Welcome to another episode of the podcast that teaches you how to be a ridiculously good virtual assistant.
Today I want to talk about marketing – and why it’s not as hard as you think.
Today’s Quote: “Doing business without marketing is like winking at someone in the dark. You know what you are doing, but nobody else does.” – Steuart Henderson Britt
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Connect with Tracey D’Aviero, VA Coach and Trainer
Episode Notes:
If you’ve been avoiding marketing because it feels intimidating, time-consuming, or like you have to become this whole other person just to “sell yourself,” this episode is for you.
I’m going to walk you through how to keep your marketing simple, effective, and doable, without spending hours creating content you never post, or chasing clients who don’t even value what you do.
And yes, I’m going to share how you can start marketing in a way that actually works, without making it your full-time job, because, let’s be honest, your full-time job is working with clients.
Why We Overcomplicate Marketing
Here’s the truth: most of us think marketing is this huge, mysterious machine. We believe it’s something only “naturals” can do well, or that you need a big budget, fancy branding, or daily viral videos to get results.
But marketing, at its core, is simply letting people know you can help them, and showing them why you’re the right person to do it.
I had a sales job for a couple of years when I was back in corporate, and we learned to SELL. And then after that I had job at the head office of a restaurant chain, and I helped support the marketing department, where we LAUNCHED and SOLD.
Marketing to me was all about planning and knowing what to say or write. It was about convincing people to buy the thing we were selling.
It was not service based, it was this is why you should buy this thing – based on price, scarcity, and any number of other things.
So when I got to my VA business, I sold the way I knew how. And it didn’t work. Because I’m not a product.
I have a personality, I have a work style, and let’s face it – some of my clients didn’t NEED me, they WANTED to work with me. They decided to.
And so you have to come at it differently with your marketing.
I didn’t need to be on every social media channel, posting content all day long for people to notice me. I needed to get way more clear on who my best clients were and go and find them. And I needed a plan that I followed.
I stopped thinking about prices and objections and getting the YES in every conversation I had, and instead I just started doing simple things to connect with the people I could help, and talk to them about how I can help.
Showing up as a service provider is the KEY to getting clients. And it’s so easy. You find your people, you show up to talk to them every day, you get clients.
Everything changed for me when I just became a part of a community of people who needed my help.
The problem is, we often make three mistakes:
- We try to do everything at once. Instead of picking one or two marketing activities, we overload ourselves, blog posts, Instagram reels, LinkedIn articles, networking, ads, and burn out fast.
- We focus on the wrong audience. We talk to everyone and end up resonating with no one.
- We stop before we see results. Marketing needs time. If you’re expecting new clients within a week, you’ll give up way too soon.
When we overcomplicate marketing, it becomes something we dread, and that’s when it stops happening.
The Three-Part Simple Marketing Framework
Here’s where I want you to take a deep breath, because I’m about to give you my three-part simple marketing framework. This is how I’ve marketed my VA business and coaching programs without letting it take over my life.
Part 1: Choose Your Core Marketing Method
Pick one main way you’re going to get in front of your audience.
For example:
- Networking (online or local)
- Social media posting
- Email newsletters
- Guest appearances (podcasts, summits, articles)
Notice I didn’t say “pick ALL of these.” One or two max. You can always add more later, but consistency is easier when you’re not juggling too much.
I know I’ve told you before that I went through CJ Hayden’s Get Clients Now program a long time ago and it’s very effective but she has you take 10 action steps ahead day and it’s a lot.
I try to teach you to do marketing on a simpler scale. Daily actions, but much more focused on one place.
With CJ’s program I did a lot of things in a lot of places and it was very time consuming. I like to teach a little simpler way. Something that is effective but focuses on one method.
Part 2: Speak to a Specific Audience
This is about knowing who you want to work with and focusing your message on them. “Small business owners” is too broad. “Busy online coaches who need help managing their launches” is specific.
The more specific your audience, the easier it is to create marketing that resonates. You can share examples, address their pain points directly, and make your offers feel like the natural solution.
This is probably the thing I get the most pushback from VAs is this topic. And I get it, I said the dame things.
I don’t want to turn down business.
I don’t want to niche too soon.
I don’t want to limit myself.
I like working with lots of different people.
I’m not sure what I want to specialize in yet.
I know. I get it.
But let me tell you, in working with a marketing coach, I found out that my marketing was doing very little for me before I chose a target market.
Everything I was doing was falling on deaf ear. No one noticed, and no one responded.
As soon as I chose a target market everything became clearer and more concise. Everything!
And my clients recognized that I could specifically help them, and that made all the difference. I got the clients I wanted. Because I could say I can help you set up and run your group coaching programs… not I help small business owners with their admin.
Part 3: Be Consistently Visible
Consistency is the magic ingredient. Even if you’re only showing up once a week, if you do it week after week, your audience learns they can count on you.
Here’s the kicker: Consistency doesn’t mean constant. You don’t have to be everywhere every day. You just have to show up regularly, in the same places, so people remember you.
Think of it like watering a plant, a little bit, regularly, works far better than flooding it once every three months.
This was something else I struggled with. I thought being visible meant being out there every day multiple times a day. So I did that, but then I would get busy and stop. And start. And stop. I couldn’t maintain it. That’s why consistency is a better goal. Whatever you can do within your schedule is what you should do. Every single week.
Showing up for a few minutes every day or every couple of days makes a big impact. Much more than showing up for a week and then disappearing.
You want your clients to see that you are dependable and available, that you show up and you respond.
Breaking Down Your Marketing Into Weekly Actions
If you’ve ever sat down to “do marketing” and stared at a blank screen for an hour, here’s how to make it ridiculously easy:
- Monday: Make a connection. Send a quick message to a past client, referral partner, or networking contact just to check in.
- Tuesday: Share something valuable. Post a tip, story, or resource your audience would appreciate.
- Wednesday: Follow up. If someone expressed interest in your services, follow up with them.
- Thursday: Show your face. Attend an online networking meeting, hop on Instagram Stories, or record a short video.
- Friday: Review and plan. Look at what worked, what didn’t, and plan your marketing for next week.
If you only did those five things, you’d have consistent marketing that keeps you top-of-mind with your audience.
It sounds simple because it is. But it is also effective.. That’s what you want to strive for.
Connection, sharing your expertise, following up, being visible and review and planning are the basics of any marketing plan. This simple 5 day framework gets you moving in very little time every day.
I talk often about the VAs who plan Sunday evenings as their business time of the week. And inevitably something comes up and it doesn’t get done. So they out it off till the next week. One whole week gone!
My advice is to do something small every day. If you do have to miss it, you are one small bit behind, not a whole week.
Marketing shouldn’t be a chore, it should become a habit.
Overcoming Marketing Nerves
Marketing isn’t just about actions, it’s also about mindset.
Many VAs hold back from marketing because they feel:
- “I don’t want to bug people.”
- “I’m not good at selling.”
- “I’m too new, so why would anyone hire me?”
Here’s the reframe: marketing isn’t about pestering people or being pushy. It’s about letting people who need help find you. If you believe in the value of your work, you have a responsibility to tell people about it.
And here’s a secret: the more you market, the less scary it feels. It becomes second nature, just like talking to a friend about a show you love.
I am nervous and shy too. Believe it or not! I do t like to bother people. I don’t like to sell myself. But you better believe that I know I can help you, and I am not shy to yell you that!
I want content out there that helps you find me (like this podcast, you all tell me you listen every week!) It took me two years to finally start this podcast and now I cant imagine not doing it.
I love hearing from all of you about how it is helping you. And I love that you know I can help you through private coaching or my group programs. That’s the whole point!
If you know it’s going to help, do it. It gets easier and when you see the results, you will want to do more!!
Simple Doesn’t Mean Passive
I want to be clear, “simple” doesn’t mean you can put your marketing on autopilot and hope for the best. You still have to be intentional.
Simple marketing works when:
- You choose a core method you can commit to.
- You target a specific audience.
- You show up consistently and track what’s working.
It’s not about doing less forever, it’s about doing less at once so you can do it well.
Think of it like building muscle, you start with a few key exercises, master them, then add more as you get stronger.
Marketing doesn’t have to be overwhelming, exhausting, or fake. When you simplify it, it becomes something you actually want to do, because you can see the direct connection between your actions and your results.
Do You Need Help?
If you want to learn how to create a simple, effective marketing plan that actually works for your VA business, I’m hosting a Marketing Workshop in September that you won’t want to miss.
In this live session, I’ll walk you through:
- How to choose the right marketing method for your personality and schedule
- How to identify and attract your ideal clients
- How to create a weekly plan that keeps you visible without eating up your time
You’ll walk away with a clear, doable marketing strategy you can start using the very next day.
If you’re interested in the workshop, DM me or go to YourVAMentor.com/links to get the details as they become available.
Marketing can be simple, you just need the right plan and the confidence to show up. I’ll help you build both in the workshop.
It’s the only reason I’m here at all, to help you become a ridiculously good virtual assistant.
I’m Tracey D’Aviero The Confidence Coach for VAs. That’s all I’ve got for you this week. I’ll see you next time!