I'd be curious to hear how many client's people have had. Are most of your clients needing one time projects, or do you work with them on a daily or weekly basis? How many do you take on at one time?

I have been in business around 6 months and have worked with about 10 clients. The problem for me is most of them have needed me for only 1 project or for 5-10 hours a month, so I'm not working as much as I need and it seems like I'm not attracting my ideal clients. I'm still refining my business and who I am targeting, so I could really use examples for what has worked for others.

Thanks!

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Lindsay
www.writingthatsizzles.net

This is a great question Lindsay. I have had quite a few project only clients. I was just talking to a friend VA of mine about this same subject. One of the reasons that clients choose a VA is either:
A) it is there first time and they really do not know how to use a VA,
B) they are on a budget and can only afford small project rates
C) They are testing your skills as a VA to see if you will work out for a full time or part time VA for their specific needs. I personally have found that the above is the most common.

To target your "ideal" client go where they are online chatting or off line meeting.

Take time to view their site and target specific needs you find they may need. For instance if you are targeting Real Estate Agents then join the groups in your area that they are likely to join.

Send them information about what you can do for them to save them time and $$$.

Get involved with their Charters, Networking Events and online presence.

The more you learn about your ideal client the better prepared you will be when they start asking you questions.

Andrea~

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Action Jackson Virtual Assistant|

I've been in business for over 15 years Lindsay. My longest-term client has been with me 12 years. I had another for over 10 years but he's retired now. I've had many others for well over 6 or 7 years and a few that have come and go, come and go. Occasional one-offs. At the moment I have 17 on my list as 'current' clients but only 3 of those provide me work on a weekly basis, some on a monthly and others are ad-hoc as different projects come up.

It took me a good 3 or 4 years to really know what type of client I wanted and what work I really enjoyed doing. Today I target professional speakers and business coaches as their needs are the same, but for 10 years I was servicing not-for-profit organisations and at one stage was managing 3 secretariats at the same time. Funnily enough, their needs are the same as the professional speakers and business coaches - database maintenance, website maintenance, ezines, promotions of events, sales online, etc.

Prior to that I used to do bookkeeping for a lot of clients and transcription work but I got tired of doing both and our govt changed how the tax system worked and I didn't want to go to school to learn how to handle it in the bookkeeping, so was happy to offload that work to other VAs.

Thank you both for the thoughtful replies. I really appreciate the info. Andrea, I think you are right on with the reasons clients choose (or don't choose) a VA. Thinking back, my very first client was likely looking for a different skill set, and one of my best clients still has me on his list, but he can't afford a lot right now.

And to Kathie - 15 years in business - wow. It is such a relief hearing that I can keep refining what I do and want to do and still make it. Of course, I know this, but hearing that someone else took 3-4 years to figure it out just takes all the pressure off. I'm the kind of person who will try something, then try something else, and I am really dedicated to somehow making this work.

Again, thanks so much and good luck to you both.

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Lindsay
www.writingthatsizzles.net

Lindsay, you're welcome. There's no hard and fast rule to say you have to have your act together in the first few months or year. I'm still redefining my business 15 years down the track. Technology changes, client changes, life changes - all of these things define where I am now and where I'll be in 5 years' time. That's one of the things I love about this industry. We get to choose what we want to do, when we want to do it and how we do it - after we've established credibility with our clients.

Kathy, Thank you for reassuring me that it will take time to figure out what you like to do and finding clients who will pay for it. Although I've only been in business about 3 months, I still networking to ask a lot of questions when I talk with anyone about their business and industry. I know that like you, I will always work to refine my business.

Janet