Wondering how to get clients as a virtual assistant? 

Starting an online business can feel overwhelming. You have to build your website, set up social media, decide on your brand name and colors…oh yeah, and find paying clients. Learning how to get clients as a virtual assistant (or any new service provider) can feel daunting.

That’s why I’ve put together this list of the top 10 ways to get clients as a virtual assistant. From social media to SEO, these tried and true strategies will help you get your business off the ground and keep your pipeline full.

Ready to dive in? Here are 10 tips for finding clients as a virtual assistant.

1. Facebook groups.

Facebook groups are great for finding clients as a virtual assistant. Business owners often post in these groups when they’re looking for a VA, or you can scroll through different posts and offer your advice, and/or services based on questions asked or content shared. Building relationships inside this community will help build that know, like and trust factor with your ideal clients. 

Remember these groups aren’t just about pitching yourself—they’re also a networking tool. Show up regularly to provide value, and people will start to recognize your name. Being a part of the community helps build trust, and when it comes time to pitch, you’ll have a better chance of landing the job!

Not sure where to start? Come introduce yourself in the Laptop Lifestyle Entrepreneur group! Our community is full of friendly business owners, and you can use the #jobopp tag to find opportunities. 

2. Ask for referrals.

Referrals are one of the most underrated ways to get clients as a virtual assistant—and it also happens to be one of the easiest strategies on this list! 

Simply ask your existing clients (if you have any) if they know anyone else who could use your services. Chances are, they’re friends with other business owners in your niche and will know if anyone’s looking for help. Or, if you don’t have any clients yet, use your network of friends and families to see if someone could use your help!

To maximize efficiency here, consider sending all of your clients an offboarding questionnaire where you ask for feedback, testimonials, and (if they feel so inclined!) a referral. 

If they do offer to pass your name along, make sure you thank them and deliver a great experience (or send them a referral bonus) for both them and the referral client.

3. Build a website.

Even if your business is 100% online, you need a home base. You need a place online that is truly yours to drive people to (and no, social media doesn’t count—you don’t own those accounts!). Plus, if your site is optimized for search engines, it will help clients find you.

It doesn’t have to be fancy—there’s no need to hire a designer and copywriter off the bat—but it needs to look professional. I recommend using ShowIt as your design platform and buying a template to get started.

Want to drive even more traffic to your site? Consider starting a blog and learning about search engine optimization (SEO), which can help drive regular leads to your website. 

Related Post: 7 Reasons Why You Need a Website For Your Business 

4. Be consistent with your marketing.

One of the topics I rarely see talked about when it comes to finding clients as a virtual assistant is consistency. No matter what marketing tactics you choose, if you’re not using them on a regular basis, you’re not going to see results.

If you’re just starting your business, I recommend choosing one social media platform and concentrating your efforts there. Show up regularly, engage with people, and start promoting yourself. Get comfortable with the idea of selling (you’re a business owner now!).

Related Post: How to Create a Content Strategy for Social Media (5 Simple Steps) 

5. Follow up with warm leads.

Another overlooked method for finding clients as a virtual assistant is to follow up with warm leads (aka your “almost clients”). These are people that you know are interested or have engaged with you in the past, but haven’t taken the leap to purchase your services. 

What are you doing to nurture those people who watch your IG stories every day but haven’t purchased? Let’s ENGAGE with them and get them into a freebie funnel. Adding value is your friend here.

Have a system in place for collecting and nurturing these leads, and converting them into clients (Hint: use a leads tracker). You’ve done the hard work of getting them into your funnel, now you just need to convince them you’re the right person for the job.

Related Post: How to Create an Instagram Sales Funnel 

6. Cold emails or DMs.

Cold emailing is classic for a reason: it works! When done properly, it can bring dream clients into your funnel. At the very least, it will get your name out there. 

Whether you choose to reach out over Instagram DMs or email, successful cold outreach requires three things: research, personalization, and relevance. No copying and pasting the same generic message! People see right through that, and it won’t win you any favors.

Do your homework before pitching people. If you’re asking for someone’s time or money, you need to show them you care enough to personalize the message. Make sure you’re clear on who they are, what the business does, and (most importantly) how you can help them. 

Tip: Make sure you’re using the right platform for the right clients. For example, if you’re pitching a web designer who is a chill, young entrepreneur such as yourself, it’s going to be more natural to reach out on Instagram than email. But if you are pitching a small business or larger company, email would be a better option.

7. Get your name out there.

If you’re spending hours on social media and still struggling to find clients, it might be time to expand your reach. 

Guest appearances (via blog posts, Youtube videos, podcasts, webinars, or IGTV) are a great way to get in front of new audiences. Find a business owner who serves the kind of clients you want to work with, and share your knowledge with their followers. Or try a Stories swap where you promote each other’s offers for the day!

Related Post: Instagram Stories for Business: 10 Ideas to Increase Sales 

8. Build your email list.

One of the best ways to get clients as a virtual assistant is to offer an opt-in freebie. Freebies are great for three reasons:

1. They establish your authority on a certain topic
2. They provide value to your audience which builds credibility and trust
3. They bring people into your sales funnel

Don’t worry if the word “funnel” scares you. All it means is you’re bringing people into your sphere and letting them get to know, like, and trust you—and hopefully, some of them will turn into clients!

Related Post: How to Build an Email List From Scratch

9. Grow your network.

Ah, networking. Everyone’s (least) favorite way to grow their business, and yet also the most important and impactful way to grow your business.

Try taking the pressure off yourself to find new clients, and instead focus on making connections. Get to know people, offer helpful information, collaborate with them if the opportunity comes up. Made a new business friend on Instagram? That’s networking!

Tip: Try teaming up with other VAs and entrepreneurs who offer complementary skills (social media marketers, online business managers, etc.) so you can refer clients to one another.

10. Video marketing.

Video marketing is one of the most effective ways to generate new leads. People love video (and in 2021, they kind of expect it). Instagram Reels are a great way to get started and start building confidence in front of the camera. You can check out my full guide to going viral on Reels below!

If you’ve been in business for a while, consider expanding to Youtube, Tiktok or Facebook lives. Whatever platform you choose, make sure your content is interactive, and give your viewers the chance to comment, react, or ask live questions.

Final thoughts on how to get clients as a virtual assistant.

Finding clients as a virtual assistant doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Pick one or two tactics from this list to get started, and commit to using them for the next two weeks. If you don’t see results, switch things up and try something new. There are tons of possibilities! 

Ready to take your business to the next level? Check out Laptop Lifestyle Bootcamp, my signature group coaching program for new entrepreneurs. We tackle it all: tech, systems, mindset, sales, social media, and so much more. Get ready to lay six-figure foundations and build a true freedom lifestyle!

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