Learning how to market yourself as a Virtual Assistant isn’t as intimidating as it sounds.

Our biggest advice? Be yourself. People buy from people. As a Virtual Assistant, companies will be looking at both you and the skills you bring.

But now, is it even possible to enter the Virtual Assistant market?

Consider this for a moment. Do you know what happens when you add Mentos to a bottle of pop?

BOOM. Chaos. Fizzy pop exploding with the force of a mini jet propeller. Spouting a sugary, sticky mess everywhere.

That’s what’s happening in the Virtual Assistant industry right now. Minus the messy cleanup. Yeah, it’s a bit of a wacky example.

What we mean is the VA industry is exploding in popularity. Especially as more businesses are going remote or outsourcing. Opportunity is knocking, and there has never been a better time to take advantage of it.

This opportunity means how you distinguish and market yourself in the industry is crucial.

How To Market Yourself As A Virtual Assistant

Before we dive in, take a minute to consider an answer to some of these questions. What we’re going to discuss in this article are general ways to learn how to market yourself as a Virtual Assistant. These questions will help guide you toward building a more personalized marketing plan.

Open up a word processing program or grab a pen. Consider these questions:

• What makes you stand out from other Virtual Assistants? What makes you different?
• Do you know your target audience?
• How can you show off your skills and experience to resonate with clients?
• How can you show the value you’ll bring to clients?
• How will you build trust with your clients?

You don’t need to iron out all the hard details right away. A general outline of an answer is good enough. Now, let’s get into how to market yourself as a Virtual Assistant.

Know Your Target Audience

How do you find the right people to promote your services to? Finding your target audience is crucial to your success. You’ll need to identify your audience and tailor your efforts to reach that audience.

You’ll need to define your niche. Even if you’re starting out as a generalized Virtual Assistant, you need to have at least one area you feel confident in your skills. Do you enjoy social media? Do you enjoy writing? Do you enjoy talking to people?

Being able to identify your niche helps you to tailor your efforts to the right audience. Don’t waste your time and resources on promoting your services to the people who don’t want or need them.

Researching your competition is one of the most important steps to your success. Who are the other Virtual Assistants in your niche? Who are they targeting? What content are they writing? How can you do it better? Analyzing your competitor’s strategies can give you insight into your audience. Don’t forget to look at your competition’s website, socials, and testimonials to see who they’re talking to.

After all your research, you can create a buyer persona. A buyer persona is a made-up person that represents your ideal client. These personas are created from your research. You’ll want to name your persona and give them hobbies, goals, and a career. Consider their pain points and what motivates them to hire a Virtual Assistant. Write all that down into your own fictional character or buyer persona.

With these ways of understanding your target audience, you can create campaigns that speak to your client. This process aims to narrow down your audience so you can focus on the people who need your services most.

Remember, if you want to help everyone, you’re helping no one.

Create a Professional Website

In the modern era, every business needs an online presence. To start creating your brand, a website for your business is essential. A website is one of the first things people will look at when wanting to learn more about you.

What does a website do? A website tells people who, what, where, and why you exist. It builds trust, authority, and communicates your brand mission. A website reflects your brand and what you stand for.

So it stands to reason that you need one.

Here’s a brief step-by-step overview of the process to create a professional website.

1. Choose a domain name. Your domain name is your website address. Make your domain name the name of your business or something related to it. The shorter it is, the better. It’ll be easier to remember for people who are searching for you. You’ll need to be sure your name is available by finding your provincial registry office and submitting a name request.
2. Choose a website platform. There are many website platforms to look into, like WordPress, Squarespace, or Wix. Choose one that best fits your business needs.
3. Build your content. Showcase your skills and expertise as a Virtual Assistant. Create content that’s engaging and informative. Highlight your strengths, values, and what sets you apart from other Virtual Assistants. Be sure to optimize your website with keywords related to your business throughout your website. Keywords will help you rank higher.
4. Design your website. Your website should have a clean and professional design. Use easy-to-read fonts, and clear images, and ensure your website is optimized for mobile. Most website platforms make it easy for you to design your whole website yourself without a developer.
5. Promote yourself. Share your website on social media. Network with other Virtual Assistants and offer to guest post on their blogs. The more you promote your website, the more awareness you’ll get.

By following these basic steps, you’ll have your own professional website that showcases your skills and helps you to stand out as a Virtual Assistant.

Don’t worry if you don’t get the traffic and awareness you want right away. Your website will grow and change as your business does, so don’t be afraid to try new things!

Create a Professional Portfolio

You should have a portfolio on your website as a Virtual Assistant. If you’re just starting out, offer to do some free work for someone and ask if you can display it as part of your portfolio. If you’ve been working with a few clients, it’s time to show the world what you’ve got!

You’ll need to determine what kind of work you want to show off. This comes back to your niche. Do you specialize in social media? Admin tasks? Graphic design? Gather the examples that highlight your strengths.

How you present your portfolio is up to you. You can make it into a PDF, a Google Slides presentation, or a landing page hosted on your website. You’ll want to make it visually appealing and easy to navigate or understand. Don’t be too wordy, and let your work speak for itself!

When choosing what pieces to include in your portfolio, you want to be selective. Choose a mix of your best work and projects demonstrating your skill range. You should include a brief description of each project, detailing your role and the results you achieved for the company. Your portfolio could also include case studies or testimonials.

Your next step is sharing it! Post it on your website. Shout it out on social media. You can include a link in your email signature. Mention it in conversation. Your portfolio is your chance to shine in the Virtual Assistant market.

Leverage Social Media

If your goal is to build a community and create brand awareness, social media is the way to go. Social media can provide an engaged and active community for your brand!

You’ll need to get started by choosing a social platform for all your content. All the research you did into your competitors and your niche will come in handy here. What platforms did your competitors use? What platforms does your audience spend the most time on?

We highly recommend that as a new Virtual Assistant, you only start with one or two social media platforms. If you start with more than that, you will become overwhelmed with all the extra work social media requires.

Start by doing some research on the types of content that do well on each platform. Decide what kind of content you’d like to create most and choose the appropriate platform. For example, LinkedIn is about building a professional network while offering valuable tips and resources. Instagram is more on the creative side, although tips do work well.

Once you’ve chosen a platform or two, you’ll need to decide on a content strategy that highlights your experience and skills. Try sharing things like relevant articles, tips, advice, and your past and present work experience. Good visuals and engaging captions will help keep your audience coming back.

If you’re serious about building a community around your brand, engage with your followers. Respond to messages and comments thoughtfully, proving that you want to build relationships.

If you’re looking for a deeper look, check out our breakdown of managing social media for small businesses to learn more tips on how to market yourself as a Virtual Assistant.

Networking and Collaboration

While marketing and other traditional methods of getting your name out there work, sometimes you need a little extra to get started.

Start by joining online communities where your research has told you your audience hangs out. These groups could be on Facebook, LinkedIn, or online group forums. Be sure to engage by answering questions and sharing your expertise. Engaging with your audience will help establish your authority.

Collaborating is another key method to create brand awareness. Reach out to other Virtual Assistants in your network and offer to collaborate with them.

Try attending conferences and events. Events are the perfect way to meet new clients and make business connections in your industry. Bring business cards and be ready to give your business pitch.

Networking and collaboration can go a long way in the Virtual Assistant world. It’s another way to learn how to market yourself as a Virtual Assistant and build a strong client base.

Email Marketing

Email marketing is an essential tool in your tool kit. When learning how to market yourself as a Virtual Assistant, email is a great place to begin. You’ll want to be where your clients are, right in their inboxes. By creating a well-crafted email campaign, you can grab their attention and show off your skills.

How do you create a smart email campaign? Start with crafting a message that speaks to their needs. Keep your emails short. Craft a compelling subject line to entice your audience to click open the email.

Once you have their attention, show off your skills and experience in a way that shows what you can do for them. Use visuals and videos to make your content stand out.

Email marketing is a powerful tool you can use to reach your audience. It can help establish your authority and build trust. After enough time, you’ll be able to establish yourself as the go-to Virtual Assistant for their needs.

With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to learning how to market yourself as a Virtual Assistant!

Knowing How To Market Yourself as a VA Sets You Up For Success

Learning how to market yourself as a Virtual Assistant takes a blend of strategy, creativity, and professionalism. By understanding your target audience, creating a website, creating a portfolio, navigating social media, networking, and mastering email marketing, you can build a solid online presence and stand out from the crowd.

Take advantage of all these aspects of marketing. These skills will help you be successful as a Virtual Assistant.

If you want to hear it from a successful Virtual Assistant who runs her own business, check out our interview with Katie Rodas, owner of Five & Counting.

If you’re looking for more tips on how to market yourself as a Virtual Assistant, keep an eye on our blog and follow CanScribe on Facebook, Linkedin, or Instagram for more.