Virtual Assistant Forums | Work from Home

EditingEtc · #1 (**permalink**) 02-05-2008

I was contacted through my Quote Form on my website.

This business was local and they asked me to come into the office. They're a graphic design/marketing firm in need of a copyeditor.

I was nervous about meeting in peron, I must admit. This would only be one of my first few clients and I get anxious about these things.

So I did my research to feel empowered. Don't meet with a client (in person or over the phone) without putting time and effort into learning what you can about them.

In my case, first thing I thought about was "What to wear?" (I'm a girl...)

My husband rolled his eyes at this, but it's very important.

After reading the website front to back, I came across pics of the woman I was going to be meeting with today. She had green and black spiked hair! Creative type, ya know?

So, it decided right then and there there I would wear something more "alternative" and show off my tattoos rather than hide them.

I must say, it made a good impression, my outfit. She said she'd work with me within 5 minutes of actually meeting me.

But, this job was meant for me as the office was decorated in the same style as my house. (I'm an artsy creative, too.)

So, all in all I landed the client, but had I not done my research, I would have went in there looking supremely business like and hiding my tattoos and it may well have been a turn off for her.

Just sharing...

Write Associate · #2 (**permalink**) 02-05-2008

Congratulations on landing the client!

And thanks for the suggestion.

Tess · #3 (**permalink**) 02-05-2008

This is a great point - it pays to research your potential clients (whether you're meeting in person or not). The more knowledge you have about the company, business, and individuals involved the more confident you will be when interacting, not to mention how impressed a potential client will be with your knowledge of their circumstances and needs.

Great job landing this client

virtual writing · #4 (**permalink**) 02-05-2008

I really like that story!
It's cool how researching ahead of time prepares you to look good in the clients' eyes, but it also lets you know how close a match there is to your "ideal client."

ciboney · #5 (**permalink**) 02-05-2008

Congrats on landing a client. It sure does pay to do your research.

kathiemt · #6 (**permalink**) 02-06-2008

I always check out prospective clients' websites and encourage my team to do so as well. A good thing to find out what they're about first, when you can.

Well done!

Office Goddess · #7 (**permalink**) 02-06-2008

Good job! Congrats! I impressed my most recent new client when he asked me to look at his website before our phone conference and I was able to tell him I already had

#8 (**permalink**) 02-06-2008

Very good advice - thanks for sharing!

tildavirtual · #9 (**permalink**) 02-06-2008

Researching your potential clients also helps you to pick out the scammers.

I want a tattoo now..

MaryH · #10 (**permalink**) 02-07-2008

Researching a potential client is definitely a good idea and is part of what helped me land my first client as well. I do have a question though - what do you do if you are responding to an RFP that does not have much more information than a name? I have been in this situation before where it was a name that brought up more than one person in the area in different fields - do you contact them to find out more information? Or send a more generalized proposal?