We recently connected with Emily Woodruff and have shared our conversation below.

Emily, appreciate you joining us today. Alright, let’s jump into one of the most exciting parts of starting a new venture – how did you get your first client who was not a friend or family?

I got started through Facebook- I was in a very large group related to photography and wasn’t actively looking for V.A. gigs. Someone had posted about needing help with a few projects that I knew I had the skills for, and it was mid-January, so I had plenty of down time from my business, especially being in the thick of COVID, so I replied and we hit it off. It was so fun for me, learning different ways to run my business and finding ways to serve other photographers. After working with the same client for a while, my skillset developed and I started realizing the things I love to do vs things I really never want to do, what I’m really efficient at and what I need to spend more time on. I worked with the same client for about a year before we parted ways and I really niched down to doing what I love and honing in my offer. It’s been 3 years and I still feel the same excitement every time I finish a client project or land a new client, in general. I love working with people to better their businesses.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I started as a photographer, which I still am, but as many of us remember- COVID shut our doors for too long and I felt the need to find revenue elsewhere. I started by offering small tasks that I was comfortable completing with slack deadlines and then started adding on more clients. I worked on fiverr and a few other places to gain some experience working remotely, and then, once I decided exactly who I wanted to work with, I built my website around that offer, tailored my instagram outreach, and created a guide that lists exactly what services I offer and what my experience can do for other female photographers who need administrative assistance. I love creative work- so things like welcome guides, prep guides, order books, etc. and I also love automation- so setting up your Dubsado account or helping you plan out automated replies are my favorite tasks. The thing that makes me stand out from other virtual assistants is that I am also a photographer- so I understand the industry, the pressure, the lingo, the experience of it all. I can relate on a coworker level rather than just administrative work. Often, my clients ask for my input on their art- their sessions, etc, and I feel so privileged when they do. I love being a partner in their business and seeing them flourish.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Something I’ve learned is this- if you want to be an instagram sensation, then follow the big social media gurus. If you just want to have a presence- just do what you can. Invest in ONE platform to avoid burnout and just do what you can. My business isn’t instagram, but it’s where I can connect with new clients and stay current on trends. I don’t feel stressed if I’m not posting on social media because I have a steady backlog of clients. I have definitely felt the social media pressure but I’ve also felt the desire to just close my social accounts and only work off of word-of-mouth to avoid the extra stress it brings. Invest what you can but don’t break yourself (or your bank) to show up on social media. That’s the best advice I can give.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

I have an instagram page and a weekly e-mail newsletter. I try to follow a specific template, so my ‘followers’ can expect the same voice from me when they get a new message. Branding is so important, no matter your niche. My colors match on my IG grid and in my emails. My fonts are the same or complimentary, the graphics I use are hand picked to speak to my brand. My e-mail newsletter has been coined my “email besties” or “Online besties” and I use that phrase with them frequently. When things get TOO busy, I try to pop in to my email every other week or so just to stay connected and not lose their attention- even if it’s just to say, hey, here’s something I currently love that I think you might love or here’s a life update. I have a handful of very dedicated followers that reply to me every single week and some that have never replied once- it’s a long-term game and every keystroke matters in building that relationship.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.moxieassist.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/moxieassist