You’re a unique being and there’s nobody out there like you. In order to stand out in the VA world you need to tap into your uniqueness and create services that you’re good at and that you enjoy!
Open up a doc on your computer or kick it old school with a pen and paper. It’s homework time! (Don’t worry, it’s fun homework!)
Go through the following steps and map out your unique biz.
4 Steps to Creating a Unique Business
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Discover your niche
The first step towards standing out & creating a profitable business is figuring out your niche.
Your niche, in a nutshell, is your specialty.
It’s a specific type of service that you offer to a specific type of target market.
There are three things to consider when figuring out your niche:
Skills
List all the skills that you’ve learned from school, trainings, and jobs. Circle the ones that excite you. (You don’t want to offer any services that don’t. Running your own business means you can choose how to spend your time. You’re the boss!)
Interests
What do you like to do in your free time? What do you love learning about? What would you do if you didn’t need to work? Your answers may spawn some interesting offerings and ideas!
Software Knowledge
What kind of software and apps do you know how to use? You don’t necessarily have to be an expert at them, you just need to know more than the average person.
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Identify Your Ideal Client
The great thing about having your own business is you have the power to work with whoever you want!
Getting clear on your ideal client will help you speak to your ideal client and his/her specific pain points. Pain points are what keeps your ideal client up and night. It’s what he or she desperately wants a solution for.
Think about who you want to work with:
- What’s their personality like?
- What do they like to do in their free time?
- What’s important to them?
- What industry do they work in?
- Where do they hang out online and offline?
You may have to guess at some or all of the questions above, but that’s the great part! You can design your dream client! How fun is that?!
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Brainstorm service ideas
Look over your skills, interests, and ideal client. Then, brainstorm some service ideas you could offer.
What does your ideal client need help with? What would he/ she pay someone to do to take off their plate?
Tips to keep in mind:
- only offer services you that you enjoy doing, that you’re good at, and feel comfortable doing
- keep your ideal client in mind and offer services that he or she needs
- don’t stress! You can always change your service offerings or discontinue them. If something isn’t working, you can try something else!
- combine a few of your skills and offer a unique service package that your ideal client would love
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Decide on Your Prices
Pricing is usually one of the trickiest things to figure out in your business, no matter what industry you’re in. The trick is finding the balance between making enough money to support yourself (and then some) and charging a price people want to pay!
There are a few ways you can price your services. You can even mix and match!
Here’s a breakdown of the different ways you can price your VA services:
Hourly package rate:
- The client purchases a set amount of hours and once they run out, they can purchase more. These hours can roll over month to month and typically expire after 1 year. Think of it like a punch card for classes at a yoga studio.
Examples of services you could offer at this rate:
- Project-based assistance like helping with a launch or product creation
- Processing invoices
- Handling inboxes during a busy period (like the holidays or after a launch)
Service Rate:
- The customer pays upfront for your services. This works best for project-based work. You can offer various services at different rates.
Examples of services you could offer at this rate:
- eBook formatting
- Video editing Web design
- Logo design
- eBook cover design
- Survey creation
- Database creation
- Creating a package of graphics
- Webinar creation
- Setting up shopping carts, etc.
Retainer Rate:
- This is a special rate you offer ongoing clients. Your rate covers a specific amount of hours a month and the hours do not roll over to the next month (use ‘em or lose ‘em).
- With retainer rates, the client has an ongoing work relationship with you, which rocks because it’s money you can expect each month.
Examples of services you could offer at this rate:
- Blog management
- Customer service work
- Database maintenance
- Managing social media accounts
- Doing a variety of tasks on an ongoing basis
What pricing structure appeals to you and makes sense with the services you want to offer?
Making Your Business Legit
Now that you have your niche, know your ideal client, have your services mapped out and know your pricing, you might be wondering where to go from here. Next month I’ll cover how to craft the perfect business name and set up your business structure so you can build your biz and start taking clients!
Do you have any questions about running a Virtual Assistant business? I’d love to hear them! Leave a comment below!