Lessons from a Unicorn Digital Marketing Assistant Who Actually Does the Work:
As virtual assistants and marketing specialists, we work so hard to grow our own businesses. We market ourselves and network with our services to build a solid foundation of new clients. But sometimes, we also have to realize that it’s just not working out with some of our existing clients.
And knowing when to quit a dead-end VA client is a big part of long-term success.
I’ve had clients come and go over the last 13 years in my freelancing world of digital marketing and public relations. New clients come with new challenges, new lessons and total excitement for me.
But quite often, the dust settles on our “start” and a few months into the client relationship, I realize it’s just not my ideal partnership… for so many reasons.
It’s never personal. But yet it’s so hard to know when to walk away. I am loyal and totally invested in their success. It can be hard to call it quits even though deep down I know it’s time to move on.
Today, I’d love to share advice that no one really talks about: knowing when it’s time to walk away.
I wish I could have moved sooner on some of these myself, because this advice makes it so clear-cut and obvious in every one of my relationships that needed to end.
If you think you may need to quit a client, but wondering if you really should… ask yourself a couple of questions:
➡️ Do you enjoy the type of work?
➡️ Are you getting paid enough? (To include recognition, reward and compensation?)
➡️ Do you enjoy working for this client and helping them succeed?
➡️ Can you afford to quit?
➡️ Is this client’s work taking away from something else you could be doing long-term?
Emily’s Advice for Working Virtual Assistants and Freelancers
Really figure out why you are quitting. You’ll have to rack and stack your answers. It will be tell-tale. I am not even going to expound on the question. I think you already know what I’m getting at. Some of those answers could result in immediate change, because maybe you can ask for a raise or just to focus on certain job tasks that work better for you. Get yourself back on the happy path.
But some of those answers just cannot be changed. Trust your gut.
Clients are a dime a dozen. Everyone is coming to us needing help with their social media, content creation and sales funnels. You could always fall back on new client work. There are so many opportunities to do other things, work with other clients or build your own dream business.
Some of the best advice I ever got, when you say no, you are saying yes to a future opportunity. You open yourself to new and better-fit clients.
What if I need the work?
If you’re a newbie, you may need the experience (or the paychecks), and you’re just not in a position to quit.
Just understand that this client relationship may not be long-term. Get what you need out of the relationship AND set your boundaries. If you know you will be quitting, don’t be a slave to this client. You will need to limit your hours and make time to find new clients or rev up work with the clients you do LOVE. You’ll be in a lose-lose situation if all your time and effort is dedicated to a short-term client.
(With that said, don’t do your client an injustice and have her/him rely solely on you. You can take steps now to set them up for work-life without you and make the eventual transition easier.)
I’ve had tons of starter clients, and I can see really quickly who is going to succeed and who isn’t. I hate to say that, but we know it’s true. Align yourself with the winners when you can. It’s more fun to see progress and be instrumental in their business success.
🎧 Related Podcast: How Do You Know When It’s Time to Quit a Client? #52
In this episode of Unicorns Unite, I’m sharing open and honest advice that no one really talks about in this freelancer world: knowing when it’s time to walk away from a client.
>>Listen here | Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Would you like client leads handed to you?
I have a small, tight-knit Digital Marketer’s Workgroup with serious digital marketing assistants and freelancers. Inside this membership we have advance trainings, guest teachings, networking and I share all my jobopps from online business owner who are seeking help. If you’d like client leads handed to you and you can easily handle digital marketing work, apply here!
Maybe it’s time to learn Digital Marketing Skills?
Sometimes you know when you’re ready to quit your client, but it can be intimidating to figure out the next steps. If you’re feeling stuck in a rut with a client that you know is a dead-end, then maybe it’s time to expand your VA toolkit.
No worries, because I have a list of 10 different virtual job tasks for you right here. Grab this free download to get some ideas of what else you could offer as a digital marketing assistant or specialist, because I’ll let you in on exactly what clients need right now. They’re coming to me asking for help for these specific tasks. So if you can add more of those skills, you’ll be ready to find more clients that are going to offer you long-term success.
Further Reading:
>>Five Signs It’s Not Working Out With Your Client
>>How I Could Have Prevented Getting FIRED By My Client
>>Facebook Posts for When Your Client Has Ghosted You
>>Working as a VA – Is There Really Enough Work?
>>How to Rock Your Next Discovery Call
The Takeaway
At the end of the day, walking away from a client isn’t giving up. It’s choosing yourself and leveling up. You didn’t start this freelance journey to feel stuck, drained, or undervalued.
You started it to build a business and a life that gives you freedom, purpose, and fulfillment. If a client relationship no longer feels aligned, trust yourself.
Letting go isn’t burning a bridge — it’s making room for something better to find you.
-Emily, Digital Marketing Consultant and Implementer
Emily Reagan is a mom of four, board game pro, freelance digital marketer and Marketing Assistant Mentor who has helped over 450 go-getters, including military spouses, stay-at-home moms, and professional women learn in-demand skills and find flexible remote work as digital marketing assistants and specialists. She’s shared 3,000+ job leads with her freelancer community The Digital Marketer’s Workgroup.
Ask her any questions over on IG @emilyreaganpr
“I help smart women learn the in-demand digital marketing strategies and profitable tech skills to get hired as a unicorn digital marketing assistant.“
3 ways we can work together:
1. Join the Unicorn Digital Marketing Assistant School. My signature course on digital marketing implementation will give you the confidence and teach you HOW to do the work that’s in demand and highly marketable. This is the secret weapon to getting booked out. Start learning digital marketing services and building your digital service business right now.
2. Already doing marketing work and have a few clients? Want a stronger referral network? Apply for our Digital Marketer’s Workgroup—a tight-knit community of freelancers just like you. Inside, you’ll get behind-the-scenes support, advanced trainings, and troubleshooting that every solo marketer needs. Plus, I’ve shared over 3,000 job opportunities with this group—exclusive leads you won’t find anywhere else. If you’re ready to grow your business and connect with a supportive network, join us here!
3. Looking to hire a Digital Marketing Assistant? If you want to expand your team & grow your business, submit your job opportunity here. I’ll share it with the skilled unicorn marketing assistants inside my workgroup totally free.
