I've created a brief survey to ask agents (not potential clients necessarily) what services they might need from a virtual assistant. Now I don't know who to send them to. Any suggestions? I am in the real estate niche. Can I just send these to random agents? Post them somewhere and hope someone finds them?

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Administrative Support Group
Jenifer D

Hi Jenifer,

I haven't done a survey myself yet, but here are some thoughts:

If you are going to send the surveys to random agents, I would contact them before hand, preferably via telephone to let them know you are sending them the survey and tell them that you would really appreciate it if they would fill it out and return it to you. This way the agent knows your survey isn't just some random piece of mail. They then can connect it with someone real, you!

As far as posting your survey online...how about putting a copy of it on your website and then add a line in your signature that links to the survey?

I hope that helps you a bit. I am sure other forum members will have some good ideas for you! Good luck.

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Darlene Victoria Gonzalez - All-Around Creative Tech. Girl
http://www.darlenevictoria.com/

Originally Posted by SupportMyOffice

I've created a brief survey to ask agents (not potential clients necessarily) what services they might need from a virtual assistant. Now I don't know who to send them to. Any suggestions? I am in the real estate niche. Can I just send these to random agents? Post them somewhere and hope someone finds them?

You might also want to offer some kind of incentive to the agents who complete your press release, give them a reason to take the time out of their busy schedules to help you. Maybe a certificate for a free hour of work if they become a client of yours, but make sure you say something like the free hour is only good if they purchase x number of hours from you (depending on how your business and pricing is set up). This would be a really good thing to offer if you call and speak to the agents first as Shari mentioned. If you do that, I would put together a list of the agents you'd really like to work with (ones that are million dollar producers, etc.) and target them, then offer the incentive to them to get them to complete the survey.

Every time I go to Office Depot, when they hand me my receipt there's always a phone number there to call if I'd like to participate in their suvey. Usually they offer a coupon or discount, or a chance to win some bigger gift to persuade people to complete the survey.

Hope this helps!

I am worried that agents will see this survey as a ploy for me to get them on my "list". I am just trying to gather information. Is there a way to accompliash both? To gather the info I need with out people having the impression that its just a marketing scheme to try to "sell" them?

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Administrative Support Group
Jenifer D

Hi Jenifer,

Why don't you just tell them the truth. That you are conducting a needs analysis survey to see if there is a need for your service. Maybe you could call them to set up an appointment to speak to them to have them answer your questions in person OR maybe they will allow you to send them an email.

I conducted research this way once for a former client. I emailed the potentials and told them I was conducting a survey and asked their permission to send it to them. I never contacted them again unless they gave me permission to send the survey. I got a fairly good response but not an excellent one.

The other thing you could do is go to REVA and ask them. I'm sure they'll have the answers you need.

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Shari Sultana