The Three C’s You Should Offer Your Clients As A Virtual Assistant

This will be a two-part post. The first is concerning what virtual assistants should offer their clients. The second will be things a client should keep in mind when hiring a virtual assistant. Stay tuned for that one. Let’s begin, shall we?

Important points for virtual assistant
The three C's will set you free...

As virtual assistants, we have a lot to offer clients. Our specialties vary. Some of us work solo. Some have a team. Whatever the case may be, there are three important things we should all do. I like to call them “The Three C’s.” They are: Connect, Communicate, Customer Service.

CONNECT

One of the first things I do when a new client contacts me (or if I’m interested in someone as a new client) is a little research. Take a minute to stop by their website and find out what their business is all about. Then check them out on social media. If they have a Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn account, connect with them there. Observing their social media habits and conversations will allow you to get to know them a bit more as a person. Subscribe to their blog and leave genuine comments. Follow them on Twitter and join their conversations.  Connecting with clients in this way is important. It lets them know you are truly interested in them and their business. The fact that you take the time to get to know them will pay off. You will develop a positive relationship perhaps before you’ve even worked together.

COMMUNICATE

Make sure it’s easy for potential clients to find your contact information on your website. Once this person becomes a client, be sure to keep in contact with them regularly. If you will be working with them on a large project, set dates ahead of time specifically for you to discuss your progress. Knowing when they can expect to hear from you will ease a client’s stress. If you’re working on a one-time project, don’t be afraid to ask them to subscribe to your blog or e-newsletter. This is a great way for you to keep them updated of news, tips and your services.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

First make sure that you have met your client’s needs. Then strive to go above and beyond that. Try to look at the big picture of their business to help them plan ahead. Do you offer other services that compliment the service you already provided? Tell them about it. They may not be aware of everything you do. Chances are if they’re happy with the work you’ve done so far, they will be very willing to work with you in the future.

What things do you find to be most important in your virtual assistant business? On the flip side, if you’ve worked with a virtual assistant before, what was your experience? I’d love to hear your responses in the comments section.

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12 thoughts on “The Three C’s You Should Offer Your Clients As A Virtual Assistant”

  1. Great post, Alicia! You practically read my mind. Those are definitely the things I do in getting and keeping clients. Customer service and communication are the 2 most important to building and keeping client relationships.

    Sophie

  2. I think because they are virtual, communication and contact is key just to make sure everyone is on the same page. Virtually, you can work anywhere so it does provide a certain amount of freedoms and depending on the type of work will probably determine the amount of contact that is needed.

    Some of it is just good common sense, right?

    Thanks for sharing this today and hope you have a great weekend.

    1. Hey Bill!

      Yes, working virtually changes the playing field a bit.
      It’s not like the client has your business card up on their fridge or they’re writing with a pen that has your company info marked on it. Keeping in contact also helps to remind them that you’re still there for them even when you’re not working on a project together.

      Thanks for stopping by!

  3. Great post Alicia, really enjoyed reading this one. I am a real stickler for customer service, and for VA’s that is what is going to always make you stand out, your ability to provide excellent personal customer service online, in such an impersonal environment.

    1. Hey Michelle!

      I whole-heartedly agree. Customer service is what will keep clients coming back. You may charge more than someone else, but clients are willing to pay if it’s done right and handled professionally every time. Thanks for stopping by:)

  4. I agree with all the comments. This was a fantastic post. I always do check out Web sites to gather information about a client, but for some reason feel “stalky” when checking them out on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc. I feel much better now with your insight. Thank you for sharing the three Cs — I will definitely use them 🙂

    1. Hey Patty!

      Yes, I definitely felt “stalky” when I first connected with clients or prospects on social media. However, I quickly found that they appreciated that I took an interest in what they were doing. It especially helped me to learn other things about them like their hobbies and passions. It made it much easier to connect with them when I found out we had something in common other than work-related matters. Thanks for stopping by:)

  5. Whoa, what happened? I just had 10 posts pop up in my reader. Scared me for a minute because I thought maybe I got way behind. Fortunately, I think I’ve seen them already.

    Hola, hope you had a good week.

    1. Ha ha! Hey Bill!

      I bet you thought I was quite a speedy writer all of a sudden! Nope–still working on my once weekly goal. I did have a good week, thank you! Hope you have some relaxation planned this weekend. Thanks for stopping by!

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