Clients
My first five clients did not come from job boards or cold messages. They came from people I already knew, or people who knew someone who knew me. That is not a coincidence. It is how most VA businesses actually get started, and it is far less scary than the internet makes it sound.
When you reach out to someone who already knows you, the trust is already there. You are not a stranger asking for work, you are someone they know offering to help. Warm introductions convert far better than cold outreach, especially at the start.
Write down everyone you know who runs a business, or works closely with someone who does. Former colleagues, friends, people from your industry, contacts from events. You will be surprised how long the list gets once you actually put it on paper.
Keep it warm and genuine. Tell them what you are now doing, who you help and the kind of tasks you take off people's plates. Then ask if they, or anyone they know, might need a hand. You are not begging for work. You are letting people know you exist and how you can help.
Some of your contacts will not need a VA themselves, but they will know someone who does. Make it easy for them to pass your name on. A simple “if anyone comes to mind, I would love it if you passed my details along” opens doors you cannot see yet.
Post on your own channels that you have started. Share what you do and who you help. You do not need a huge following. You need the people who already know you to remember what you offer the moment the need comes up.
Module 5 of the course covers exactly where to find clients and how to run a discovery call that turns a conversation into a paid contract.
The VA Office Academy