Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sara Alston. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Sara, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?
It all started 3years ago. My husband and I were looking to simplify our lives so that we could spend more time together and less time worrying about just making ends meet. We decided that the best way to do this was to move to a state that has a lower cost of living.
So there we are in California, living the dream (as some would think), then we decided to list our house for sale, pack up a moving truck, and drive across the country to Georgia.
We arrived in Georgia not knowing anyone and not having a job lined up. Crazy, right?! We love adventure. The only things we came with were what we had in our savings and a very optimistic outlook on this new simplified life.
It wasn’t long before we realized the saying is true, “it’s all about who you know.” And well, we didn’t know anybody. This proved challenging when looking for work which we did not think was going to be an issue because my husband and I both had extensive experience within the public school system.
And then, IT happened. 3 months after we moved across the country the pandemic hit and people were getting laid off and businesses were closing left and right. So here we are in a brand new state (and because of culture shock it felt like a brand new country), with no work lined up and now living in a global pandemic with no end in sight.
It was during this pandemic that I learned about virtual assistant work. I locked arms with a friend that lives in Guatemala and had successfully started her own virtual business. She trained me from the ground up on what I needed to do to be a business owner and find my own clients. Turns out I was learning pretty quickly and we worked together well so she extended the offer for me to join her team. Hence, my very first client!
Since that moment back in 2021, I have been steadily working in my business, Preferred Virtual Services, and thriving in this new simplified, part-time lifestyle. This truly was a blessing in disguise and all of my doubts and worries about what to do have been calmed and soothed through the collaborations I’ve been able to be a part of and the clients that have supported my business.
Of course, as a business owner, it still feels risky because nothing is guaranteed. But even so, I would not trade any of the risks I’ve taken. Moving across the country and having the courage and determination to make it work, has completely shaped the way that I manage my business and perform for my clients. It was a risk worth taking!
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
A little about myself: I am an only child and an Enneagram 7w8 which should tell you all about me if you follow any of that. I’m definitely an extrovert, enthusiastic and adventurous and slightly impulsive. Which makes things fun because I love being spontaneous and creating opportunities for memories!
When I started my business I was a general virtual assistant and put on all the hats. Not too long after starting my business, I really got into the idea of marketing and the strategy behind social media. This is where my retainer clients found that I truly thrived because I sincerely enjoyed the marketing side of the business and got a thrill in helping my own clients to find clients. There truly is power in social media and I love to leverage that without the pressure that most feel. My biggest goal is to help my clients be present on social media without being pressured and to finally break up with that love-hate relationship and just allow it to be a tool for getting clients.
I currently provide social media marketing and content repurposing exclusively for female business owners that are fed up with social media and ready to just give up. I help them by optimizing and overhauling Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube as well as providing easy-to-follow strategies for each of these platforms that are proven to get lead generation. I offer VIP days, which is a day rate service, where I take care of the optimization of the accounts all within one day. It’s instant gratification for those who want to start getting results immediately. I also provide content creation and strategy in regards to social media marketing as well as collaborating with business owners that are looking for more creative ways to market their business.
I also assist Systems Experts and Certified Online Business Managers as their Tech VA. I really love being in a supportive role as far as assisting in the build-out of new systems with ClickUp and Dubsado. I personally use those 2 tools within my own business and have seen the power of automation and having processes in place so I love being able to support others in getting those same results. I personally do not set this up for clients but rather work in a right-hand role to the OBM that is performing the build-out.
What really sets me apart from others is my zeal to go big or go home. In this case stay home because of virtual work, right? LOL
I have been labeled as a go-getter and having a focused drive for results. I am most proud of the connections I’ve been able to make with other business owners and past clients to be seen as a collaborator with so many amazing people that have true talent and skill. I love being a connector of others and really think that we all have something to offer and there is room at the table for everyone. Oversaturation is not a thing that holds me back, and I like to remind my colleagues of this as well because I see something special in every single one of them.
I would really love for potential clients to know that my entire goal with Preferred Virtual Services is to get them visible by being present online without feeling the pressure to be on their accounts daily. There is a big difference between consistently posting and daily posting on social media. And here’s a news flash: you do not have to do it daily!
Also when you Outsource marketing to someone like myself that actually knows the strategy behind the platforms being used, you are investing in upgrading your business to be able to reach a wider audience and there is a guaranteed return on your investment when people know that your business exists and how you serve them and what you offer. I’ve been through several courses and training programs to specifically serve my clients to make sure that their voice is being heard.
Some things I’ve heard from my clients are:
“I just don’t have the time.”
“I can’t catch my breath with social media. I feel like I’m drowning and am trying to come up for air.”
“It’s heavy – I feel this constant pressure to be present online 24/7.”
“I stay awake at night thinking about what I should be doing, then feel too overwhelmed to actually take action the next day.”
“I feel gross thinking about social media right now. What happened to it being fun and just catching up with friends and family?”
Be honest with yourself: Have you said any of these things?
These 5 quotes are from real business owners just.like.you. that know they need to be marketing their business online, they know the power of social media and being able to get leads from it, but they don’t have the time, energy or patience to figure it all out on their own.
Close your eyes and imagine for just 20 seconds what your life would be like if you didn’t have to worry about marketing your business on social media. If the leads came in on auto-pilot for you without having to feel drained and confused on what you’re supposed to even do.
Do you have more time with your kids? Are you going to the park, joining them on field trips, or having a beach day together? Do you feel lighter, with less weight on your shoulders and less anxiety tensing through your back as you sit at your desk? What do you gain back in your life?
Time – Freedom – Adventure – Money. What would that mean for you and your family?
Now let’s get real – I am not coming to you with a quick fix. This isn’t one of those fake infomercials that promise you’ll lose 20 lbs in 2 days by just swallowing this one magic pill. Although the thought of that impossibility ain’t so bad, lol.
No, I’m here to let you know that Social Media Marketing CAN be *fun* AND profitable for your business! And you don’t (and shouldn’t) go it alone.
Social Media fatigue is REALLLL – that’s why you feel this way! Google it y’all. Social Media fatigue (SMF) refers to a social media user’s tendency to withdraw from social media because of feeling overwhelmed AND is closely related to the individual’s social life and well-being. This has got to stop. Social Media is NOT your life. What matters is your family, your health (physical and mental!), your time, your enjoyment. So let’s take the first step in recognizing it for what it is. Burnout. But there is hope – you can still utilize social media to it’s fullest potential within your business without feeling any of these crushing consequences.
My desire is to help female business owners that are feeling A) all of the above. I want to take your confusion and turn it into crystal clear clarity. You want your time back. You want the freedom back. You just want to do what you love – and that’s helping your clients. You *know* social media serves it’s purpose to get your high-ticker offer or VIP day out there. You know you are leaving money on the table by being inconsistent or even just giving up on your socials altogether.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
Building a presence on social media is all about being social. I truly believe that being social is even more important than the content that gets posted. Don’t get me wrong, content is very important and that is what social media is built on right? But the algorithm genuinely loves people who prove they are people and not just robots posting pictures and reels every time.
My best piece of advice for those that are just getting started on building their social media presence for their business, is not only to be social with others, but to pick a consistent schedule that you can stick with and will work for you. This does not mean daily! I really hate how some advice says that you have to post daily to grow because that is just not true in my experience with both my own accounts and my client accounts. Consistency is key. If that means you can consistently post twice a week, every week, that’s amazing. Maybe for others that’s twice a month, and that works as long as you are still being social.
Also, I highly suggest using hashtags to increase your reach when you do post to your account. If you would like a free hashtag hacker that will tell you exactly which hashtags to use for your business in order to reach your ideal client, you can download my freebie with this link or by visiting my Instagram account: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/630ffdd42812b898e99a94f1
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
The best source of getting new clients for me has always been social media. Literally, 90% of my clients come from social media and the other 10% are coming from referrals. Keep in mind I am still a relatively small business and I don’t have a huge social media following, but I know the strategy and technique that’s needed in order to get consistent lead gen and that is exactly why I am so passionate about helping others use social media as a tool for lead gen as well.
If you are not getting clients from social media currently, sorry to say, you are doing something wrong and I encourage you to reach out to me so we can discuss a strategy and see about optimizing your account so that we can start getting you leads on autopilot. Every single business should be on social media and should be consistently getting leads and new clients from their social media accounts. If you are not, then it’s time to hire a Social Media Marketing Specialist (like me)so we can make sure that your business can continue to thrive and grow.
PS – a Social Media Manager is different from a Social Media Marketing Specialist. They will literally just manage your account, not provide you with the strategy for lead gen and growth.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.preferredvs.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preferredvirtualservices/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/preferredvs
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/preferredvs/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SocialM03825151
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@preferredvs
- Other: Freebie: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/630ffdd42812b898e99a94f1
Image Credits
By Bonnie Photography