To get the client as a virtual assistant there is no replacement to get more experience in a specific industry, marketing the service professionally and to the right audience. The more you can shout out your virtual assistant service, the chance will get higher to bring you potential clients.
How to get clients as a virtual assistant is the widely asked question and honestly, there is no fixed way. Some VAS may get clients utilizing LinkedIn, do networking, cold call while others may use referrals. This is why today we will be talking about 10 proven ways.
All you need to do is start utilizing the ways and do beta testing which method works for you. Stick to that and have patience. So, let’s deep dive, and at the end, you will get a bonus tip too.
10 Proven Ways to Get a Client As a Virtual Assistant
Rather than hunting for clients, present, promote, and market your service in such a way that the clients come to you. This is the only key you can get more prospective clients as a virtual assistant.
Here check the 10 proven ways can get your clients for your virtual assistant business.
1. First, Targeting Specific Industries or Niches
A general virtual assistant gives all kinds of basic services, but you should try to niche down your service. Start with your specialized skills and expertise. Assess in which industry you are experienced and have deeper knowledge. Then try to find clients in that specific industry.
Clients, rather than searching for a VA who claims to know everything, look for niche specialized skill sets.
Or if you are just new to this virtual assistant service, then you select a specific niche for yourself where you have more interest in learning.
With a niche-specific industry, you can better understand the target clients and businesses who to reach out. This will narrow down your search too. You can give your full focus to the potential clients and increase the chance to work with them.
Also, with your specific knowledge in the industry gaining the trust of the client will be far easier. They would understand you have an in-depth niche-based experience and will be more interested in working with you.
2. Define What Service you will Provide
Next, comes what services you want to provide to the client and pitch them exactly with those services. You can create 2-3 service packages such as eBay virtual assistant, Wix virtual assistant service or real-estate VA with different price points (basic, intermediate, premium). This will help to attract clients with varying budgets.
Also, clarify your USP (Unique Selling Proposition). This means highlighting what makes your service special. This point will make you different from other VA’s generic services, and magnify more prospective clients.
For example, suppose you choose the e-commerce industry first. Then there are various services such as inventory management, order processing, and handling logistics or customers. You can choose two services to serve dedicatedly and pitch to the clients. So, you can fully focus on what you are doing and lessen the chance of making mistakes.
3. Create a Professional Portfolio & Website
Done with what services to pitch to the clients according to skill set! Now how about showcasing them by creating a professional portfolio or a website?
Instead of reaching out to each client with cold calls or cold mail, you can create ways for the clients to come to you. For this, you need a strong portfolio with a website.
Having a website will differentiate it from tons of other VAs in the marketplace and build a strong digital presence. You can share or link your website to your social media sites. By doing so the chances are high clients may sneak peek into your website.
For the portfolio, either you can make a portfolio website or show your works in one organized digital place where you are comfortable. Try to show all your past projects, client reviews, and success rate in completing projects in the portfolio. So, whoever comes to see your portfolio can get a quick insight into your expertise.
4. Network & Collaborate with Other VAs or Businesses
Networking is irreplaceable when hunting for clients as a virtual assistant. The better you network and collaborate with other VAs, the chances are to get clients and this makes you a good VA professionally. This is more beneficial for the new virtual assistant just stepping into the industry.
This is the simplest form of way to get potential customers. When you are communicating with others and have a good bond, they can suggest to you where you should look. Or they may recommend some clients, companies where they already work or have past clients.
If you continuously share your insights and expertise with others and join networking events they may hire you as a virtual assistant if they need the same service.
To expand networking you can connect on social media platforms, join virtual events, or host some remote programs yourself. Like and comment on other people’s posts and share insights to engage with others.
5. Leverage Freelance Platforms and Marketplaces
When working on a virtual platform, you must not forget to utilize freelancing platforms and marketplaces like Fiverr, PeoplePerHour, Freelancer or others. Today these marketplaces are dominating and have become most popular for both giving and getting virtual jobs.
This is the perfect platform for you to search for high-end companies and start your VA journey. All you need to show your expertise in the platforms based on the platform-demanded content format.
To exemplify, you can share regular insights on LinkedIn and engage with other people. This will expand your reach and get more eyes on your work. Even get you, clients!
Or you can directly apply for the job by hiring a virtual assistant. Explore the digital platforms, how the algorithms work, how you can apply for the jobs, and how to optimize your profiles for more visibility. With consistency and patience surely you will get clients.
6. Stand Out as a Virtual Assistant on LinkedIn
LinkedIn is an incredible platform to get clients as a virtual assistant or get hired, only if you how to optimize the profile.
It takes nothing but adding all your accurate and up-to-date information such as names, experience, and other relevant information. Then try to be active on LinkedIn, by daily posting and engaging with other people’s content.
You can make simple templates and share your insights with eye-catching infographics. Or directly share your services and ask if anyone needs can contact you.
Also, try to get recommendations and reviews from your past or current clients. This will work like a magic to gain new clients trust. Also, list the prospective clients and send them connections including company HR, CSO or managers.
If the decision makers like your work, then you will no longer need to wait for client hunting, they will approach you directly.
There is a filter option in LinkedIn where you can sort what type of client you are looking for. Then LinkedIn will send you regular notifications on the online job boards and you can apply them.
7. Use Other Social Media Platforms
There are other popular social media platforms that are also facilitating client hunting as a VA or for any kind of business. Among them, you can target which platform your service aligns mostly for a stronger online presence. Then share and promote your virtual assistant service business in the content format based on the platform.
For example, for social media marketing, you can use FaceBook and create your business page and communities. Add other prospective clients there and share regular valuable content to keep them updated.
If you are aiming to use Pinterest for social media marketing then create attractive pins, use keywords smartly, and collaborate with groups. Whereas, Instagram reels and hashtags are more popular and you can promote your service there.
8. Cold Outreach & Email Marketing
Cold call outreach and cold mail still work to get your client if you can apply the proper strategy. For this, you need to first shortlist your prospects and make a list. Qualify the leads, filter the potential ones, and then start your outreach.
Either directly cold call the clients with a positive attitude and share about your service and how you can benefit them. You can do a bit of research about your ideal client and find out their pain point. So, you can pitch by hitting the pain point and tell them how you can solve those.
With cold emails regularly send them updates, news, or offers with an attractive subject line. Try to use your business mail with your email signature.
9. Offer Free Trials or Discounted Services to Gain Momentum
If you have just started your service as a VA then the best you offer discounts and free trials. Assure the client they can get their money back if they are not satisfied with your work. By this, you can attract more clients’ interest.
With a lucrative discount offer, you can share on your digital profiles. Discount offers always attract leads, so, this may work for you too.
10. Bonus Tips: Automate and Scale Your Client Acquisition Process
Two bonus tips for you that no one really opens up are automating your client-hunting process using tools and hiring subcontractors as your business scales up.
First, automate your client searching process by using CRM, email or social media automation tools, and tools for scheduling. This will save you time, organize your clients in one place, send reminders, and track the progress through pipelines.
Second thing, as your business starts scaling up, it’s time you can manage all the clients efficiently. For, this collaborate with other freelancers VAs, or renowned virtual assistant agencies like hiring a Virtual Assistant. You do not want any of your simple clients to end up with your competitor’s hand, and we are here to help exactly with that.
Verdict
To get the client as a virtual assistant start with defining a specific industry and what responsibilities you can handle perfectly based on your skill set. Focus on networking and organizing all your work in a single portfolio to showcase clients instantly. Lastly, utilize digital tools and platforms with lots of patience. Some may get overnight clients, others may not. But with proper strategy, you surely can bring more prospective clients.
