We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alex Porterfield a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alex, appreciate you joining us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

To be successful as a virtual assistant or online business manager, it takes recognizing that everyone starts from zero.

When I was just starting in my business almost 3 years ago now, I remember looking around and seeing what all these other Virtual Assistants were doing and thinking to myself “Omg everyone else has their sh*t figured out…. Omg they have a whole offer suite…. I don’t even know what a VIP day is!”

I was constantly comparing myself to everyone else I was seeing in this VA space and it was causing me to feel so “behind” and discouraged.

Success involves embracing your uniqueness and being authentically yourself, rather than trying to conform to what others are doing. It’s about understanding that entrepreneurship is a journey of exploration and experimentation, where it’s okay to not have everything figured out from the beginning.

By allowing yourself to play and be creative, you can discover what works best for you and your business. Remember, there are clients out there who are looking for someone just like you, so don’t be afraid to showcase your weird, authentic self. If you want to create the business of your dreams, you need to call your f*cking shot. You need to stop WAITING and start making MOVES!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

From Talent Assistant for actors in theater, tv, and film to Director of Communications for a world-class tattoo shop in New York City, I have had quite the fun career pivots over the years. After being blindsided by a layoff in 2021, I made the pivot to starting my own business where I get to help Influencers scale their empires and support my students in starting theirs, too.

In my 1:1 monthly retainer, Right Hand Woman, I work directly with Influencers and creatives by offering tailored support, including mapping out upcoming projects, creating launch plans for the entire team, creating and launching lead magnets, and more. Influencers and creatives often need assistance in organizing the backend of their business, allowing them to focus on what truly matters.

When I was just starting out as a virtual assistant, I signed up for all the programs to kickstart my business. Looking back, I wish I had more guidance for what actually works and someone to hold me accountable. It would have saved me so much time and trial and error. That’s why I also created Influencer Support Method™, and with my business partner, Sam Whisnant, we established Influencer OBM Academy™.

While there are many Virtual Assisting and Online Business Manager programs available, I noticed a gap in supporting Influencers specifically. With the ongoing growth in the Influencer market, it presents a significant opportunity for Virtual Assistants and Online Business Managers.

In my Influencer Support Method™ membership, you’ll receive tailored access to me through daily Slack support, accountability calls, coffee chats, group coaching sessions, exclusive job postings, and social events. In Influencer OBM Academy™, you gain access not only to me but also to Sam, allowing us to offer comprehensive support based on our years of industry experience. We’ve been where our students are, and have the tools and tricks to get them to where they want to be.

This level of personalized support is unique compared to other programs. Typically, you buy a program and work through it at your own pace, with limited interaction other than maybe joining a Facebook group where other students are the one’s reviewing your homework assignment. I’m here to provide 1:1 support whenever you need it, with anything from interview prep to content strategy.

Plus, you’ll join an amazing community of like-minded students through our group program Slack channels. It’s incredibly rewarding to support each other’s success on this journey and connect with others who are on the same journey as you.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Before starting my VA business, I was a junior talent agent for big-name actors in the entertainment industry, sitting in on negotiations and handling their schedules. I also worked as a Director of Communications for a celebrity tattoo shop, handling press requests from the likes of Vogue, GQ, and CNN in New York.

During this time I was burnt out, stuck, and uninspired. My VA business was born out of my burning desire for more.

I wrote down in my journal on September 17, 2020, before I took my first VA course, that I would build my online business, work remotely from anywhere in the world, and spend more time with my family. I’d have the freedom to make my own schedule, make my own goals, and create my own empire.

Then in January 2021, I wrote this desire that I wanted to manifest: “I’m so excited I created a successful online business that allows me the freedom to work from anywhere while helping women grow their empires.”

In April 2021, I was blindsided by a layoff and dove full force into finally making my full time virtual assisting business a reality.

What started as a side hustle making $500/month quickly grew into $10k+ months and a beautiful life working with multi-6-figure Influencers and supporting my students to create their own dream businesses in my signature group programs Influencer Support Method™and Influencer OBM Academy™.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I didn’t just wake up one day and become the go-to person for Influencer business support. When I first started my VA biz, I felt totally scattered, overwhelmed, and terrified to put myself out there. I put my head down, did the work, showed up consistently through messy action on Instagram CONSISTENTLY, and soon enough I booked out my Influencer OBM services (with a waitlist of another 20+ women on stand-by).

No one is going to give you permission to start marketing yourself as an Influencer VA or OBM. Only you can make that decision. Many of my students struggle in this area and are intimidated to begin showing up on social media and I tell them: before your dream clients can magically find you all on their own, you have to let them know you exist!

Here’s an easy 3 step process to get you started:

1) Update your IG profile.

Make sure your bio and content clearly communicate what you do, who you work with, and how you serve them. Even if you haven’t worked with clients yet, you need to make it clear that you’re a BUSINESS, not a bot.

2️) Write down the names of 5-10 Influencers you want to connect with.

This is your leads list, the people you’d love to work with and will hopefully one day turn into clients. Create a list (ideally in ClickUp or another PM tool) to track each lead’s name, social handle, and any notes from your conversation.

3️) Start engaging.

Read through each Influencer’s content to get a feel for what they’re working on, then start a genuine conversation. Don’t worry about pitching your services yet. All you’re doing at this stage is expanding your network and getting your name out there!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://alexporterfield.com
• Instagram: @alexporterfield.biz
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBsXNqQB8Nkwrt6tIiIe9dA
• Other: Tiktok: @itsalexporterfield

Image Credits

Bethany Paige Taylor – Bethany Paige Photography