Let’s forget all the New Year, New You and all those resolutions you will never keep. Let’s get right into business and talk about what you need to do to grow your virtual assistant business in the New Year.
Who’s ready?
These tips will help you to not only maintain your current level of success, but also take your business to a whole new level. The sky is the limit!
Website – Yes, the hub where everyone goes to once they hear about you – your business website. They found you, what happens next? Do they feel confident you are the right VA for them and immediately look to the contact page to reach out to you? Or do they retreat quickly because what’s on the site scares the daylights out of them. It’s riddled with typos, looks like it came right out of the 90’s, and even if they did want to connect with you, they can’t see how. So step one in your VA Checklist, review your website and make the necessary improvements. Are you making it easy to do business with you? Does your site reflect the quality of your work and effectively convey what you can do for clients?
Referrals – Most virtual assistants will tell you that a majority of the work they receive comes from a connection made with another VA. Why? Because VAs are a unique bunch and they love helping out. And besides, when they connect you, they look good. Win/Win
Now that brings us to how can you get those awesome referrals. First, be active online and connect. Second, let others know what you do and always do a brilliant job at it. Third, have a referral plan in place for when you do get referrals, which includes a generous thank you for the referral. And finally, refer others yourself. People love to extend the favor back to you when you do. Take the time to visit other VA sites and make note of areas where they specialize so you always have a resource to offer clients when the need arises. Virtual Assistants are all about collaboration.
Own Your Niche – But Be Willing It Change It Up – Yes, it’s important to be known by what you do, however, don’t feel that you can only do those things. Often in business we get burned out doing the same ole’, same ole.’ Know that it’s AOK to mix it up a bit and add new services. In fact, that’s what can help keep the passion in your business. Now we aren’t saying, every year to change what you do. What we are saying is as you grow, commit to doing more. Your business will continue to evolve over time. First and foremost keep your target audience in mind.
Step Out of Your Comfort Zone – What is it something you have wanted to do for years and just keep putting off because you weren’t skilled at it or you felt it is just too hard? This year, decide to do it. Take action now. Sometimes the action can be going ahead and doing it, but it also might mean taking classes or attending some teleseminars to learn how to do it. No matter what it is, just do it.
Aggressive Marketing – Last year you marketed your business and perhaps you saw a good deal of success. Or perhaps you are just getting started and just now kicking off your marketing efforts. No matter what, this year plan to do more. Take what worked last year and do more of the same while also adding to the mix. We know, you don’t have time to market. Nonsense! Get up a half an hour earlier and before you look at emails or connect on Facebook, write that article or blog post you’ve been putting off. Do this every day. You want to implement things that have a lasting effect. For example, create an autoresponder series for those who sign up for your newsletter. Then every month add to it. Everyone who signs up, will now see it. It’s the gift that just keeps on giving. No matter what, market your business every week. Set a goal to reach out to 5-10 prospects every week.
Client and Potential Client Check-in. The new year is a great time to check in with existing clients as well as to reconnect with those potential clients you spoke with last year. Make these connections, keeping it friendly and upbeat. For existing clients, ask if there are ways to improve and basically ask how they feel it’s going. Don’t be defensive with their responses either. Take it as a growing and learning experience. For those potential clients you spoke with last year, just say hi and let them know you are thinking of them. No hard sale. Just a friendly how are you. That can go so much farther.
Hopefully these tips will get your creative juices flowing and helps you to have the best year ever.
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Diana Ennen and Kelly Poelker are the co-authors of numerous books including Virtual Assistant – The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA and accompanying Virtual Assistant – The Series Workbook Edition. Stop by their site for complete information on starting your own VA business. Connect with them online via Twitter or Facebook.