual Assistant

VA Matchmaker, Bestselling Author, Too Personal to be Artificial

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