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Ask the Master Newsletter Archives
Welcome to the previous editions of the Ask the Master newsletter.
On your left you will find links to tips and the how to’s of
running a Virtual Assistant practice. We hope you enjoy your stay
and if you have a question you’d like answered send it to submission@vatp.ca.
Ask
The Master
Nov 2004 Volume 3/Issue 11 |
Ideal Clients
Who is your ideal client? Knowing who they are can lead you to
where they are
I remember when I first started in this business that I would take
any client I could get and took them all. I ended up doing a lot of
things I didn't want to do for people I didn't want to work with.
I felt like I was back in the corporate world. Once I became clear
on who my ideal client was based on who I was, I found and attracted
them into my practice and was able to create the ideal business for
me. Let's find your ideal client!
Warmly,
Mary-Lou Ashton
Master Virtual Assistant
Questions In This Edition
(Click on the links to go to that question.) What can I do
to improve communication with a client?
How do I determine
who my ideal client is?
There are several things to look at when determining your ideal
client and the first place to start with is you. First of all take
a look at what you are passionate about. What do you really
enjoy doing? Consider your background and previous experience. Is
there a profession or industry that you are familiar with and
you enjoy being a part of? If not is there a profession that you
have always wanted to become involved in? What types of clients
match the services you provide? What type of client relationship
do you want to have? Long term? Short term?
What type of qualities
do I want to consider?
Once again you need to determine what is important to you. Remember
you are creating this business and you get to make it into exactly
what you want. Only by knowing what's important to you will you
be able to match that to clients or a profession.
A good way to look at this is by a rating scale of 1 to 5. Make
a list of what is important such as integrity, honesty, delegating
skills, communication, technical abilities, years in business, male,
female, sole proprietor, number of hours required, approachable,
looking for feedback, collaborative, gives recognition, ability
to give up control, pays on time, etc. Now assign a number on the
scale that corresponds to how important these qualities are to you.
What are you willing to compromise on and what are you not.
What type of qualities
do I want to consider?
There is no magic answer to this question however based on the
work you have done so far try to match the profile of your ideal
client to a profession or industry. For some this will come easily
and for others you may have to do some research and gain additional
clarity through trial and error. Talk to other VA's and people you
know about who they are working for. Does it fit?
Look at professions where you know or think you will find your
ideal clients and find out about conferences, conventions, newsletters,
speaking opportunities, contact lists, other services they use,
or connect with current contacts you have. Go where your potential
clients are. Find a way to connect with them and make your presence
known.
What things should
I be aware of that may be red flags?
You want to be careful of clients who have an inability to give
up control, tend to micromanage, do not show appreciation for your
work, cannot see the value you bring, have to justify your actions
with, have unreasonable expectations, don't respect boundaries,
are constantly in fire fighting mode, are not able to delegate,
don't have time to delegate, do not respect you, use you as a scapegoat,
constantly question the work you do, are poor communicators, don’t
pay you or not on time. All of these things should be red flags
for you and you need to consider if this is someone you really want
to work with.
What happens if they are
not a good fit for me?
It is absolutely okay to let go of clients who are not a good fit
for you. If clients are bringing stress or unhappiness into your
life then you are not the right VA for them. Understand that there
will be someone out there who is right for them and you are not
doing them any favours by keeping them as a client. Before you have
the conversation with them around finding another VA have some potential
candidates available. Don't pass off someone to another VA who is
abusive or not suited to working with a VA. Some people just aren't,
just let them go.
There may be some fear around letting a client go however keep
in mind that when you close one door it leaves room for another
one to open. Unless you close that door there is no room for your
ideal client to come into your practice. Try to come from a place
of abundance rather than scarcity or need. Walk through your fears
and you will grow as a person and a business owner.
Brought to you by
Virtual Strategies
and the Virtual Assistant Training Program
Making dreams reality!
www.vatp.ca
info@vatp.ca
1-604-483-3740 |
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