The idea of becoming a Virtual Assistant came to me last October 2008, when I was looking for a business to run on my own because the last few years I have worked with my husband in his own business but I really want to have something from myself. After discussing with my husband about this, I got to the conclusion that I should offer what I knew to do by the Internet.

I worked since I was 17 years old in a Bank called Multibanco Comermex in Mexico City, today Scotiabank Inverlat. On that first job I started as a receptionist in the General Direction soon I started working as an Executive Bilingual Secretary with directors in the Bank. So my career continued, I worked for different firms and mainly on the financial sector, I took some courses at the time and I became an Administrator. I got married with a Canadian and I went to live to Quebec, Canada for 3 years and I had the chance to learn French and now I am a trilingual person. I’ve got a lot of experience in doing what I know.

After deciding what I was going to do, I started my searching; I found out that there are many people working in this field and I got many ideas from them. So I built my web page and put it on line. After that I had to help my husband with some projects of his own so I did not take the time to marketing my business.

Today I am very interesting in making my business working, I have subscribed to some directories in Mexico and in other countries, there is a directory called Asistentes Virtuales Hispanas where I posted my company, I have received some requests from that site about my services but until today they have not come true. I just bought an ad in Google and I am waiting to see if it works.

I really want to get my first client because I know that after that many will come. If somebody knows more about marketing tips please let me know. I will gladly appreciate it.
Thanks,
Normita.

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Norma Carreño
www.virtualassistantwork.com

Normita,

Check out the marketing section of the forum and you'll see what others have done to get their business going. Mine was word of mouth. I told everyone I was related to and everyone I knew about what I was planning to do and they told their friends and so on. Being a "trilingual" is a very unique skill and I am sure you will find the perfect niche for your talents. Keep trying.

Cheers!!

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Bernice
Energy Virtual Assistant

Read up on different types of marketing, not one single thing will be the key to obtaining a client. Word of mouth is great - tell everyone you know. Design or get a website - they need to find you online. Join different groups where potential clients may come looking for a VA, etc.

It's a little bit of 'being in the right place at the right time'. You never quite know where that new potential client may be and it's up to you to be there 'in front' of him/her when they are looking!

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Vivi Gonzalez
www.VirtualBusinessPartners.com

Norma,

I agree with Bernice and Vivi about where to begin. There are many different techniques to market and some will be a fit for you while some may not. I tapped into my relationships as a freelancer to get started and now rely on referrals and F2F networking. While not specializing in SM VA work, I use social media but more to keep up with the technology than to market my business. There are also some great books resources here too so check out the book reviews section.

I am a planner, so I would begin by reviewing the different marketing avenues and coming up with a marketing plan including who you feel is your ideal client. Be specific for each one so that your marketing has a focus and not just to the general business population. For my plan, which I update quarterly, I give myself to-do check lists (i.e. - attend 2 functions a month, attend one seminar a month, remind clients of my referral program). This keeps me moving along and allows me to evaluate which techniques are working and which need to be honed.

Best of luck to you.

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Lee Drozak
My Office Assistant

Face-to-face networking is what got me started. Hanging around other business owners, learning from them and then being able to offer my business services as the need arose. That still works today. Networking online and offline amongst forums where there are business owner/operators is a good way to go.

Good ideas. Thanks for sharing!

Laura

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Laura Kelly-Pifer

Norma - I have not gotten my first client yet, but I have been networking face to face with my chamber of commerce and I have created an introduction letter that I am sending out today!!

I have also been doing some volunteer work in my community. I think that people are more likely to work with someone they know, and volunteering is a great way to get to know people in a very easy setting, you can talk about your business and ask about theirs without sounding like all you do is hunt for clients (cuz that is what I feel like sometimes!)

Good luck - let us know when you get your first one

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~ Norma Guerin
DSA Virtual Assistant Services

Originally Posted by Norma

Norma - I have not gotten my first client yet, but I have been networking face to face with my chamber of commerce and I have created an introduction letter that I am sending out today!! I have also been doing some volunteer work in my community. I think that people are more likely to work with someone they know, and volunteering is a great way to get to know people in a very easy setting, you can talk about your business and ask about theirs without sounding like all you do is hunt for clients (cuz that is what I feel like sometimes!) Good luck - let us know when you get your first one

Thanks Norma for your advises, I have done some of those already, actually I did some work for a friend around here and she promised to promote it, she has a school, but nothing has happened yet, it is true that I just have 2 months since I started my campaign, I am a little bit disparate.

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Norma Carreño
www.virtualassistantwork.com

Originally Posted by kathiemt

Face-to-face networking is what got me started. Hanging around other business owners, learning from them and then being able to offer my business services as the need arose. That still works today. Networking online and offline amongst forums where there are business owner/operators is a good way to go.

Thanks a lot Kathie for your comments.

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Norma Carreño
www.virtualassistantwork.com

Originally Posted by leedrozak

Norma, I agree with Bernice and Vivi about where to begin. There are many different techniques to market and some will be a fit for you while some may not. I tapped into my relationships as a freelancer to get started and now rely on referrals and F2F networking. While not specializing in SM VA work, I use social media but more to keep up with the technology than to market my business. There are also some great books resources here too so check out the book reviews section. I am a planner, so I would begin by reviewing the different marketing avenues and coming up with a marketing plan including who you feel is your ideal client. Be specific for each one so that your marketing has a focus and not just to the general business population. For my plan, which I update quarterly, I give myself to-do check lists (i.e. - attend 2 functions a month, attend one seminar a month, remind clients of my referral program). This keeps me moving along and allows me to evaluate which techniques are working and which need to be honed. Best of luck to you.

Lee thanks a lot for your tips I think I will plan again my marketing following some of your advises.

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Norma Carreño
www.virtualassistantwork.com