10 Virtual Assistant Side Hustle Ideas for 2024

The normalization of remote work continues to create opportunities to find part-time and contract work online. Many people are interested in generating additional income through a side hustle, and working as a virtual assistant offers many benefits, including the flexible schedule that a side hustle must have.

There’s a growing need for virtual assistants in several different industries, and you can get started quickly after identifying the specific type of work you want to do.

In this article, we’ll tell you more about what it’s like working as a virtual assistant. We’ll also introduce you to ten of the most popular types of virtual assistants by explaining what you would do in each role and sharing some tips for success.

Virtual assistant side hustle ideas

• 1. Social media management
• 2. Graphic design services
• 3. Bookkeeping and financial support
• 4. Data entry and organization
• 5. Administrative tasks and executive assistance
• 6. Podcast and transcription services
• 7. Email marketing and copywriting
• 8. Website design
• 9. SEO and online marketing assistance
• 10. Proofreading and copy editing

1. Social media management

In our increasingly digital world, many organizations need to continuously develop their online presence. To reach their goals, they may choose to hire a social media manager who can help them create engaging content, manage various social media calendars, and improve their efforts through the use of analytics.

As a social media manager, you may also interact with followers who respond to social media posts. This can build engagement with the brand you’re working with while attracting more followers to the company accounts.

If you’re looking to work as a virtual assistant who specializes in social media management, you’ll need to stay current on the most popular social media platforms, including sites like Instagram, TikTok, and Threads.

You’ll also want to become familiar with some top tools and platforms that can streamline or automate your work. For example, social media tools such as Hootsuite and Zoho allow you to schedule posts in advance.

Find the best open social media manager jobs online at Upwork.

2. Graphic design services

Companies rely on visual content for marketing and branding. A virtual assistant who specializes in graphic design can help develop logos and graphics to use on promotional items and social media accounts.

The specific projects you’ll work on can vary depending on the needs of your client, and you can tailor your offerings to the type of work you enjoy, whether that’s designing business cards, t-shirts, marketing graphics, or something entirely different.

If you don’t have prior experience in graphic design, you’ll want to spend time engaging with the basic skills and principles. Learning how to use software such as Photoshop and Canva will help. In today’s world, graphic designers may also integrate AI to improve their effectiveness and efficiency.

Over time, you’ll build a portfolio of past work that you can share with prospective clients to show what you can do. You can also solicit feedback from past clients to identify areas for potential improvement.

Check out the open graphic design jobs on Upwork.

3. Bookkeeping and financial support

A virtual assistant can help businesses better manage their finances by being responsible for bookkeeping and financial support. They typically use accounting tools and software like Quickbooks as a part of their work. Their responsibilities may pick up during tax season as businesses get ready to file their returns.

If you choose to specialize in financial support, you’ll need to be able to keep consistent and fully accurate records. Make sure you develop a structured approach that helps you stay organized and helps you manage all receipts and invoices.

You should also know how to help organizations and individuals budget for the future based on past spending and current trends.

If you like working with numbers and data, check out the open bookkeeping and financial support positions on Upwork.

4. Data entry and organization

Many businesses manage a large database full of information that is constantly changing and expanding. A virtual assistant can help ensure data is accurately managed, organized, and updated.

They may enter customer data into a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, or they could check completed projects for accuracy.

As with budgeting and financial planning, having a structured approach and an organized system for file management and data processing will help you succeed.

Another great piece of advice is to use time-saving data entry software, such as ClickUp or Tabidoo, that helps you enhance productivity and automate tasks.

Find the best data entry and organization jobs online at Upwork.

5. Administrative tasks and executive assistants

Virtual assistants working as administrative or executive assistants can perform a wide range of tasks depending on the individual needs of the client they’re assisting. While there’s some overlap between working as an executive assistant and as a general administrative assistant, executive assistants are more likely to have specialized skills and work on high-priority tasks that correlate directly with top-level executive work.  

To excel in this role, you’ll need to have high-level time management and communication skills. You may be asked to function as a gatekeeper for an administrator or executive by filtering incoming communication and declining requests on their behalf. You might also play a role in strategic planning and decision-making alongside the professional you’re assisting.

If you feel like you’re cut out for this type of role, visit Upwork to browse open positions.

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6. Podcast and transcription services

Podcast and transcription services are in high demand. While automated transcription services exist, they aren’t 100% accurate.

Sometimes, hiring a virtual assistant is the only way to ensure that audio content is effectively transcribed. Once transcribed, the podcast files can be converted into articles or blog posts—or short quotes can be pulled to post on social media accounts.

Some clients will want a verbatim transcription, which is a transcription where you record pauses, stutters, and nonverbal communication such as laughs or sighs. You should also clarify if you need to include timestamps throughout the conversation, such as when a new person begins talking. Make sure you use proper grammar (including punctuation) throughout your transcription so it’s easy to read and follow when you’re done.

Virtual assistants specializing in this area can work with podcasters and content creators. To learn more, check out the current open transcription positions available on Upwork.

7. Email marketing and copywriting  

Many companies use email marketing to stay in touch with potential customers and communicate new products and services. They may hire a virtual assistant to create or maintain their email list.

If you’re writing copy for marketing emails, make sure you write an eye-catching subject line. You can also use the preview text to entice the reader to open the email. Make sure you keep content clear and concise, and don’t forget to add a compelling call to action (CTA) at the end.

This will be easier if you’re using a platform designed to help you manage an email list. Examples include Constant Contact and Mail Chimp. Some website hosts such as Squarespace also offer email marketing as an add-on to their website plans.

If you want to learn more about becoming a virtual assistant who helps with copywriting or email marketing, check out Upwork’s database.

8. Website design

A well-designed website can make a solid first impression with new customers and partners, and can increase your potential clients’ repeat business. As a virtual assistant specializing in website design and maintenance, you’ll use tools like WordPress and Squarespace to help companies and individuals improve their online presence.

You can also help startups and other entrepreneurs who are looking to get into affiliate marketing as another way to generate extra income.

If you’re new to web design, you may find it helpful to take an online course or get a certification that can equip you with the basic skills to build an attractive website.

Keep in mind that designing a website involves several unique tasks, such as graphic design and copywriting. If you don’t feel equipped to take on these projects for yourself, you may look into outsourcing certain components of the process.

Take your first step toward working in web design by browsing the current open positions on Upwork.

9. SEO and online marketing assistance

Businesses and individuals can improve their online visibility through Search Engine Optimization (SEO), but doing keyword research and optimizing copy for better performance can be challenging. Many companies will hire virtual assistants to help with online marketing.

To improve a website’s organic search presence, you’ll need to consider keyword frequency and difficulty to understand where the website could potentially rank.

Some keywords are searched for often but don’t increase your SEO ranking because of the higher standing of your competitors. On the other end of the spectrum, some keywords have a high SEO ranking but aren’t searched often enough to be useful. Your goal is to strike the right balance between keywords that are searched often and don’t have significant competition.  

Head over to Upwork to see who’s hiring for SEO and online marketing assistance.

10. Proofreading and copy editing

As a proofreader or copy editor, you’ll help businesses produce polished, error-free content that engages readers. You’ll partner with organizations and individuals to tell stories and communicate important details about products and services.

Copy editing and proofreading have overlapping roles, but serve distinct purposes. Proofreading is usually the final step before publishing and focuses on things like spelling, grammar, formatting, and fonts. Copy editing engages more deeply with the content and looks at larger issues like structure, clarity, completeness, and factual accuracy.

If either option sounds like something you would enjoy, take a look at the open proofreading and copy editing jobs currently available on Upwork.

Is being a virtual assistant a good side hustle?

Working as a freelance virtual assistant (VA) can be a great side hustle. Being a virtual assistant offers a high potential hourly pay and encompasses many different types of work.

You can find a specific project that caters to your skill set, and you can search for opportunities to do the type of work you enjoy. In other words, running a self-employed virtual assistant business can be a great way to make money while doing the tasks you already like to do.

The required time commitment will vary between different virtual assistant jobs depending on the needs of the client and the scope of the project. However, most VAs usually enjoy a flexible schedule and can choose when they want to work.

Some VAs offer their virtual assistant services full-time while others work fewer hours and plan their work schedule around other obligations. Since you’ll be working virtually, working from home is an option, or you can work anywhere where there’s an internet connection.

In the following sections, we’ll talk about some specific virtual assistant roles and the type of work they entail.

Turn your skills into a profitable side hustle

Whether you prefer budgeting, proofreading, transcribing, or web design, there is no shortage of opportunities for anyone who’s looking to begin working as a virtual assistant.

If you aren’t yet sure which option is right for you, consider doing additional research to learn about the work you could do and see what jobs are available. Over time, you’ll find the right project to suit your needs, skills, and interests, and you’ll be ready to start bringing in a nice profit from your side hustle.

If you’re ready to get started with your search, head over to Upwork to browse open virtual assistant projects. Upwork connects independent talent with freelance work opportunities. We can help you find a virtual assistant position that allows you to make extra money on the side while doing work you enjoy.

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Upwork is not affiliated with and does not sponsor or endorse any of the tools or services discussed in this article. These tools and services are provided only as potential options, and each reader and company should take the time needed to adequately analyze and determine the tools or services that would best fit their specific needs and situation.