The 7 Best In-Person Networking Tips For Virtual Assistants That Want Great Business Connections

My networking tips for Virtual Assistants are all centered around building relationships and NOT helping you sell or promote your services. It’s the wrong place to sell as its focus is on building community. I’m not saying that you can’t or won’t get clients through networking but my point is that your focus should be on building relationships first.

In-person networking events are also a great way to get out of your house and mingle with people again in the flesh and not over Zoom or Skype. It can take a toll on your mental health to be home all the time as I’m sure we all learned from the COVID pandemic.

So without further ado let’s dive into my top networking tips for Virtual Assistants!

#1 – Focus On Building Relationships First

I know I’m repeating myself but this is such an important point.

• Don’t promote or sell your services.
• Focus on meeting people and finding out more about them.
• .. you never know where a referral can come from!

#2 – Drop the VA Title

• Most people don’t know what a Virtual Assistant is or they’ll assume what you do.
• Virtual Assistant is an industry, not a title.
• Titles aren’t important to people – they want to know how you can help them.

#3 – Get Clear On Your Marketing Message

(aka Elevator Speech)

• You want to be able to summarize what you do in a short sentence or paragraph. Make it short, sweet, and easy to understand.
• Focus on who you help and how you help them.
• So, instead of saying, “Hey, I’m a VA.” You could say, something like “I help business coaches get more business by managing their social media.” Use this simple formula – I help TARGET MARKET do WHAT HOW.
• The previous example tells people that you’re a social media person and that you can help them get more clients.
• Regardless if your target market is business coaches, anybody can use your services and you don’t have to turn away people that are outside your market.
• Keep in mind this could be a work in progress for you as it was for me. I refined my elevator speech over many months.
• One of the best things that worked for me trying out different messages was that I could watch people around me to see if the message landed or not. That really gave me a clear indication of whether it was clear or messy because marketing is all about clarity.

#4 – Mingle + Make Connections

• Mingle and get to know people.
• Ask questions and listen.
• Take notes using an app such as Evernote or One Note.
• The most important thing is to go with the idea of getting to know people, finding out more about them, and listening to see if you have a connection.

#5 – Use Benefits Flyers NOT Business Cards

• Business cards usually end in the trash since they don’t tell people HOW you can help them.
• A Virtual Assistant Benefits Flyer focuses on how you help them plus they stand out because they’re bigger than an average business card.

#6 – Follow Up

• Follow up with the people you connected with, the ones that are your ideal client.
• Send them a quick email and remind them how you met and what you do – but don’t sell.

#7 – Have Fun!

• Mingle and have fun!
• Be yourself and let your personality shine.
• Connect with people and then continue to grow your relationship.

Google can help you find local networking events or communities if you’re not sure where to look. There are so many out there, I suggest trying out a few to find the right for you!

I also have a more extensive VA Success Guide to help you get more clients for your VA business. Make sure to check it out.

Do you like going to in-person networking events? If yes, I’d love to hear from you. Please comment below and let me know.

Thanks for reading – Susan