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5 Really Good Excuses for NOT Hiring a Virtual Assistant This Year

Hiring a virtual assistant can help your business succeed in so many ways it’s hard to imagine why anyone would not at least give outsourcing careful consideration. Then again, why take bold and strategic steps forward with your business when you’ve got things like status quo and been-there-done-that to keep you warm and comfy? Just in case you’re running out of excuses though, I’ve come up with a handy little list of trite excuses for not hiring your own VA today.

Print this list off and tape it to your desk. You just never know when you might have to turn down another opportunity to grow:
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Posted by on March 3, 2009 in All Topics, Hiring Tips | Comments closed

Let Your VA Be Your Eyes and Ears

As the old saying goes, “two heads are better than one”. There is so much great information out there today whether it’s a teleseminar, workshop or conference. You know you need to keep growing and learning if you want to stay on top of your game but who has the time? With everything you have to do on a daily basis you just can’t squeeze in one more thing right? So why not let your VA be your second set of eyes and ears?

Your VA can do more than complete projects and perform daily administrative tasks. She can also be you when you’re not available.
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Posted by on February 24, 2009 in All Topics, Hiring Tips, Partnering Benefits, Success Tips | Comments closed

Partnering With The Lowest Priced VA You Can Find = Risky

I spend quite a bit of time pondering VA rates, both from the perspective of a client and the virtual assistant him/herself. I was reading a blog written by someone looking to partner with a VA – which is great – however, the first comment was one that made mention of how overpriced VAs are. I hate reading statements like that because it makes anyone who reads it and is unfamiliar with the VA industry question the value of VAs.
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Posted by on January 27, 2009 in All Topics, Hiring Tips | Comments closed

Outsourcing Won’t Make You Less of An Entrepreneur!

I was thinking today about a conversation I had a year ago with a potential client. He said he was finally going to let go of the mindset that so many entrepeneurs have. That was, thinking that he wouldn’t be successful unless he did everything himself so his business remained his business.

We had a lot of discussion around that and before our chat, I hadn’t realized what a mental block that could be for many people who could really benefit from the services of a Virtual Assistant.
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Posted by on December 4, 2008 in All Topics, Deep Thoughts | Comments closed

StartupNation thinks we’re number 1!

Yes, VAnetworking.com received top ranks in StartupNation’s annual Home Based 100 competition, under the category of Boomers Back in Business!

While this alone might not be enough to excite you as someone interested in (or currently) working with a Virtual Assistant, check out what the judges (who included Adam Lowry, co-founder of Method Products, Howard Behar, former President of Starbucks North America and John Jantsch, founder of Duct Tape Marketing in addtion to StartupNation staff) had to say about us:
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Posted by on November 27, 2008 in All Topics, News, Partnering Benefits | Comments closed

Outsource Your Higher Learning?

By ‘outsourcing your higher learning’, I don’t mean you should delegate your university education or your college assignments. That wouldn’t be ethical. But how many times have you thought something like…

“I’m ready to put a shopping cart on my website, I should really learn how to do that.”

“I know I should be putting out a newsletter but I don’t know where to start.”

“As soon as I get a minute to figure out Facebook, I’ll put up a profile.”

“I’ll get my bookkeeping straightened out when I get around to learning how to use QuickBooks.”
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Posted by on November 6, 2008 in Administrative Services, All Topics, Hiring Tips | Comments closed

Ho-ho-ho! The Holidays are Coming!

It’s Halloween – you know what that means. Monday we’ll be seeing Christmas trees and holiday displays everywhere. It might seem early for that, but it’s not too early to start thinking about how you can make the holidays easier on yourself this year.

Did you realize that when you work with a Virtual Assistant, you have someone to make sure your holiday cards are ordered on time. That VA can also sign, stuff, seal, stamp and mail your cards for you. (I know how much time that can save cause I’ve done it for several clients in the past.) A VA can research gift ideas and make purchases on your behalf so you’re not stuck shopping in the days leading to Christmas.
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Posted by on October 31, 2008 in Administrative Services, All Topics | Comments closed

Crowdsourcing Versus Outsourcing: Power to the People?

Melissa Ward of Newward Development, LLC posted an intriguing expose on what could be the next big buzz for entrepreneurs willing to expand their virtual horizons: crowdsourcing. In the featured video, Jeff Howe of WIRED magazine talks about how crowdsourcing is a clear and present tool in our digital midst. Social communities globally are organizing themselves around common interests, talents, values, lifestyles and more. Heck, look at Virtual Assistants! There are pockets of VAs at every turn on the web, huddling together hatching plans and ideas and yeah, maybe even the next big thang. But what does it mean for you, the client?
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Posted by on October 29, 2008 in All Topics, Deep Thoughts | Comments closed

How Big is Your Bowl?

Yesterday I exhibited at a local business expo and shared booth space with a client of mine who has a similar target market. It made lots of sense and we were glad we were sharing when we realized how poorly the show was attended by members of our target market. Anyway…my client emailed me to see what we could use to decorate the booth that used colors from my brand. She had flowers in her colors and we needed something in Mann Made Time‘s orange and blue.

I decided to get a goldfish and put him in a bowl with some blue gravel. I named him ‘Biz’.
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Posted by on October 23, 2008 in All Topics, Deep Thoughts | Comments closed

Quick Tip – Looking For a Legitimate Business Expense?

The bad thing about making boat loads of money as an entrepreneur is that you have to pay for it at tax time. Even though the economy is in rough shape right now, you still need to have some legitimate business expenses to help even things out next spring.

It’s wise to watch your spending on non-essentials but you can’t stop spending money all together.

One often overlooked benefit of hiring a Virtual Assistant is the fact that you don’t only get a ton of time freed up in your days, but you also get to claim the expense on your taxes!
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Posted by on October 21, 2008 in All Topics, Hiring Tips, Partnering Benefits | Comments closed

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