What many think a Virtual Assisting they think of us as simply notetakers for some corporation or business. Really, though, Virtual Assisting can be a business in itself. Although freelancing full-time can be tricky to get your foot in the door, it's not impossible. Many VA's have done it successfully. You can as well! Let's break down what you can expect as a new Virtual Assistant Freelancer and how you can market yourself on social media.
Whether you're entirely diving into freelancing full-time or doing it as a side gig, new freelancers make one common mistake: they do not view themselves as a business. Well, what does that mean? Whether your business is of one or one hundred, having a business mindset is vital in setting your rates, interacting with potential clients, and quality of work.
Another important aspect is having an online presence. It's equally as important to know what social media platforms to market yourself with. An artist or photographer, for example, may want to go with Instagram. A writer, Twitter or Medium. Also, knowing which hashtags to best get your name out there is equally as important. But what tags should you use? This is when having a niche (or two) is essential.
Niching down helps you find clients in your desired field of work. Typically, it should be an area you are either passionate about or have a lot of experience in. I recommend having a few particular niches you can market yourself in. But don't let this overwhelm you. It's something that takes time and isn't necessary from the jump. Remember, you're still trying to get your foot through the door!
When marketing yourself on social media, you should maintain a personal tone and voice. That includes profile photos, bio, and summary descriptions. While being authentic is essential, you wouldn't want to share personal information you would with friends and family. What's more important, though, is your business' tone and voice. Professional bios, stories, and summaries should clearly identify your strengths and achievements while establishing yourself as an experienced (or serious) freelancer.
Your social media presence isn't just for attracting clients. Keep in mind it's a potential client's first impression of you. So get creative, but keep it professional. People like to see personality, so if yours is clearly discernible, the chances of building clientele are significantly more likely.
An essential factor is your level of experience, so be realistic when setting your rates. Don't expect to make thousands of dollars from the jump. In fact, an overestimation of success and progress is what leads many freelancers to become discouraged. When setting rates, the freelancer has to look at their body of work honestly. Of course, flexibility is a requirement, but how much freelancers will charge potential clients should be based on the experience, education, and expertise of the freelancer's work.
Still, you should have some type of tracker to monitor your progress. Setting goals by outlining specific deadlines and targets can help you to see if you're making progress. Reevaluating these goals from time to time and tweaking them might be good to do, too. Your goals should be attainable yet progressive.
Now let's talk about time management. Tracking and managing your time helps you tackle work in a more balanced way. This means having a schedule and timeframe as if you were doing traditional work in an office. Knowing the days and hours you work helps maintain a level of sanity and control in your life.
Now let's talk about how you can utilize social media to the fullest:
Instagram rewards frequent, regular posting. Once to three times a day should be sufficient. Popular content on the platform for companies is customer photos, moderate use of memes, and Instagram stories. Instagram seems to be prioritizing video content compared to traditional images as it puts videos front and center of your follower's feed. Again, it is up to you which type of content your audience wants to see from you. Experimentation is involved on your part to see what works best for your company and audience.
The best way to grow your audience on Twitter is too well...tweet! But tweet with purpose. Make it your goal to build a relationship with your audience. Reply to your followers' tweets, @ them, really engage with them. Also, don't forget to tastefully promote your own brand/company while you're at it.
Another way is to make sure you have some form of visual content posted to your timeline. Adding photos and videos can help you stand out from the crow.
When creating a LinkedIn for your business, thoroughly fill out the relevant information that builds your company's personality. Craft a high-quality, creative post that potential clients want to see and that makes you stand out from the crowd. Get involved in several group conversations and encourage any employees you may have to do so too!
Facebook has 2.7 billion active users monthly. Like Instagram, Facebook utilizes several formats in which you can promote your business. With Facebook, when engaging with your customers, vendors, and contacts, make sure to include your Facebook page in your company emails signature.
Now is time for some more general information that you can mix and match to different Social Media platforms based on your branding, company, and audience.
Be meticulous on what you post. If you cannot answer why you're sharing a post with your audience, why are you posting it for all to see? If you cannot answer why you are posting a particular piece of content to your Social Media, why should your audience care?
Include a call to action. Traditional ads are losing popularity with people. Especially with software (such as Adblock) that hides them altogether. It is best to keep your CTA short and brief with solid, succinct words. You can reference our appendix on typical CTA's you can use to optimize engagement.
Lastly, running contests is a great way to promote your brand. If done successfully, you can significantly increase your follower engagement and growth. Just be sure not to do this overwhelmingly, as it can be detrimental to your business.
If you would like to keep in touch and network with other Virtual Assistant freelancers, sign up for our emailing list or follow us on IG @assistantsinmind.
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