I have a couple questions;

I have started my own company as a virtual assistant and I have a couple local clients, but I would like to know how I find new clients that are not local? How do you know if they ligitimate? I have applied to so many job listings and they just turn out to be MLM's or the usual internet scams. Any advice anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated!!

Kind Regards,
Violet Wayman

Hi again, Violet. Excuse my ignorance, but what is an MLM?

I just started out as a VA last Nov, and have been chipping away at the challenge of a two-level marketing plan - one for local and the other for global clients. Two very different things, and while I've spent a career doing local marketing, the global kind is a whole new ballgame. It's fascinating and fun, tho there certainly are scams.

Finding work online seems to be a matter of applying for listed projects and also consistently marketing to get traffic to your site (articles, blogs, etc.)

I've been working with virtualassistants.com (monthly fee) and oDesk.com (no fee, but kind of a pain) as well as any other sites I come across that have prominence and seem current.

There's quite a bit of info on the forums here as well, in terms of making useful online connections.

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Mary H. Ruth/Virtual Writing & Communications
http://www.writingVA.com

Hi Violet, I always approached marketing from a particular industry, or niche, rather than a location - if you're marketing to industries and individual entrepreneurs who will benefit from your services then it doesn't matter where they are.

I'd suggest starting with the Marketing section of the forums - read through what other VAs are doing, that will give you some good ideas and new directions to think about.

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This answered my question to (kinda). Thanks for the advice.

MLM = Multi Level Marketing (aka pyramid schemes, often scams)

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Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
Author "How to Do Your Own Small Business Bookkeeping"

In order to get clients from the internet, you're going to have to know and understand the niche you're going after. For example, if you're going to work with the coaching industry, you can find some listserv's and forums where they congregate to highlight your expertise. Conversely, if your niche is realtors, then some direct mail by way of postcards may be better for you to use. What's your niche?

~Erin

That's the beauty of being a virtual assistant, it doesn't matter where you are! I agree with what others have said, determine your niche and not a particular area. Once you determine your niche, in addition to joining listserv, try joining their associations or advertising within their associations. Also, make sure people can find you. List your web site on relevant sites, including virtual assisting sites.

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Doreen R. Patrick, MVA, ACS, CIVA
www.virtualbusinesspartners.net

Hi - I think a good way to avoid being scammed is to network online at places such as http://www.ecademy.com - it's an online business networking site where business owners meet to ask questions and build online relationships.

I believe in a long term strategy of networking at sites such as these to get a feel for people first. You may not pick up work immediately, but that's the point of it, it's about developing trusting relationships over a period of time, which evolve into working relationships. That way it's less likely that you'll be scammed, as it's not like signing up for something promising you immediate work that sounds too good to be true.

Lisa

MLM, which was commonly referred to as Pyramids was changed since Pyramid had such a bad stigma attached to it. I recently got caught up in one of those but got out quickly when I realized the negative...and I got most of my money back. Be careful, with these folks that say if you bring in 5 and they bring in 5 and each of those bring in 5...it never ends and and usually on the top tier are truly making the money.

Hi Violet,

Congratulations on starting your own business. As you know today's business owner must have a web site in order to find business and being a virtual company this will be your main marketing.

When you have a website to show the world you need to get it submitted to the search engines and pronto. If you know someone that is familar with SEO ask them to help you are barter with them.

Hopefully, you already decided on the services you are going to offer and now you need to market to those individuals.

Find VA organizations that have RFP programs and accept your specialty - join and become proactive with members - let them know you are interested in newtworking, sub-contracting, etc. You need to get your name out there among the community.

My business comes from 75% referral and 25% Goggle! Believe me when I say this - Createa website, make it standout, then start marketing and networking.

You are working with locals, you might offer them a discount by referring your services to others. People love discounts! I use to offer 2 hours of service for every referral and it worked.

I hope my suggestions are useful.

Kim