There is no escaping it. Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Intagram, Pinterest; the list goes on!  Social media is huge right now and not just for people who want to use it socially.  More and more businesses are taking things online and using social media to grow their businesses and find and connect with clients. But how to we make the best use of it?

The lovely Samantha Abbiss, Founder of Sharp Assistance (and one of our fabulous VIP VA members), shares her thoughts on the importance of harnessing social media – for you and your clients…

“One question that I get asked constantly by prospective clients when I start to talk to them about social media packages, some of those clients are indeed VA’s, who offer their clients a social media management package is “what is the point in social media?”

Social media is a fantastic way to engage with perspective clients, build up a relationship with them, without having to be constantly in personal contact with them. As you post on your chosen platform your updates merely pop up on their news feed and they can read it and respond in their own leisurely time, whether this is a re tweet, a comment or even just a like, interaction, is interaction!

So where should you be and why?

Well that all depends on where your clients are ‘hanging out’! If you are going for the big fish like lawyers, private medical practices and CEO’s of major companies, do you really think they make any business decisions whilst flicking though Instagram? Nope. You will find that they build their relationships on platforms such as LinkedIn. Going for a slightly smaller client who has a more direct approach, then platforms such as Facebook and Twitter is where you will find them. This doesn’t mean that you should only be on the platforms your current client are on, oh no! If you want to promote an Instagram package or a LinkedIn review, your own accounts on these platforms need to be super hot!! Why would they ask you to do it for the if you can’t even manage your own?

Don’t have the time? I mean, at the end of the day you are trying to build an empire here, how can you possibly find the time to post content on social media, when you are trying to work, for you know, actual paying clients, how does this make you money?

Yep, I hear you loud and clear, posting on social media isn’t getting you instant cash, it can be a long old slog before you actually see some revenue from it, but like I mentioned earlier, posting on social media is so important. It is a free and simple way to build relationships with clients, without having to actively do anything. So if you don’t have the time, or it really is at the bottom of your list then outsource it! What do we all say to our perspective clients, ‘if you don’t have the time to send those invoice, I can do it for you!’, and social media is no different. You may be the Queen (or King) in your VA world, but you don’t have to do it all. Outsource your social media to someone who truly gets being a VA, the reason why it is important to be present on social media and also knows how to attract your dream clients.

Do I HAVE to add my clients to my personal accounts?

This is a topic I recently brought up within the VIP VA Members Cub, we all have different ways of handling our social media relationships with clients, and we all fall into one of these 3 options.

1. You can set up a 2^nd account when you keep all of your clients – although this would then mean you are juggling two accounts, plus a page!
2. Accept them as ‘friends’ and quickly mark them as acquaintances. You can then adjust your privacy settings to that all future posts are shared only with friends and not acquaintances, as well as a change to review all tags and posts sent to your wall, before they see it!
3. Have an Invoice Rule – if you send them an Invoice then don’t accept!

It all depends on you, how you want to be seen by your clients and if you want to have that relationship with them, where they can drop you a Facebook messenger message at 8pm on a Friday evening!

So there you have it, the importance of social media as a VA, where you should be and what to do if you just don’t have the time. If you have any social media queries then post it within the thriving VIP VA Hub where there are a whole host of fantastic VA’s who are all ready to help!”

Sam Abbiss, Sharp Assistance

If you want to find out more about being part of our thriving VIP VA community, get in touch or book in for a free call and take the first steps to freedom, flexibility and fulfilment in your business.