I started my freelance career as a writer.
But it wasn’t too long and I had found that I had built a diversified business.
It’s still pretty diversified and just like you don’t want to put all of your eggs in one basket or investments in the same stock, I don’t think you should have to choose just one freelance activity to build your business around.
Yes, you should focus and not have too many things competing for your attention. But if you’re like me, you might thrive as a webpreneur by taking this diversified business approach. Because, who wants to write all day, every day, week in, week out?
Sometimes it’s nice to mix things up and use a different part of the ol’ brain. Right?
Today, I’m going to share with you three ways virtual assistant work can complement your freelance writing career. Are you ready? Virtual assistant work can:
1. Stabilize Your Income
Freelance writing can mean inconsistent paychecks. And an unpredictable income can stress you out!
In an ideal world, you’d write regularly for a handful of clients at a good wage. But that’s not how it always works out. Especially not in the beginning.
Adding a VA client or two in the mix is a great way to help you stabilize that income. You can start off with an hourly wage (did you know the average North American VA earns between $30-50 per hour?), and hopefully move to a weekly or monthly retainer more long-term.
It’s a great peace of mind when you can walk into the month with a certain amount of predictable income, earmarked for paying the bills! Then your more inconsistant writing income can fund the fun stuff or variable financial goals or bills that you have.
2. Get You a Writing “in”
I recently upsold my VA client on my writing services.
We’d been working together a good eight months or so and I pitched him on the idea of adding student success story profiles on his site. He agreed, we did a trial and now I have a contract to write one a month at a few hundred dollars a pop during 2016.
This could also work with someone you want to write for, that maybe isn’t looking for contributors yet. Maybe they need some admin or editing help instead? Starting work with them in a VA capacity can be a great way to get an in and show them how competent and easy to work with you are.
3. Shake up Your Day
As I mentioned above, who wants to write 24-7? Not me, and I do a lot of writing (for clients, my own stuff, etc.).
Sometimes it’s nice not to have to write. Think about when you don’t feel good, have a lot on your mind or experience a bit of writer’s block. Wouldn’t it be nice to have tasks to complete that don’t require the same amount of creativity or brain power, that you still get paid to do?
I’ve also found that working with clients as a VA introduces me to new things; new ideas, tools and skills that I didn’t know I had. And this gives me more fodder to write about, enhances my worth as a writer and allows me to take my own web-based business in directions I’ve never thought about.
In Conclusion
Adding virtual assistance work to your freelance writing business is a great fit for many people.
It’s a wonderful way to create stability in your income, to get writing “ins,” to add variety into your days and learn new things.
If you’re interested in learning more about adding VA services to your freelance offerings, you should check out my new course, 30 Days or Less to Virtual Assistant Success. It’ll teach you what a VA does, how much to charge, where to find clients and much, much more.
Plus, I recently launched a VA matchmaking service to introduce qualified North American and European VAs with entrepreneurs, webpreneurs and small business owners that are looking for good people to help them take their businesses to the next level. It’s in beta now, but I’m really excited to grow the directory and help connect awesome VAs to inspiring entrepreneurs.
Author Bio:
Gina Horkey is a professional writer and online business marketing consultant. She has a decade of experience in the financial services industry and enjoys helping other freelancers gear up to quit their day jobs and take their side hustles full-time. She also shares what she’s learned while building her online business through her 30 Days or Less courses. On a personal note, she self-identifies as a married, millennial mama to two precocious toddlers (and is thankful her husband has the patience of a saint as he stays at home with their children).
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