How To Find Clients For Virtual Assistant Business
By DAWN-MARIE NESBITT
So you’re doing it.
You have a skill that you’re ready to share with the world and you have decided to start your own virtual assistant business.
You know that there are so many business owners who are swamped with so many things to do and you could be of service by helping them take some of the workload off their hands.
You’re excited but there’s just one problem.
How do you actually get your first client?
Well there are a number of ways that you can find clients for your virtual assistant business and that’s what this blog post is going to be all about.
In the next few paragraphs, I will share with you, the number of ways you can find clients for your virtual assistant business.
I will also share with you, how you can stand out as a virtual assistant business and if you don’t yet have a plan for how you are going to grow a profitable and sustainable virtual assistant business, then check out my small business marketing plan which will give you 8 simple steps that you can implement in your business right now, to grow your virtual assistant business.
So let’s get started.
How Do I Market My Virtual Assistant Business?
There are many ways that you can market your virtual assistant business, but before you do, you need to start with the basics.
As a virtual assistant, you may have a particular expertise that would be relevant to a specific market.
You first of all want to identify what that expertise is and which market you think will benefit from that expertise.
For example, you may be proficient in accounting and know that your services will help busy lawyers or doctors. It’s very important that you narrow down your skills and the niche market you want to work with, since doing so, will help you build authority in that specific area and can potentially help you command a higher quality group of clients who are willing to pay you for your premium services.
Everytime I speak about the requirement for virtual assistants to narrow their audience and their skills, I use the analogy of the orthopaedic surgeon and the general practitioner.
There is a reason why an orthopaedic surgeon or specialist surgeon can command higher service fees than their generalist counterparts.
Someone with a higher skill set and who has specialised training or education in a specific area, would typically be paid more than someone who does not have specialised training.
As a virtual assistant, whilst you can start off by providing a wide range of services and working with several types of clients, as time goes along, it is strongly recommended that you narrow in on your skills and target market and become clearer on the type of client that you want to work with. This will help you attract your ideal clients and work with those that you are able to serve best.
Now that you know the specific market that you want to work with, let me help you with a few strategies that you can implement right away, to find clients for your virtual assistant business.
LinkedIn Marketing
As a virtual assistant you are looking for business owners, so what better place to find them, than LinkedIn.
LinkedIn is a great platform to introduce your services and the good thing about here, is that LinkedIn gives you the tools to help you filter prospects so you are only connecting with the right people that fit your client avatar.
So if you only want to work with Dentists in Leeds, for example, you can find most dentists who have offices in Leeds and begin to connect with them.
LinkedIn, like any other social media platform, requires you to build your connections and then build meaningful relationships with those connections, by engaging with their content, sharing your posts so that they see it on their timeline and attracting them into your circle through your lead magnets.
The type of content you create, will determine whether you are able to attract your target audience to you. I recommend that you create a mix of content such as lifestyle posts, how-to posts, list posts. If you really want to get your target audience’s attention, then pick one specific problem that they might have and then create content around that problem, to help them solve it.
The problem that you identify, must be so aggravating and annoying to your target prospect, that they have a desire and urgency to fix that problem now.
So for example, for a dentist, his problem may be that he has a mountain of work to do, that includes updating his website with relevant content, reaching out to potential clients to close them into a sale or maintaining his accounts, but cannot seem to get to those important tasks because of his workload.
If you create content that specifically addresses these pain points, then attracting dentists to you, will not be a problem, because they know they have a problem that needs fixed and you have just offered a solution to getting it fixed.
Facebook Groups
Now I would have said to use your Facebook personal profile, but as a virtual assistant who wants clients, you have to be very strategic in the way you use social media to get clients for your virtual assistant business.
No longer is it effective to create content for your friends and family. Although they might be able to share your posts with their friends and family and give you more exposure, if you want to build a sustainable business that does not rely on friends and family, you will have to move away from them and go to the people who are looking for what you want and will likely pay you, to help them.
To find these people on Facebook, I recommend that you hang out in Facebook Groups that are specific to your target audience.
Supposing you are a virtual assistant for real estate agents. Find a Real Estate Facebook Group with a high member count and join it.
When you get in, start by networking with the members of this group. Now remember, it’s not all about private messaging people and asking whether they need your services.
You have to first build that familiarity in the group and an easy way to do this is create content around a specific problem that real estate agents have and speak specifically to that problem and provide an immediate solution.
That content can be long-form social media posts or even video, provided it is allowed in the group. Make sure you read the group rules before you start posting content (some Facebook group admins are very particular about what type of content you can post).
This strategy requires consistent effort from you, since the aim is to help the group members see a familiar face so they can start knowing who you are, liking you for your amazing content and trusting you because you are always showing up, delivering immense value without asking for anything in return.
When you do this overtime, watch how people start messaging you in your inbox asking for more information about you.
Instagram Marketing
Although Instagram is owned by Facebook, the strategy you deploy here, will be a little different since you are sending your marketing message to most of your followers, who may not actually be interested in what you have to offer.
Which is why I always believe that when you use Instagram, you should always find a way to segment your audience and start taking those who actually need your help, off of the social media platform and into your world by building an email list.
So the first thing you should do to get clients as a virtual assistant from Instagram, is set up your Instagram bio correctly, so you will only attract the right people to you.
Your bio should call out who you want to work with.
I hope by now you have decided who your target audience is going to be.
Therefore if you prefer to work with nutritionists, then your Instagram bio should specifically say that you help nutritionists.
You can do that by saying: “I help nutritionists put their business and life in order so they can save more time.”
Your bio should also state the obvious – that you are a virtual assistant. This is important so you can make your Instagram profile more searchable in the Instagram search engine.
Finally start the process of getting people onto an email list by creating your lead magnet and making sure it is prominently displayed in your bio.
The benefit of this, is that you are starting the sales journey process for those who sign up to your email list, so you can convert them into leads and then sales.
Once your bio is set up, here are five ways that you can start building an attractive Instagram profile to get more clients as a virtual assistant.
Use varied photos
Don’t just post photos about you. Make your Instagram posts inspirational and encouraging.
Be a helpful resource
If you are creating a post with a photo about you, you can include a caption with helpful and useful content that gets your followers to take actionable steps in their business. When your Instagram becomes a helpful resource, people remember you.
Use call to actions
If you’re providing a helpful resource, always remember to add a call to action at the end of each post. Your call to action should be an instruction to sign up for something that is of a high perceived value. Maybe you can deliver a masterclass or webinar on how business owners can save time by doing 10 productive things; (bonus tip: one of those productive things can be hiring a VA – you!)
Hashtags
Research relevant hashtags and add them to your captions. This will help your posts get found by your target audience.
Get your followers involved by giving them a chance to show what they can create when they follow your tips or methods. Make sure and ask them to post what they come up with and then use a memorable hashtag, so you can follow up with them later and further engage with them.
Create engagement
The aim of Instagram should be to get your followers more engaged with you, so they can build a relationship with you, remember you and then step into your world where you can convert them into paying clients.
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
If you’re using blogging as a strategy to get found and seen by your target audience, consider using SEO to help give your blog a boost in the search engines.
SEO helps your website get found when you create content that answers the questions that your target audience has.
For example, if you know that your ideal client is a Relationship Coach and one of the problems they have is staying on top of tools that will help them automate their business, then by creating content that specifically addresses this problem and doing so consistently, will allow Google to understand what your website is about and help you show up in the search engines.
But SEO isn’t as simple as that.
In fact to help you rank easier, SEO is all about targeting very easy to rank keywords, collaborating with other bloggers who have high-authority websites and perhaps guest posting for them, page speed and other ranking factors that Google considers to help you get on the first page.
Also aside from SEO, creating a Google My Business account is another great Google feature that allows you to get in front of your ideal clients who are actually searching for your business locally.
Consider setting up a Google My Business account and make sure that you use all the features of that platform to optimise your profile.
The biggest mistake that virtual assistants make when creating their Google My Business account, is that they create it and forget about it.
Google My Business is just like a social media platform. You have to continue to create content on it, to help engage the visitors who may find your business through a search, so you can remain relevant to them.
To get started with Google My Business, click here.
Run Ads
And if all the organic ways of finding clients for your virtual assistant business is taking too long, then running ads is another option that helps you find leads who want your service and are looking for people like you.
The two most effective platforms are Facebook Ads and Google Ads.
Google Ads is helpful to allow you to get in front of the people who are actually searching for your services.
When using Google Ads, don’t make the mistake of linking your ad to your home page. You will have a high bounce rate and you will lose potential leads this way.
Instead create a targeted landing page that speaks directly to the people who click on your ad.
For example, if one of the keywords you are targeting is “Chiropractor virtual assistant in Atlanta”, then your landing page could start with the headline “10 things to consider before hiring your next virtual assistant to help you with your Chiropractic clinic” or you can give away a case study that shows the prospect “How one Virtual Assistant helped this Chiropractor boost his productivity and reduce his workload resulting in a 306% return on his investment”.
Something like that.
When you give away lead magnets that are of a high-perceived value, not only do you now bring the prospect into your world, you are also able to follow up with them to build a relationship with them and convert them faster.
You are also able to show them more of what you do and how you can help them. This helps you stand out.
You can also use the same strategy for Facebook Ads.
Job Boards
Job boards are very helpful to getting clients as a virtual assistant, since the people who are actually posting for help are actually your potential clients.
But the problem with job boards is that there is a ton of competition and the key to winning with job boards is not to just respond to the job request like any virtual assistant, but in a way that stands out.
When responding to job boards I recommend showing the prospect how you would help them. You might be able to deliver a case study that shows how you helped another client manage their time and their workload and the result of doing it.
If you are able to create a video response, do that. Anything that you can do to stand out. Your video could be answering one of the problems you know your prospect has in their business, just as a way of delivering helpful and useful content, even though they may not have asked for it.
When you go the extra mile, you get noticed.
So think about the ways in which you can go the extra mile.
What type of job board platforms are great for virtual assistants? I freelanced in my business for just about a year to help me make money and I focused on Fiverr. I was able to attract high-paying clients who didn’t question my fees and just paid me because of the additional value I showed to them, when I answered their job requests.
Other job boards that I know of and have tested are:
- Upwork
- People Per Hour
- VA Networking
If you want other job boards, there are many blogs that cover this. Simply do a Google search for them.
Networking
There is nothing better than networking with people in person and building a strong relationship with them.
People buy people and when you can speak and interact with them one on one, it creates a whole other relationship of trust which may lead to you being seen as the first port of all, should they require your services.
Networking events can be time-consuming, so when selecting events to go to, make sure that the people who are likely to be in attendance are the type of prospects you’d like to serve.
A good way to understand this, is to reach out to the event organiser and ask them what type of persons they expect at the event.
Be careful of free networking events, since it may attract low-quality prospects. Paid networking events may attract high-quality prospects since if they paid to attend the event, then it is more than likely that they are ready to do business and may need your services immediately.
Either way, I recommend finding several networking events, attending them all, then narrowing down the events which had the highest-quality prospects so that you know which events are more worth your time.
How Can a Virtual Assistant Stand Out?
So now that you know some of the most effective marketing strategies that you can adopt in your business to find more clients as a virtual assistant, let’s talk about how you will stand out as a virtual assistant.
There is so much competition in the marketplace.
Everyone is shouting “hey look at me”, “work with me”, “hire me”.
But I have found time and time again, that the best way to stand out, is to provide valuable, helpful content that no one else is providing.
You see, most virtual assistants try to get the sale first. But, because you are different, your approach should be to show that you are capable of changing business owners’ busy lifestyles and making an impact in their day to day life.
How can you do that? By creating strategic content that first of all delivers helpful and useful information that the business owner can use in their life and business.
This type of content is so good, that it is painting in the minds of your prospects, that you know what you’re talking about and that you are detailed-oriented, helpful and most importantly an expert (so important)!
If you are a virtual assistant for a specific group of people, then create content that is relevant to that group of people and show how you can help them.
If you do not know what type of content you can create, here’s a tip.
Supposing you’re a Pinterest virtual assistant for interior designers. Use Google and search for a key word that you know your target audience will search for.
Scroll all the way to the bottom of Google and you will find other keywords that your target audience are probably asking. THAT is what you should create content on.
With so much competition today, if you want to stand out as a virtual assistant, start by seeing yourself as a helpful resource, first and foremost.
Your Virtual Assistant Marketing Plan
Let’s wrap this up.
To grow a successful and profitable virtual assistant business requires a robust marketing plan.
A marketing plan when prepared properly, will give you the direction you need to take and help you focus on the actions that will generate consistent client acquisition and revenue in your business.
When you follow the steps in a marketing plan, over time it will compound and you will begin to see the rewards of your efforts.
Growing a virtual assistant business, takes time and effort. I recommend putting in place a plan and reviewing your plan after six months, with a focus on what worked and what didn’t work. Do more of what worked until you start seeing results.
Your marketing plan does not have to be full of complicated systems and steps. In fact, I have prepared a simple-to-follow 8-Step Marketing Blueprint For Small Businesses. Click here to get access to the blueprint now.
8-Step Marketing Blueprint
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