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How do you market your VA business?

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with MyEssistant

Hi fellow VA's!

Hope the weekend is going really well for you. 

With two of my most active clients retiring from the Real Estate game in the next couple of months .... I am starting to think about a serious need to do some marketing.  Most of my clients have come from referrals and am not certain what the best method is to obtaining new clients (aside from referrals of course - which is number one!).  Without giving away your business secrets of course - can any of you out there provide pointers on how this work-a-holic VA can find some more business?  What are some methods that have really worked for you?  Email campaigns?  Letters?  Face-to-Face?  Telemarketing?  There are so many options!!!

Real Estate Agents - what needs would you have for a Virtual Assistant?  What would be a hesitation in hiring a VA be that I could address for you in an advertisement or marketing campaign.

Mortgage Brokers - I also do residential loan processing.  What would be a method of 'advertising' that you would respond to if you were in need of a loan processor?

Any suggestions anyone has would be greatly appreciated!!!!!

Thanks in advance everyone!  Have a great day!!!!

Deirdre Hamilton

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Beth Bastian
Rosemont Financial Inc - Simi Valley, CA
Simi Valley Real Estate
A lot of people do not really understand what a VA does, I would start by finding a good way to explain why your services are important.
Jun 17, 2007 05:07 AM
My Essistant
MyEssistant - Santa Monica, CA

Excellent!  Thanks Beth!  Definitely a good place to start.

Jun 17, 2007 05:08 AM
Laura Monroe
Inman News - San Francisco, CA
Dir. of Industry Engagement & Social Media

Hi Deirdre~ This is the dilemma that so many of us face. It's kind of like the movie industry...you can't get a speaking role, without being in the union, and you can't get in the union without a speaking role, LOL! 

For me, networking has been key. I joined my local Womens' Council of REALTORS(R), and other online associations for real estate assistants, like the IREAA and REVA Network. There you can have access to requests for VA, by agents who already know what a VA is, and are ready to give it a go. 

The other thing to do is blog here on AR. It takes a while to build up trust, no one wants to be solicited to. Focus on providing great info on what you do, and work on creating friendships. The fact that you are a VA for the mortgage industry is a plus, that is a great niche! 

Hope this helps!  

Jun 17, 2007 01:07 PM
JudyAnn Lorenz
Bar JD Communications - Mansfield, MO
Virtual Marketing Consultant

Deidre - if you have a target market where you can access publications, press releases about your practice or updates could get you some news. 

Presenting at a local board program or being a vendor at a regional or county convention will get you some connections.

Being consistently there, building a relationship, soft communication, taking the time to do it all make the difference.

ActiveRain is a great place to communicate with real estate professionals in a low impact format.  It gives both sides a chance to see the style and character of the other.

I've found IREAA to be one of a couple networks that keep us in reality, get questions answered and valuable connections finished.

 

 

 

Jun 18, 2007 01:48 AM
Suzanne Roy
Move, Inc., / realtor.com - Jensen Beach, FL

I would say that IVAA is the place to start - ivaa.org is the website - join and get on the list of VAs available.  I have obtained several clients from being on there over the course of the past few years.

I would also suggest just networking online too. 

And then of course there is the pay per click option - get on the top of Yahoo or Google and see what happens!

 Good Luck!

Suzanne

Jun 18, 2007 07:00 AM
My Essistant
MyEssistant - Santa Monica, CA

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.  Some I have already implemented and  have seen some great results already (Laura - I have already obtained a client from your "Submit a proposal for a VA" group) - and others I am going to get on top of shortly!!

Thanks again and best of luck to all of you!  I love that we are able to support each other!

Deirdre

Jun 18, 2007 06:05 PM