When you choose a target market, you learn about what they do in their business – how they find their clients, how they work with their clients, and what kinds of things they need help with in their business. After learning the ins and outs of what they do, you can speak very clearly about how your services will support them.
We are back with another VA Snapshot episode of The Ridiculously Good VA Show, where we talk about the specific services that Virtual Assistants can offer different target markets.
Choosing a target market helps you learn about what they do in their business – how they find their clients, how they work with their clients, and what kinds of things they need help with in their business. After learning the ins and outs of what they do, you can speak much more clearly about how your can support them with your services.
Why is this essential? Because you truly understand how their business runs, and what you can do to help them keep it running smoothly and growing.
That’s the key to working with a target market. That you find large groups of clients that all need the same services and support – it makes getting lots of great clients so much easier.
I am Tracey DAviero, Virtual Assistant Coach and Trainer and in this series, we are going to dive into 25 or 30 different industries and professions that use Virtual Assistants, and I’ll share what kinds of tasks you can do for them.
Then you just need to decide who you can best support, and start connecting with them!
In this episode we will be talking about tradespeople.
Click the play button above to tune in, or choose your favourite podcast player below:
Connect with Tracey D’Aviero, VA Coach and Trainer
Episode Notes:
In this episode we will be talking about tradespeople, or as I refer to them, contractors.
What do tradespeople need to focus on in their business?
First, what are tradespeople? For the purposes of this example I’m talking about your general contractors, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, landscapers, snowplow operators, HVAC technicians, tree trimmers, painters and so on.
The people who work usually independently or with a small crew, doing physical work and also needing to connect with customers and potential customers.
By working with a virtual assistant, tradespeople can manage the business aspect of their business easily while they are at the top of a ladder!
A virtual assistant can help tradespeople streamline their business operations, reduce costs, improve customer service, facilitate business growth, and achieve a healthier work-life balance, ultimately contributing to the success and sustainability of their business.
Let’s look at a few specific services a virtual assistant can assist tradespeople with:
Administrative Tasks
Email Management: Email is generally the way contractors hear from their leads. Being able to answer those quickly can be the difference between getting hired by the client and not. VAs can respond, filter messages to the contractor, and respond to routine inquiries.
Appointment Scheduling: Getting jobs often means scheduling appointments to assess jobs and give estimates. Clients, suppliers and stakeholder appointment can be managed easily from a central calendar by a VA.
Data Entry: VAs can assist with data entry tasks like updating client databases, financial records, and project details. All of those details kept up to date.
Customer Communication
Customer Support: VAs can provide customer support by answering questions, addressing concerns, and ensuring that their clients are satisfied and tended to.
Follow-Up: VAs can also follow up with clients for feedback, reviews, or to schedule future appointments.
Bookkeeping and Financial Management:
Expense Tracking: VAs can help track business expenses, categorize receipts, and maintain financial software.
Invoicing and Billing: They can generate invoices, send them to clients, and follow up on overdue payments. This is an area that contractors often try to tackle themselves after long work days, and it can be advantageous to get someone to do it more regularly.
Marketing and Social Media
Social Media Management: Social media helps so many businesses build a reputation and get clients. Being present online and showcasing their projects is an excellent way to put their portfolio out there. A VA can post updates, engage with followers, and help maintain a strong online presence.
Email Marketing: An email list is always a great idea to keep in touch with former clients or potential clients, though a lot of contractors don’t utilize them fully. A regular email can keep their name top of mind – and before and after pics are always a great way to show the great work they do. A VA can create these easily.
Content Creation: VAs can help create content for a contractor’s website or blog, including articles, videos, or case studies. Lots of tradespeople don’t have the first idea what to post on social media, so they don’t. VAs are skilled in those types of services and can present the company in a polished and professional way.
Project Management
Task Coordination: Many contractors also work with others on jobs. VAs can help coordinate project tasks, manage timelines, and communicate with subcontractors or team members. Keeping customers informed of status as well as the team is a great way to use a VA’s services.
Document Management: They can organize project-related documents and ensure easy access to critical information.
Research
Market Research: VAs can gather data on competitors, market trends, and potential opportunities. Looking for work is something that can take a lot of time, and having someone do it while they are working on a job is smart.
Supplier Research: They can help identify and contact suppliers for materials and equipment. Finding best prices, inventory, and materials that are available when they are needed is important.
Travel and Logistics
Travel Planning: If your business involves travel, VAs can arrange flights, accommodations, and transportation.
Inventory Management: They can help keep track of inventory levels and reorder supplies as needed.
Website Maintenance
Website Updates: VAs can make regular updates to their website, such as adding new services, testimonials, sales, availability, pictures or portfolio items.
SEO Optimization: A lot of customers will go online to search for services of tradespeople. Helping a contractor with SEO on their website can make the difference between being found or not.
Document Preparation
Proposal and Contract Preparation: VAs can help create and format professional proposals, contracts, and other documents to get the jobs they need.
Personal Tasks
Personal Assistant Services: VAs can also assist with personal tasks, such as booking appointments, managing personal schedules, or handling personal errands. If the contractor is a one-person show, that stuff’s hard to fit in as well – as I say, from the top of a ladder or tree or building!
Why is getting help from a VA so important? It helps in so many ways – particularly if the contractor is a one-person show.
Efficiently handling all the admin tasks can not only save time, but it can help customers and potential customers get the right responses quickly – which often means that the contractor’s phone doesn’t ring off the hook all day long.
Finishing projects faster is possible because things are there when you need them.
VAs are cost effective because they charge only when they work, so no full time help is needed to respond to your clients and suppliers during the day.
Growing their contractor business is the best part – with all of the admin taken care of, the time between jobs can be spent making connections and doing strategic planning.
And finally as the VA for a tradesperson, you will give them work life balance. No more finishing the work day and then trying to log in 4 or 5 hours doing paperwork. Less stress, more free time, and personal time that’s actually personal.
So, do you want to support tradespeople? It’s a super target market!
Put together an attractive package of services for a carpenter, plumber, electrician, landscaper, or other contractor today and start connecting with them.
And be sure to tune in to the other VA Snapshots in this series to learn more about other industries that might be a good fit for you.
Thanks for tuning in to this snapshot from The Ridiculously Good VA Show. Now it’s your turn to choose your target market and get out there to connect with them. Let them know that you understand their business and you are THE best VA to help them with their business needs. You are awesome. You can do it. Now, get out there and find your clients!
I can help…
What You Need to Do Next:
I want you to know that I can help you do this stuff in your business. That’s literally the reason I am here. To help you become a ridiculously good VA.
I’ve helped hundreds of VAs through challenges just like yours, and got them on their way to growing their business and the lifestyle that they dream of. That you dream of.
I’d love to do the same for you.
Let’s work together privately to get you to your really big goal. It’s the fastest way to get results and we can start right away. Learn more about private coaching here.
The Virtual Circle (TVC) is a monthly mastermind group for Virtual Assistants just like you. We get together 3 times a month for group Zoom sessions to talk about what you are struggling with, working on, or celebrating. It’s a close knit community of your VA colleagues that provides the best kind of support for your VA business. Learn more about TVC here.
My self study program Getting Started as a VA can help you get your VA business started easily and quickly too. You can sign up right away and be on your way to getting clients by the end of the program, with all the right foundations in place. Check out the program here.
Reach out to me if you need to talk about where you are stuck and what the right option might be to get you moving. It’s literally all I’m here to do is help you get to where you want to go. Book a complimentary Cut to the Chase call with me here.