Not long ago we had a discussion in the VA Directory Facebook Group about how we go about finding clients. It was a lively discussion and I see this question being asked in many groups, mainly by VAs but also by all other business owners. Overwhelmingly the consensus was word of mouth or referrals. This is awesome and becomes easier down the track when you’ve been a VA or a business owner for a while and you have established your business with a number of clients ... ... but what about when … [Read more...]
Points of Contact
Pull out your business card and have a look and see how many points of contact do you have on your card? One? Two? Three or more? It seems that many feel that because they have an email address or a website, they no longer need to add any further contact information on their business cards. I believe this is the wrong way to think and you need to make it easy on your prospective clients. As an avid networker I go out regularly to meet with other business people and what they put on their … [Read more...]
Can your prospective clients contact you?
Have you viewed your business card and website with your prospective clients' eyes lately? Over the past year I've noticed a trend in business cards having minimal details. Websites are often the same. A name, perhaps a business name, an email address (or, on their website a contact form) and a mobile phone number. That's it. Often the email address is not a domain address, i.e. they're using their ISP email, gmail, hotmail or similar. When considering whether I want to do business with … [Read more...]
Making your clients work
What? Your clients need to work? But aren't you, their VA, doing it all for them? Up to a point. I often smile to myself when having phone meetings with clients. We have an action list of items for me to attend to, but at the end of the discussion, the client often has their own action list too. Because, after all, if they want me to complete my duties, there are some things they need to do. What kind of things do you ask? Well, business cards. How often have you come across clients with … [Read more...]
Need help with your database?
Do you struggle with managing your database? Perhaps it's keeping all the new entries in from the business cards and other contacts you've obtained? Or perhaps it's managing the mail merge aspect to send out letters, emails or perhaps even cards. Do not despair. There are Virtual Assistants who specialise in this type of work and they can manage several different types of database programs and CRMs. What do you need to do to engage the right VA? First, it would be helpful if you knew why you … [Read more...]
Get a Virtual Assistant to help you
Do you get overwhelmed by tracking information and contact details of everyone you meet or have contact with? Does this describe you and your business? Pieces of paper with names and addresses, phone numbers and/or email addresses written on them. Business cards in piles, or with rubber bands wrapped around them, or thrown in a drawer or box. Some entries in a spreadsheet or a database started but not maintained. Perhaps you have them all in your cell phone but they need to go onto your … [Read more...]
