| If you are considering becoming a Virtual Assistant, | | | | work in this way as opposed to doing business |
| you need to define who your target market will be. | | | | completely on your own; however, it can open up |
| There are a variety of skills a virtual assistant can | | | | opportunities you may not otherwise have. |
| offer and different markets are looking for different | | | | When defining your target market, you want to |
| skills. Virtual Assistants with many skills can go after a | | | | consider if this market will be one in which you can |
| rather large market; however, it is best to define your | | | | establish a long-term relationship. What defines a virtual |
| ideal client and concentrate on that target market | | | | assistant from other administrative service providers is |
| segment. Virtual assistants can run themselves ragged | | | | that the virtual assistant typically forms a "partnership" |
| trying to do everything for a client and can get into | | | | relationship with their client. They seek to work with the |
| trouble when trying to perform services they are not | | | | client regularly and on a long-term basis rather than a |
| really competent to provide. It's best to clearly define | | | | one time project. Virtual Assistants tailor their services |
| where you excel, what your strengths are and look for | | | | to meet the client's needs and have flexibility in the |
| a market that needs services based around those | | | | services they provide to their client as the client's |
| skills. | | | | needs change. For instance a word processor will only |
| Some questions to ask yourself when defining a target | | | | provide word-processing, whereas the virtual assistant |
| market... | | | | may create a sales letter, perform a mail merge and |
| | | | mailing one week, while creating a spreadsheet budget |
| 1. Who is my ideal client? Perhaps small businesses, | | | | the next. The client in your target market will be looking |
| home based business owners, small shops, | | | | for the services you are most qualified to provide. |
| entrepreneurs, internet marketers, large corporations, | | | | Does your target market have sufficient service |
| real estate agents, lawyers or doctors? | | | | needs to establish this partnership relationship, or do |
| 2. What services does my ideal client need? | | | | they just need a one time particular service. |
| 3. Where are my ideal clients located? Local business, | | | | A college student may only need a paper edited, or a |
| international or online primarily? | | | | job seeker needs a resume and cover letter but may |
| 4. What is the best way to market to this target | | | | not necessarily need your services long-term. On the |
| market? | | | | other hand, a real estate agent can use your services |
| 5. Does this market have enough resources to pay | | | | continually. A small business owner without the budget |
| me for my services in order for me to reach my | | | | for a full-time staff could certainly utilize the services a |
| financial goals? | | | | virtual assistant on a regular basis. |
| Are there any services this target market needs that I | | | | Your target market will be based on the virtual |
| am not fully capable of providing? If you find you are | | | | assistant services you chose to provide. Refer to your |
| lacking in some skills to provide services to your target | | | | business plan and your goals when determining what |
| market, you have some options. There are many | | | | your target market will be. When you have a clear |
| virtual assistant training programs available that can | | | | idea of what your ideal client is, it will be much easier to |
| bring your skills up to the level you need to pursue your | | | | create a marketing plan to pursue that client. It's ok to |
| target market. | | | | provide services to other clients, especially in the |
| Another option is to work with another virtual assistant | | | | beginning before you have an established clientele and |
| who has the skills you are lacking. Many virtual | | | | steady income; however, don't forget who your target |
| assistants subcontract with other virtual assistants to | | | | market is and make sure you continue to target that |
| offer more services. It is a little more complicated to | | | | segment until you have reached your business goals. |