Telecommuting also known as working from home, or e-commuting, is a work arrangement in which the employee works outside the office, often working from home or a location close to home (including coffee shops, libraries, and various other locations).
In the Philippines, working from home has become popular around 2010 which opened work opportunities for remote workers, now more popularly known as virtual assistants or simply VA. Contrary to the notion that being a VA is an easy job, being one entails a lot of learning and upgrading (both personal and professional skills) to survive the cut-throat industry.
As a VA, it is paramount that one must remain relevant and highly visible online. Afterall, you do market yourself to potential clients, and you do want to stand out among the thousands of competitors vying for the same work opportunities . A VA should know his or her niche. You should showcase your expertise and you may do so by having a strong online presence.
Below are just 4 of the popular online platforms where you can exhibit your VA prowess.
Be viewed as a professional in your field by having your own website. Check WordPress or Wix to set-up one without spending a single centavo.
This is where you can showcase your work. You can start building your portfolio such as blogs and visual contents. You can present this to your potential clients. At a glance, they would be able to know the kind of VA you are.
It is a social media platform for photo and video sharing. Its popularity transcends the millennial users.It is also a venue for advertising products and brands.
Here, you can underscore your talent in visual designs. If you’re good at photography, take good-quality pictures and tell a story. If you have a collection of graphic designs, you can showcase them here.
The kind of content you share in Instagram is a good indication of what you can also do for potential clients. So, when you do send something out there, make sure it’s your best.
You know the old adage “A picture paints a thousand words”? With a video, multiply that picture about 1000 more times – that’s the power of YouTube. Social media influencers have capitalized on this platform, earning money by endorsing (directly or indirectly) products or brands.
You can use Youtube to capture your specific audience. This is the best platform to present your video creations. You can conduct video tutorials pertaining to your niche. You can even make a video presentation to impress potential clients into getting your services.
This is, by far, the most popular platform that is readily available for every VA to utilize. To date, Facebook users outnumber all other social media platforms users.
As a VA, you would be crazy not to use it. Facebook features are so great that you can increase your online footprint whether organic or thru paid ads.
Here, you have a variety of ways to highlight your brand and your services. For starters, you can curate a posting schedule to maximize reach and engagement. You can do Facebook live and get instant engagement from your followers. You can even create a page or start a community where you can share your expertise.
If you can show potential clients your ability to influence and maintain a strong following on these platforms, it can be a good indication of how you can do the same for their businesses. This will guarantee a better chance of getting hired. These are just four platforms out there that every VA can use to his or her advantage. There are some more that you can check out. Use all for better leverage.
What other social platforms work for you? Comment them below!