Dear Gritty VA:
I understand the need and benefit of having a target market. I totally get that. My problem is I don’t know how to choose one? Do you have any suggestions? –SL
There really isn’t a formula or scientific way to choose a target market. Ultimately, it comes down to just deciding: choosing a place to start and moving forward from there.
Lots of Virtual Assistants start with a target market they are familiar and/or have experience with. Perhaps you worked in a certain industry before you started your business and therefore know what that industry is about, can already speak their language, know what administrative work is involved, how you can help and so forth. This is a great place to start because there isn’t as much ramp up time as far as getting to know and understand your desired audience and marketing appropriately to them.
On the other hand, perhaps there’s an industry that you’ve always been interested in. And as you study and research that industry, you find there are lots of opportunities and avenues for networking with people in it, the needs and pains they have fit perfectly with what you are in business to do, and it’s generally a healthy industry where, in general, most people in it charge enough and make enough to be able to easily afford your service. This can be a great, adventurous place to start, although there is going to be more upfront research involved.
Sometimes our target market find us. For example: perhaps you draw a wild card and take on a client from a profession you have absolutely no experience with and you discover you really, really enjoy the work and the people. You find the industry really interesting and you have an affinity for all that is involved. This is often how Virtual Assistants arrive at a new target market. And what could be more perfect–finding your kindred spirits and doing work you love each and every day.
Choosing a target market is a process. You might switch target markets several times throughout the life of your business, but the point is to start somewhere. You can always change and refine anywhere, anytime along the way.
Thanks for commenting. Yeah, the virtual assistant term is really completely idiotic to...
