| Having a good relationship with your clients is | | | | the backbone of any successful relationship, so |
| critical if you want to have a successful Virtual | | | | you'll want to be proactive about staying in regular |
| Assistant business. It all begins with laying a strong | | | | communication with your clients. This also includes |
| foundation. You'll need to have best practices | | | | taking meticulous notes during your conversations |
| firmly in place so that when a new client says | | | | with the client. Pay attention to what's being said |
| "Yes I want to work with you" you'll have | | | | (and what's not said) and ask the necessary |
| everything in place that you need to get off to a | | | | questions to get clarification. You'll want to have all |
| great start. | | | | of the necessary details in your notes so that |
| Taking time to establish the groundwork will give | | | | you can refer to them once you start the |
| you a strong foundation, which will help your | | | | requested task or project. |
| business stand out. Not only will a new client | | | | - Further to this, make sure you understand |
| continue to use your VA services, they will refer | | | | exactly when work is to be completed. One thing |
| others to you as well. The following tips will help | | | | you ALWAYS want to do is to meet deadlines |
| you to develop a strong relationship with your | | | | and avoid excuses. Although unexpected delays |
| clients right from day one: | | | | will come up, make it a good practice to meet all |
| - Put everything in writing. It's important to have | | | | deadlines. Meeting deadlines and excellent client |
| a written contract. That way you both are in | | | | service is critical in building a good relationship with |
| agreement about the details of the partnership. | | | | your new client. If you find yourself in a situation |
| Be sure to provide your client with a copy of | | | | where you see that you aren't going to meet a |
| your policies and procedures, detailing how you | | | | deadline, advise your client of this right away. Be |
| operate your business. This should include your | | | | honest about the situation and present solutions |
| hours of operation, fee structure, billing schedule | | | | that will solve the problem. DON'T wait until the |
| and termination policy. | | | | deadline has passed and then tell the client you |
| - You'll want to summarize the items you and | | | | weren't able to complete the job. Being forthright |
| your new client have discussed and include this | | | | about the matter will increase the trust and |
| summary along with the contract you send the | | | | respect your client has for you. |
| client to sign. This will let your new client know | | | | - Give your clients more than they ask for by |
| that you have a good understanding of what the | | | | having a policy of under promising and over |
| expectations are including deadlines and any special | | | | delivering. If they need something by a certain |
| or specific tasks the project involves. It will help | | | | date and time always try to get the task |
| things to run smoothly from the beginning and | | | | completed before that time. If you can take |
| avoid problems down the road. | | | | some extra time to make certain a presentation |
| - Once the client has decided to work with you, | | | | is even better than they asked for or expected |
| forward them your contract documents as soon | | | | that's even better. Do not over promise by |
| as possible. Include in these documents a client | | | | setting unrealistic deadlines for yourself. |
| profile intake sheet so you can gather important | | | | - Make it a point to back up your work on a |
| details about your client's business. Having this | | | | consistent basis. Your clients are depending on |
| information at your fingertips will allow you to | | | | you to protect their work so make certain that it |
| serve your clients better and more efficiently. Do | | | | is protected. Back up to an outside source (such |
| not start working on any projects until you have | | | | as Mozy, Syncplicity or iBackup) as well as to an |
| a signed agreement and payment in hand. Doing | | | | external hard drive in your office. In addition, have |
| so will show your new client that you really value | | | | the habit of proofreading ALL of your work and |
| his or her business and are ready to start | | | | then reproofing it by reading it at a later time to |
| working. | | | | avoid mistakes. You want to deliver high quality |
| - From the very beginning, it's important to | | | | services at all time. |
| establish good communication with your clients. | | | | Enrolling a new client into your practice is the |
| Tell them up front what your communication plan | | | | beginning of an exciting adventure! By following |
| is. Be clear about your accessibility, how often the | | | | the steps noted above, you'll build a strong |
| two of you will talk, your turnaround time for | | | | foundation for a long-term, successful and |
| responding to emails and how each of you | | | | profitable relationship. |
| prefers to communicate. Strong communication is | | | | |