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Loyal To the Bone as Only a VA Can Be

Have you ever heard the expression – “loyal to the bone”? A quick search on Wikipedia says “loyal to the bone” means: steadfast in allegiance or duty.

So why do I preface this post with that phrase, because it signifies an experience I just had that, to me, personifies what partnering with a Virtual Assistant means. Let me expand.

In my world as a Virtual Assistant, last week was “one of those weeks” where you question the decision you made (in my case 3 years ago) to enter the world of the self employed. A situation happened that could have either helped solidify the client/VA relationship I had OR it could have severed the ties.
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Posted by on November 11, 2010 in All Topics, Partnering Benefits | Comments closed

The Trust Factor

Believe it or not one of the most important factors to think about while hiring a Virtual Assistant or working with clients is comprised of one word only, that word is trust. Without it, you might as well call it a day and close your computers. Let me explain in greater detail. Does your client trust you, and do you trust your client? Yes, it works both ways. Okay, how?
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Posted by on August 10, 2010 in All Topics, Hiring Tips, Partnering Benefits, Success Tips | Comments closed

How Can Hiring a Virtual Assistant Actually Earn You Money?

It’s really simple if you think about it. While a client is actually paying a Virtual Assistant for their time, and a job being worked on, the client will actually start making money in the process. Okay, how? Let’s say client “A” has a business, his or her focus would be to generate sales for whatever the business is. However, how can client “A” generate these sales when everything else needs to be in place first, and even more than that it is continuous work.    To elaborate further, a VA will insure that a web site is up and running, search engine optimization has been done, a press release has been written, social media marketing is done on a daily basis, a blog is live and active and the list can go on. Who is going to operate all of these things while client “A” is trying to generate and make these sales?

Having a business online today is not exactly the same as it was years ago. Years ago we created a web site and hoped that people would visit us. Of course there was still some prep work that was needed to be done, but today what is needed to get done far exceeds what was needed to do back then, which of course equals to time. Who has that kind of time?  Just looking at the to-do list alone is tiresome all by itself!
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Posted by on May 18, 2010 in All Topics, General, Hiring Tips, Success Tips | Comments closed

Virtual Assistance Budget Conundrum Solved: 3 Ways to Create Value With Just a Few Hours a Month

Every virtual assistant wants to create results for her client. Every client wants the same. But when the client’s budget is tight, what kind of outcomes can you realistically expect for only 5 or 10 hours a month?

This is where a lot of client-VA relationships go sour. Yet a lot of good things can come out of those hours if used the right way. Some tips for helping you leverage a limited virtual assistance budget:
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Posted by on December 29, 2009 in All Topics, Hiring Tips | Comments closed

Team Up for Big Results!

Thomas Edison was once asked why he had a team of twenty-one assistants. He replied, “if I could solve all the problems myself, I would.”

Many entrepreneurs these days know the value of having a virtual assistant. But what about multiple VAs? Perhaps Mr. Edison was onto something. Now, I’m not suggesting you go out and get twenty-one assistants, however there is a plus side to having more than one VA.
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Posted by on April 7, 2009 in All Topics, Partnering Benefits, Success Tips | Comments closed

5 Ways to Get More Bang for Your Outsourcing Buck

Everyone is feeling the pinch. Even if you’re projecting more prosperous times, there remains a dilemma over how to sustain key operational and marketing activities when cash is tight. And if you have a virtual assistant or other contractor on the team, you’ve no doubt considered cutting them loose so you can breathe a little easier at month end.

This might seem like an obvious way to lighten your budgetary load, but what of those prosperous times you’re planning for? If you permit the fundamentals to deteriorate (marketing, operations, customer care, etc.), what will be left when opportunity comes knocking (and it will come knocking again)? Will you be ready? Will you be sane?
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Posted by on March 25, 2009 in All Topics, Hiring Tips, Success Tips | Comments closed

Seven Sure-Fire Ways to Make your Partnership with a Virtual Assistant a Success

So you have taken a step towards truly growing your thriving business and hired a Virtual Assistant, here are seven ways to ensure your partnership will be a success:
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  1. Good Communication
    Since your Virtual Assistant will not have a physical presence in your office, it will be important to establish and follow a good communication plan. Determine whether you would like your Virtual Assistant to contact you with updates daily, weekly, monthly or as needed. When providing your Virtual Assistant with instructions ensure they are always direct, precise and understandable. Also ensure your VA is aware of your preferred method of communication (telephone, e-mail, facsimile, etc.).

Posted by on March 19, 2009 in All Topics, Partnering Benefits, Success Tips | Comments closed

The Proof is in the Proofing

Some people hunt animals, some people hunt ghosts. Me? I hunt typos. Picking typos out of a published book, newsletter or sales page is something I’ve always loved doing. It’s a twisted little habit I just can’t seem to shake. This of course, is a good occupational hazard to have in my line of work and I’m sure comes as a relief to some of my clients. I do feel bad however, for those people who are consistently putting out work that has not been properly proofread for these types of errors.
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Posted by on March 17, 2009 in All Topics, Hiring Tips, Success Tips | Comments closed

Cultivating Creativity with Your VA

“Success, or failure, very often arrives on the wings that seem mysterious to us.” ~Dr. Marcus Bach

I’m not sure if Dr. Bach ever had a virtual assistant but I like his thought process. Bach made it his purpose to increase his appreciation and understanding for those he had interactions with. This makes me think about how cultivating creativity in business allows open discussions of any and all solutions.
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Posted by on March 12, 2009 in All Topics, Success Tips | Comments closed

Your Virtual Assistant Doesn’t Have to Live Next Door

Whether you have an established VA or are looking to hire one; you must always be thinking forward; what type of work you will assign, how you will communicate the tasks and how the work will be done. You want a VA you can easily communicate with. A VA who can follow directions accurately, written, oral or through an instant message system, is vital to a successful VA-client relationship.
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Posted by on March 5, 2009 in All Topics, Hiring Tips, Partnering Benefits | Comments closed

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