Straight Talk: Your Questions Answered About Starting Out As a Marketing VA
After two decades of running a successful marketing business from my home office, I'm often asked about my journey and what it takes to thrive as a marketing virtual assistant. In this special anniversary episode of "Confessions from the Home Office," I shared answers to the six most common questions I receive about building a career as a marketing VA.
Getting Started: The Skills That Matter Most
While I entered this field with a marketing degree and agency experience, I've found the most valuable skills aren't necessarily what you might expect. Yes, technical marketing knowledge helps, but the ability to effectively communicate with clients, ask the right questions, and efficiently find solutions are equally important.
The key traits that have helped me succeed include:
Strong research abilities
Active listening skills
Organized planning
Determination to meet deadlines
People skills that foster productive client relationships
These foundational capabilities matter more than specialized technical training when you're just starting out.
Overcoming Early Challenges
When I launched my business 20 years ago, the virtual assistant industry looked very different. Overseas VAs were becoming popular, but clients were experiencing frustration with time zone differences, communication barriers, and inconsistent quality.
My marketing background became my differentiator. I understood that business owners often struggle to prioritize marketing tasks even when they know how to do them. Being able to handle these responsibilities competently while operating in a compatible time zone provided significant value.
Another major hurdle was learning the business side of freelancing. Unlike today's abundance of online resources, I pieced together advice from CPAs, freelance writers, and other small business owners to figure out how to run a sustainable operation.
How the Marketing VA Role Has Evolved
The scope of a marketing VA's work has expanded dramatically over two decades. What began as primarily administrative tasks with occasional marketing elements has transformed into comprehensive responsibility for clients' marketing strategies.
As clients recognized my capabilities, they gradually entrusted me with more complex projects that might have previously gone to traditional agencies. This shift required continual adaptation, either through developing new skills or building relationships with specialized freelancers to fill capability gaps.
The Technology Transformation
The technological landscape has undergone a complete revolution since I started. While I once relied almost exclusively on email and Microsoft Office, today's toolkit includes:
AI-powered content and design tools
Advanced graphic design applications
Website builders that don't require coding expertise
Automation platforms like Zapier for integrating various systems
Specialized email marketing platforms
This proliferation of tools has dramatically expanded what a single marketing VA can accomplish for clients.
Why I've Stayed Independent for 20 Years
Despite occasional job interviews to "stay sharp," I've remained committed to independent work for one primary reason: freedom. After years of controlling my own schedule, the flexibility to prioritize life alongside work has become non-negotiable.
The ability to block off time for family vacations, attend weekday appointments without requesting PTO, or have lunch with my adult children without navigating corporate policies has created a quality of life I'm unwilling to sacrifice.
Looking Forward: Opportunities for New Marketing VAs
For those considering this career path, there's good news: demand for skilled marketing VAs continues to grow. Whether you're an empty nester contemplating a new direction, concerned about corporate downsizing, or simply seeking more autonomy in your work life, the marketing VA path offers viable opportunities.
To support aspiring marketing VAs, I've created a comprehensive starter kit that outlines the essential skills and steps to establish yourself in this field, along with an invitation to join my membership community for ongoing guidance.
After 20 years, I can honestly say that while not every day has been easy, the journey has been tremendously rewarding. And the best part? There's enough work for all of us.
Looking for more information about becoming a marketing VA? Check out the Marketing VA Starter Kit!
