So you want to take an accredited virtual assistant training?

Good for you! Pat yourself on the back for taking your future career or side gig seriously.

But first, you’ve got to learn how to work online as a VA, or virtual assistant.

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I get it. I’ve been there. Having worked for online, for myself and others, since 2008, I know there’s a LOT to learn about servicing businesses from afar.

I’ve covered every aspect of virtual assistant work you can think of:

• Email management
• Project launches
• Content creation
• Creating sales funnels
• Launching and managing social media marketing and promotions
• Pinterest promotion
• Facebook promotion
• Sales and customer service.

I’ve also employed and managed full-time virtual assistants, and enjoy the freedom and fun we so often experience working online.

Using my experiences and the insights of others, you’ll find the course I most recommend in the article.

The Hard Truth About Being A VA

Honestly, finding good help online these days is not that hard. A lot of people might disagree, but I see that most people want to do a good job, earn money online, and have the flexibility and freedom that working for yourself allows.

The problem is finding GREAT help. For a long time, I could not figure out why I kept hiring virtual assistants, only to let them go a few short days or weeks later. It just seemed so hit or miss.

Sometimes I wasn’t clear in my instructions or expectations and, other times; my online hires weren’t a good fit for my team.

So I fired them.

Which means if you’re serious about earning money as a virtual assistant, you need to find training that is going to teach you how to interact with clients.

It’s something most training just don’t teach.

Accredited Virtual Assistant Training Options

You’ve been doing your research, but wow! There’s a mind-boggling number of courses, options, and training out there.

When I google “virtual assistant training,” over 7 MILLION results were returned in less than one second.

That’s insane. No one has time to sift through all those sales pitches and information packets.

So I’m not going to waste your time (or mine) talking about all your different options for training to become an online virtual assistant. Instead, I’m going to tell you about the course I found that merges accredited virtual assistant training with the real-life skills you need to succeed in an online work environment.

Bottomline is this course offers you the most value for your money, time, and energy. It’s a no-brainer.

As someone who’s worked on the VA side and the business-owner side, connecting and anticipating needs is the primary key to your success as a virtual assistant.

So, find a course that teaches you how to do that, if you don’t already know how.

A Word of Caution About “Accredited”

There is no one single company or organization that “accredits” you to become a virtual assistant. Nope, there are thousands of them.

Which means the term “accredited” is, well, a bit more of a sales pitch than anything else, and not always worth the investment.

So, first things first, stop searching for an “accreditation.” Instead, focus on finding training that helps you actively start your virtual assistant career.

Don’t Business Owners Want “Qualified” Help?

As a business owner, did I care if my VA belonged to the IVAA (International Virtual Assistants Association)? Heck no, because the IVAA appears to exist solely to sell training and memberships to their members and potential members.

And the truth is, virtually no online boss or client is going to care about “accreditations” (if they’re good at marketing, they know the value of that word is too often $0).

What we care about is that you are trained to do the job you’re applying for and that you have the communication and management skills to execute the tasks at hand.

So before you go spending hundreds of dollars joining associations and expensive training, learn the ropes first. You can always join an “accredited” organization later if it’s important to you.

The VA Training You Need

A virtual assistant needs to know:

• What kind of virtual assistant work you can do
• How to set up your VA profile, rates, and business
• How to get paid online
• Where to go to find clients
• How to deal with taxes, expenses, and the business side of things
• Techniques for effective communication and customer service

Making money as a virtual assistant within 30 days of starting your training is doable if you learn the right things at the right time.

I’ve looked at a lot of VA courses, and many of them are excellent. But there’s always one thing that seems to be missing: a real person to walk you, step-by-step, through building a VA business from scratch.

You need some (or all) of the following skills to make a good living as a VA:

• Social media management
• Content management
• Email management
• Project management
• Business recruitment techniques
• Excellent email etiquette
• Ability to pitch (ask) clients for interviews and jobs

And I find so many instructors have some, but not all, of these skill sets that you need to succeed.

But I found one course that touches on all of the skills you need to be a modern, professional, highly paid virtual assistant.

30 Days Or Less To Virtual Assistant Success

I first met the developer and instructor of this course, Gina Horkey, after signing up for her 30 Days or Less to Freelance Writing Success course. I was already a paid freelance writer, but I wanted to learn how to find more jobs, increase my acceptance and hire rates, and look more professional online.

Within five days of signing up for Gina’s course, I made $500 and secured three long-term clients.

I’d call that 30 days or less to success, wouldn’t you?!

I’ve taken a lot of courses, but the 30 Days Or Less series were the first ones that blended the training with the real-life experience and support.

Who 30 Days Or Less To Virtual Assistant Success Is For

The 30 Days Or Less To Virtual Assistant Success course is designed to walk you through:

• Learning what a VA is and does
• Launching your VA business (deciding what services to offer, creating your resume, and determining the types of people/companies you want to work with)
• An in-depth look at the three services you can provide (email management, social media management, content creation)
• Making money as a VA (setting rates, keeping clients, monthly rates, necessary finances, and more)
• Setting up an online presence (do you need a blog, starting a newsletter, getting testimonials)
• Where to find clients
• How to pitch (ask for a job)
• How to get hired/interview well (it’s entirely different than in-person!)
• Business management (contracts, taking on new clients, letting go of clients)
• Grow strong relationships (trial periods, creep finder, getting to know your client)

30 Days Or Less To Virtual Assistant Success assumes you have basic knowledge of at least one of the following:

• Email
• Social Media (your profiles/the basics)
• Content Creation (writing, graphic design, spreadsheet generation, etc.)

This course is designed to launch you into your new virtual assistant career.

How The Virtual Assistant Training Works

30 Days or Less To Virtual Assistant Success is a self-paced class. Working at your own pace means that if you have the time, you can complete the training in as little as a weekend.

Short on time? No worries. The course is designed so you can work fast or slow. The foundation of your virtual assistant business is built as you go through the course, so even if you have to take your time due to other commitments, you’ll still be making real progress through the training.

There are lots of tutorials, expert-interview videos, webinars, and live Q&A sessions to help you succeed!

Pricing

There’s good news and bad news.

The course is being upgraded on January 1, 2018, and the price is going up (it’s still totally worth it, don’t worry).

I’m telling you because if you register for the course by December 31, 2017, you can save significant money and still get the course update when it goes live. The course is excellent as it is, but they’ve added more value to it in the New Year by including more interviews and Q&A sessions.

Guys, this is a no-brainer if you’re serious about virtual assistant training.

Yes, I know it’s an investment. But if you don’t invest in yourself, who will? Ask Warren Buffet 😉

Before December 31, 2017, the cost is:

[one_half_first]two payments of $79 OR[/one_half_first][one_half_last]one payment for $147[/one_half_last]

As of January 1, 2018, the course price is:

[one_half_first]one-time payment $247 OR [/one_half_first][one_half_last]three payments of $97[/one_half_last]

It’s a steal at the new price, given some of the competitors are charging over $1,000 for a similar course!

Gina is super down-to-earth, friendly, and knowledgeable, and her course is the same.

There’s always a 7-day money back guarantee. If you don’t like it, cancel, and Gina will give you a full refund, no questions asked.

Pros

• Work at your own pace – finish in a weekend, a month, or a year!
• Result-oriented coursework
• An excellent price point of $147 through December 31, 2017 (Some courses sell for over $1,000 for the same training!)
• Whole-business training so you can be prepared and confident in your skills and knowledge
• Very relevant, hands-on training that builds the foundation of your business as you go through the course
• Great support and interaction
• A close-knit community of fellow VAs who are there to support and inspire you on your journey
• Information about exactly where to go and what to do to land your first clients
• Course instructor is hands-on and great in communication

Cons

• Self-paced can be difficult for those who get distracted easily
• The VA community 30 Days Or Less has on Facebook is helpful, but can be distracting (it’s always easier to chat than write a resume!)

Conclusion

Choosing an accredited virtual assistant training is a big decision to make.

Start by dropping the search for the term “accredited” and instead choose to focus on course content and how easy the information can be applied to immediate income and benefits. Look for a course with a hands-on instructor who is a virtual assistant, and knows what it takes to launch a VA business from scratch.

Be sure the course has an active community of happy students and members, as well as concrete steps for launching your business. You should finish a class ready to apply for jobs.

30 Days Or Less To Virtual Assistant Success is the best course I’ve seen if you’re looking for a thorough, relatable, and implementable class to complete your virtual assistant training.

The bonus is you can work as fast or slow as you want! Many students end up with paying clients well before the end of the 30 days. Check out some of their Success Stories from 30 Days Or Less To Virtual Assistant Success here.

Just Remember

So remember, being “accredited” doesn’t mean the same thing it means in Corporate America. Accredited just means you finished a program or training, that’s all. So don’t get sucked in by promises that accreditation will get you hired because it’s not true. What will get your virtual assistant business going is implementing the right training for your skills and needs, not listening to an instructor drone on about what you should do.

I’m so glad I chose the 30 Days or Less series to help me grow my online business. Gina Horkey’s clear directions, attention to detail, and warm support helped me succeed beyond what I thought was ever possible.

You’ll need to set your own goals and work hard; there’s no getting around that. But it is so worth it to be able to enjoy the freedom and flexibility of working online for yourself and setting your pay rates and goals!

Upon completion of the 30 Days or Less to Virtual Assistant Success course, you’ll have a tailored business plan, and the groundwork laid to get your first clients immediately. And you get to promote yourself as a graduate of the program…and I know that’s the type of person I’m always looking to hire.

Good luck!

Friendly reminder: Register for the course before December 31st so you can save big bucks!