So many starting their own VA business struggle with the basics, finding clients, pricing, what’s required to start a business and more. That’s why a VA coach can be so instrumental. They can dig right in and offer their expertise so you start off on the right track and continue on that successful path throughout your business.
Of course, coaches are helpful not only for those starting their virtual assistant business, but also for those in business for years and just not where they want to be. Here are some things a coach can help you with.
Pricing – Probably one of the most frequent questions I get, how much should I charge. And unfortunately this one question you aren’t allowed to ask in Facebook groups because of legalities. Of course it depends on your specialty, skills, etc., but also there are some standards to go by. Not only can a coach offer pricing recommendations, but more importantly, they can help you get those prices by showing you how to find the right clients for your unique skills and experiences. They offer that secret sauce you might be missing when you consider your services and what to price at. So many start too low and a good coach can show the VA how to raise rates and get those rates.
Legal Requirements – What do you need to start your business and also what is needed to continue in business? Here we normally recommend that you check with your city and state to see what is involved in your jurisdiction, but the basics include: what you will call your business; what type of business to form (sole proprietor, corporation, etc.), licenses required, etc. Of importance too is that yearly you normally need to keep those licenses in good standing usually for a fee. In some cases, there are steep penalties when you miss deadlines. Your coach can provide you with valuable information here on where to look for and what you need and also help you ensure you don’t miss any critical deadlines or requirements. That one-on-one advice can be priceless.
Getting clients –What is your ideal client and how can your skills play into having a thriving business? Now, to be truthful, I’m not a huge fan of that phrase … find your ideal client because I feel that it’s not that black and white. I agree that it’s beneficial to know what clients to go after, but to be this limited can be harmful to your efforts. I’ve seen businesses spend countless months and tons of dinero figuring out who that ideal client is when they would have been better served getting down to business. Now this isn’t to say it’s not important to work with the right clients. No, that’s important. What I’m implying is don’t waste too much critical time on that one area. Your coach will walk you through all this. Keep in mind too, that you need to enjoy your business and finding those right clients helps that considerably.
Marketing Your Business – What’s great with working with a coach to establish a marketing campaign, they already know the ins and outs of what clients could use your services, so they can jumpstart your efforts. Marketing can be sending out pitches, social media, article writing, paid ads, seeking referrals from others, networking, attending conferences, etc. Which method works out best for business? It’s important to know where your clients are and how best to reach them. A CEO is more than likely not going to be found on SnapChat and they are going to be not a happy camper if you stalk them on LinkedIn. Your coach will walk you through and determine what’s best for you as well as review all your marketing materials and provide examples as well. Which leads us to the next one.
Forms – Why re-invent the wheel. There are so many forms that are needed for your business and your coach can assist with that. Proposals, Contracts, Pricing Materials, Marketing, etc. Now for many of the forms a good coach will advise you to see legal counsel as well, but they can be instrumental in helping with the basics. Of course, you’ll want to personalize and brand it, but that added boost can help you get on your way and avoid any crucial items that need to be considered.
Daily Operational Procedures – Want more success in your business, then master your day. We all have the same amount of time, but real professionals know what you do with that time makes all the difference. A VA coach can help you set up daily operational procedures as well as establish client boundaries. Their experiences can be the one thing that helps you succeed, but also sometimes it’s just good to have someone you can go to that can help with the challenges you are facing. For example, many start their business and tend to be on the clock 24/7 7 days a week thinking that’s what it takes to succeed. Nothing can be further from the truth. You need to set your working hours and stick to them. You do better work when you aren’t exhausted, plus your clients value you more. What about when a client is too demanding … how can a VA get back in charge? That’s another area that a coach will work with you. Yes, you want to set boundaries, but also often times with a few tweaks everyone is happy. Too many just quit and that’s not always what’s needed.
See how a Virtual Assistant coach can help your business! And remember you want to find one who walks the walk and talks the talk.
Let me be your stepping stone to success in your business. Here is our coaching special:
Virtual Assistant Coaching
- 3 hours Personal One on One Coaching
- Email support
- Review and recommendations of materials (marketing, operational procedures, etc.)
- PR Success Audios – $197.00 value
- VA the Series Ebook
Total – $395.00
Email me at diana@virtualwordpublishing.com for more details. We also have customized PR coaching plans as well.
