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The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Virtual Assistant in South Africa
- Johlize Joubert
- Feb 5
- 6 min read
How to Start a Virtual Assistant Business in South Africa
The VA industry is full of opportunities, offering flexible work that can fit around your life as a mom. I have been a VA for the past 4 years. I make more than a million rand per year, and just bought a second house,at the coast. Life has not always been this way, we were at rock bottom, broke. We lost everything. I was just not going to settle for that life and started brainstorming ways to fix our situation. If I can do it, you can too!!
Here’s a bird’s eye view of the Virtual Assistant industry:
Virtual Assistants (VAs) can do a whole bunch of things, usually falling into these categories:
Admin Support:
Managing emails
Scheduling calendars
Data entry
Booking travel
Prepping documents
Handling customer service
Setting up appointments
Social Media Management:
Creating and scheduling posts
Managing social media accounts (like Facebook, Instagram, etc.)
Engaging with communities
Running ad campaigns
Creating content
Content Creation:
Writing blogs
Copywriting
Designing graphics
Editing videos
Editing podcasts
Crafting newsletters
Marketing Support:
Email campaigns
SEO work
Managing affiliate marketing
Generating leads
Managing sales funnels
Specialized Services:
Bookkeeping and accounting
Project management
Planning events
E-commerce support (like product listings)
Tech support (web design, IT help)
Customer relationship management (CRM)
Average Hourly Pay for Virtual Assistants
What you can charge as a VA really depends on your skills, experience, and sometimes where you're located. Here’s a rough idea:
Entry-Level VAs: Can charge anywhere from $10 to $15 per hour this is perfect when you are offering basic admin tasks like calender management, or if you’re just getting started in your field of expertise.
Mid-Level VAs: could charge around $15 to $30 per hour this is for you if you have some experience, and still building your portfolio examples are services like handling social media management or content creation.
Specialized/High-Level VAs: can earn anywhere from $30 to $75+ per hour this is possible if
you’re an expert in areas like project management or marketing, client retention management (CRM) business strategy etc, I fall in this bracket, though I dont charge per hour I work on a retainer with my clients, which means I get paid a set amount per month for a set of outcomes, and this is not linked to the amount of hours I work.
Note: Rates can vary a lot depending on where you’re based. For instance, VAs in countries like Philipines and India might charge less than $5 per hour - they offer mostly basic admin or social media related tasks while those in more specialized roles might charge more. The more you specialize the more you can charge! VA's in South Africa are in demand because we are known for our good work ethic and specialized skills.
Types of Businesses/People Who Hire Virtual Assistants
Lots of different types of businesses and individuals work with VAs. Here’s who typically hires them:
Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs:
They often need help with daily tasks like admin work, managing social media, and customer service.
Startups:
Startups love VAs because they can get crucial tasks done without breaking the bank.
Online Businesses:
E-commerce shops, digital marketers, and bloggers often need help with things like content creation, SEO, social media, and customer support.
Coaches, Consultants, and Freelancers:
These entrepreneurs usually hire VAs to keep their schedules on track, handle client communication, and marketing and content.
Real Estate Professionals:
Agents and brokers might bring on a VA to manage listings, schedule showings, and handle paperwork.
Corporate Executives:
Busy executives sometimes hire VAs to act as personal assistants, managing everything from emails to travel plans.
Nonprofits and NGOs:
They might need help with donor management, event planning, social media, and outreach efforts.
So, How do you get started as a Virtual Assistant in South Africa?
The 1st step is to figure out what skills you have to sell as a service. I know you might feel you have none but I promise you that is not true.
Ask yourself some discovery questions, here’s a few if you want more here is a handy checklist you can use to help guide you.
What is your work experience?
Who do you enjoy working with?
What tasks do you always get asked to help with?
What do you enjoy doing?
What do you research the most, and what interests you (note your Pinterest boards 🙂)
Make a thorough list of your answers.
Now make a list of the kind of personality you enjoy working with, start with your own personality traits - you can take a quick test if you need to.
It is so important to work with people you connect with, who as the same values as you and who sees value in your work. - these are your ideal client.
Once you have made these two lists, go back to your skills list and pick out 5 services you want to offer that you can do right away. Make sure that these 5 services are things your ideal clients struggle with. You will know this by hanging out where they are online and asking questions, or simply observing what they struggle with.
The services you offer will be a solution to their problem - thats how you get clients. They dont care if you are a fast learner of if you have a degree in graphic design or bookkeeping, or 10 years of experience - Clients only care about their own problems and if you can offer a solution. Hint: saving someone time is not a good enough reason to hire you!
When starting out you can offer simple easy services just to get your feet wet. But you need to level up and specialize very quickly if you want to make it as a VA.
Positioning yourself as an expert will make you very high in demand. “Basic” is not going to cut it! Don't do what everyone is doing specialize and stand out. Be a big fish in small pond.
Here’s a list of services that you can specialize in that are in very high demand and not difficult to learn:
Pinterest Management:
Creating and optimizing Pinterest profiles
Designing and scheduling pins
Managing Pinterest boards
Running Pinterest ad campaigns
Customer Relationship Management (CRM):
Setting up and managing CRM systems (e.g., HubSpot, Salesforce)
Automating follow-ups and customer interactions
Segmenting and managing contact lists
Analyzing CRM data to improve customer retention
Sales Funnel Development:
Designing and building sales funnels (e.g., with ClickFunnels or Systeme.io)
Creating lead magnets and landing pages
Setting up email sequences and automations
Analyzing funnel performance and optimizing conversions
Podcast Management:
Editing and producing podcast episodes
Writing show notes and transcriptions
Managing podcast guest bookings and interviews
Promoting podcasts across various platforms
Webinar Support:
Planning and coordinating webinars
Setting up webinar software (e.g., Zoom, WebinarJam)
Managing registrations and reminders
Running the webinar and handling Q&A sessions
E-commerce Support (Shopify/ WooCommerce/ Etsy):
Managing product listings and inventory
Setting up and optimizing online stores
Handling customer inquiries and support
Running promotional campaigns and analyzing sales data
SEO for Local Businesses:
Optimizing websites for local search results
Managing Google My Business profiles
Building local backlinks
Creating location-based content
Online Course Creation Support:
Helping with course planning and content creation
Setting up course platforms (e.g., Teachable, Kajabi)
Managing student enrollments and customer service
Promoting courses through email marketing and social media
Project Management:
Managing teams and workflows using tools like Asana, Trello, or Monday.com
Tracking project milestones and deadlines
Coordinating communication between team members
Reporting on project progress and outcomes
Niche Social Media Platforms (e.g., LinkedIn, TikTok):
Creating and curating content for niche platforms
Managing and growing accounts
Engaging with specific target audiences
Running platform-specific ad campaigns
Reputation Management:
Monitoring online reviews and mentions
Responding to customer feedback and reviews
Developing strategies to improve online reputation
Managing social media crisis communication
Translation and Localization Services:
Translating content for international audiences
Localizing websites and marketing materials
Assisting with cross-cultural communication strategies
Managing multilingual customer service
Video Marketing and Editing:
Creating short promotional videos or reels
Editing videos for social media or YouTube
Setting up video ads on platforms like YouTube or Facebook
Analyzing video performance and optimizing content
Affiliate Program Management:
Setting up and managing affiliate programs
Recruiting and onboarding affiliates
Creating promotional materials for affiliates
Tracking and analyzing affiliate performance
Membership Site Management:
Setting up and managing membership platforms (e.g., MemberPress)
Handling member communications and support
Creating and managing exclusive content
Analyzing membership data and retention rates
Specializing in any of these services will help you stand out and be in demand with your ideal client. We call this a niche.
There are a ton of courses, free and paid you can take to help you specialize in whatever you feel is the best fit. I will post a list of courses soon! - so check back :)! In the meantime - there are quite a bit of resources in my shop to help you get started.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed after reading this - join the Mom’s Income Society Membership - I will guide you every step of the way and give you the resources you need to specialize, stand out, and find your ideal client. You don't have to do this alone.
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