Beat Analysis Paralysis And Sign Your First Virtual Assistant Client
Browse pretty much any Virtual Assistant group on Facebook and you’ll see at least one post per week from a brand new, enthusiastic Virtual Assistant who’s finally decided to take the leap into entrepreneurship looking for their first client.
We are the 21st century’s breed of creative, knowledgeable and highly focused entrepreneurs who do valuable and specialized work from anywhere with an internet connection. It’s no wonder that so many people are giving it a try as a side hustle or diving in full-time!
The good news is that finding Virtual Assistant clients is easy, even when you’re just starting out.
If that’s what you’re looking for, I have a whole mini-course that will show you exactly how to find your first ones. It’s free for all aspiring Epic Virtual Assistants.
That statement is based not only on my own experience; I’ve found the same thing to be true for virtual assistants that I’ve mentored in the beginning stages of their 6-figure careers.
But if finding virtual assistant clients isn’t the difficult part, why does it seem so hard for some virtual assistants to grow their clientele?
Finding clients is easy. The difficult part is accepting the clients and being willing to take on a non-ideal client in order to grow your business.
Every blog, mentor, coach, teacher and maybe even your mum talks about knowing your ideal client. And yes, that’s important. I talk about it a lot, too.
But you don’t have to find that ideal client before you take on your FIRST client.
The benefits of taking on a non-ideal Virtual Assistant client
When you’re first starting out as a Virtual Assistant, there are two things your first clients will give you that will help you get more work:
1. Experience
One of my first Virtual Assistant clients used AWeber, an email marketing system that I’d never heard of before that. But I had worked in MailChimp and I’d seen ConvertKit. I know my way around support documentation and I’m not afraid to research the answers to my questions.
When she asked if I had experience in AWeber, I was honest and said no, but I’m familiar with email service providers and I’m able to learn things quickly. I believe I can pick it up, no problem.
Showing confidence, drawing from my related experience and skills, and expressing my willingness to move forward allowed me to essentially get paid to learn how to use AWeber.
2. Testimonials
No matter how big (or small) the job is, be sure to ask your first client for a testimonial on your work together. Their words will confirm what you’ve worked so hard for: You’re 100% a professional Virtual Assistant!
Testimonials help to separate you from other Virtual Assistants who may be offering the same type of service as you. For an already overwhelmed business owner who knows they need help but not exactly what with, a good testimonial could mean the difference between seeing themselves as your client and clicking away from your services page in analysis paralysis.
Testimonials are also a good sales tool in general. Research shows people trust reviews from other people, even people they don’t know. Testimonials are way less aggressive than an actual sales pitch or sales page, and they tackle the same selling points.
A tough-love note (heavy on the love): DO NOT trade your time for a testimonial. I know it’s tempting when you’re just starting out, but remember that you already have the experience that qualifies you to perform the work you’re doing. Even if it’s just knowing how to properly word a question in a search engine to find the answer you’re looking for. If someone is willing to let you do the work that they can’t (or don’t want to) do, you deserve to get paid for it.
3. Referrals
Okay, this is a bonus third thing. I call it, turning clients into advocates. People who will shout you out to their email lists without you asking or requiring a fee. Amazing people who want to share your awesomeness with their friends. Lovely, lovely clients who want you to do well. *Cue the warm fuzzies*
Getting referrals from an existing client is one of the best ways to grow your Virtual Assistant business, especially if you do enjoy the client that is sending you the referrals. As the old saying goes, “Birds of a feather flock together.”
If your amazing client starts sending their mastermind buddies to you for the same type of work, your ideal clients just may find you before you have to go searching them out.
I’d love to know: Have you ever taken on a client who didn’t fit your “ideal client” mold? At what stage in your career did you do it? How did it turn out for you?
Leave a comment below!
Find your first virtual assistant clients
Find clients who turn into advocates inside my mini-course, The Epic VA’s Guide To Finding And Signing Dream Clients. You’ll learn:
- How to identify your ideal clients (in real life)
- Where to find your next dram client
- How to get that full-bodied yes from your next client
