Blog – Page 15 – Virtual Assistant Success Strategies

Wil Hart on June 15, 2010

Keep Your Client Pipeline Full With Public Speaking

Public speaking is one of the most effective ways to attract more clients to your Virtual Assistant business. Even if you’re not comfortable talking in front of a crowd – right now – there’s a good reason you should start. Why? Because it’s the fastest way to automatically establish yourself as an expert in your field.

Think about it. When looking to hire a service provider, don’t you typically want to work with the BEST person for the job? Would you really consider hiring someone who offers substandard services? Of course not! So neither would your prospective clients.

By speaking in public, you automatically put yourself in the driver’s seat. Whether your presentation is 5 minutes long or 30 minutes long, the room is focused on you. Everyone is listening what you have to say and if you deliver great content, they are writing down everything you say and making a list of questions. That list of questions is a good thing because they are trying to envision themselves working with you.

Also, public speaking adds credibility to the virtual assistance industry as a whole. There are still so many people who are unclear about VA’s, what they do and how a VA can help them grow their business. By delivering a content rich speech on what a Virtual Assistant is and how you can help business owners increase their business and reduce their stress, you elevate your expertise as well as that of the entire VA industry. Continue Reading>>

Wil Hart on June 8, 2010

Develop a Client Attractive Attitude For Networking

Networking is a great way to meet people and build your business. While it may be easy for some people to just strike up a conversation and make all the right connections, it actually takes work to network. But the more successful you are at networking, the more successful you will be in your business.

One of the biggest indicators of your success as a networker is your attitude. Believe it or not, you demeanor says a lot about you before you even open your mouth. For example, think about the last time you went to the mall and sat on one of the benches to rest your feet and drink some water. What did you do? Well, if you’re like most of us, you watch people.

You know, you looked at all the people walking by you and thought about who they were and what they were doing and thinking…all in the blink of an eye. Admit it, you summed them up based on the way they carried themselves.

People make those same assumptions about you.

So, to ensure that you are networking for success, take these steps to make sure you are projecting the right attitude:

Smile. It might be a cliché but a smile is worth a thousand words. People will be instantly drawn to you or repelled by you based on your smile. Make sure it’s sincere and inviting. Don’t know what that looks like? Picture yourself at your happiest: think of your kids, your favorite vacation spot, etc. That’s the happy look you want.
Stand up straight. Now, I know this all sounds like your mother talking to you, but the rule still hold true. Standing up straight and being confident makes other people want to meet you and get to know you. Nothing is more attractive than self-confidence.
Genuinely listen to others. Make sure you focus on the other person, their story and their background. Building a relationship with them first is the best way to build a connection for life. There’s a reason for the saying, “Your net worth is directly proportional to your network.” Make sure you are making lifelong connections.

Taking a few moments to get an attitude adjustment can make all the difference in your networking. By making these few changes, you will find yourself looking forward to getting out there and meeting other people. Networking is supposed to be fun and exciting, not boring and a waste of time.

One last way to ensure you are getting the most out of any networking event is to make sure you only attend the networking events that make sense for you and your business. For example, if your ideal client is real estate agents, make sure you attend a networking event where you know real estate agents will be attending. Don’t just go to the next Chamber of Commerce meeting because you “might” find a potential client. In the long run, this will be futile and tarnish your perception about networking.

Remember networking is about building relationships and making connections. Make sure you project the right vibes so people will want to connect with you. And make sure you’re in the right place at the right time to make those connections.

Wil Hart on June 3, 2010

Get The Software You Need Without Breaking The Bank

One of the expenses you have to account for each year is software purchases and upgrades. While you don’t necessarily have to have the latest and greatest version, it can be beneficial to take advantage of new features that are released. And when you do find it necessary to upgrade your software, it’s nice to know how to get a discount.

Here are some quick tips to check out to see if you can get a discount on software:

Employee Purchase Programs – If you or your spouse work in a corporate environment, check to see if the company offers an employee purchase program. Many companies are large users of software like Microsoft Office, so the company can extend their discount to their employees. This type of program allows you to purchase some of the most popular Microsoft titles at a significant discount. In some cases, as low as $20.
Student Discount Programs – If you are in college, or have a child of school age, you can be eligible for some student discount programs. For example, Adobe has several student versions of their software available for up to 80% off – all you have to do is show proof of student enrollment. These software titles are available online or for purchase on college campuses.
Purchasing older versions – When a new version of software is released, the company usually tries to clear out their existing inventory to make room for the new versions. If you are on the company’s mailing list, you’ll probably receive advance notice or even special “pre-release” prices. This is your sign to start looking for the deals. If there’s really something you want, it might be worth your time to check every day – sometimes the popular titles go fast!

If you need to purchase software, make sure you do your research to find out if you qualify for any discounts. While it may take a you a little time to do the research, or even some extra steps to “prove” you qualify, the savings can be well worth it.

Just a special note about purchasing software: I highly recommend that you purchase your business software directly from the manufacturer or approved reseller. If you ever have a problem with the software, you know that you’ll be covered and can get a replacement if necessary. When you buy a copy from a friend, or eBay, or wherever, there are no guarantees, no support and little chance you can claim that purchase on your tax return.

This is not a purchase you can afford to “go cheap” on. If for any reason, the software is not usable, you can’t work. Which means you aren’t earning money. How can that be good for business?

Wil Hart on May 29, 2010

Marketing VA’s: How They Help Entrepreneurs Grow Their Business

One of the best ways to grow your business and earn more income, is to specialize in a specific type of virtual assistance. One option is to offer marketing support services. There is an ever growing need for marketing virtual assistants, particularly those who specialize in Internet marketing.

The two things EVERY business owner wants are 1) to make more money in their business and 2) to have more time to enjoy being self-employed. A VA who specializes in marketing and is directly connected to creating more profits and increased productivity will make herself invaluable to her clients. This type of virtual assistance is not just about supporting the entrepreneur to run their business effectively or waiting for the client to ask for help. It’s about taking initiative and being proactive about completing tasks and projects that create more opportunities for exposure and revenue in the client’s business.

Speakers, authors, coaches and consultants are part of the growing group of business owners who are hiring VA’s to help them market their business effectively. They’ve found that they just don’t have the time or the expertise to market themselves and their services . To create the desired results, marketing needs to be done in a focused and consistent way. By hiring a VA who specializes in marketing support, business owners can focus on their gifts and developing their business, while the VA executes their marketing plan to attract more clients and customers. Continue Reading>>

Wil Hart on May 25, 2010

Savvy Systems Means More Pro.fits

Savvy Virtual Assistants setup and implement systems to run their business. Using systems consistently will allow you to work as effectively and efficiently as possible. The more you can systemize, the more you can monetize!

Systems are the key to your business organization. It’s a way to ensure that you create consistent high-quality results in everything you do. This includes bookkeeping, communication, administrative, client support and marketing. Whether you realize it or not, you probably already have a system in place for all of these things, you just haven’t gone through the process of actually documenting them.

Documentation is the key to helping you streamline your processes so that you get better at doing things more quickly. Once you document your processes for how you handle different tasks, you’ll begin to see how you can either automate them or outsource them. This will free up time for you to spend on the two most important things: client work and marketing your business. Continue Reading>>

Wil Hart on May 10, 2010

How to Select a Name for Your Virtual Assistant Business

Choosing a name for your new business can be an exciting but stressful task. There are so many factors in selecting an appropriate name for your new company. While you can change the name down the line if you want/need it, it can be a cumbersome task. So you want to make a decision that will be comfortable for you to live with.

Here are my suggestions on points to consider when selecting a name for your VA business:

How do you want to brand your company? Do you want people to know your business based on what you do or, do you want them to know your business based on your name? Deciding to brand your business or yourself is an important first step in creating your business name.
What image are you trying to convey? When an ideal prospect hears the name of your company what thoughts do you want to come to mind? When they see your company name how to you want them to feel? Remember you’re a solutions provider, a problem solver. You want to convey the benefits and results that clients experience in working with you in every part of your brand, including your business name. Let this guide you toward selecting a name that fits. Continue Reading>>

Wil Hart on April 25, 2010

Need More Clients? Fish Where the Fish Are!

The number one question I get asked about Virtual Assistance EACH week is: “How do I get clients?”

The answer is very simple. You have to “fish, where the fish are!” And you have to “fish” consistently.

Many VAs find it difficult to market their services and thus struggle to consistently attract clients. This has mostly to do with one’s mindset, because we can often hold ourselves back from success because of limiting beliefs, fears or doubts. Have you ever thought to yourself:

“I can’t charge that much!”
“No one is really going to pay that for what I do.”
“Marketing is too hard and I’ll never be good at it.”

If you tell yourself things like this you’re right. But if you tell yourself:

“My time is worth X and I deserve to be paid that much!”
“There are plenty of people who need my services and I’m going to find them!”
“I can learn how to market my services in an authentic and comfortable way!” Continue Reading>>

Wil Hart on April 3, 2010

The #1 Most Common Mistake to Getting Organized

I have a confession…..I am an office supply junkie!

I love to go to the office supply stores and get all the matching organizers like pencil cups, paper trays, folders, and covered memo boards. I love cool pens, pretty folders, interesting Post It notes…you get the picture.

It all looks so nice and neat in the store and I can just imagine my desk looking all neat and organized. Many times I’ve thought, “I know that once I buy all this stuff, I will finally be organized and I can get on with my day. ” It wasn’t until I started working with a professional organizer that I realized how wrong I was. Buying fun, pretty supplies is NOT the “magic pill” to having an organized office. It really boils down to eliminating what we don’t need, creating systems that work WITH you and making a commitment to sticking with the system. Continue Reading>>

Wil Hart on March 26, 2010

Use Accounting Systems to Streamline Your Finances

Dealing with the accounting aspect of your business is a necessary “evil” of being an entrepreneur. Whether or not you are a “numbers” person, keeping accurate records, billing your clients and paying your taxes are tasks that you will need to handle regularly in order to stay profitable.

These weekly processes can be simple if you set up a system to handle them. What is a system? It is simply a matter of documentation. A system is documenting the steps you take to complete a task. For example, when you get ready to bill your clients each month, you may tally up the hours/tasks you completed for them, compile a report, prepare an invoice and bill their credit card. What else do you do? What software do you use to track your time? Do you have a format for the monthly report? How do you prepare invoices? What steps do you take to bill their credit card? If you have systems for billing, you will accomplish this monthly task in a matter of minutes. If no systems are in place, it could result in hours of wasted time and much frustration. (You could be using that time to make more money in your business or take a well-deserved break).

Here are a few tips on creating systems around your monthly financial tasks that will save you precious time, money and sanity:
Continue Reading>>

Wil Hart on March 19, 2010

Are you making these 3 common mistakes?

As Virtual Assistants, we tend to be really good at creating lists. We create to-do lists for ourselves, our clients, our families, the housekeeper, etc. These lists are created as a method for getting things done. But, how often do you go back and review your lists to see if “what” you’re doing is yielding the right results? In other words, is how you’re spending your time supporting or detracting from the life and business you want to create?

If perhaps you aren’t making the money you want to make, or you’re working with clients who drain your energy, or you find yourself working far more hours than you’d like, it’s time to step back, take an honest, objective look at your VA practice and decide what adjustments need to be made. Just as you would create an action plan for your clients, you need to create one for yourself. The first step is to answer this question, “Are you making these 3 common mistakes?”
Continue Reading>>

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