I know I’m going to get people arguing with me on this one but hear me out.
If you’re running a Virtual Assistant business then you are servicing clients who need your help. Those clients come from all walks of life and not all of them live on the internet as many VAs do (me included).
So, to get in front of them we have to go out and meet them. That means doing face-to-face networking and meeting people in person.
Yes, we have the avenues of the internet, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, industry based forums, hobby based forums and all sorts of other discussion groups. Yes, we have online advertising, ezines, newsletters, articles, blogs and so on. And yes there are a multitude of millions of people online. And along with that you also have a multitude of millions of other sites to compete with, other people networking also.
But… what about your neighbour and the person across the road? What about the business owner down the street or around the corner? What about the local business person who attends business networking events and never even heard of a Virtual Assistant let alone know what one is? What about that business operator who cannot type over 10 wpm or doesn’t understand how different software programs work, let alone know how to use the internet? Aren’t they missing out on knowing about how you can help them? And you have a much smaller number of people to compete with and sometimes not even one. The odds for getting new clients are increased considerably.
There are many places to meet people offline. Business networking groups is just one option. There’s the post office, supermarket, library, church, sporting club, school – wherever you go and wherever people congregate.
Check locally where you live – chambers of commerce, BNI, rotary, school groups, clubs, anywhere where groups of people get together. And volunteering can help – it definitely works. I’ve volunteered (given back to community) in some way or another most of my business life – I’ve been in business over 16 years. It definitely pays to be out there amongst people who will notice you and tell others about you.
If you choose to market only online you stand to miss a good percentage of potential clients who look elsewhere for the type of services you have to offer.
Make sure you ALWAYS have business cards with you.
Pattie Mason says
An interesting post. I used to market my business locally and went to network groups, helped out at the chamber of commerce, etc, etc. I came across plenty of the kind of business owner you give as an example, who didn’t know what software programmes are and could hardly use the internet. The issue is that it’s difficult for these kind of people to work with virtual assistants because they don’t really buy into the concept. It means you either spend a huge amount of time and effort trying to win them round to the virtual way, or you end up wasting a lot of time meeting them face to face and going to work on site for them. The issue I found was that they liked the idea of an assistant but not really a virtual one. Sure, you could argue that it’s up to virtual assistants to convince those kind of potential clients otherwise. But really, unless you are struggling for clients, why bother? My best clients who have been with me for years are all people I have never met face to face, they came to me through my website and other online networking. They’re serious business people with a very real belief in the benefits of virtual working. It’s these kind of clients that have enabled me to move from London to New Zealand and continue running my business pretty much as before. Of course, it’s all up to the individual and what sort of business they want to build and what sort of clients they want to work with. However, having tried both the on and offline approach, I certainly know which I would opt for.
Kathie Thomas says
Thank you for your comments Pattie. I’ve had the exact opposite experience to you.
My first long-term client came via the printed Yellow Pages and he lived only 5 mins from me – it was because of my locality he contacted me. He was with me 11 years before he retired. My next long-term client who found me was via a business breakfast where I’d left my business cards. She was with me over 12 years and only stopped using me last year because of changes in her own life direction. Again she lived only 5 mins away from me. Most of my other long-term clients have all come from personal face-to-face networking and they’ve been delighted to meet someone who is very computer savvy and happy to take over the admin side of their business. There’s been no difficulty on my part explaining to them how it works and because they were mainly sole proprietors too, it appealed to them that they didn’t have to have someone working in their home office next to them – that they could send or give the work to me to work in my own office.
I have also picked up long-term clients from online but over 50% of my current main/permanent clients with me today have come from face-to-face networking or because they’ve heard about me from someone else at one of these events.
There is room for both but it is very important not to dismiss one over the other without trying them both.
Leona Martin says
That is exactly how I got my business started! I joined several local networking groups and 90% of my clients are local and I LOVE them all! I travel to them and work virtually!
Thanks you Kathie for writing this. I have told many people who want to be in this business they need to at least consider networking locally and not just concentrate on online networks!
Thanks
Debra Barber says
You are definitely correct Kathie. Most of my initial business came from face-to-face networking and the fact that I met people face-to-face for a consultation. One client in particular had a little bit of a hard time coming to grips with the concept of ‘virtual’ however, a few onsite visits and educating on how it would work virtually has gained me a long-term client that is now totally virtual (and a number of referrals from her). I don’t think it is a matter of whether or not you ‘need’ clients as to whether you should do face-to-face meetings but rather if you would like to educate more people on the industry and what we can do. These days I still network a lot and stay active in the community however, most of my new enquiries come from word-of-mouth referrals. Something that would not have happened to the same extent (I believe) if I never made the effort to get out and meet people.
Kylee Hastie says
Hi Kathie,
Thanks Kathie for a great article, it is so true Debra, most of the time is the word of mouth. I always have business cards with me even if I am just visiting mates or my partner mates and I hand them out and they always ask what I do and I say I am a Virtual Administration Officer and then we get in a big conservation about it, which is a good start.
Daryl Hemming says
A great article. very accurate & to-the-point. Business owners are definitely better to do as much networking offline as possible, as I’ve found. It’s great to just meet people & talk to them about what you do, and what benefits your business can provide for those who seek your services.