Need some advice

[TheVirtualGroup]

Hi all,

My name is Romey. I am a paralegal, and very very new to the virtual paralegal world. I have started my company already (The Virtual Group, LLC) and have placed a couple of ads on craigslist, google, and other sites, but I have yet to receive my first inquiry. I have sent my paralegal friends e-mails asking them to share my website with their attorney and paralegal friends, in hopes of getting that first client, but I have not received one call or e-mail . So, I'm hoping some of you can give me some advice as to where to go, or what to do to start attracting clients. I'd really appreciate it if some of you would share your ideas, or tell me what has worked for you on finding and building up your client list.

Thanks all for any feedback you can offer me!! I really appreciate it!

Romey Gardella

[Your Virtual Wizard]

Hi Romey,

I took a fast look at your website and I do not see if you are connected to Facebook. The FB link you provide at the very bottom only offers to share the page but not for people to connect with you so I would look into adding FB, LinkedIn and Twitter widgets to your site so folks can LIKE and Tweet you.

I also think that your site is verbose and I say this only to suggest that you rethink your site to make it more appealing and easier to navigate. Are people coming to your website and leaving because there is too much reading? Check your bounce rate on your Google Analytics and that will tell you what page people leave your site. If they come to your home page and they leave it should tell you that they do not want to continue to delve further into your offerings.

Your only 'call to action' is a Contact Us page. Offer people who visit your site other options to connect with you. Social media is one such option as is signing up for newsletter or a free download.

Your site has a picture on the home page but offers no real information unless the user scrolls down. I suggest you eliminate the scale photo and use this precious virtual real estate showing people how you provide solutions to their problems. Anything 'above the fold' is gold to a virtual assistant so use it to capture interest and keep people on your site. So I see this area (with the scales) not being utilized to its full potential.

Try to think of your website from the perspective of a potential client. They have come to your website (through word-of-mouth or your excellent marketing) and now they want to 'see' themselves in your website. You want to say why someone needs you without actually saying it that way.

Are you on Facebook? If so, then I would continue to market yourself and connect with your target market and groups related to your target market.

Are you on LinkedIn? I would suggest you comment discussions, start discussions about paralegal work and join legal-related groups.

Do you Tweet? If so, keyword in the search whatever words you use in your business and make a Tweet and start following people in your industry. Follow who they follow.

I don't see a blog on your site. I would start one and begin writing about what you do best. Offer tips, hints, stories, suggestions, etc., to establish yourself as an expert. Connect this to your website for better search engine results.

Create a newsletter and start building a list. You can use Constant Contact and Mail Chimp (I believe), on FB to start collecting email addresses. Add a sign up box to your website and offer a free download of paralegal tips in exchange for an email address.

Do you market locally? Considering joining a meet-up. If none are available, create your own.

Volunteer your services at a local community center, humane society or public defender's office to get your name out there and help others. Write a press release about your experiences and send it to the local paper. Post it to your site and Tweet it and post to your FB status. Ask for testimonials from the non-profits (after doing the work) and ask them to pass the word around about you and the expertise you provide.

If you volunteer at a church or a synagogue, ask them to advertise your company name in the bulletin in exchange for helping them out with their administration work.

Janine

[TheVirtualGroup]

Hi Janine,

Thanks so much for taking the time to respond to me. I really appreciate your advice, and I realize you make a lot of sense. When I created my website, I tried to include as much information, and make it as detailed as I could. I thought that when potential clients visit my site, they would want to get more information about what we do, and everything else, not realizing that sometimes, less is more. I guess, since I like to read, I don't mind the amount of reading involved, but clearly not everyone shares that feeling. Otherwise, I would have received some contact request forms...

I would love to volunteer at a local organization. The problem with that though, is that I have 4 year-old twins, whome I take care of all day long while my husband is at work (which is the main reason for my choosing this business), and most days he works long hours, leaving practically no time for me to get involved in any volunteer work, or groups, etc. This part is going to be pretty difficult until my children start school next year in August. Until then, the web is my best marketing tool, aside from the local paper.

I am on Facebook and I have shared my page with my friends. I don't have many "Likes" yet, but I'm trying to get my name out there somehow. I am also on Twitter, and the same is happening there as well. I will definitely take your advice on adding the social media icons to my website. I tried when I was building the site to include the "follow me" and "Like" links, and there were some thech difficulties, and it didn't allow me to add them. I will also look into starting a blog. My only fear with that though, is not being able to come up with interesting content for my readers . I am certainly not a writer (although I can write a lot LOL), but I guess I have nothing to lose by trying, right? Wish me luck on that!

Anyway, I really appreciate your input. I will definitely be making some changes.

Thanks again!!

Romey

[Your Virtual Wizard]

Hi Janine,


I would love to volunteer at a local organization. The problem with that though, is that I have 4 year-old twins, whome I take care of all day long while my husband is at work (which is the main reason for my choosing this business), and most days he works long hours, leaving practically no time for me to get involved in any volunteer work, or groups, etc. This part is going to be pretty difficult until my children start school next year in August. Until then, the web is my best marketing tool, aside from the local paper.

You don't have to be 'on site' to volunteer. Work can be done virtually for non-profits just the same as it can be done for a client. It is just a matter of presenting your skills, perhaps first in email format or via phone call.

When I volunteered for a book drive, a good portion of the work I did was from home after hours. When I needed to deliver something to the school, I would do so with child in tow or when my husband returned home.

I realize I am being persistent but if there is a will, there is a way. And I do tell you that volunteering is a great way to get your name out there while being productive, obtaining valued testimonials and meeting new people.

As an added note: think of the blog content you can offer...the press release you can write as well...

Janine

[AmyJohnson]

I couldn't agree more about the volunteering. My mum believe it or not heard a radio interview with a lady in her home town who set up a not for profit website that targets those who suffer with mental health issues and those who can support them.

In the interview she said how much interest she has had and that she has so much to do she just doesnt know how she will fit it into her day. Mum called me and gave me her web address. After looking at her site I realised what a wonderful cause she is trying to help with and decided I would offer her 20 hours of my time to help with her admin for free. I have since not only begun work for her with those free hours she has also signed me up as her VA, the hours she is paying me for continues to grow and she in turn has passed my information on to numerous people and I am starting to get a fair amount of interest in my services. I didn't have to leave the comfort of my own home to volunteer my VA services I just offered my volunteer time in the same way as I would advertise as a VA...Virtually!

Good luck to you, the thing to remember is that getting known takes time, commitment and a lot of work. They say the first 6 months is the toughest in relation to finding clients.

x

[Office Goddess]

I market directly to one-person attorney firms and emphasize how using my services can make them money. They can be paying me to do their admin work at the same time they are doing billable work. If they charge $250/hr, they can either 'spend' $250 doing their own bookkeeping or earn $195 by paying me $50/hour and they can do an hour of billable client work instead of their books.

[Whits Admin]

Anytime we can get out and meet new people and pass on our business information is an opportunity for clients. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people.

[Jen Rivet]

I have to agree with the face-to-face contact. Call businesses that you feel can best benefit from your services and set up an appointment. Put together a brief but concise presentation, informational flyers, and business cards you can leave behind. I bring some goodies that I can leave at the receptionist desk with a post card with a quirky saying and my business contact information.

[TheVirtualGroup]

Hi all,

Thank you all for the great advice. I will definitely look into volunteering some hours. I will start calling some law firms to offer my services. I really appreciate you all taking the time to reply, and will keep you posted.

Thanks again,

Romey

[LoriH]

Great thread, everyone.

Lily, may I ask how you market your one-attorney firms? I am also a paralegal and looking to offer my services to sole practitioners and/or small firms and am currently researching how to get started. I have read of VAs sending out postcards and thought of that. I do work (as you do) outside the home M-F, 8-5. I am the sole employee for a sole practitioner and the only break I have during the day is my lunch hour. The remainder of my day is completely consumed with his business and offers me absolutely no downtime (so it limits the times I could possibly call).

Thank you in advance!