I am hoping that I can get alittle guidance. I finally recieved my first email from my first potential client , but I am not sure how to respond. Therefore I am wanting to get opinions as to how I should respond to this email and what I should say in my email. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank them for contacting you, ask for a phone consult to discuss their needs and follow-up until you get the conversation. Make a list of questions that you have for the client to complete the task(s) at hand. Research the client to make sure they are a good fit for you. It is hard to offer any other advice as I am not really sure what exactly you are looking for.
Just wanted to share with you the email that I had recvd from my potential client the strange thing is that when I try and search the email address he left I can't find anything.
Hi, I’m XXXXXX; a client of mine is interested in your Virtual Assistant Services. Nature of work will be General Office Support e.g. schedule appointments, handling travel arrangements, performing research, and distributing information via e-mail. We will be interested to know what your mode of operations & discounted rates are. Thanks and regards XXXXXX
Stephanie....sorry to say but its a scam!
I received the same word for word email a couple of days ago! Look under Scam Library here on the forum and it gives more info about it.
But for future contact let me make these suggestions:
1. Don't leave the client waiting. Important you do respond in a short time frame as most won't wait very long - they'll move onto the next VA they can find.
2. Do what you can to confirm the validity of the client. If the domain address for the email is hotmail, yahoo, gmail or similar this is going to be harder to ascertain but does not mean that all are scammers. Googling their name may help considerably or even their username (attached to their email address) or their email address may bring up something - but not always.
3. When responding ask sensible questions re the timeframe involved, clarifying information, asking what type of programs used and so on.
4. Re 'discounted' rates and payment - NEVER let the client dictate to you what you should be charging them. It is YOUR business and you are the service provider - they're the client and not an employer. So stick to your guns in that part.
While on the subject of rates, I hope you've done the preparation and know fully what you will charge for services you supply and how you'll provide them. If not, now is the time to sort that out before the next enquiry.
So sorry that this time round it was a scammer but don't wait for more to contact you via your website - start networking online and locally now to put yourself in front of potential real clients. It will happen very soon!
Yes, unfortunately this does sound like a scam.. I just had an email with the same verbiage from a rm@support.com.
The person wanted to know my PayPal account information even before I established a RFP or contract with them, sounded fishy, when I inquired more to them as to the need of the PayPal acct info, I have not heard anything further from them.
Sadly enough their are scammers out there even in the VA world!
My First Potential Client...Need Guidance
, but I am not sure how to respond. Therefore I am wanting to get opinions as to how I should respond to this email and what I should say in my email. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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