Welcome to the Community. I must follow everyone else up and make sure they introduce themselves as well. I think you will bring lots to the community and I hope that you also learn lots from here as well.

Tracey

I work as part of a VA network called VA Placements and if you want to know more about how VA’s can help you please give me a shout?

Before I was a virtual diva I worked in the ‘real’ marketing world mainly on fmcg consumer marketing for over eleven years and a variety of brands from alcohol to sanpro, hair care to cleaning materials and even water filtering products.

I grew up in the UK and after travelling to Australia in 1999 with who is now my husband, spending six months working and six months travelling (15 weeks in a campervan (which incidentally broke down in the Outback), nearly left in Thailand by the boat whilst snorkelling to Maya bay and generally having a great time in a great country, we created a master plan to return. We returned with a family in 2008 (yes a bit longer than we thought) and after commuting for 3 hours a day from the Gold Coast to Brisbane I discovered the wonderful world of the VA and haven’t looked back.

I am looking forward to connecting with people, sharing my knowledge, learning from others and generally seeing what Kate, Tracey and Kent are up to on the Leisure Seekers Community.

Nicola Griffiths

Marketing Specialist and big fan of Leisure Seekers!

http://www.nicolagriffiths-marketingspecialist.com

I love giving things away to attract clients, but I do a little ‘homework’ prior.

These are the things I’d look at first:

1. Who is your ideal client? Need to really understand them because the more you understand them, the better decision you can make on what they would like for your ‘give away’ as a new client. (It doesn’t always have to be money – I’ve done lots of successful campaigns when it has been gold class movie tickets!) By understanding your ideal client you can find what they would like to receive.

2. I try and avoid discounting (in fact change those words to ‘I’m giving profit from my pocket’). I always look to add value instead.

3. What is your acquistion cost for a new client? That is, if you invested $5,000 in the last 3 months on marketing or gaining new clients (I include the cost of networking functions, meetings, etc) and you gained 10 new clients then the acquistion cost per new client is $500. This means that if you knew by ‘investing’ $500 you gained a new client, how often would you invest your $500! Once you know your acquisition cost, then you can make a more informed decision on what you give away. I also like for my acquistion cost to go down, not up! So if you can find a solution for less than the acquisition cost – more profit for you!

4. Ask your best clients what would entice them to work with you if they were new clients?

I’m sure some others will have ideas for great ‘give aways’.

One last point from me – I like to go to my existing database first. Six times cheaper to get an exisiting client to buy than a new one. This could also mean referrals.

You could in fact set up a referral drive. Eg. for every referral you pass that turns into a success, you will get …..

Or you could have a competition of any referral you pass you go into the draw for a major prize.

If you have more questions, pop them in….

Hope that helps.
Tracey

I just wish to get the opinion of community members regarding attracting clients or marketing. I have been advised on a number of times that giving something away is good practice to attract clients. As a recruitment agency what should I be giving away? Half my fee for the first successful placement? I’m interested to know what others think.

cheers
Robert

So, off to do some items on my 90 day plan………

Oh and Kate – love the outfit!! Shar xx