Hi All

We're still in the development stages our Virtual Assistant business - I'd be keen to hear from you established VAs, who are your most common customers. That might sound like a swooping statement, I guess what I'm looking for is what type of businesses use virtual assistants... I know a lot of business do, but what do you think the most common is? 1 person businesses, consultants, business with 2-4 employees etc?

Which industries do you think use our services most?

...Or do you think this is something that is impossible to gauge? I'm really trying to drill down into the demographic as I'm attempting to conduct a detailed market analysis for our business plan.

Thanks in advance!

I think the businesses that can use VAs are as varied as the services VAs offer.

When I started out, I focused on small businesses that were approx 1 year old (or close to it). As a bookkeeper, this was the time when they started realizing they needed my services. Over time, I have changed my focus and narrowed it down to 1-person law firms. Again, as a bookkeeper, it is practical for them to hire me to handle the accounting while they continue to do billable client work.

Had I gone into full office support, transcription, social media, or any of a hundred different types of services VAs offer, my 'target market' would be completely different. I think that almost any small business out there can benefit from working with VAs. It is up to the VA to determine who they target and convince them of the value.

Hi All,

We are just starting out as well and would be interested in feedback from established VA's on the type of industry groups they have found use the services of VA's.

We have decided to market our services to specific industry groups and are starting with the construction industry. This group includes building contractors, electricians, plumbers, concreters etc. Many of these people are sole operators who actually do the billable client work during the day and then when they come home have to do the owners get their wife to do this work until she gets a job and then it falls back on them. We thought this might be a good group to target.

I would ge grateful of any feedback on this subject from other VA's who are already established and would have a clientele.

Thanks

Mariana,

The construction industry has taken a hit here in the US. If it is still viable in Australia, I'd say you may have a good target market.

We've had a number of contracted projects done on our home and you are correct, they do the work during the day and the billing is done at night often from the kitchen table by the spouse.

My only concern about this market is payment to you. Many construction jobs pay as they go and they work from job to job instead of having a steady stream of income. Of course if you hit upon a larger organization or big builder that might not be the problem but I think a small one or two person operation may not have the funds to support a virtual assistant.

If you can show how your services may bring in money for them...I think you may have a better chance at securing this market. For example, if you not only do their billing, offer to do their social media which may also bring in new customers for them thus extra money to support a VA.

Janine

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Janine

Thanks for your feedback I must admit I did not give alot of thought to the payment side. You are right many construction jobs are paid at the end of the project. On the other hand trades people who who contract projects for home owners and businesses do get paid when the job is completed. Thanks for your suggestion about offering services that will bring in new customers for them that is a good idea.

Thanks again for your feedback. I will let you know how we go with our marketing campaign.

My two regular VA clients are a nutrition coach & a national moving company. I also have three SOC distributors who refer their clients to me for contact database work. These are small jobs but a way to get my name out there. I think of it as being paid to market myself.

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Lezly Harrison
Laserdog Productions - Code that Doesn't Bite

Mariana (beautiful name),

When I determined who my target market would be one of the criteria I had was that my clients would need to have the ability to pay me. I worked with a number of clients in the early years who hemmed and hawed about fees or didn't pay me on time. So that meant that this market needed to be in business for at least 2 years and established with a steady source of income. At one time, that meant that I targeted real estate professionals because the RE market was good.

However, when real estate tanked that meant that they couldn't pay me. So I dropped that market and looked for others that fit my criteria within the fields I wanted to attract.

So I always include 'if the client can pay' as one of the determining factors if I can work with them or not.

If you do pursue the construction market, always obtain a deposit and if you work on retainer, have that prepaid so you are always covered. If they give you a hard time about those items and/or signing a contract then this would not be the client for you and could lead to trouble.

Here's a blog post I wrote which are some red flags I look for. Client Consultation Red Flag Warnings

Janine

__________________
Need clients? Use code RFP20 @ VAF store checkout for 20% off The RFP Transformation!

Thanks Janine.

I do appreicate your tips and will definitely be looking our out for the red flag warnings. We have identified several industry categories that we intend to promote our services and will definitely drop any that do not fit our criteria. We are also developing our social media marketing through Facebook, Linked in and Twitter.
Again thanks for taking the time to respond to my question.

Mariana

Thanks Janine for sharing your blog link! Very helpful!

-Ashley

I also think you need to consider who your competitors are in your chosen target market, for instance temp and contract recruitment companies will be targeting businesses who are looking for PA's, EA's, Secretary's, Administrator's, etc and they will have a much larger marketing budget. However they will more than likely target clients who can afford their fees, so you want to get the balance right between clients who are in their infancy and won't pay up and clients who are too big and won't be interested.