Supporting virtual assistants gives me so much satisfaction! And one of the biggest topics I am asked about is how to get clients or make more money. And for new virtual assistants, I’d say the biggest question is often about how to get clients. Getting that first is so exciting but can be scary too! For me getting clients has always been pretty easy (I’ve lost track at 200+), BUT it’s because I learned some key things that are needed so that clients understand how I can help them.
In this blog, we’ll go over places you can get clients online. There are so many, but I will share ten places to get you started.
As a virtual assistant, finding clients is essential to growing your business and increasing your income. But where do you start looking?
Here are ten places to get clients as a virtual assistants:
#1 Freelance Websites: Platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr are great places to start. You can create a profile and bid on jobs that match your skills. Keep in mind you will need to look for and submit proposals actively. Make sure you communicate the benefit and value you provide for what the client needs.
#2 Social Media: Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to network and connect with potential clients. You can search public posts on these platforms to find opportunities easily.
#3 Job Boards: Check out job boards like Indeed, Monster, and Glassdoor for virtual assistant positions. FYI when I hire for clients, I always use Indeed, and you can search for remote jobs only! Search by remote location but also use keywords they might use in the title like Virtual Assistant, Customer Service, and similar.
#4 Referrals: Ask your existing clients to refer you to others who may need your services. To make it easy, give them a Google Doc or PDF with your info, skills, etc. The easier you can make it, the more likely they will refer you. Some even offer incentives like a free hour of work for each client referred or something similar. You don’t have to do this, but it can help encourage others to refer you.
#5 Networking Events: Attend virtual networking events to connect with potential clients in your industry. Or find local networking events. In my town, the Chamber of Commerce is great for this! You can also check out MeetUp for local or virtual networking events. The only type I want to caution you about is the ones where you HAVE to make referrals monthly, and I think it’s BNI that does that. I checked one out early on and am glad I didn’t join. It wasn’t a fit for me, but it could be for you.
#6 Email Marketing: Create an email list and send newsletters with your services and availability. This will mean using software, creating a lead magnet, and emailing consistent newsletters, so only do this if you know you can dedicate the time needed.
#7 Cold Outreach: Reach out to potential clients via email or LinkedIn with a personalized message. This is similar to searching groups online and pitching to business owners. If you do this, you will need a follow-up and a way to organize and track the leads you pitch.
#8 Industry Associations: Join industry associations and attend virtual events to connect with potential clients. Specific online training programs have a directory that promotes you, and you can google this to see what comes up local to you.
#9 Google My Business: Create a Google My Business profile to increase your visibility in search results. However, this is not for online businesses. This might work for you if you sell physical products and do virtual assistant work. Or if you rent an office, you can use that address.
#10 Local Business Directories: Look for local business directories and submit your information to be listed as a virtual assistant.
#11 Bonus Tip: This is similar to the referrals but slightly different since you don’t yet know these people. Create a list of complimentary businesses you would like to partner with, and you will most likely need to do some online research. This could be graphic designers, anyone teaching entrepreneurs, website designers, etc. The thing is, they have clients that need a virtual assistant. Once you create that list, reach out to them like you did the cold outreach, with follow-up, tracking, etc. Keep track of who you reach out to, and you can form some great referral partnerships this way to get clients.
There are many places to find clients as a virtual assistant, and this list is to get you thinking about all the places you can find clients. Don’t be afraid to explore different options and try new strategies to see what works best for you. With persistence and creativity, you can build a thriving virtual assistant business and find clients who value your services. And if you have a great place to suggest, leave it below in the comments
Action Step
Pick 3 of the 11 places above where you can get clients. Then decide to test those three for 30 days. Now some might need longer to see how well they are really working. But pick a time of how long you will try it before you reevaluate. And if you have a friend that works as a virtual assistant, you two can do this together for accountability!
Helpful Links
If you know you are a mom wanting to work from home but have no idea how to get started, grab my free guide, “10 Easy Steps to Get Started as a Virtual Assistant.” And if you are lacking confidence and wondering if you really can do it, If I can do it, living in a small rural town in Missouri with no formal business education or entrepreneurial background, so can you!
Go here to grab the free guide!
This guide also works for established virtual assistants looking to grow their businesses and bring in more income!
You’ll also be added to my email list, where I’ll send tips about working as a Virtual Assistant and more business advice.