There are certain components every virtual assistant should have on their website to create an effective online presence. Here are the six things that, as a virtual assistant, your website should not be without:
1. Home Page
Your home page is the page most of your visitors will land on. It serves as a hub for all your other pages; on it people should be able to clearly understand what it is you do. Your navigation should be…well, easy to navigate.
Your home page is the place to talk about your customer or visitor; not yourself. Capture their attention with an open ended question. For example, “Do you find yourself wishing there were more hours in a day? Need an assistant to help you keep up?” Grab your visitor's interest right away, before they hit that back button!
2. About Page
The “About Page” is where you can talk about you. People go to this page because that's what they want to know. The only requirement for this page is that you should ¬ALWAYS have a picture of yourself on this page. If you have video, even better, but you at least need a picture. It doesn't matter what you think you look like, if you have purple hair, horrible acne…there needs to be a picture of you, it helps people feel more connected and in turn increases their trust.
You'll want to include some basic background information (where you are from, experience, etc.), but also show people a more personal side, talk about your kids and/or pets, your passions, hobbies.... let your personality show through.
3. Services ( aka Solutions) Page
Your services page (or pages) is one of the most important pages on your website, probably the most important. This is where you present the solutions you provide, because although you're a virtual assistant, you're also a solution to the client’s problem. Your visitor did not arrive on your page because of you – they arrived on it because of THEM, because they have a need; so, avoid talking directly about yourself – You want to focus on using the word, YOU and limit the use of words like I, We, or Us. Show them you understand where they are coming from and present the solutions you have to make their lives easier.
4. Testimonials Page
I can't tell you how important it is to have testimonials. You can tell them you're great, but you need testimonials to back it up – otherwise it's just all hype.
What's the best way to get a testimonial? That’s easy…just ask! Most clients are more than happy to provide a testimonial, but don't think about it until you ask.
5. Blog
I know blogging isn't for everyone, but I can't recommend it enough. There are so many reasons to blog, because it creates great content that people will want to link to, creates fresh content to keep the search engines happy, is an excellent way to be found for longer key phrases, and helps to show others that you are an expert in the field.
Whether you decide to blog or not is obviously up to you, but at least you know now what you are sacrificing if you chose not to.
6. Contact Page
I think this one is somewhat self explanatory; this is where you will list how people can get in touch with you. You will want to have an email address, phone, office location, etc. You may also include a contact form. If you do….please, test it! Nothing is worse than having a contact form that doesn’t work. You can lose immediate business, and lack of response can create negative word of mouth.
Do you have each of these sections on your virtual assistant website? If not, there's no better time to get it done!

Author's Bio: 

Hilary Brooks is a veteran virtual assistant and owner of A Virtual Edge Virtual Assistant Company. If you need a virtual assistant website designed from someone who has a deep understanding of the industry, contact Hilary for a quote.