I tried to join one VA forum and I was declined. Their primary reason was because I was not doing administrative support. They said that the real virtual assistants are those that only do administrative support. Further, on their page it said that  it doesn’t mean that you work virtually, you should call yourself as a virtual assistant. Like if you do web design virtually, you’re a web designer. If you do bookkeeping, you’re a bookkeper. A little weird, I must say for thinking such thing.

Why constrict yourself in just doing administrative support? Why not spread your wings and learn to do Internet Marketing or Social Media? Aren’t people who do those type of tasks not called a VA too?

Again, we’ll be going back to my first post. Best to understand it as early as now.

Now I understand why there are some VAs who try to move away from the virtual assistant term itself. They don’t want to be generalized as people who do administrative support. While it’s not bad to do administrative tasks, I feel that there’s more a virtual assistant can offer and not just being a remote secretary. Times have changed and as more business owners shift online, they need help with handling their businesses like marketing and support which is not restricted to administrative tasks.  The more skills you have, the higher income potential you could get.

One of the most sought-after skills in the online world is Facebook techie skills. We know how Facebook is dominating the social marketing space and how it has connected many people especially businesses to their consumers. At the end of the year, FB will be changing how its business pages will be delivered and virtual assistants looking into delivering this niche must get ready as early as now in adapting to its changes.

Equipping yourselves with the right skills  is essential in providing professional services as a virtual assistant. VAClassroom is one of the online training providers geared to helping virtual assistants be up-to-date with their skills. They provide topnotch training resources and opportunities for VAs to leverage their income potential and gain “in-demand” skills that are highly needed by the online businesses nowadays.

Knowledge in administrative support is important for a virtual assistant but isn’t providing Facebook assistance like helping clients in building their Facebook business pages more exciting?