3 Tips To Market Your VA Business Successfully
How to sell yourself as a creative virtual assistant is one of the things I get asked the most. You may not be aware of the best platforms or methods for marketing your company out of the numerous options available. Even though each virtual assistant business will be unique, there are a few marketing principles that work well at all business levels.
One of the most significant errors I see beginner creative virtual assistants commit is failing to market their company. They publish one Instagram post in the hopes that it generates leads. And while I wish that were the case, the truth is that you need to demonstrate the viability of your company.
I am aware that it can be frightening to think about advertising yourself when you initially start your business. I'm aware that it might be a little scary. As a business owner, you occasionally have to be open and talk about yourself. Additionally, it would be best if you were open to discussing your company. Also, you must be open to networking! I'm going to share the top 3 simple strategies for marketing your creative virtual assistant business today. Here you go:
1. Have a presence on social media
Think about what platform your clients use when choosing the best social media platform for themselves. For a company where you collaborate with wedding industry experts, those are Instagram and Facebook. For shop owners, it might just be Instagram. That might be LinkedIn for coaches. Look at who your target customer is, and use the social media channels they use.
The most important piece of advice is to refrain from putting all of your eggs in one social media basket. A thorough marketing plan includes more than just Facebook and Instagram. Having your marketing reach different audiences is key! Would you still be able to find clients if Facebook or Instagram were to go down? If the response is negative, you must concentrate on additional marketing avenues.
2. Online Community
Networking is one of the finest techniques to get customers. Even though it is a longer-term plan, it is the most crucial. 60% of the leads in most companies come from word-of-mouth alone! In light of this, I encourage you to concentrate on internet networking, even if you are a beginner virtual assistant.
Use forums, Facebook groups, social media posts, and LinkedIn groups to connect with your neighborhood. One of my weekly marketing responsibilities for a company I used to work for was to look for people who needed help in the Facebook groups I participated in. The point is that I don't just promote my services. I give folks the helpful interaction and simple solutions they need.
For instance: If a wedding planner asks how to use Pinterest, I will provide them with a few basic instructions. I continually offer solutions, and finally, I am recognized as the group's foremost authority. And eventually, individuals began to contact me for my services! I received 1-2 leads per month just from Facebook Groups when I was doing Pinterest Management.
3. Personal Networking
Don't undervalue the power of local, face-to-face networking to grow your small business! The more platforms you have to spread your name, the better. Even though face-to-face meetings have proven challenging in the past year, many still provide online alternatives.
The secret to effective in-person networking is to be prepared with an elevator pitch that outlines whom you serve and what you do. This is a longer-term tactic, similar to online networking. Even while you might not have customers immediately, as word of your small business spreads, you will eventually have clients!
One of the first clients I had for my virtual assistant business was someone I knew! And throughout the years, I was able to gain a lot more clients due to networking in my own neighborhood group.
Are you ready for an extra tip?
4. Improve Your Blog and Website
Your blog and website are key components of your marketing strategy. You will direct potential customers to your website through blogs. Your website's objective is to turn visitors into paying clients.
A blog is required after you have a website. One of the best ways to improve your SEO is through blogging. Your website might be "seen" by search engines like Google, thanks to your blogs! Search engines read your website as they search it to determine its subject matter. Thus, blogging is one of the best strategies to promote your company. Create discussion topics based on the queries of your target audience.
Write articles exclusively about Pinterest for wedding pros if your readers are wedding photographers looking for a Pinterest Pro. Write about creating and marketing courses if you're an online coach trying to expand your offering.
No matter where you are in your virtual assistant journey, there is one crucial piece of advice: never stop marketing your company. Speaking about it in person, participating in online forums, using social media, controlling your website, and blogging are all crucial components of the marketing game. It's essential to diversify your marketing strategy to reach your target client on all the channels they use!
Conclusion
Getting customers is very important to a VA business. You must begin seeking those customers out! The first step is to search for needy businesses on job boards. People may quickly recruit independent virtual assistants using freelancing sites. In other instances, you can observe that a company is looking to hire a helper. You can email the HR department or recruiting manager to offer your services as a virtual assistant rather than apply for their permanent post. This would enable you to work remotely and have more control over your freelance work while still providing the client with the required services.
Always remember to maintain your professionalism and be available. People anticipate a prompt response to any phone calls or emails they send because they want you to communicate with them clearly and promptly. Also, make sure to deliver quality jobs only. Nothing destroys a VA business faster than bad reviews.
