When you first start thinking about becoming a virtual assistant and when you first start telling people you’re looking into the field and they ask what virtual assistants do, it’s good to have some sense of the answer.

So what do virtual assistants do?

On one hand, they provide administrative and clerical services. In other words, as a VA you’ll schedule appointments, manage emails, answer phones and direct calls appropriately. On a more advanced level, you may create forms and templates for your clients, maintain their leads and make sure that promotional materials get sent out.

Virtual assistants can also provide business services. You may help your clients with developing a revised business plan, a stronger marketing plan or conduct research.

Because VAs understanding marketing (primarily because they market themselves), virtual assistants can offer marketing services. You can design print marketing campaigns, internet marketing campaigns and help your clients to integrate their print and internet marketing.

And of course, in addition to basic services, some virtual assistants specialize and offer services that are unique to one industry or another.