I though i would ask:

• what are your business hours
  what is the best way to reach you
  asking questions about what they do or the company they work for
  if they have worked with a VA before

I really don't know what to really ask. Any suggestions!

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Miranda
My Busy Assistants

Hi Tia I might suggest finding out what tasks they have to do on a daily or regular basis that they don't enjoy doing, feel are taking too long, or are taking away from other aspects of business they feel are more important (maybe these are things you can take off their hands!) I would also ask if there are areas in their business they are looking for specific improvements; goals they have in mind; areas of technology or the internet that they are interested in learning more about or utilizing. I would find out what their expectations in partnering with a VA are.

I would also ask if they have any questions for me

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Thanks Tess for the insight i was really having trouble with this and didnt want to look to unexperienced once i did get my first client

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Miranda
My Busy Assistants

Don't worry - you'll do great! It's just another person on the end of the line
Take some time to focus a bit before the call; get energized about your practice, your services/skills, and yourself and you'll go into the conversation with lots of confidence.

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Stuck in startup? Stop dreaming. Start DOING!
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Tess, your first reply was a confidence booster. I have to remember that they are just people (like me) :-)

Tia,

The first question I ask is to tell me more about their business and what it is they are looking for. Then I ask for more details about the tasks they need help with. This gives me a great starting point for discussing my business, the VA business and how I can help them.

Good Luck to you.

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Lee Drozak
My Office Assistant

Tia,

I have a routine when it comes to preparing for the first phone consultation.
- I check out the PC (pc=potential client) website if it they provided it, if not I ask them for it so I can familiarize myself with their work.
- Next, I search Google/Twitter/Myspace/Facebook/LinkedIn for their name and company. I'm finding it an awesome resource in finding out more about them & their work, good & bad. You can find out a bit about their personality. See if they are someone you would like working with.
- I keep notes of anything interesting I find
-During the call I keep there website open so I can refer to it, if needed. I also mention that I read their site, making sure to comment on something found there, and think working with them would be interesting

Some questions I ask:
-What is it you think you need me for?
-How much time do you spend doing those tasks yourself everyday?
-What else do you do all day? And what would you be able to do more of, once I take over the other tasks? This question lets you know what they feel is most important/most enjoyable, plus it may give you someideas for how you can help them with other things.
-I let them know some of the other things I could handle for them either right away or in the future. I tell them, I understand how difficult it can be to let go of some control over your business so for 30 days you will get a discounted rate, so we can see if we "fit" well (no mention of $/hr yet)
-How do you prefer contact be made? Email, Phone, IM, Skype,etc.
-How often do you prefer progress updates?
- At this point I let them know whether or not I think I could help them, personally. If not, I offer a couple options:
1-I tell them it is not really my area of expertise but I have an associate who can handle it. Would they be ok with my overseeing the account but having the associate handle to actual work?
2-I offer to direct them to another VA who may be a better fit (you could still sub it out to another VA but client would deal with other the VA directly & pay them through you)
3-I offer to submit an RFP for them (at a flat rate) to all the forums and boards I am a member of to aid them in their search.

All of these options provide an opportunity to retain the PC. Once they see how well you work, they may send more work and/or referrals your way.

Make your call a very positive experience. Listen more than you talk.

Lastly, I offer to write up a contract (which will state my rate) and send it over to them for their review. I recommend they look it over for a few days and if they agree to all terms, sign it, send it back and work will start asap.

Good Luck and Relax.

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~Christina-Business Darlings-Magazine for Virtual Business Owners

Christina, I like your routine. It is very structured. I go through a questionaire that I have. Some of the questions I will ask are:

1. Have you worked with a VA before?
2. Do you have any concerns with working with a VA?

I like to ask these questions to see if they have any concerns and try to re-assure them should they have any.

Then I will go into their particular needs.

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Regards
Stacey - SHARGO Biz Support

These are awesome everyone! I can't wait to have my first consultation call!

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-Becky
Life is 10% what happens, 90% how you react.

Thanks vicky for that info. I will have to check that out and see if it something that will work for me.

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Miranda
My Busy Assistants

I agree with what everyone has said. I might just take a copy of my Web pages and stick them in a folder. That is because not everyone is on line. I have a PC calling me who doesn't own a computer. I had to send him my Web pages. So you may want to think of that. Even though that does present a problem of "how do you send the work over"? I don't think this client and me are a good fit, he wants to drop off the work at my home and that is not something I am comfortable with. But it may be a workable thing for other people. Then I take forms like: client data form, contract, FAQ, rates that I keep in a special folder just for free consultations. Then I will leave them for the PC. Along with my business card attached to an inexpensive folder.
I also make it a point when the PC is talking I try to take notes for later cause I just know I will forget something that was important. Then I can followup if need be. I also take those notes and type them up, date them and put them in my "Inquiries folder" for those free consultations. If the PC turns into a client then I have a heavy cardboard folder with 2 prongs on the top. I use that to file any legal docs like: contract, NDA, etc. I also have another folder for each client with my copy of work done. You kind of have to do it as you go along and see what system really works best for you. One works for one person doesn't always work for another. HTH
Jo-Carole

I let them talk for a bit until they began to repeat themselves. As I am listing, I think of what services I can provide them.

These are great suggestions for a newbie! Thanks so much!

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Patricia
www.extrapairofhands.ca

Thank you for your post Christina. As someone who is still in the research phase this has given me a good starting point.

Thanks again.

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Sarah Mosure

Tia,

I ask, if the potential client ever worked with a Virtual Assistant?
What are their concerns working with someone remotely?
Then I try to reassure them of my honesty and confidentiality.

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Jana