How to Get Clients as a Virtual Assistant

How to get clients as a virtual assistant is the most commonly asked question in my Virtual Assistant Advantage Facebook group and among aspiring, newbie, and sometimes even established virtual assistants that I meet. Getting clients for your virtual assistant business does not have to be difficult.

I have been a virtual assistant for almost 17 years and one of the things that I have learned how to do well is get clients.  I would love to share some of my strategies with you.

Top 5 Ways to Get Clients As a Virtual Assistant

1. Open Your Mouth. One of the main reasons many Virtual Assistants don’t get clients is that they are afraid to speak up! When you hear someone needs help, tell them what you can do for them!
2. Specialize. Many VA’s have the false belief that they must be able to do everything. When actually it is much better to niche down and specialize in an area of expertise.
3. Go to them. Don’t wait for the clients to come to you. Instead, go to them. Find out where your target market hangs out and join them. Facebook & LinkedIn groups are great for this purpose.
4. Ask for referrals. Word of mouth is one of the very best ways to find clients, but why not give that a little push. Ask your current clients for referrals, even offer them an incentive for doing so.
5. Be generous. Be willing to share your knowledge and expertise with others. Answer questions of your colleagues and friends. Share your knowledge in groups online. Share. Share. Share.

Just as there are strategies for getting clients like those listed above, there are also tactics and strategies that you might have seen people do in the past that, as a veteran virtual assistant, I would warn you to avoid.

Strategies to Avoid When Looking for Virtual Assistant Clients

1. Cold Posting. I often see people going into random Facebook groups and cold posting a post that says something like., “Looking for clients. If you need a virtual assistant, let me know.”  This strategy, well, it isn’t a strategy.  It screams lazy.  It does not look professional nor does it show others who you are, what your expertise is, or what you are truly capable of doing.
2. Offering Free Work. This strategy lowers your perceived value.  You deserve to be paid for your work, skills and knowledge, even if you are just starting out. Value your work and what you are capable of doing.
3. Accept every potential job / client. Not every client is right for you. Accepting every job just because of the money is a recipe for disaster. You will likely find yourself wishing you hadn’t in the very near future.  I made this mistake many times in the early days of business and could tell you some horror stories.

For five additional strategies for getting clients, download my free Top 10 Tips for Getting New Clients guide. Also, find out more about how to get clients via social media by reading the blog post or listening to the podcast episode.