I have researched real estate professionals and financial planners that work in my area and would like to contact them to see if they are in need of a virtual assistant. what do you think is the best approach? phone or email?
I was thinking about doing an email first before calling. However, not sure what the subject of my email should be and or what to include in my email. Help would be greatly appreciated!!!!

Most of my business have been from business owners I have met at local meet up groups. I have never done an email or cold calling to get the word out about my company and services.

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Nellie Vigneron - Your Online Office Manager
www.nuvsolutions.com

Nellie, I would recommend you do a face to face. Your email could be construed as spam. You might pop in to open houses on the weekend. If the realtor is busy, do not disturb, but take a business card or flyer from the counter. Call during the week and make an appointment for coffee, or to meet in their conference room, not at their desk where they can be interrupted.

Another approach would be to attend the listing meetings. Most of them are early morning and open to "outsiders". There you may have the opportunity to meet other business people, i.e. insurance, escrow and title, builders, etc. This will give you a chance to look them over and see who you might like to meet and persue a relationship. Again, instead of leaving your information, pick up info for those you might like to meet and give them a call.

In these approaches, you are not interrupting, but seeking permission to approach them. It seems like a slower method. It will be more productive in the long run and you only need 1 or 2 new clients to get started. From there, you can ask for referrals. You can use the same approach for financial planners.

Best to you,

Mary Jansen
www.MyVirtualMarketingCenter.c om

Mary,

Love the advice and definately going to see about this area as well - I have a family friend who is a real estate agent never thought about asking him but I will see what he thinks of the idea as well as suggestions on how to "break" into the market.

Patricia

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Patricia Loehn : Owner / VA
American Virtual Associates

Would it be okay to just send a letter and follow up with the company and see what they thought?

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Felicia Trammell
www.wix.com/fhtrammell/realestateva

Felicia,
If you want to make an impression with an agent you have to meet them face to face. I work for one and although it is very small, They are always going a mile a minute. Half the time they need someone just so they know where they are supposed to be and at what times. The one I work for in particular doesnt even open his own mail I do. If it looks like it is something he can use I give it to him otherwise I just throw it out. The agents that work for the company I work for are responsible for everything they do from marketing materials to follow ups so it is a great niche to get into especially if you are the creative type. So I would suggest a face to face it is the only way they will remember you. You could call the agent and set up an appointment if you preferred. Set it up with a few of them at a time for the same company but I don't think that a first contact should be mail but that is just my opinion. Good luck

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Valerie Snyder KBK Office Services
www.KBKOfficeServices.com

Hi Felicia,
I was a realtor and I currently do a lot of marketing & web maintenance for my clients who are realtors. There are some services that require a RE license, so most agents prefer a licenced assistant. But as far as getting in - either go to an open house, meet with the office manager and request to do a presentation at a meeting (keep it short but informative!). Be sure to offer an intruductory special available only at the meeting and wait around until after the meeting to be available to speak with interested agents. Have flyers to hand out. I will tell you, many agents are not tech savvy and are clueless when it comes to facebook. They also may need photo editing and uploading to sites as well as flyer creation. The sites they use are a pain, even for me and I was an IT tech! LOL