Hello,

I am starting up my VA business and have completed most of the basics and I was wondering what marketing I should do first to try to acquire my first client.

I have responded to Craigslist ads, most seem scams, and responded to some RFP's on E-lance & IVAA. Should I E-mail Market, Postcards, etc?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Tiffani

__________________
Tiffani~ ABS

Hi Tiffani,
First, I'd say you've done quite a bit towards marketing. Continuing with those things could lead to valuable contacts. I think in-person networking is important, even if you are working virtually. Try Meetup.com for local listings. Also, consider your blog, other social media and any products you may offer as your marketing. The idea is to concentrate on building a genuinely helpful and easy-to-understand stream of information. I recommend the book Marketing Shortcuts for the Self Employed by Patrick Swerdtfeger for short chapters with action lists at the end. It was an awesome marketing checklist.

Hi Tiffani,

Welcome! My first and most successful marketing was with my local Chamber of Commerce and then networking groups in my local area as far away as 90 miles. Both of these tactics brought in new business and kept me alive for my first year. Yes, we are virtual but who says our clients have to be states away? They can be local or as little as 50 miles from your home office.

Good luck to you! And let us know when you get your first client (job).

Terri

P.S. My newest client came from Tory Johnson's "Spark & Hustle" this year ... Watch for next year's event across the country.

__________________
Terri P. Williams
InfusionSavvy and terripwilliams.com

I too, am in the same boat as you are Tiffani so I am interested in knowing what others have to say and what their valuable input is as well.

Originally Posted by amberfay

I too, am in the same boat as you are Tiffani so I am interested in knowing what others have to say and what their valuable input is as well.

I also just added my linked in profile, contacted my local chambers for fees, set up my manta acct, and I am putting together my info for 1st postcard mailing to small local attorneys. Fingers Crossed! Also I am going to get set up with the following:

Bing Local, Yahoo! Local, yellowpages.com, merchantcircle.com, yellowbook.com, yellowbot.com, citysearch.com, superpages.com, whitepages.com, facebook, Twitter, foursquare, switchboard and kudzu.


Who knows I read on manta that these are all free sites so I am going to give it a shot.

__________________
Tiffani~ ABS

I'm in the process of getting my marketing letter together. Is it best to snail mail or is e-mail okay? I would think snail mail but with today being today technology wise, I just don't know which would be better.

__________________
Terri
Legal and General Transcriptionist to the stars (well not really but a girl can dream, can't she?)

Linked In has worked for me, my very first client came from Linked In

__________________
Stacey N. Ramke
www.Staceys-Admin-Solutions.com

I have obtained clients through Manta, Car Magnets, Guru.com, Craigslist, and Referrals. I'm going to start sending out post cards to solo lawyers next along with a whole lot more face to face networking with local meetups and business expos.

__________________
Alisa A. Beatty ~Assistance You Can Count On~ www.virtual-jane.com

I'm in the same boat as Tiffany, I just updated my Linked In and Facebook page.(not to sure on what to put on there) I have heard that meetups are a really good networking source. We should try those Tiffany

I've made a LinkedIn which people swear by, But I don't think it'll do me much good. The very first thing I made was a website, business cards, and a brochure. I live in a town with a lot of small businesses. So when I was doing my usual shopping and etc, since I have a relatively good relationship with these people, I wanted to be able to give them something when I told them about it. A 23 year old telling a business owner that you can "virtually assist" them got me some skeptical looks. SO I made sure the next time I went, that I had something to give them. I have the various Social Media sites, and I'm drafting content now.

__________________