3 Quick Steps to Becoming a Booked out VA
A booked out VA career can look different for everyone.
We have booked out VA’s in our coaching program that work 5-10 hours a week and some that work 20-40 hours a week. It really depends on where you want to be with your income but how you get there… is the same for everyone.
You have to put the work in no matter what.
Where most ladies struggle is, where to find that first client. So becoming a booked out VA seems daunting because they are still struggling to find that first one…
But here is the thing, that first client can sometimes take a minute to land but once you do, things get easier.
This is a result of many reasons but mainly it’s because your confidence shoots up and suddenly... you believe in yourself in a way you simply thought you couldn’t before you landed that first client.
Step One of Becoming a Booked Out VA: Find Your Confidence
Confidence is key in absolutely everything.
When do we start feeling like you are actually doing this mom thing?
When we have confidence.
When do we feel like we are failing as a mom?
When we feel insecure, guilty, unworthy… we don’t feel confident in our decisions or actions as a mom.
So what do we do as new moms or even seasoned moms, when we are lacking confidence?
Usually, we lean on those who have gone before us. Or those going through it with us. And if you’re like us, you heavily rely on the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom.
The equivalent of this for a mama starting their VA journey, is to get in a community of other women on the same journey. For some, this means hiring a coach to learn from, be encouraged by and be able to learn from their mistakes.
Step Two of Becoming a Booked Out VA: Start Networking
Sis, you have to get out there and network. It’s such a key piece to this puzzle but if you are introverted like me (Ariel), don’t be discouraged. You can do this.
I’m not talking about networking at local events or huge conferences (although, you totally could!). I’m mainly referring to networking on social media.
We’re actually starting a challenge TODAY with the ladies in our program where we will go hard all month at networking to attract clients.
It involves a lot of the same things you do on social media already…
We’re just tweaking it to be engaging with business owners.
So on Instagram, start following business owners! Start organically engaging with their content (not pitching!) in a way that adds value to their post. Even if it’s just commenting on how awesome their design is, or how amazing they look...whatever it is, add value. Don’t get on and just drop the same generic comment on a bunch of people’s posts.
On Facebook, join a handful of groups that business owners hang out. A HUGE one that most of our program members are in, is Boss Moms. But there are so many others you can join as well. Start engaging and adding value there too. Eventually, you’ll make connections that go somewhere.
It seems too simple, I know.
And when you’re putting in the work of networking every day and not seeing the fruit right away, it can get frustrating…
But that’s where that confidence comes in. Share your journey with others who GET IT… not someone who hasn’t been there. If you share it with someone who hasn’t been there, most likely, they will fuel your frustration. Find women that will encourage and cheer you on and then celebrate with you once you land that first client.
Step Three of Becoming a Booked Out VA: Referrals
Now, you can totally find a full load of clients by networking but once you get 1 or 2 that you have worked with for a month or 2… start asking for referrals. Again, not in a pushy way but casually mentioning that you are taking on more clients and would love to work with more amazing business owners just like them. Most likely, they will have at least one friend or colleague they can refer you.
If not right away, down the road for sure.
And as you probably know, referrals make the best clients! So make sure you are only asking clients that you enjoy working with, for referrals. You don’t want to work with more clients that are just like a difficult client!
Now, once you become completely booked, don’t ghost your networking efforts. Keep posting on social and engaging. Doesn’t have to be as much as before, but you want to keep active so you have a running pipeline of potential clients. The worst feeling is to have a full load of clients, one need to scale back on their hours and you have to suddenly jump back into the networking game to pick up another client.
Keep it going. The beginning will lay a foundation for sure but you have to stay active in the business owner community.
