A thread about what everyone wears during their workday has got me thinking about where I might run across my next client. I know that clients can be found anywhere. As a newer VA I have not yet just approached someone in public. I am not typically someone who can just start talking to someone, I really need a conversation starter. I really like the idea of getting some T-shirts made, and wear them out to the store during the day. But on some levels, I don't know if it is appropriate.

Anyway, back to the question at hand. Where is the most unexpected place that you have found a client? And, how did you approach them or did they approach you?

I can't wait to read your answers.

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Kellie Stotsky
The Essential Virtual Assistant
www.theessentialva.com

Great question, Kellie!

The most unexpected place I ever got a client was last October at our annual cattle round-up. I was riding next to a woman I didn't know very well. We ended up next to each other as both of our horses were lagging behind the rest and started to chat. We asked about our respective
J O B S and I mentioned I was a VA. To my surprise, she knew what a VA was and has since been a steady client ever since!

You never know!

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Kate V. Kerans
Kerans Virtual Assistance

I've recently contracted one new client and started chatting with another potential - both are from my prenatal yoga class
The new client owns the shop where the classes are held, the other is a local business owner/restraunteur...both are fabulous women entrepreneurs!

We've also recently started chatting with our birthing class teacher. Her husband is a local and well established small design firm and he's curious about outsourcing some work to us....

Once people find out what you do - and this conversation can come up anywhere, anytime, it's not that hard to pique interest and slip in small ways you might help enhance their own business growth. The key is to keep it very low key, I think, so it doesn't feel sales-y to anyone. After all, in a social situation no one wants to be sold.

I don't see why you couldn't give your t-shirt idea a shot! I think it's a great way to invite people to approach you out of curiosity.

If you do end up having shirts made, let us know what comes of it!

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I think the shirt idea is a great one!

The strangest place I got a client is at my hairdressers. I was getting my hair done and ended up she needed someone to do her books and she hired me. Initially it wasn't the best job (just one hair dresser) but she's since opened a shop and I do the bookkeeping for the entire shop. (My point there....is you never know when or how someone will grow)

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Lanel Taylor, CVA ~ Virtual Bookkeeper
Taylored Office Solutions
Custom fit solutions for all your office needs.

I was going to garage sales with my husband a few weeks ago and ran into a Real Estate Broker I knew from my days as a Realtor. We were chatting it up and she asked me what I was doing now. Of course, I was off and running then about my VA business. She called me today and wants to meet next week to do a presentation for her Brokerage. I'm so excited.

First: Another Girl Scout leader. She contacted me after I sent an email to all the other troop leaders & I hadn't deleted my "signature". She's no longer a client, we decided to go our separate ways.

Second: At the ice rink, talking with another mom while our daughters were practicing for the ice show. She's still a client.

Third: At the park (yesterday). My kids were driving me nuts, so we took a picnic to the park. I met another mom there and we got to talking, ended up doing a client intake right there and she came by last night to sign the Retainer Agreement and brought me a cashier's check for 10 hours!

Fourth: I fixed a problem for someone I met at a networking event (did it for free). He ended up hiring me.

I guess that last one wasn't so strange, but he did monopolize me at the networking event, which I had never been to before.

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Dana Fortier
Fortier Business Solutions

One of my earlier clients I met at a web designer's meetup group that my husband attended and took me as a guest. He told everyone about what I did and one of the web designers asked me for more information. He's a regular client and I get a check the first of every month.

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Sue L Canfield
AwesomeAssistant.info
My Blog

Easy - Twitter! Yes, social networking is so easy, fun and profitable! A twitter aquaintance was complaining about how busy he was, another twitter aquaintance told him about me and presto! New retainer client! It's built in - word of mouth with high perceived value!

I just got my first client through a message board for "entrepreneur moms".

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April @ Advantage
Advantage Virtual Assistant

I met my first client in the bookstore. We were both looking for books in the business section and started talking. They (he and his wife) needed someone to rewrite the bio on his website. I did a couple of other projects for him after that.