virtual assistant training

Top Email Newsletter Housekeeping Rules

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Invite Interaction
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.

To promote your professional virtual assistant business, join us at: https://www.ukava.co.uk

Top Email Newsletter Housekeeping Rules

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Send Useful Information
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.

To promote your professional virtual assistant business, join us at: https://www.ukava.co.uk

Top Email Newsletter Housekeeping Rules

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Get The Balance Right
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.

To promote your professional virtual assistant business, join us at: https://www.ukava.co.uk

Top Email Newsletter Housekeeping Rules

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Send Messages At Reasonable Intervals
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.

To promote your professional virtual assistant business, join us at: https://www.ukava.co.uk

Top Email Newsletter Housekeeping Rules

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Use A Proper Email Delivery System
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.

To promote your professional virtual assistant business, join us at: https://www.ukava.co.uk

Top Email Newsletter Housekeeping Rules

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A ‘Double Opt-in’ System
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.

To promote your professional virtual assistant business, join us at: https://www.ukava.co.uk

Top Email Newsletter Housekeeping Rules

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The following series will look at some housekeeping rules, which will ensure that you follow the strict etiquette of internet marketing, while presenting yourself and your business in a professional and ethical way.

Make sure your subscribers actually subscribed
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.

To promote your professional virtual assistant business, join us at: https://www.ukava.co.uk

15 Tips to Build Your Newsletter Subscriber List – 6

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It’s simple but very effective, include an opt in form on every page of your web site. It’s also worth checking your web statistics to see where people leave your web site. Check the last page they view before they leave and make sure there is a note asking them to sign up for your newsletter at the bottom of this page.

15 Tips to Build Your Newsletter Subscriber List – 5

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Run a joint venture with a complimentary business. Chose a business that provides services to a similar target market, for example small businesses. Include a link in your newsletter for readers to opt into the other businesses list, in exchange for their running an opt in for your newsletter on theirs.

15 Tips to Build Your Newsletter Subscriber List -1

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We all need to fill our marketing funnel with the contact details of potential clients and referrers of our business services. The following series gives you some ideas about how to collect contact details, and in particular email addresses, so that you can begin to build relationships with your prospects.

Put an offer on the back of your business card to get people to sign up for your newsletter. For example, “Visit www.mywebsite.com/freereport to download 20 Top Tips for Outsourcing to a Virtual Assistant”. When they land on your page, ask for their email address in order to receive the free report.

Virtual Assistant Business Make-Over Tips

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Write regular press releases and send them to publications aimed at your target market. Even if your particular story is not run, you will be seen as the expert in your field and may be approached later.

For more tips, sign up to our monthly newsletter at: https://www.ukava.co.uk

Virtual Assistant Business Make-Over Tips

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You know how it is, you’ve been in business for a few years, you’ve got a few clients on your books, but things are feeling a bit stale.

You feel that your business needs a Gok Wan style make over, but where do you start?

If you’re not already doing it, create pre-paid packages to entice clients to pay in advance for blocks of time. They benefit from a small discount, you benefit from not having to chase overdue invoices and increased budgeting capacity.

For more tips, sign up to our monthly newsletter at: https://www.ukava.co.uk

Tips For Survival In An Economic Downturn

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If you are still feeling the effects of the economic downturn, try the following tips from Doug Richard, entrepreneur and Dragon.

6. BUSINESS SURVIVES ON THE BOTTOM LINE. NOT THE TOP LINE

Don’t worry about growing revenue. Worry about growing profit…. Make sure you understand what drives profitability in your business. To spur demand, you may have to get creative with pricing and product offerings, and you don’t want to put something out there that is actually unprofitable.

Consider diversifying to make the most of potential opportunities. Others’ weaknesses and instability could work to your advantage. You never know – you may identify a new market.

You can find more free advice and useful resources like this at www.venturenaviagtor.co.uk

Virtual Assistant Training Products Sale

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It’s Emma from the VA Success Groups birthday this week. And we wanted to give you all a special birthday gift so you can join in the celebrations.

This is your opportunity to get your hands on the VA Success Groups best selling products, to help you build a solid foundation for your VA business, establish effective systems that work as well as filling your business to bursting point.

For this week only, you get 31% off our best selling resources and training.  Sale ends Sunday 10th October at midnight EST so don’t delay!

That means you get 31% off our best selling products, including online courses (start up, marketing and networking), template document packs and our popular podcasts.

www.vasuccessgroup.co.uk/birthdaysale

This is our gift to you.

We really do mean 31% discount on all our popular digital products so get your hands on some practical training at a fraction of the normal price.

Take a look at the complete list of products and descriptions included in the birthday sale here>>

Thank you for celebrating with us.

Please feel free to forward this email to any other Virtual Assistants you think could benefit from these business building topics, but remember, the discount ends on Sunday.

Tips For Survival In An Economic Downturn

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If you are still feeling the effects of the economic downturn, try the following tips from Doug Richard, entrepreneur and Dragon.

5. TALK TO YOUR LENDERS
If you have debt financing, stay in communication with your creditors. Don’t wait until it’s too late before speaking with your lender. When you are already in a crisis and haven’t provided any warnings, situations may prove tricky. Maintain constant communication. It will help you should you ever need to renegotiate terms.

Tips For Survival In An Economic Downturn

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If you are still feeling the effects of the economic downturn, try the following tips from Doug Richard, entrepreneur and Dragon.

4. YOU CAN ALWAYS CUT MORE

You can forecast expenses, you can’t forecast revenue. Look for places to cut expenses. When times are good, companies tend to add staff and expenses that are nice to have, but not critical. It’s time to take a fresh look at those.

Keep focus on core markets and spend money solely in those areas. Avoid putting cash and time into areas that have proven less profitable.

Many companies begin by cutting advertising / marketing budgets. This can be a mistake. Instead of cutting these budgets, review the methods you are using. Are there more cost effective routes to market? Does your current strategy bring in the right results? If not, rework your efforts to deliver the best possible results

Tips For Survival In An Economic Downturn

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If you are still feeling the effects of the economic downturn, try the following tips from Doug Richard, entrepreneur and Dragon.

3. DON’T DEPEND ON ANYONE

Keep a close eye on your suppliers, and have alternatives. In a downturn, some of your suppliers may become troubled as well, and you need to think about alternative sources for your critical inputs.

Tips For Survival In An Economic Downturn

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If you are still feeling the effects of the economic downturn, try the following tips from Doug Richard, entrepreneur and Dragon.
2. COLLECT WITH PASSION

On a related point, manage receivables aggressively. Businesses are holding on to their cash longer than before, resulting in late payments. These late payments are having a ripple effect through the SME community. Receivables will trend up, and some of your customers may become troubled as well. Don’t keep extending credit.

Tips For Survival In An Economic Downturn

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If you are still feeling the effects of the economic downturn, try the following tips from Doug Richard, entrepreneur and Dragon.

1. CASH IS KING

Manage cash – if you’re out of cash and out of credit, you’re out of business. You need a good 13 week cash forecast, generated NOT from the income statement but from a detailed understanding of receipts and disbursements. Monitor trends in your cash flow to keep on top of any sticky situations.

Creating a Great First Impression

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Do What You Say, When You Say You Will
It sounds obvious but make sure you follow up. If you have said you will send through a contacts details, make sure you do it. If you have arranged to send through more information by the end of the day, make sure you do. Nothing will kill a relationship faster than not following up as and when you say you will.

For more tips to running a successful virtual assistant business, sign up for free at https://www.ukava.co.uk/html/news.html

Creating a Great First Impression

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What Else Can You Add of Value?
When you are meeting a prospect or attending a networking event you will understandably be focused on what you can get out of the experience. But be prepared to give a little too. It could simply be making an introduction to another of your contacts that could be useful to your prospect or offering a free piece of advice or your expert opinion. Small helpful acts like this will create a great impression and ensure you are memorable to your prospect.

For more tips to running a successful virtual assistant business, sign up for free at https://www.ukava.co.uk/html/news.html

Creating a Great First Impression

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Make Yourself Clear
Make sure you are prepared for the specific situation. If you are attending a networking group, make sure you have perfected your one minute presentation and are prepared to speak to prospects on a one-to-one basis and have a ready answer to the inevitable question ‘What do you do’. If meeting a prospect who knows a little more about you and your business, make sure you are clear on what you are offering and how your service works and be prepared to explain this in simple terms with out jargon.

For more tips to running a successful virtual assistant business, sign up for free at https://www.ukava.co.uk/html/news.html

Creating a Great First Impression

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As the old saying goes, you only get one chance to create a good first impression. When you are running your own business, it’s imperative that within the first few seconds of meeting you or being introduced to your business, you create a great first impression. In the following series, we’ll give you some simple tips that will have the prospects that you meet being impressed by you, liking you and, critically, wanting to do business with you.

Looking Good?
Is your blouse ironed or are your shoes in need of a polish? It may sound immaterial but in the eyes of your potential client the care you take over your appearance symbolises the level of care and attention to detail you would take over their work. If you turn up with chipped nail polish and lipstick on your teeth they may wonder if you going to send out their letters with spelling mistakes or send emails to the wrong people. Make time to check your appearance before meeting your prospects.

For more tips to running a successful virtual assistant business, sign up for free at https://www.ukava.co.uk/html/news.html

Virtual Assistant Tips – Getting Those First Clients Part 1

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When starting your virtual assistant business, after getting together all you equipment, getting excited over your business cards and web site, there comes the sudden realisation that here you are, all ready to go and there isn’t actually a queue of people knocking down your door to work with you. Yikes!

One of the questions I’m asked most often is ‘Where do you get your clients’. Usually the question is asked by new start up virtual assistants, but more recently I’ve been asked by more established VA’s who have struggled during the recession. Newbies have generally spent lots of time putting together their business by purchasing equipment and organising their office, but have forgotten the fundamentals of putting together their marketing plan. Then when they are all set up and ready to go and have opened their virtual doors to the world they find that the phone isn’t ringing and the email Inbox isn’t full of enquiries. More established VA’s, once they have enough clients, put marketing on the back burner until such a time as they need to look for new clients again.

If either of these sounds like you, you need to develop a marketing plan, and fast. Firstly take a long hard look at your contacts and include everyone you’ve ever worked with, all your contacts through previous businesses if appropriate and family and friends. What contacts do you already have that you can ask for referrals? If you are already running a VA business, when did you last ask your clients for referrals? Don’t discount anyone because you think they wouldn’t need your services. They may well know someone who does.

Next take stock of all the skills you have and the industries you have worked in or that interest you. Consider what services can you offer and to whom? If you have been a book keeper with an IT firm for many years, you are going to find it far easier to offer your virtual book keeping services to other IT firms as you know something about their market and their ‘language’. If you target an industry or sector you have experience of, you will be seen as the virtual assistant who is an expert in this field and have an advantage over any other VA.

Join us here for part two of this article on 24th August

Virtual Assistants – Stay Focussed On Your Business Goals 5

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You should allot a certain portion of your day to email and to regular mail. For example, allot one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon to handling all your written communications. Unless you dedicate specific time slots to the handling of email and post, you will soon find yourself on the downward slope of decreased productivity as you constantly check and respond to email to put off whatever you should be doing.

In a nutshell:
In the end, the success of your VA business is entirely and completely reliant upon you and the decisions that you make. Success is within your reach, if only you can stay focused on your goals. You must decide to reach for your goals, and then, you must have the discipline necessary to reach them.

For more advice on running a successful virtual assistant business, subscribe to UKAVA: In The News here: https://www.ukava.co.uk/html/news.html

Virtual Assistants – Stay Focussed On Your Business Goals 3

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When you are dealing with family in the course of your workday, it is important to schedule your activities as much as possible. With small children, you must take time when you need to, but you should also work hard to make sure you dedicate a specific number of hours to your workday.

For more advice on running a successful virtual assistant business, subscribe to UKAVA: In The News here: https://www.ukava.co.uk/html/news.html

Virtual Assistants – Stay Focussed On Your Business Goals 2

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Remember that owning your own business is not the same as being employed in a job. Some people go to work and coast along, playing games or enjoying online social networking (Facebook and co.), some socialise over the kettle or printer, and others, most often those who are paid in a commission or tip environment, go to work to work and to make money. When you work for yourself, what you make in terms of money is directly proportional to your productivity. Therefore, wouldn’t it make sense to stay focused on getting as much done in as short of a period as possible?

Go to work to work and to make money. Leave socialising for when your workday has ended.

For more advice on running a successful virtual assistant business, subscribe to UKAVA: In The News here: https://www.ukava.co.uk/html/news.html

Virtual Assistants – Stay Focussed On Your Business Goals

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As the owner of a Virtual Assistant business, you will find hundreds of distractions that vie for your time, energy and focus. Common distractions can include children, family and friends, neighbours, pets, constant telephone calls, mail and deliveries, household chores, television (Lorraine Kelly or Loose Women anyone?) and so many more.

As the owner of your own Virtual Assistant business, you must always remember your purpose in bringing your profession home. What was your reason for wanting to own your own home based business? Was your goal to work from home so that you can share more in the lives of your children? Was your goal to be out from under the rule of a dictatorial boss? Was your goal to have the freedom to work when it is convenient for you? Was your goal to reap the rewards of your efforts and make lots of money working for yourself?

Whatever your reasons for starting your VA business, the following series will give you a few tips that will help you stay focused:

1. Whatever your reason for going out on your own, you must keep your reason in the forefront of your mind. If you forget your reason for starting your own Virtual Assistant business, you will not be working for yourself for long. It is far too easy to let circumstance drive you and when circumstance is in the driver’s seat, you are more likely to crash and burn.