The replay from our last call is up, and it's a good one! We got into how to run discovery calls that lead with your client's problems instead of your service list, why custom packages land better than a menu of everything you offer, and why following up 6 or 7 times isn't pushy, it's just how clients get won. @Stanley Azubuike chisom walked us through exactly how he prospects, from digging deep to find a client's pain points to making every follow-up worth opening, plus the tools he uses to make it all easier (LinkedIn Sales Navigator, Google Alerts, and email tracking). We also talked about building a portfolio when you're brand new, whether to niche down yet (short answer: not yet, try a few things first), how to break into healthcare VA work, and how to wrap up the year by looking at what's actually working so you walk into 2027 with a plan. If you missed it live, grab a notebook and give it a watch!

Apologies, everyone! The most recent addition to our group turned out to be... our first scammer. The "BELAY recruiter" has been removed. The major red flag 🚩 was her insistence on moving conversations to Telegram. BELAY is a legitimate, well-known remote staffing agency that hires virtual assistants, web developers, and bookkeepers, but they do not recruit, interview, or offer jobs through Telegram. If you're interested in working with a VA matching agency, apply directly through the agency's own website: https://belaysolutions.com/jobs

Hi @Erin Booth 😊 Could I ask you something as someone further along than me? How long did your first client take to land? I keep having great conversations that go nowhere, they seem keen, I send the proposal, then it's endless "I'll get back to you" with nothing concrete. It's the part I find hardest. Any advice on handling it, and why people struggle to just be direct? Thank you so much x

Hey everyone, Need desperate help, and guidance I am Hamza, I have 9 years of corporate admin and operations experience and I am now moving into freelance Virtual assistant work to earn a good amount for me as well as for my surrounding. My skills include email management, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, SOP writing, calendar management, vendor coordination, invoice tracking, file management, basic Canva, Clockify, and multiple AI tools for research and daily tasks. I have a Fiverr account set up but still figuring out how to use it properly. On LinkedIn I have around 4000 connections. I am looking forward to accept the challenge alongside my current full time job so I need a realistic and logical idea like how many days does it actually take to land that first client if I stay consistent and committed? I know I can deliver the work, I just need the right guidance on finding that first client and using these platforms effectively. If anyone has been through this or offers mentoring, I would want to connect. Happy to compensate with amount too for your time. Thank you so much 😊

I’m still learning how to handle client communication effectively. For example, I had a discovery call with someone who said he would let me know how he wanted to move forward. I followed up afterwards and said, “Just let me know,” but I haven’t heard back from him. In situations like this, is it better to leave it there, or should I be more direct and ask for a clear decision on whether they want to proceed or not? What’s the best way to handle this professionally? Another example is when you agree on a time for a call, they don’t answer, and when you ask them to suggest another time, they simply react to the message with a like instead of replying. I’m trying to understand how to handle situations like this without wasting too much time on people who may not be serious about moving forward.