Just wanted to say ‘thank you very much’ for including lil ol me in your Blogroll.

And, as someone who’s used VAs with varying success, I thought I’d add to the conversation here with some hopefully useful observations from both ‘the client’ and ‘marketing’ perspectives…

1. I’d describe myself as ‘organisationally challenged’ so I like a VA to manage ME rather than the other way around. I think my weakness is common amongst ‘Creator’* type Entrepreneurs (*ref: Wealth Dynamics: http://tinyurl.com/59j7ll).

2: As a typical Internet Entrepreneur I look for a VA who is fully ‘au fait’ with the various types of platforms & software I use/need eg. autoresponders, automated booking systems, blog platforms, live support systems, domain management systems not to mention the gamut of social media marekting tools and widgets.

Put those 2 factors together and you can see that I’m looking for a very specific VA.

In the past, when looking for my perfect VA, it’s been hugely frustrating to see site after site listing various generic skills eg. typing, bookkeeping, admin etc. with next to no mention of the kinds of help I and many other virtual workers are after or the VA’s work style or preferred client type.

Perhaps, I’m way off the mark here and clients like me simply aren’t attractive, but given that we are an ever-growing breed, I suspect there’s something else going on here: It’s either that new VAs simply aren’t researching the market to see what skills are wanted and needed, or more likely, that it’s the ‘fear factor’ at work - the tendency for new businesses to grab whatever work they can regardless of their own preferences.

The risk with this approach is that you end up with clients you don’t much like or want. What’s worse, the feeling’s probably mutual which, as you suggest, could be quite damaging for your business.

My advice would be to start with identifying your dream client. Niche, niche and niche some more. Who are they? How do they work? What field are they in? Once you know that, you can swot up on the skills you’ll need to target and attract them much more effectively. And given that ‘like attracts like’, applying your advice above will result in a whole bunch of dream clients.

I’ve rambled on here a bit, but I hope its useful.

Thanks again for mention.

Warmest

Claire