My very first client was an attorney that worked with me at a former employer. All of my clients since can be attributed to my blogging in some way, shape or form.

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~Tina Marie Hilton of Clerical Advantage
& author of the VA Survival Guide & Workbook

Hi

My first clients came from my direct mail efforts. I wrote to doctors and attorneys in the area. I also placed an advertisement in the local paper and did Yellow Page advertising. Not sure Yellow Page advertising would work well today, but back then it sure did.

Thanks!

Diana Ennen
Virtual Word Publishing
www.virtualwordpublishing.com

My first client came through a newspaper ad that she had placed. After that it was mostly yellow page ads, that was 17-years ago in California. I have since relocated to Florida, and since becoming established here it's about 95% repeat clients and referrals from those clients. The other 5% from various forms on the Internet. Like Diana said I don't think yellow page advertising would work today, but it sure did all those years ago. I could tell the day the yellow pages were delivered my phone didn't stop ringing.

My first client was through a networking event. I introduced myself and she contacted me three days later for an hourly project. Although it wasn't anything long term, I was very impressed. That client has contacted me again. My 2nd and 3rd clients were a result of a weekly B2B meeting that I attend and are still clients of mine.

My first four project clients were from a local networking meeting that I attend weekly and one that I recently received came from a speed networking event that I just attended last week. I have also received a project client from my business cards posted around town, and I actually received my first ongoing client that was as well.

I recently mailed out 300 postcards to specific businesses in my surrounding areas. I have received two calls to take me off their list but and about 15-20 return to senders, other than that I have not actually heard anything. No news is good news right?

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Erika Glem
www.advadminsol.com Let my administrative solutions be to your advantage.

I am about to offically start my Va business in a couple of weeks and was wondering what is the best technique to capture the eyes of perspective clients. It seems like word of mouth seem to be the answer. However are there any other recommendations?

Thanks

I'm a new member here. Thanks for the information on marketing methods. Definitly something I may need help with!!

Hi
My first client was actually someone I hired to do my car advertising!! That was pure luck, but just being friendly to them and having a chat, made them feel very at ease with me, and it went from there. My second client was just from sending an introduction to them, and they rang me asking me to help them out with their workload. As I am based in Australia, there are some avenues that aren't available to me, however I am just about to send out another stack introduction letters (staggered into groups of 50 per week) and see what comes from that also.

Word of mouth got me my first client, and that client referred me to another lawyer (another potential client who is very interested in my services), so word of mouth has worked great for me. My business logo and business cards are in the works, and once they are complete, I will continue to market myself and my services to businesses in and around the small town I live in. There are so many ways to get clients, I suppose it's just whatever is most comfortable to you.

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Denyse Giguere
Cimarron Business Solutions

I'm awaiting delivery of a batch of A6 postcards telling local businesses what I can do for them - on the advise of a business advisor, I've put a code on the reverse offering the first half an hour free for the first 50 responders to call quoting the code, with an expiration date for the offer. I'm hoping this will bring some interest. I've only recently started, an ex boss being my first client. I wont get any work if people don't know I'm there and so I'm more hoping to raise awareness. It's quite shocking how many people haven't heard of a VA!

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Pauline Cox - Virtual Assistant Liverpool, UK
Virtually The Same