Services Industry businesses such as a Virtual Assistant need to think about how to market their services rather than a tangible product. “Who can use our services?” becomes the next question.
A question to ask yourself would be who is my ideal client(s) and where can I place myself to be in front of them? Think of where your clients will be hanging out and the types of media they would normally see or the types of meetings and associations they would be participating. That’s where you want to place your yourself and business name. Make it easy for your target group to find you. Don’t let your business be the best kept secret in your area or online.
How do you make your presence known locally?
- Get involved in your local Chamber of Commerce or other such organization.
- Position yourself as a speaker for the area civic organizations – be the expert in your field; providing tips on how to “?”. I’ll bet there is a topic about being a VA that you’re passionate about and could share just 20 minutes talking about – leaving 5-10 minutes for Q&A.
- Contact your area newspaper with press releases, articles, or even about the idea of writing a monthly business column.
- Donate your gift certificate for a few hours of your services to an area charity benefit auction. Not only are you giving back to your community, you are gaining exposure with a captive audience, and possibly meeting your next retainer client. Benefit auctions are wonderful places that business owners and the “movers & shakers” of the community like to frequent.
- Always have your business card with you and pass them out to everyone you meet that may need your services.
It may seem overwhelming but start with just one or two – do them well and then add on from there. Soon you’ll be on your way and hopefully the talk of the town. ; )