How to Get Great Clients

When starting a business as a Virtual Assistant, several scary things come to mind. Getting clients is one of them. Fortunately, when boiled down, the required steps are simple:

1. Talk about your work in a clear, simple way (more here).
    
2. Create your most valuable asset: your email list (more here).
    
3. Tell everyone you know about your business (more here).
    
4. Stay in touch with your network consistently (more here).

That’s it. There’s nothing on the list that’s difficult to understand or difficult to do. Granted, it’s time-consuming … but not difficult.

So, if it’s that simple, why is getting clients a problem for so many people?

1. They’re afraid to try. Like anything else, starting a business or networking is scary when we’re doing something for the first time. It's human nature to avoid risky activities. So, instead of focusing on what will work, we focus on what won’t to justify our inaction.
   
   This is you if you’ve ever uttered one of these phrases: “I don’t know anyone who needs a VA. I can’t charge that much. No one will pay me to help them. I don’t have the right skills or experience. I can’t [fill in the blank].”
    
2. They’re worried about what people will think. First, I want you to know that people are not paying the close attention to you that you imagine. They’re too busy thinking about themselves. And for those voicing their opinions about your new business, it’s important to consider the source and the intent.
   
   The people closest to you - your spouse, mother, best friend, relatives, want to protect you. So when they see you doing something they consider risky, they will try to talk you out of it. Again, human nature. Another scenario that might happen is that people will be jealous of you taking steps toward your dream because this shines a light on the fact that they are not.
    
3. They overcomplicate it. Does this sound familiar? “I can’t tell anyone about my business because my website is not done, and I can’t create my website until I get a client so I can afford it. I will wait until that happens before I send out my announcement or attend any networking events."
   
   That might sound logical and like a good plan, but it’s not. And if you’re waiting for everything to be perfect or to feel ready, be prepared to keep waiting for a long, long time.

In the end, getting clients comes down to mindset. If you believe in yourself, take action consistently, and don’t let fear get the best of you, trust me, you will have all the clients you can handle.

If you’re not already a member of our Facebook Group, The Virtual Assistant Connection, and would like to join, here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com