Are you struggling to find clients for your Virtual Assistant business?

Many VAs struggle with this, not only at the beginning of their business, but all the way through it.

Why? Because they don't have a plan or a strategy to get clients.

Some of us start our business with our old boss as our first client (I did!). Or a husband, a neighbour, a friend.

So we don't get used to doing any marketing.

For marketing to work properly, you need to have a plan and do it consistently.

Getting clients is not difficult if you use a system that works for you.

But how do you figure out what works for you?

Think about the clients you have now.

If it's your old boss/friend/husband/neighbour, what made them hire you? How did that conversation go?

Who else do you know who has a business like theirs that you might be able to offer support for?

That's the beginning of your plan, and it's a great way to start thinking about who you can support.

Ask yourself these questions:

What services do I offer?

When you are trying to get clients, you need to be crystal clear on what you offer people. If you offer a laundry list of services, you aren't speaking specifically enough to anyone - and your message will fall flat on (almost) everyone you tell it to - whether that's in person, in your social media, or on your website.

Your message needs to talk about the services you provide - so that your client will know you can help them.

Do you provide general admin services? Awesome. Every single business owner out there needs admin help. 

But, if you target real estate agents, for example, you can tell them you will update their online listings, you can help schedule appointments with clients, do their follow up after open houses, and so on.

It's far more specific and it speaks to the client in language that could move them into action to work with you.

How do I help my clients?

What is that you allow your clients to be, do or have, by doing the work you do for them?

For instance if you do social media work - how does that help them in their business?

It gives them more exposure (so more people can learn about their business).

It can help them bring in new prospects (who can become their clients).

It showcases their expertise (when you post about what they do, their clients get to know them better).

It gives them back time (if they are doing the social media creation & posting themselves now).

and so on...

Knowing how your services help your clients on a tangible level will help you with your own marketing message, and in your networking situations.

Where are my clients hanging out?

When you are seeking out places to get clients, go where they already are.

That might be on Linked In, it might be in a Facebook group, it might be at a local event, or you might have to travel to an event.

The key is to go and seek them out where they already are. Why? Because chances are they are hanging out with their colleagues (like we do in the VA groups). And wherever they are, they are probably talking about their business - what they love about it, what they are struggling with, and what they need help with.

Professionals usually spend more time on Linked In for their business. Creatives might be in Facebook groups. Small business owners might be at local business event gatherings. Business coaches or speakers might gather at larger events.

The point is, think about who they are and where there are a large group of them. After all, we don't just ever want one client. We want lots of clients!

Then you just have to put it all together.

To find clients, you just need the answers to these three questions.

What do you do, how does it help them, and how you can get in front of them?

When you go where they are and build relationships with them, you learn more about what they need and you are in a better position to build service packages that are easy to sell and make sense to them.

If you are struggling, ask yourself these questions.

If you don't know the answers, that's the problem.

But with the answers, you are already more than halfway to new clients!