Here Peter Hanley explains how to become a virtual assistant working from home with a set group of clients and building a real business.
So what is a virtual assistant and what can they do
This is both an easy and a hard question so I will give you both answers.
An assistant is someone who helps a higher-ranking manager. This could be a Secretary or a PA being short for a personal assistant or even a co-worker but all real individuals who work on a daily basis.
A virtual one is away and is on demand.
In another business I have a lady that does the billing to my clients, works from home we communicate by email and sometimes phone but she is limited in hours and functions. She is my virtual billing assistant.
It can be a person or a computer program it is just used when you need it.
What can a virtual assistant do?
By the end of this post, I hope you find hundreds of ideas that can help and even establish a nice home business.
I will start with social media because it is in front of us at all times and has surprising results for those that use it properly.
A problem with this is that if it is not done properly it can have an adverse effect on the results.
Facebook is a great example. I use Facebook a lot when assessing new clients or those with whom I am dealing with.
When I look at a page that has been unattended for a long period of time it puts me off the business.
It immediately gets me offside and if I am a customer I will probably move on.
It is not hard to keep a site up to date, You can schedule posts weeks ahead at anytime however people forget.
They need a virtual assistant
Instagram is owned by Facebook and furthermore is getting all the investment.
The younger age group started with Instagram and dragged us oldies along to see the kiddy snaps increasing their coverage.
My friends in business have all found that Instagram gets more action than other social media sites and now uses it more often.
They sell clothes and haircuts and just about anything you can think of.
Instagram needs to be done on a mobile phone and you need a bit of photography, happy snaps, or picture downloads.
A close friend is a hairdresser, she posts two or three times a day with the current creations as her sole and only marketing. She is one of the most booked Salons in town.
Do you see a need for a virtual assistant here?
Every business should have a current LinkedIn account and do a regular posting. Not many of us do it but it does add to the whole package.
business an attractive and compelling offer.
Newsletters and Emails
A newsletter is really simple with today's technology. You just need a list and a bit of writing skill and press send.
Good businesses all do newsletters and they do them regularly.
They are not there to sell anything just to convey some information and keep in front of the clients that have dealt with them.
I have clients such as sign writers, tyre stores, window treatment, etc that are leaders in their industry that regularly mail.
Every business needs to do it but very few do.
Why? because it is just too dam hard on a busy day. Can you begin to see an idea here?
The rule of seven and more
There is an old marketing rule that a client needs to be touched 7 times before they will be ready to buy.
The other rule is they must know you, like you, and trust you before they will buy. These two rules together offer a selling package for you to build a business, a work from your home business as a virtual assistant to a range of outlets.
I have given you six things that cost you little and can earn you a lot.
With repeated contact, your know part is covered and they will begin to like you because you are catering to an inquisitive need. Trust them and they will buy. It is a really simple format that can deliver results.
How do you find customers that need assisting near you?
This is the easy part. Within say 5 miles or kilometers, there will be a hundred or more businesses.
I would consider doing one for free to start to get out of trainer wheels and get your act in place.
What you do is ask. You present a one-page proposal saying this is what I can do for you.
Start with an easy one or two to prove your worth and then build up to a bundle.
However, don't make the mistake of undercharging for what you are doing. Done right it will get results for the business and they will respect you for that.
You can use a few fear tactics along the lines of “Did you know if your competitors are doing these things they may pull your business away” type of thing.
In many cases times are tough and for a few hundred dollars you may change their fortunes.
When businesses use Ad-words or re-marketing they may pay around a hundred dollars a lead, which is all big money.
Your extra Training
You may find it helpful to do a free basic course at Wealthy Affiliate just to get your confidence up and give you the basics of what your targets will know.
You always need some learning as you move to a new area and this is ideal.
Nowhere better to learn
I say that with authority because I have been there for several years and recognize the value of learning. Have a look at a couple of courses, chat with users, and don't upgrade unless you want to.
It's not about spending your money on up-sells and side sells. On this page, I have recommended two services both free but if you want the best out of them there is a small monthly cost that can be passed on
I have also written a lot of associated blogs
that you can find above or on my home site
Finally leave a comment below if you have any questions and I would be happy to respond
Home
