Expectations of are Changing… Virtual Assistants Specialize
I keep hearing it over and over again …. online based business owners are wanting and expecting more from their Virtual Assistants.
It all seemed easier when I started my VA business back in 2003. Within a year or so, I became an ‘expert’ implementing online technology to automate a business - primarily the shopping cart. Word quickly travelled and before I knew, I had people continuously coming to me and asking for my help - simply because I specialized in this area.
Fast forward to 2008. There is so much more that online based business owners want to utilize in their business - there’s social media, more blogs, podcasting, online video, search engine optimization and hundreds of other areas that business owners are begging for help with.
Even more importantly, business owners are also starting to understand that one person simply can’t do it all. A search engine optimization expert may not also be a social media expert or a podcasting expert etc.
To get the best support in a specialized area, business owners realize they may need to connect with an expert in that area, instead of calling on a ‘VA who does it all’.
Within the Virtual Assistant industry there seems to be a myth that if you (1) market your services to a specific target group and (2) specialize your services rather than offering every a wide range of admin support, that you are limiting the growth of your business.
Quite the opposite ….. if Virtual Assistants select a specific niche to market to and work with and specialize their services, the will:
- experience an increased interest in their specialized services
- be able to select who they want to work with (their ideal clients)
- justify the increase in their rates
- build a successful business doing what they love to do.
If your Virtual Assistant business offers every administrative service under the sun, you may actually be turning away potential clients. Many business owners are recognizing the importance of working with a professional who really ‘knows their stuff’ and can do it efficiently rather than someone who claims to do it all. It’s a changing trend in the Virtual Assistant world.
What do you specialize in?
November 11th, 2008 at November 11, 2008 - 12:34 am
What a great post and timely with the new year approaching. VA’s need to be thinking specialization for 2009. Within my VA business we specialize in multimedia, eLearning & Training, web marketing and social media & network marketing services.
Additionally, our target audience is Coaches, Trainers, Speakers and Authors. However, we do work with a diverse client base that fall within our general small business category as well.
Monique Terrell
November 12th, 2008 at November 12, 2008 - 5:00 pm
To date I have marketed myself as specializing in supporting solopreneurs in the career services and organizing industries. After our workgroup session this week, I’m thinking of specializing in terms of services as well: website design and internet marketing. Will keep you posted!