The economy is rough and I’ve had many virtual assistants approach me asking for subcontracting work because they are having difficulty in attracting clients. The first thing I do when looking at a potential assistant VA is to look at their website. Here are some tweaks that virtual assistants can make to help their websites attract more clients.
1. Make sure the basics are in place. Does your e-mail form work? Are there spelling errors on your site? Is your site less than professional (no cartoon blinking clip art, etc.)
2. Does your website appeal to your ideal client? You want the person reading your website to feel that you are *the* ideal virtual assistant for them. To convey that you need to have a clear picture in your head of your ideal client. Close your eyes, and picture that person in your mind. What problems can you solve for your client? Who would they hire to solve those problems for you? The more narrowly you can define that clients and the more specific you can make your site, the easier it will be to attract clients to you.
3. If you are offering online marketing support… you MUST have at least a basic autoresponder set up on your site. If you have free report written for YOUR clients all the better. Even if someone does not contact you right away, by sending them periodic newsletters, you are keeping yourself in mind. By having an autoresponder and free report on your site, you are showing your clients that you understand the basics of internet marketing and can get them set up too.
4. The money stuff. Hiring a VA is NOT a cost saving measure – please do not put that on your website because it hurts those of us who are charging appropriate overhead for our services. Hiring a VA is convenient and efficient and might work better for many than having someone assisting them in their home office — but it isn’t less expensive. Also, (and this is a little controversial) you may end up having better conversations with people if you don’t list your rates on your site. I like to have a conversation with my clients to make sure that they really understand what I offer before quoting them a rate.
5. Plagarism — For some reason, plagarism runs rampant on virtual assistant sites. Just don’t do it. The people with great web copy are vigilant in protecting it. Besides, you want your personality to show through to your clients.
By making these five tweaks to your website, you can crate a home on the web that will attract clients to you and to your business.
