As a virtual assistant, do you know your ideal client?

The topic of finding your ideal client or target market (sometimes called niche) is one of importance but seems to continuously get underestimated by virtual assistants. Well, most small business owners really.

Now I know you are seeking clients and you could be saying, “Well, Teresa, everyone needs a virtual assistant”.

As this statement may seem to be very true, in the reality of the situation you can not possibly handle every business owner who could use your services.

Your follow up statement may be, ” Teresa, the more people I can tell about my services, the better I will be at getting clients”.

Again, this statement may also seem to be very true, however, if you can’t handle everyone’s administrative work, why are you trying to promote yourself to everyone. That is a waste of time, effort and money. By targeting the group of people who you are looking to assist with their administrative tasks, you can focus.

You may come back to add, “I am just starting out, so I need to tell as many people as I possible can about my business”.

I will add this, this may be true too, but, if you are just starting out, this is the time to make sure you are accurate as possible with your marketing/promoting efforts due to your budget constraints.

Here are some questions you should accurately (in as much detail as possible) answer in order to know your ideal client:

• Is your ideal client women or men?
• What stage in their life is your ideal client?
• Where does your ideal client live?
• Does your ideal client have children?
• If so, how many children?
• Does your ideal client married, divorced, single?
• What is your occupation of your ideal client? *This is one of the ways I found my ideal clients-I noticed those who inquired about my services were coaches or writers and then speakers.
• What are the hobbies of your ideal client?

One of the most important questions:

• Where does your ideal client like to go (offline and online)?

For some of these questions it may not seem to matter, however, it could later as you gain a client database. It is good information for future connections, strategic alliances and/or partnerships.

Teresa’s Tip: Create a spreadsheet containing your clients information to include the above specifications (and of course their name, address, email & phone number). If you don’t feel like doing this, I have created a All About Customers sheet for purchase at http://www.keybusinesspartners.com/products/

It is smart to go back and recognize where you are receiving your clients from—taking stock from your client base is a great way to find possible new clients.

Identifying your ideal client is an important aspect of growing your virtual assistant business. Of course as a independent business owner, you seek as many clients as possible. However, it is smart to narrow it down so you are not “chasing your tail” in the process. Know who and where your ideal clients are online and offline. If you don’t know who your ideal client is it is a good way to rejuvenate your virtual assistant business.

As a virtual assistant you should know who your ideal client is in order to streamline your message to be received directly to those who are in need of your services.

Teresa Morrow is on the Florida Board of Advisors with The WECAI Network ™ (http://www.wecai.org) and Editor at Large at WE Magazine for Women ™ (http://www.wemagazineforwomen). She has over 15 years working with various industries to include property management, landscape architecture and financial planning firms in executive administrative positions. In 2007, Teresa started Key Business Partners, a virtual assistance & online promotional company for coaches, speakers and writers. She cares about her clients and is available for 20 minute free consultation. You can contact her via email at keybusinesspartners@verizon.net or visit her website at http://www.keybusinesspartners.com.