Virtual Assistant Tips To Success

Virtual Assisting has become one of the most exciting and rewarding home-based businesses. What a privilege it is to be a part of such an evolutionary industry that continually grows and offers new opportunities and rewards for those coming into the business and those veteran pros as well. Marketing your Virtual Assistant business can be a rewarding adventure, providing you with permanent clientele and additional profits.

Here are some ideas you might want to explore:

Tip #1 -- Add a P.S. to your Signature Line: We all know how important that signature line is for your business success. Here's a simple way to make it even more profitable--Add a P.S. to your e-mail messages. You can offer your clients additional discounts or let them know about a new service. Did you just get a new VA certificate? Tell them! This can be a perfect opportunity to perhaps toot your horn a little.

Tip #2 - Learn from the Pros: Continually search for new and worthwhile sites that offer tips on marketing. There are pros out there specializing in marketing. Let them guide you into making more profits. For example, recently I found this site-thewebmuse.com. It has fabulous marketing tips, special reports you can receive for as little as $9.95, affordable teleclasses on marketing, and a monthly newsletter, "The Museletter." I could go on, but go check it out for yourself and then see how you can profit from it as well.

Be a mentor. I know one of the ways that I've actually increased my business is mentoring others and networking with others. Any networking is valuable and when you mentor you become an expert at the same time as helping others out.

Tip #3 - Market with Candy Wrappers or Business Magnets: Do something different with your marketing. Candy wrappers can be a perfect way to show your clients your uniqueness and catch their attention. You can get your company name and logo printed on them. If visiting local clients, prepare a "small package" with coffees/teas, your candy bar with your logo on it, perhaps a personalized pen, and of course, several business cards. Drop it off at new businesses in your area. How about the doctor that just changed locations or the new attorney that just graduated law school? You can send these out as well and are not confined to local clients.

Magnets are excellent marketing tools. VistaPrints offers them at very reduced prices and they match your business card. I send one along to all my clients and in my portfolio to clients who have already expressed an interest in my services. This just adds that additional promotional edge I feel.

Tip #4 - Market to Your Existing Clients: Your existing clients already know the caliber of work that you do. But your marketing doesn't have to stop there. Continually tell them of new services or features. Send out a newsletter or even a tip of the week to keep your name in front of them. And when was the last time you called them up and asked, "Hey, how are you doing? How's business going?" A personal, "What's been happening" call can make a very favorable impression

Tip #5 - List Tips on Your Website: One of the ways to prove your expertise is to list on your website the things you know. This shows your clients and potential clients that you know what you are talking about. On both my sites I have done this with great success. On Virtual Word Publishing, http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com, I also include a complete listing of resources as well so others can find information on my site that they need. This draws them to my site and while there hopefully makes them want to do business with me.

Market your way to success in your business! See how doing things a little differently can make a big difference. And lastly, enjoy your marketing. When clients see that you enjoy what you're doing, they want to do business with you.

Diana Ennen is the author of numerous books including Virtual Assistant: the Series, Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA, Words From Home, Start, Run and Profit from a Home-Based Word Processing Business & the Home Office Recovery Plan. She specializes in publicity and book marketing and is president of Virtual Word Publishing http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com and http://www.Publicity-VA.com. Articles are free to be reprinted as long as the author's bio remains intact.