Have you heard that you can make money online but aren’t
sure what you can do? Ever heard of an Online Virtual assistant? It’s a known
fact about how unfavorable the job market is in Kenya, especially for the
youth. But who said you need a traditional 9-5 job to make a living?
Just because you’re struggling with getting hired for a
traditional job, doesn’t mean you have to resign to being broke. Thanks to the
development in technology and the effectiveness of the internet, you can
comfortably work from home and even earn a full-time income from it. There are
a lot of online job opportunities available today, including being an online
Virtual assistant.
In this post, we’re going to share with you how you can make
money as an online Virtual assistant in Kenya. But before we get into how to
become one, you must be wondering who a Virtual assistant is and what is the
job description? So, allow me to first clarify.
Who is a Virtual assistant – what do they do?
To help you understand, I want you to think of a virtual
assistant as a personal assistant. Not the kind you send for coffee or to pick
up your dry cleaning. Virtual assistants are more like the personal assistants
you task to reply to your emails, post on your social media, type up important
documents, or schedule your meetings. The range of tasks a virtual assistant
does is vast. The main difference from a personal assistant is that all these
tasks are completed via the internet.
You can either work as a full-time or part-time Virtual
assistance, depending on your preference. The beauty of this type of job is
that you can work for any company anywhere in the world. It is also suitable
for both beginners and experts in the field.
Point-to-note: Before we go on, we cannot
emphasize enough that being an online virtual assistant is not a get-rich-quick
scheme. Most gurus online will feed you with the illusion that venturing into
this field is effortless, or that you’ll make a lot of money overnight. This is
not the case. It’s not that you need any special degree or diploma of some
sought to qualify for the job. You do, however, need to learn certain skills,
if you’re going to be a successful, in-demand virtual assistant. Keeping this
in mind let us proceed.
What job opportunities are available for virtual assistants in Kenya?
With more and more people coming up with business and
organizations growing and expanding, executives and entrepreneurs need help in
running their operations. Such business owners are looking for someone who can
help them clear up more time to do other things without neglecting their
duties. There is, therefore, high demand for virtual assistants in the online
market. As mentioned before, there are many tasks a virtual assistant can
complete, and so there are a varying number of job positions available for
Virtual assistants. In Kenya, some of the common job opportunities are:
eCommerce Virtual Assistant.
This type of assistant is hired by an eCommerce business
owner. Your role in this position will be to remotely help in the daily running
of the business and also outdo the competition. Some of your responsibilities
include analyzing the competition, writing product descriptions, improving the
business’s online visibility, providing live customer support, and updating
product categories among others.
Administrative Virtual Assistant.
In this role, your duty will be completing administrative
tasks managing contact lists, or billing and accounting. You may also be
required to make travel arrangements, process important documents, set up
meetings, and basic HR tasks among others. The main difference with office
administrators is you will be completing these tasks online.
Virtual Research Assistance.
Researchers normally have a workload that they need help
with. Your role, in this case, will be completing the different research tasks
assigned to you. Some of these tasks include compiling research data, analyze
and present the information among other tasks.
Data Entry Virtual Assistant.
This role entails inputting raw data into a computer and
converting it into useful information. Some of the tasks could include,
managing database systems, compiling data, reviewing the accuracy, and
generating reports from the data among others.
Virtual Bookkeeping Assistant.
Bookkeeping is important for any business, regardless of how
big or small it is. That is why many of them look for bookkeepers who will
ensure the business won’t experience any financial headwinds. Some of your
tasks include processing payments and payrolls, managing inventory and
expenditure, end of year accounting and budgeting, and reconciling banks with
credit cards and project cash flow.
Virtual Marketing Assistant.
Entrepreneurs and producers are always in need of help to
market their products and/or business. They need someone who can help promote
what they offer on different platforms, be it, social media, email, or
websites. Developing content for marketing, starting and managing marketing
campaigns, and generating business leads among others.
Where can you find Virtual assistant jobs in Kenya?
Today, you’ll find many online platforms where clients post
job offers, looking to hire Virtual assistance. Such sites work in either one
of two ways or both. Clients can bid for your service or your bid for their job
offers along with other freelancers who are interested. Either way, the sites
are very competitive. That is why you must be sure to highlight the best
skills, to stand out from the rest.
Four of the most reputable platforms you can try out are the
following:
Up work.
This is one of the most common platforms when it comes to
online writing jobs. It mainly operates on a bidding system. Clients will post
jobs and you have the chance to send your proposal and bid for the job. There
is also a system, where you can also create a package of your services and sell
them instead.
Fiverr.
This is a great platform if you want a platform where you
can market your service and rates. It operates on a gig system. That means you
create a gig which is a package of your service and rates and market them to
clients. That way clients approach you and not the other way around. Simply
create what is known as a gig and circulate it. You are even allowed to share
your gigs and market them on your social media platform.
People per Hour.
This particular platform uses both the bidding and gig
system simultaneously. That means you can either create a package showcasing
your services or you can bid for the jobs clients post on the platform. You can
also do both.
Legiit.
If you’re looking for a Fiverr alternative, this platform is
similar to it in terms of operation. You have the chance of showcasing your
best skills and presenting them as a package. Clients looking for your type of
service will then approach you with an offer.
How much can you earn as a virtual assistant in Kenya – what are the rates?
Like most online jobs, the rates offered and frequency of
payment for Virtual Assistant depends on several factors. It will depend on the
type of job, your level of experience and skill, the client, and the platform
you use. In a platform like Fiverr, the rates start from as low as $5. But as
you start, you shouldn’t be hung up on the rates. Rather focus on building a
reputation with your clients, that way you get consistent work and can increase
your rates as you progress.
As for how you can access your earnings, the most common
method of payment is PayPal. A lot of the platforms utilize it and most clients
prefer it. It’s especially useful when it comes to small amounts. PayPal has
even come up with a way of transferring your funds from your PayPal account
into your Mpesa. Payoneer is another alternative for online transactions,
especially if you need a US bank account for global transactions.
What do you need to get started – what are the qualities of a good Virtual Assistant?
As mentioned, if you’re planning to build a successful
career as a Virtual Assistant, there are certain requirements to be fulfilled.
To start with, there are some desirable qualities you should have to increase
your demand among clients. These qualities involve you being, reliable, honest,
trustworthy, self-motivated, flexible, open to criticism, resilient, and a good
communicator. You should also be able to manage expectations and work
independently with minimal supervision. On top of these, to be able to
efficiently and effectively perform your tasks you also need:
A reliable PC and stable internet connection. Since
all your tasks will be completed online, these two things are very important.
You don’t need to have an expensive laptop for this job but reliable internet
is important if you expect to deliver on time.
The commitment to succeed. Regardless of what
online gurus will tell you, nothing ever comes easy. You have to first put in
the time and effort before you can reap the fruits. To succeed as a Virtual
assistant, you must be committed to it from the beginning.
Marketable skills set. We saved skills for last because it is the most important. Every job whether online or offline requires a certain set of skills. Virtual assistants are no different. You need to know how to use the tools you’ll need to complete tasks like file conversions or bookkeeping. You’ll also need research skills to collect needed data and compile them into useful information. So, you see, skills are very important if you aim to succeed.