Welcome to another episode of the podcast that teaches you how to be a ridiculously good virtual assistant.
Today I want to talk about how to get VA clients when you don’t have any ‘VA’ experience.
Today’s Quote: “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” – Arthur Ashe
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:
That phrase “I have no experience” can stop you in your tracks. It’s a very common question that I get asked when women are looking to start a VA business, or are struggling after having started.
But today I want to shift that story for you.
You don’t need years of VA experience to land your first client. You don’t even need to wait to “be ready.”
What you do need is a smart approach, a clear offer, and the confidence to show up and communicate your value. Even if it’s not backed by client testimonials or a big portfolio.
And yes, this actually works. My clients have done it. I’ve done it. And if you’re listening, you can do it too.
Today we’re breaking down:
- Why “no experience” isn’t the dealbreaker you think it is
- 5 specific things you can do today to attract your first client
- The mindset shift that turns “newbie” into “advantage”
- And how working with me can help you get there faster and easier
Let’s go!
Let’s Define “No Experience”
When you say, “I have no experience,” what do you really mean?
Usually, it means one of three things:
- You’ve never had a paying client as a VA
- You’ve never worked online or in a freelance setting
- You don’t have a formal background in business or admin work
Let me reassure you, none of those things disqualify you from being an excellent VA.
In fact, most new VAs come from other industries — education, healthcare, customer service, office admin, real estate, or parenting. They’re used to working hard, juggling responsibilities, and learning new systems quickly.
That is experience – it’s just not labeled “VA.”
I worked with a VA once who had been a stay at home mom for a long time. She wanted to start a VA business but she felt that he didn’t have the experience that a lot of clients needed to hire her. Her confidence was LOW – she had done a lot of research and she really was discouraged. We talked about her volunteer experience and the things she had done in her lifetime. She had immigrated to Canada and as we got to talking about that experience, she realized that this was something she could help other women with. She built a business – quickly, I might add – that was filled with clients that she was more than experienced in helping. It was actually pretty cool for me to see her all of a sudden find her place – with the experience that she had.
She checks in every now and again and I’m always so proud to see what she has done – based on where she started. Love it! And you can do it too.
When I work with VAs inside my programs, we start by mining their existing skills and translating them into service offerings. You don’t start from zero, you start from what you already know.
What Actually Gets You That First Client
Let’s talk tactics. If you’re starting from scratch, you might think the solution is to get certified, build a website, or spend weeks setting up your business. That’s not the fastest way to get a client.
You want results? You need action.
Here’s what works:
1. Offer a Single, Simple Service
When you’re brand new, don’t try to do everything. Start with one clear service – something you can explain in one sentence.
Think of this like a “starter service”. Something easy to deliver and easy to sell.
Some examples:
- Managing someone’s inbox
- Creating simple graphics in Canva
- Setting up email newsletters
- Proofreading or formatting blog posts
- Research and list-building
- Scheduling social media posts
Keep it simple, clear, and deliverable. Don’t overcomplicate it with packages, processes, or fancy language. You’re solving a problem, not selling fluff.
If you need help identifying your starter service, that’s exactly the kind of thing I help VAs with in my programs.
We create offers that feel doable and aligned with your real skills.
I started my VA business by doing ‘some’ of the tasks from my last job. I had gone off for maternity leave and didn’t want to go back full time, but my boss agreed to let me do the important stuff from home, and he farmed out the rest of my jobs to others in the office. It was mainly financial work, although I did not work in finance per se.
When I was stuck looking for clients, I contacted a former colleague who was an accountant. He gladly brough me in to help with a contract he had and I used the skills I had to do it as I built my business.
I didn’t promote the services that I provided for that accountant friend (I didn’t like them), but I was able to find other clients while bringing in regular revenue, and I built lots of confidence in the meantime.
2. Use Your Existing Network
This is the #1 fastest way to land your first client — and it’s often overlooked.
You already know people. They know people. And those people need help.
Don’t lead with “I’m trying to start a business” — instead say something like: “I’m offering a few hours a week of XYZ service for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Do you know anyone who could use a hand?”
Send this to people in your life: former coworkers, friends, local business owners, anyone in your community who might have a connection.
This works especially well if you keep it short and specific. You’re not asking for a job, you’re offering a helpful service.
Keeping things really simple can help people understand what you actually do.
Sounding desperate confuses people – you don’t want to tell them you can help with anything.
That’s like saying you’ll go to any restaurant for dinner, and then driving down the longest road in the city trying to pick a place that doesn’t look too busy, and that everyone agrees on.
Sometimes you just have to be clear.
Have you seen that social media trend that the man says ‘Here’s the fastest way to get your wife to decide where to go for dinner: He says to her ‘You’ll never guess where I’m taking you for dinner?’ And she gets excited and blurts out a place. He acts surprised and says ‘How did you guess that??’ when he never had a place chosen until she said it. It’s genius. It’s clear.
And it’s the same way to look at your clients. Ask them what they need help with. They tell you. You say yes, I can do that! Couldn’t be clearer!
This is a strategy we actually build out inside my Getting Started as a VA program. I help you write that exact outreach message and create a mini plan to use it well.
3. Create a Sample (Not a Portfolio)
You don’t need a whole website or fancy case studies.
What you need is a sample of what you can do.
Let’s say you want to offer blog formatting and uploading.
You can take a blog post from a friend or your own writing, format it nicely in Google Docs or WordPress, and screenshot the result or share a view-only link.
If you want to offer Canva design, make a few sample graphics.
If you want to offer inbox help, mock up a before-and-after inbox organization, or write a short blurb on how you’d approach managing messages.
This gives people confidence in what they can expect from working with you. It doesn’t need to be real-client work. It just needs to be real-looking.
A lot of VAs really overthink this part. All you have to do is be confident that you can do this service for your clients.
Many of them will never ask for examples or portfolios (except maybe for creative work), but by doing some sample work like this, YOU gain confidence.
You believe yourself that you can help clients with these things – which is the first step in getting clients to believe that you can. I say that all the time!
Your goal is simply to show that you understand the work and you’re capable of doing it, not to prove you’re the best VA on the planet.
This is something I help you put together if you join one of my beginner offers. We don’t waste time on things that don’t move the needle. We create what you need, and get it out there.
4. Use Confident Language (Not Apologies)
Here’s the biggest one: stop telling people you’re “just starting out.”
That’s not helpful. It actually makes people nervous to hire you.
You sound nervous when you say it, and they do not feel confident that you are worth investing their money in.
Instead, try phrases like:
- “I’m currently booking clients for [service]”
- “I specialize in [task] for busy business owners”
- “I help [niche] stay organized and consistent”
Avoid saying things like:
- “I’m new, but I’m willing to learn”
- “I don’t have experience yet, but I’ll try hard”
- “I know I’m just starting out…”
That language focuses on what’s missing, not what you bring to them.
I can not stress this enough – this is the most important part of telling people about your VA business.
Whether it’s a networking event, or just a conversation with another business owner, clarity is so key.
If you don’t know how to phrase your offer with confidence, that’s something I love helping my students do. You don’t have to figure it out alone.
5. Ask for a Trial, But Get Paid
Some people will tell you to “work for free” to get experience.
I just don’t believe you need to do that.
I tell you guys all the time that you don’t need to work for free. I even did a whole episode on that recently.
But offering a short, low-commitment paid trial can be a smart way in.
Here’s how to pitch it: “I’m currently offering a 5-hour starter package for [price] to help with [service]. It’s a great way to test the waters and see how we work together.”
This does a few things. It removes pressure from the client. It gives you a paid chance to shine. It builds your confidence and momentum
The key here is setting boundaries: clear scope, clear deliverables, clear time frame.
The key to getting your VA business started or running well is to get comfortable talking about money. This can be a good way to get good at that.
Here’s what you get for this amount.
Don’t make it “work for cheap forever.” Make it a first step.
Inside my training, I actually give you scripts and examples to run this kind of paid starter offer. It’s a great way to move from “no clients” to “first happy client.”
What to Do While You’re Looking
While you’re reaching out, pitching, and offering help, here’s how to spend your time wisely.
Show up regularly on social (even just a few times a week – remember you have more time now to connect with people that you ever will)
Talk about the problems you solve (focusing on how you help clients in all of your conversations and content will go so far in people understanding what you do)
Share helpful tips or behind-the-scenes of what you’re learning (make sure you talk about how that learning will help your clients – it’s still always all about them – even if it’s about you learning something)
Be visible, even if you’re still “in progress” (especially if you’re still in progress, actually)
Because here’s the truth: people hire people they see.
It’s never a situation of If you build it, they will come. When you hit publish on your website or a blog post or a piece of online content, everyone in your audience does not see it automatically.
It takes consistent reaching out, connecting, posting, and following up that help you be seen.
Visibility is the most important thing to strive for in marketing your VA business. Being seen by the people that you help. And there are so many ways you can do that, but you need a solid strategy that puts your business in front of their eyes.
In my coaching groups, we build out your marketing so you know exactly what to say, when to say it, and how to turn attention into action.
Mindset Shift: You Are Already a Business Owner
If you’re starting a VA business, you’re not just “trying this out”, you are a business owner. Even if you haven’t landed that first client yet.
When you start thinking like a business owner, you make decisions differently. You take action. You create offers. You show up. And that energy? Clients can feel it.
This is where confidence really starts to bloom. When you stop waiting for permission, and start moving like someone who belongs in the room.
That’s exactly what we work on inside my programs. Yes, I’ll help you set up services and get visible, but more importantly, I help you feel like the CEO you already are.
So, Can You Really Get a Client with No Experience?
Yes. You absolutely can. I just told you a bunch of ways you can!
You can start from wherever you are.
You can use what you already know.
You can do what you can, consistently and clearly.
Here’s the quick recap of what to do next:
- Pick one simple service
- Reach out to your network with a specific offer
- Create one sample of your work
- Speak with confidence, not apology (I honestly should have put this as number one!)
- Offer a paid trial if needed
And most importantly, don’t wait until everything is perfect. Start now.
Here’s a question I ask a lot of VAs I work with – and I’ve asked this question at least 5 times in conversations in the last month:
Tracey, if I had a big bag of money on my lap right now and I told you I need help with my xyz, could you help me? (The VA says yes). Yes, I know you can – so you are ready to go now.
No marketing needed. I need you. You know how to help me, and so you ARE a VA.
Let’s circle back to today’s quote: Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.
It’s the simplest message, and it’s the one you need to hear over and over again so that you can stop overthinking and just get your VA business started.
Just get that VA client.
If you’re listening and thinking, “I want to do this, but I’m scared I’ll do it wrong”, that’s exactly where support makes the difference.
Do You Need Help?
I’ve helped so many new VAs move from stuck and spinning to landing clients, building confidence, and finally making money doing something they enjoy.
If you want help, with your service, your offer, your mindset, or your plan, come work with me.
I’ve got resources, programs, and simple steps that meet you exactly where you are, even if you think you are starting with “no experience.”
Let’s turn that into your first client together.
It’s the only reason I’m here at all, is to help you become a ridiculously VA.
Drop me a DM to chat about where you are stuck. I’m on all the social media channels, so find me where you are. Or go to YourVAMentor.com/links to connect with me.
That’s all I’ve got for you this week. I’m Tracey D’Aviero, The Confidence Coach for VAs – and I’ll see you next time!