The first thing many newer virtual assistants wonder is how to get new clients. We’ve talked about this before in other blog posts and in our group coaching calls. I wanted to share with you what happened to me this week. Perhaps my story will help you understand how you can get new clients through word of mouth referrals.

I’ve connected with many great virtual assistants at FindVirtual. I’ve chatted via email or on the forums with many. One of the great VAs I’ve connected with is Vickie Turley. In fact, she’s even quoted in our book, The Commonsense Virtual Assistant – Becoming an Entrepreneur, Not an Employee.

Vickie recently released her book, What’s Love Got To Do With It?, How To Have The Perfect VA-Client Relationship. I contacted Vickie to ask her if she’d like to contribute copies of her book for the Client Communication Clinic for Virtual Workers in Vancouver. After several emails and a couple of phone conversations, we realized how well matched we were and that even though we are ‘competitors’, we could refer work to one another.

During the course of our conversations it came to light that Vickie needed a backup plan when she was unavailable to clients. All VAs should consider putting in place some sort of backup for when they need to go on vacation or are unexpectedly unable to handle their client work. After more conversation, Vickie and I came to an agreement and she hired me to be her backup as needed. In fact, she needed someone immediately since her client needed work done and Vickie was going to be leaving on vacation. So I now have a new client, as a backup for another VA, from connecting with Vickie.

Now her word of mouth referral has resulted in yet another client. Vickie told me about another VA who needed some assistance. Deb Howard Greenleaf needed some assistance with a variety of tasks so she could continue focusing on her tax and accounting business. Since Vickie and I had talked and hit it off, Vickie referred me to Deb. Deb and i had signed contracts for more than one project within a day.

So develop relationships and start referring people. You’ll find that you start getting new clients also from word-of-mouth referrals.

Refer your client to someone else and increase their satisfaction. What?! Give the project to someone else? What am I talking about?

Has a client ever asked you to take on a new task and you know you aren’t the best person to do it? You may struggle through it and end up doing an okay job. But what if you know another colleague that can do that task and do a GREAT job at it because it’s their specialty? Your client will be more satisfied if you refer them to your colleague. You won’t lose them as a client. Your client will continue to have you do the tasks you’re great at. They’ll be so happy you referred them to the right person that they’ll tell other people about you. I have a real life example of how this worked for me.

One of my clients has me do a variety of tasks including creating and sending out a monthly newsletter. Recently she asked me to create a really eye-catching Facebook page for her business. I did create a basic page for her but then explained that if she wanted something really special, that was not my expertise. However, I could refer her to someone who specialized in creating spectacular Facebook pages for businesses.

So she contacted the person I referred her to and was very happy with their results. She continues to use my services for the tasks I’ve been doing all along. And she’s happier than ever saying, “Thank you for your suggestion of someone to really take it to the top!”

Don’t be afraid to refer your client to someone else when you know you aren’t the best person for that particular project. Your client will appreciate your honest and that you did help them find the right person to get the job done.

Yes! Referrals do increase client satisfaction!

Our monthly group coaching calls have been great! Here are the topics we’ve covered so far:

• Marketing Your Services
• Defining Your Ideal Client
• Networking Creates Word of Mouth Referrals

The next call will be on June 1, 2010 and the topic is Converting Prospects to Clients.

Today I’m announcing a special promotion. Anyone who provides a meaningful comment on any one of our blog posts here at Chief Virtual Officer between now and May 30, 2010 will be entered into a random drawing to win the next coaching call on June 1, 2010 free!

Learn more here about the call on June 1 on Converting Prospects to Clients.

You want to go to networking events, get to know other business owners, and have an opportunity to share what you do. Perhaps you feel shy, unsure what to say or what questions to ask to get a conversation started.

Find a friend and role play. Take turns introducing yourselves to each other and asking questions. Critique each other’s elevator pitch, hone and refine. Once you feel comfortable, you’re set to attend your first networking event.

Take your friend with you for support. But make sure you each go separate ways and introduce yourself to new people. Then on your drive home you can discuss what worked, what didn’t, and what you’ll do next time.

To learn more about how networking and role playing, join us on the call Networking Creates Word of Mouth Referrals on May 18, 2010. Learn more and register at Event Brite.

My virtual assistant business is growing by leaps and bounds and some of you have asked: what’s the secret? One thing I do is give more. What does that mean?

We often get wrapped up in the mentality that business is all about money; how to make more money by billing more hours. When we have this mindset, I’ve found that clients quickly become unhappy with our service. No, I’m not saying you should give away your time. After all, we are running a business and have to make a living.

However, if your focus is on the client and how you can do what’s best for them, you’ll find yourself giving more. I’ve several times given some hour of my time at no charge to thank a client for a referral or for some honest feedback from them.  Perhaps it only took five minutes to answer a quick question for them; so I throw that in at no extra charge. Or while I’m researching something else online, I come across some information I know a particular client needs and email a link to them.

With this mindset of giving my clients feel important and willingly refer my services to others. It works because my business has grown and I’m making a living. I don’t ever feel taken advantage of and my clients all know I do what’s best for their clients.

Can you give more?