When you’re looking for more information about what virtual assistants do, you’re going to find that there are a number of different explanations. The majority of those explanations, however, fall into the category of virtual assistants provide administrative services from a distance:

(source)In essence, at issue is what someone calling herself a Virtual Assistant does.. or what the work of a VA is. Some of the people in our industry buy into the idea that a person doing any sort of work that’s assistive in nature and performed virtually can call herself a VA.

The writer goes on to say that those who offer a variety of other services - using web design as an example - but do little actual assisting fall into the realm of virtual professionals.

It’s a valid point; at its most basic, the explanation of what virtual assistants do is that we provide administrative services from afar. Many others provide administrative services along with offering other, more clearly defined specialty services.

When you’re looking to define what virtual assistants do, ultimately the answer is simple: they provide administrative services and, in some cases, specialty services that they feel comfortable providing.