When I’m talking to a potential client during the free consultation I offer, I make sure that I pay attention to their business needs. But I also pay attention to the story about their previous VA and where things went wrong. If we decide to start working together, I keep that story in mind to avoid making the same mistakes. 

For instance, if they said to me: “my previous VA was not responsive,” or “they were not great at communicating,” I’m extra responsive while we’re still getting to know each other. My clients know I’m very responsive, and when they send me work, they don’t have to worry about if it will get done. But new clients don’t know that. I’m still a stranger to them, so I need to start building trust with them.

Another situation a potential client could’ve shared is that their previous VA was not great at asking questions, and things were getting done wrong. In this case, I would make sure that I completely understand what they’re asking me to do. If I see that their instructions are not very clear or if there’s something that I need their feedback on, I take a break and send them a message to get clarification before I continue working. That way, I don’t waste time, and when I deliver my work, I know it’s meeting my client’s expectations, and we can move on to the next project.