How to Effectively Promote Your VA Business on Instagram

As a virtual assistant, knowing where to find clients is crucial. Chances are, you have established a presence in a content mill. But you likely also promote your business on social media, including Instagram.

Instagram can be a gold mine for VAs if you know how to use the platform effectively. Using the following tried and trusted strategies, you will find more clients on Instagram and new audiences to promote your VA services to.

Nail Your Profile

VAs are virtual lifesavers. You provide administrative services, act as a salesperson, and design websites. However, potential clients won't know that if you have a vague description on your Instagram profile.

Use your profile to make your VA brand pop. Choose a professional headshot or eye-catching logo. Change your username to something instantly recognizable. Write a fun but informative bio stating what you do and how you can help. Don’t forget to include a link to your website where your services are listed.

Use Instagram to Showcase Your Skills

As a VA, you likely have a broad skill set. Show off your sought-after skills using Instagram as a canvas to showcase your expertise. Post the most popular graphics you have designed and highlight your most impressive projects. Instagram is the best platform to flaunt your skills to encourage potential clients to sign with you.

Don’t Disappear

Many virtual assistants make the mistake of creating a profile on Instagram and not posting content. When users click on an inactive account, they just move on to the next.

Consistency matters when building a loyal database of customers. Create a content posting schedule that works for you and your followers, making sure you stick to it. If you find that you do not always have time to create posts from scratch, you can schedule content ahead of time to ensure you don’t have gaps in your content strategy.

Also, make it a point to focus your content on your existing and upcoming services. For example, if you plan on offering writing services in the near future, create content that highlights this new offering. Be sure to remind your followers of your other services by posting testimonials, project-related stories, and reels.

Use Hashtags to Attract a New Audience

Chances are, you’re going to run into stiff competition on Instagram. After all, you are not the only VA on the platform. Fortunately, Instagram provides a secret weapon in its features arsenal: hashtags. Use relevant hashtags in your captions to attract a new and diverse audience while still reaching your target clients.

Hashtags also help potential clients find your profile. The more specific the hashtags you make, the easier it is for users to find your account and explore your VA services.

Explain What You Do

While most people know what a virtual assistant is, they may not know exactly what goes into the job. You must explain your VA service offering on Instagram using Stories, Reels, and other features. Use the Highlights feature to showcase your behind-the-scenes processes. You can also use Highlights to show your audience how you communicate with your global client base.

Instagram Reels is great for showing off your home office and the equipment you use to complete client projects. For example, you can give your followers a glimpse of the programs you use to design and build websites. You can also show them how you input data into spreadsheets for your admin tasks.

When you give your audience more information about your day-to-day activities, you communicate your competence and gain a new customer or two.

Promote Your Services Using Instagram Ads

If your budget allows, consider running targeted Instagram Ads. Doing this is especially important if your profile and website lack organic traffic. Instagram provides ways to target specific demographics, which means your ads will reach users who match your ideal customer profile.

Be as Creative as Possible

Even if your main service is administration, you should still be as creative as you can on Instagram. Use the latest Instagram features to drive traffic from your social media profile to your website. Ensure your landing pages have interesting elements like popups, free newsletters, and giveaways. Pin positive customer testimonials to the top of your Instagram feed so they are always in your followers' line of sight.

Use carousels to feature different stages of large projects and highlight their progress. You can even create an Instagram challenge and base it on your brand or services. You’ll surely get even more positive impressions if the challenge helps feed in-need communities or provides much-needed funds to a charity.

For instance, you could give a free VA administrative course to the online user who collects the most money for a nonprofit or provide free VA services to the business that donates the most food to a shelter or other community institution.

Stay on Top of Trends

You probably don’t have much time to scroll through content on social media. But you can use any small amount of spare time to post a trending video or two. Trends always make it big on Instagram, and you can draw a lot of positive attention to your business by incorporating them into your marketing strategy.

Give Your Customers a Shoutout

If you have longstanding, loyal customers, give them a shoutout on Instagram to thank them for their business. When you acknowledge your customers on a public forum, you build credibility and trust in your VA business.

Teach the Next Generation of VAs

Take time out of your busy schedule to impart your skills and experience to the next generation of VAs. You can make a point to include valuable content in your marketing strategy. Use your hard-earned experience and expertise to provide tips and insights to those who want to start their own VA business. You can create short videos, carousel posts, and infographics that offer practical tips anyone can use.

As you share your knowledge, don’t be afraid to show your personality. Talk about your journey as a VA and be open about all your experiences, whether positive or negative.

The Bottom Line

As a virtual assistant, you help reduce someone’s workload, provide customer support, handle social media marketing, and sort out bookkeeping, among many other tasks.

By implementing the tips above and staying committed to your Instagram strategy, you can effectively promote these services and attract new customers.

Here’s to a thriving online presence and a bucketload of new contracts for your VA business.