Are you overwhelmed running your business? Are there not enough hours in the day? The more your business grows, the more administrative tasks you have; the more time you spend on administrative tasks, the less time you have to generate new business.
How much is your time really worth? YOUR time is most valuable because it is your responsibility to generate new revenue for your business. Doing small and often trivial administrative chores yourself does not really add value to your business and the sensible solution is to delegate those less profitable tasks by hiring someone more than capable of carrying them out, but whose hourly rate is somewhat less than your real financial worth. So what’s stopping you?
You may have a multitude of reasons that prevent you from hiring a full time personal assistant. You may not need a full time, or even part time employee but just require someone for occasional or limited secretarial services. Then there are the employers responsibilities, employees are entitled to sick pay, maternity leave and paid holiday and often seek generous benefits packages. It is estimated that the true cost of an employee is over double and often up to triple the cost of their annual salary in terms of benefits and liabilities.
Significant for some potential employers is also the loss of privacy and space - are you working from home or have limited office space? You may not want an employee working from your home or simply not have the room for an additional employee in your office or all the equipment they may need.
Wouldn't it be perfect if you had a business assistant that was always ready to work for you, but only when you need them? Providing secretarial services from their own home or office, using their own equipment? Meet the Virtual Assistant (VA), an invaluable new work force that provides a practical solution for small businesses owners. A VA frees up your valuable time so you can concentrate on the important things that only you can do in your business.
There is no need to share office space or even for your VA to live in the same town or city. Work assignments are communicated through email; telephone, fax or post and web-based tools such as instant messengers and online calendars and planners are also often used as a means of keeping in touch.
Because your VA is self-employed, and invoices you only for the actual hours worked or by tasks completed, and is dependent on referrals and steady work flow from existing clients, s/he can be the perfect solution for a busy small business or entrepreneur. When you hire a VA you get all the benefits of outsourcing - no employer liabilities, tax and benefits issues, coupled with the loyalty and steadiness of a company executive PA.
With a VA, you have someone to whom you can delegate. Your VA can return telephone calls, answer e-mails, and draft letters for you. They can run your diary, deal with your post, run your marketing campaign, design your next presentation, book your doctors appointment and even remind you of your spouses birthday and source the perfect gift if necessary! VA’s are already computer trained, and can assist with your specific needs from traditional office support services to highly specialised areas including web site design. You can also equip your VA to go beyond traditional secretarial support to client development and marketing support.
You can easily justify a virtual assistant in terms of your greater productivity and your greater efficiency. You need to be the leader in your business and your VA will insure that you focus on what is important, rather than urgent. Your VA can also lend "size" to your company, which will impress potential clients.
As more and more businesses move their marketing and communications to the Internet, VA’s are becoming the obvious solution to staffing issues. For an hourly fee often less than the cost of temps or the real cost of employees, businesses can take advantage of professional assistance and a variety of skills at the click of a mouse.
Need a Virtual Assistant? Then you’ve come to the right place. We have details of all the best virtual assistants and pa’s in the business so click on the link and start delegating! DIRECTORY OF UK VIRTUAL ASSISTANTS
Are you a Virtual Assistant? Do you want to establish your presence as a professional virtual assistant and become an accredited member of the UK Association of Virtual Assistants? For more information about membership criteria, our CODE OF CONDUCT and how to add yourself to our DIRECTORY OF UK VIRTUAL ASSISTANTS visit our JOIN US section.
If you go to the effort of writing an ezine, do not forget to tell you readers what you want them to do next. You are writing in order to build a relationship. So, do you want them to go to your website to read the rest of the articles, or download something for free? [...]
If you go to the effort of writing an ezine, do not forget to tell you readers what you want them to do next. You are writing in order to build a relationship. So, do you want them to go to your website to read the rest of the articles, or download something for free? Do you want them to purchase a product or service? If so, give them a reason to do it now rather than later, and provide a link to click, so they can buy it now. If you do not tell them what to do next, they will not do anything apart from read your ezine and delete it. Tell them what to do, and, provided that they are interested, they will do it.
Do not forget to ask your readers for their comments, questions or future topics they would like to see covered. The whole point of writing an ezine or newsletter is to build a relationship with your prospects and invite further interaction. You want them to take the next step by picking up the telephone or [...]
Do not forget to ask your readers for their comments, questions or future topics they would like to see covered. The whole point of writing an ezine or newsletter is to build a relationship with your prospects and invite further interaction. You want them to take the next step by picking up the telephone or sending you an email. Make it clear that not only is this an acceptable way of contacting you, but the best way.
One of marketing’s basic rules is to know your target market well. Know their interests and things about which they like to be kept informed. If you come across information that you feel would be useful to your target audience, add it to your ezine (crediting the author or source, of course). The more useful [...]
One of marketing’s basic rules is to know your target market well. Know their interests and things about which they like to be kept informed. If you come across information that you feel would be useful to your target audience, add it to your ezine (crediting the author or source, of course). The more useful the information you provide, the more likely your readers are to stay subscribed.
It can be very tempting to fill each of your ezines with information about your latest service or product, and, indeed, your readers will be expecting to hear a certain amount of that. But, do not forget also to include some free tips or an advice spot. Giving a measured amount of free information marks [...]
It can be very tempting to fill each of your ezines with information about your latest service or product, and, indeed, your readers will be expecting to hear a certain amount of that. But, do not forget also to include some free tips or an advice spot. Giving a measured amount of free information marks you as an expert in your field, and a generous one at that.
Do not use your ezine in the same way as you would Twitter or a blog. Your subscribers have given you permission to send them information, but, if you abuse it, they will soon be sorry they did. The result will be that they will leave your list just as quickly as they subscribed to [...]
Do not use your ezine in the same way as you would Twitter or a blog. Your subscribers have given you permission to send them information, but, if you abuse it, they will soon be sorry they did. The result will be that they will leave your list just as quickly as they subscribed to it. Send updates once or twice a month and leave it at that.
When you first start sending out email newsletters, it is very tempting to send them using your normal email delivery service, such as Outlook. After all, it is free and already there on your desktop. However, internet service providers frown upon mass mailing, and you will find very quickly that your email address will be [...]
When you first start sending out email newsletters, it is very tempting to send them using your normal email delivery service, such as Outlook. After all, it is free and already there on your desktop. However, internet service providers frown upon mass mailing, and you will find very quickly that your email address will be blacklisted and you may be banned from sending any email. There are many legitimate ezine delivery services available whose costs are minimal; use one to manage your mailing list.
If you use a proper ezine delivery service such as Constant Contact, Aweber or Vertical Response, your subscribers will go through what is known as a ‘double opt-in’. This means that, after submitting their email address through your website form or other link asking them to sign up for your newsletter, they will receive an [...]
If you use a proper ezine delivery service such as Constant Contact, Aweber or Vertical Response, your subscribers will go through what is known as a ‘double opt-in’. This means that, after submitting their email address through your website form or other link asking them to sign up for your newsletter, they will receive an email asking them to confirm their subscription by clicking on a link within it. This is key, as it stops third parties from adding subscribers without their knowledge.
There is nothing more annoying than being inundated with unsolicited sales emails. We all hate it. If you are boosting your subscriber list by adding email addresses from business cards you have picked up, trawling the yellow pages or your local Chamber of Commerce’s mailing list, your messages risk not only going straight to the [...]
There is nothing more annoying than being inundated with unsolicited sales emails. We all hate it. If you are boosting your subscriber list by adding email addresses from business cards you have picked up, trawling the yellow pages or your local Chamber of Commerce’s mailing list, your messages risk not only going straight to the junk mail folder, but also alienating people with whom you might have established good working relationships. Make sure the owner of the email address has requested that you send them information, or, at the very least, has agreed to receive it.
LinkedIn is more of a business networking tool than a social one. For example, it is structured in such a way that your occupation and education are featured more than your hobbies and interests. However, it works in much the same way as Facebook in that you can invite people to connect with you and [...]
LinkedIn is more of a business networking tool than a social one. For example, it is structured in such a way that your occupation and education are featured more than your hobbies and interests. However, it works in much the same way as Facebook in that you can invite people to connect with you and join common interest groups. It also has a feature where you can recommend people, so it is great for asking for testimonials.
Many of us have used Facebook for personal networking for many years. But did you know that you can also use if for business? Again, it is a great way to connect with people with similar interests, and it is easy to build relationships by interacting with other people in your network. You can also [...]
Many of us have used Facebook for personal networking for many years. But did you know that you can also use if for business? Again, it is a great way to connect with people with similar interests, and it is easy to build relationships by interacting with other people in your network.
You can also create fan pages for your business and post events to advertise particular product launches.
In this information hungry world, how can you stay ahead when you’ve a couple of hours to put together your latest newsletter and, uh-oh, no content. Sometimes when you sit down to write your latest informative piece it all comes flowing, and at other times, there seems to be nothing in the tank. Welcome [...]
In this information hungry world, how can you stay ahead when you’ve a couple of hours to put together your latest newsletter and, uh-oh, no content. Sometimes when you sit down to write your latest informative piece it all comes flowing, and at other times, there seems to be nothing in the tank.
Welcome into your virtual assistant arsenal the prewritten articles from the VA Success Group.
We’ve written a whole load of articles about virtual assisting so you don’t have to. Add them to your newsletter, blog or website. Anywhere you choose as long as our author tag is left intact.
There’s a lot to think about when you start your virtual assistant business. There are many processes and systems to put in place, your first clients to find and lots of new ways of working in a ‘virtual’ world. One thing you really want to make sure you get correct from the outset is [...]
There’s a lot to think about when you start your virtual assistant business. There are many processes and systems to put in place, your first clients to find and lots of new ways of working in a ‘virtual’ world.
One thing you really want to make sure you get correct from the outset is your system for tracking your time spent on client work and your invoicing process. After all, there’s no point spending hours and hours on client projects, if you end up not getting paid.
Getting paid for your services is quite an important thing! One way you can help your clients to pay you in a timely manner is to make it easy for them. Think about: BACS (Bankers’ Automated Clearing Service) An easy option for clients is to send a BACS payment. It is straightforward for both [...]
Getting paid for your services is quite an important thing! One way you can help your clients to pay you in a timely manner is to make it easy for them.
Think about:
BACS (Bankers’ Automated Clearing Service)
An easy option for clients is to send a BACS payment. It is straightforward for both the client and the VA. Clients simply use their online or telephone banking service to send the payment directly to your bank account. The money usually takes two or three working days to be transferred.
PayPal
PayPal is a quick and relatively easy way for clients to settle their invoices, using a credit or debit card. The only thing you need to consider is that fees are charged for receiving payments. However, you may choose to incorporate these fees into your invoices.
Standing Order
For your regular clients who are charged a monthly fee, think about setting up a standing order mandate for the fee so that you receive it in your bank without the client having to do anything. You can then send an invoice for any charges over the monthly fee.
For the first part of this article, click here It’s also important to understand that there are several levels or models of virtual assistant businesses you can operate. From the one-man band to the office based team, these can follow in sequence as you grow or you can start with you favoured business model in [...]
It’s also important to understand that there are several levels or models of virtual assistant businesses you can operate. From the one-man band to the office based team, these can follow in sequence as you grow or you can start with you favoured business model in mind and develop that to its full potential. As you also develop with experience, practice and gaining the knowledge that you need for the job, you will be able to become more successful with your business. Continuing to define what you need and constantly growing into your virtual assistant business will help you to find your success.
The most important thing to keep in mind with your virtual assistant business is that the satisfaction should come from the process, not the goal. No matter what stage you are at, there is always room for growth. This may mean that you will grow into success by redefining the services that you offer or by continually refining your professional standards. Or it may mean developing your skills in certain areas or learning new ones to make you a well-rounded and progressive virtual assistant. The more you know and the more you can offer, the better of a chance you will have at continuing your success.
Becoming a successful virtual assistant simply means taking the steps that you need to be successful and achieve your own goals, whatever they may be. By beginning with your own idea of what success in your business would mean to you, and moving forward one step at a time.
To get your business off to a successful start, why not check out the fantastic Online Course Bundle and get all three online training courses for the price of two?
Justine shares some fantastic tips on how clients can be your biggest fans and recommend your services to others. Check out this great article about How to Turn Your Clients into Raving Fans. Visit http://vasuccessgroup.co.uk/virtual-assistant-freebies/articles
Justine shares some fantastic tips on how clients can be your biggest fans and recommend your services to others.
Check out this great article about How to Turn Your Clients into Raving Fans.
The virtual assistant industry is rapidly expanding with new businesses are coming on board every day. what this means is that you are now competing to find great clients, as well as keeping them. Paying attention to a few details can make the difference between a full schedule and having to hunt for clients. In [...]
The virtual assistant industry is rapidly expanding with new businesses are coming on board every day. what this means is that you are now competing to find great clients, as well as keeping them.
Paying attention to a few details can make the difference between a full schedule and having to hunt for clients. In short, you need to stand out as a virtual assistant to build and grow your business. The good news is, if you’re dedicated, a few simple strategies can make a huge difference to your life and bank balance.
Clear, Consistent & Easy Communication
Clear, consistent and easy communication is one of the most importance thing you need to do with all your clients. Think about:
Responding to your client’s emails or phone calls promptly. Don’t let 24 hours go by without a response
Responding professionally. Ego has no place in a client communication. Respect, get to the point, and be courteous and professional
Respond clearly. Email communications are easy to misunderstand. If you’re unsure your message is being communicated or received the way you intend, call your client
To stand out, make sure each communication you have with your client is positive. Be enthusiastic about connecting with your clients. They’ll receive that enthusiasm and reciprocate.
How are you going to communicate with your clients? Comment below.
How many of the visitors to your website are actually other would-be virtual assistants looking for information or even a job? How much time do you spend weeding out and deflecting these ‘enquiries’ rather than concentrating your efforts on pursuing real enquiries from real prospects? If you want to stop them from wasting your time, [...]
How many of the visitors to your website are actually other would-be virtual assistants looking for information or even a job? How much time do you spend weeding out and deflecting these ‘enquiries’ rather than concentrating your efforts on pursuing real enquiries from real prospects? If you want to stop them from wasting your time, then why not send them somewhere they can find out everything they need to know?
At the VA Success Group, these people are our potential customers and we are happy to pay you for sending them to us.
We are now offering the only affiliate scheme for Virtual Assistant training in the UK. Simply sign up for the scheme and you can earn 25% for every product we sell as a result of someone coming to us via you (from your website, newsletter or blog).
Check out the video below for details of the affiliate programme or register as an affiliate nowand get started earning passive income.
We all know the value of sending out regular information to our prospects and clients through newsletters and blogs. Informed articles on relevant topics promote us as experts in our field. But constantly having to write more and more information to send out to our ‘lists’ can sometimes take over our working lives. If we’re [...]
We all know the value of sending out regular information to our prospects and clients through newsletters and blogs. Informed articles on relevant topics promote us as experts in our field. But constantly having to write more and more information to send out to our ‘lists’ can sometimes take over our working lives. If we’re constantly producing articles for the sake of marketing, we’re not spending our time on client work, which, when all is said and done, is what pays the bills.
One of the best ways of keeping up with the information hungry, without extending our working day, is to reprint articles others have written. There are two golden rules here: you must never reproduce an article without permission, and you must always include the original writers author tag or resources box when you are allowed to reproduce them. This is the information at the end of the article that usually links back to the writer’s website.
At the VA Success Group, nice people that we are, we have written a load of articles for you. You are free to use them in your own newsletters, blogs and websites, provided that you leave any links intact and include the author tag at the end.
Many Virtual Assistants start out in their businesses by working towards the finish line of what they perceive to be a successful VA business. They will research online what everyone else is doing and strive to achieve something very similar. But doesn’t that just make them the same as everyone else? They will spend time [...]
Many Virtual Assistants start out in their businesses by working towards the finish line of what they perceive to be a successful VA business. They will research online what everyone else is doing and strive to achieve something very similar. But doesn’t that just make them the same as everyone else?
They will spend time deciding what services they will offer, how they will offer them and going about finding the right clients. But before this process really starts, you should begin by defining what success really means to you. You need to drill down and establish the type of success that you want and how you want to achieve it.
Successful doesn’t necessarily have to mean the largest or most profitable VA business. It could be a business that fits in around your lifestyle, or one that develops a fantastic reputation within a very niche market.
Please check out part 1 for suggestions of boundaries for your VA business. Some other questions to ask yourself: Will you only be working certain hours?Decide what your business hours are and make sure that you inform all prospective clients what they are. Some clients may try to push this boundary by calling 5 [...]
Please check out part 1 for suggestions of boundaries for your VA business.
Some other questions to ask yourself:
Will you only be working certain hours?Decide what your business hours are and make sure that you inform all prospective clients what they are. Some clients may try to push this boundary by calling 5 minutes before you finish wanting work completed for the next day. Be firm and say that you will start the work the following business day – but only if you have the capacity to.
What will your work turnaround time be?
You need to decide in advance what turnaround time you work towards for routine tasks so that you can inform all prospective clients. For example, I say that I will respond to all email correspondence within 24 hours and all routine work will be completed within 48 hours.
Will you be working 52 weeks per year?
Think about what holiday you want to take now so that you can start educating your clients or getting associates on board to cover for you.
Do you want a term time only business?
If you have children, you may choose to only work during term time and spend the holidays with your children. Again, now is the time to be able to start educating clients or getting associates on board to work during holidays.
By establishing your boundaries now, it can become part of your client intake process to inform and train your family and clients about how you operate.
You must remember that you are the boss of your very own company and you can say no!
