Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Coletta Dykes. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Coletta thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear your thoughts about making remote work effective.

I have always wanted to work from home but couldn’t quite grasp how to do it. I always saw jobs hiring for sales associates, but I didn’t think I was an excellent salesperson so I wouldn’t apply. Also, there would be a lot of scam jobs, so I didn’t know it was legit. Until COVID happened, then a light shined on all the different work-from-home jobs.

Before launching my new business, I was a full-time hairstylist. After becoming pregnant and knowing I wanted to breastfeed, I couldn’t be away from my daughter for 5+ hours daily, so I needed to transition into another role. I applied to work for a company as their assistant, and shortly after the contract ended, I started my agency as an online business manager for clients and helped from home.

I can choose my hours and screen clients I feel I will best fit my agency. The only pitfall is when clients are indecisive on whether they need help.

The benefits are that I do not have to sit in front of my computer 24/7. My clients are flexible, and I love working from home because of the flexibility.

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.

Being able to braid hair came to me as a skill that I naturally knew how to do. I went to cosmetology school to better understand hair and offer other services, but I quickly realized I did not want that forever. I went to medical school, graduated, and then went for a psychology major. So I have a ton of experience in various work that will allow me to use those skills to run my own business. However, when we moved to California 4 years ago, I didn’t know what I would do. I wanted to teach Zumba on the beach as a licensed instructor, but until that picked up, what would I do in the meantime?

I went viral on Facebook for a particular hairstyle and continued doing hair in California. We moved with a few savings, not much at all! But we (my husband and I) kept our eyes on the prize and have succeeded ever since.

Going back to hair, I worked part-time for an agency when hair was slow; when I became pregnant in 2021, I wanted to continue working from home. So I used my medical and substance abuse counseling degrees and started my virtual services by offering administrative, bookkeeping, and marketing skills and services to better help business owners in the back end.

I now service over eight clients and am looking to build my team of individuals in the United States to help business owners relieve themselves from being overwhelmed to relaxed. Being an entrepreneur takes time and patience. You want to trust the right person with your information.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

One of my most effective strategies for growing clientele is building relationships with existing clients. By developing strong relationships with my current clients and ensuring they’re satisfied with my services, I am able to get repeat business and referrals. Additionally, through personalized campaigns, outreach emails, and understanding their needs, I can engage in meaningful conversations with current clients which can help foster loyalty and trust.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I feel that with anything you’re selling or offering to the consumer, you must be consistent first and foremost. Being good at what you do and holding confidence will gain authentic followers and build your audience. I was consistent on social media posting every day and using popular songs; I made my platform from 2,378 followers to 19.5 followers in a matter of 6 months. Yes, it will take some time, but I also went viral from staying consistent, which helped increase 2,378 followers to 10k in 8 months. From 8 months to another six months, I was up to 18k, then another 2k throughout doing hair. I stopped in April 2022 when I had my daughter and turned that page into a promo page. And still receive comments and likes because it was built on authenticity.

With over three years of experience in marketing, I now offer that as a service as well.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.onevirtualservices.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/onevirtualservices?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coletta-dykes-795482256