Virtual Assistant Forums | Work from Home - Blogs http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/ Virtual assistants: access free work from home resources and virtual assistant information. Clients: find and hire a virtual assistant from our network of VAs. en Fri, 25 May 2012 19:30:30 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/images/ca_evo_gray/misc/rss.jpg Virtual Assistant Forums | Work from Home - Blogs http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/ 5 tips to manage your time http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/lacombe/493-5-tips-manage-your-time.html Wed, 16 May 2012 17:49:12 GMT Do you ever wonder where your time has gone? Does it seem like you are constantly "spinning your wheels" so to speak? If so, maybe you need a better system of time management. Here are five simple tips that will help you get a handle on where your time goes and how you can get better control of time.

1. Write stuff down. Use a calendar or planner. People who do are simply better organized have more control over their time than those who don't. They take time to plan when they are going to do things. This gets them into the mindset of planning how they are going to do things. Once you are in this mindset, everything you do will turn out better because of a little planning.

Take time to write out your goals, plan the steps to achieve them, and then implement the plan. Start working toward those goals right now! Remember – people who don't have a plan are used by people who do.

2. Track your time. How can you really know exactly how you are spending your time? Track it! Keep track of activities and tasks that make up your day. Be cognizant of how much time these activities and tasks take.

Ask yourself the following questions about your activities and pay attention to how you are feeling and thinking:

· Are those tasks important?
· Does doing that task move you toward your goal?
· Can you make the tasks more efficient?
· Does doing that activity make you happy?

Figure out the activities and tasks that are urgent, important and actively move you toward achieving your goals. Make sure that you accomplish one to three of these per day.

3. Use time wisely. Remember the Pareto principle – 80% of your results are produced by 20% of your efforts. This really means that most of our time is spent on frivolous, unproductive activities. Avoid time wasting activities when you want to be productive.

Get important things done. Decide what is really important to you and how accomplishing that task will take you down the road to achieving your goals.

Prioritize. Decide what is not going to be done today because it either isn't urgent, important or move you toward your goals. This can be hard, but you can make that choice. You are worth it and can choose to enrich your life and move toward your goals, or fly by the seat of your pants and hope it all works out.

Plan (and take) time every day to work on goal achievement and you will live a fuller, happier life.

4.Use prime time. When there are important tasks to complete, work on them when you are at your best. Some people are morning people and some come to life at 6:00pm. Know when you have the most energy and alertness. This is the time to tackle important things.

5.Get to know yourself, YOU are worth it. It is worth your time to write stuff down. It does take time and you may think that you can't take that time. You are worth it! Write down your dreams, goals, thoughts, emotions and accomplishments. Yes, keep a journal and use to get to know yourself better. Set goals that you want to achieve, decide how you want to live your life – DREAM! Then, start making plans on how you are going to achieve those dreams, set time lines and start organizing your time so you are always moving forward and in control of where you are going. Some control is never a bad thing, ever.
If you take time right now to start writing stuff down, getting to know yourself, tracking where your time goes, using time more wisely and completing important tasks during your personal prime time, you will find that your time is better spent and not wasted. Always remember, people who don't have a plan are used by people who do.
©2011 Sandra Milligen ]]> lacombe http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/lacombe/493-5-tips-manage-your-time.html A step-by-step guide to successful business blogging http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/probusinesssolutions/492-step-step-guide-successful-business-blogging.html Wed, 11 Apr 2012 13:11:22 GMT Image: http://www.progressivebusinesssolutions.net/uploads/4/8/5/0/4850428/2946191.jpg?191 If you’ve had plans to start a blog, or just can’t seem to... If you’ve had plans to start a blog, or just can’t seem to grasp the whole blogging concept, read on. These basic tips and tools will simplify the process and help you get started on a clear road to business blogging success.

“A blog is in many ways a continuing conversation.” ~Andrew Sullivan

THE BENEFITS OF BLOGGING
Think of your blog (web log) as a series of scheduled articles that speak directly to your audience and a valuable, online marketing tool for your business. In fact, these days it is difficult for any business with a web presence to have significant online success without one. Further, a successful blog can increase website traffic and SEO, enhance visibility and brand recognition, grow your prospective customer list and position your business as the ‘go-to’ source for information in your industry. There are even options for turning your blog into a significant source of revenue over time. Consider adding affiliate links, Google AdSense banners and individual ads where appropriate. Your income will grow with your blog’s success. RESOURCE: 25 Ways to Make Money With Your Blog

Before you take the first steps to creating your blog, you’ll need to answer a few basic questions:

YOUR BLOG NEEDS A HOME - WHERE WILL IT RESIDE?
There are many popular blogging platforms today, such as Blogger, Blogster, Wordpress.com and Tumbler to name just a few. Although these platforms are reputable and very user friendly, experts often recommend that blogs reside on the business’s main website to enhance visibility and SEO.

WHAT WILL YOU NAME YOUR BLOG?
Choosing the right name for your blog is one of the most important decisions you will make, as it will brand you efforts and help your readers recognize and remember you. It should describe your blog and mission and be easy to remember. Some suggest it is best to have a blog name equal to your domain name to make it easier for visitors to remember. Whatever you decide, this is a decision that should be given careful consideration.

WHO IS YOUR AUDIENCE?

“Readers subscribe to blogs when they provide an informational or entertainment value so great that it would be a loss to not subscribe to it.” ~Maki

The more you know about your target audience, the easier it will be to craft your message to speak directly to them. If you can make other people feel important, they will help do your marketing for you for free. For example, Salary.com did a study on how underpaid mothers were, and they received many high quality backlinks from mothers around the world.

CREATE AN OPT-IN AND DELIVERY SYSTEM
Most email services such as mailchimp.com (free) have everything you will need to create a sign-up form, design autoresponders and deliver each new post to your subscribers. This may take some time to work through, but once you do you’ll have a system that will assure your hard work reaches your audience in a reliable and professional manner each and every time.

HOW OFTEN TO POST
There’s is no ideal frequency for posting to your blog. Choose a schedule you can manage well, be it every day, once a week, or monthly. What’s most important is that you set a regular schedule and stick with it. This will help to build the trust and respect of your readers.

CHOOSE YOUR TOPIC
Try to assure that every post reflects your company's mission. I recommend keeping a running list of potential topics on hand to draw from. I use my RSS feed to gather article ideas on pertinent topics, then keep a list and details on Evernote. This makes it easy to use my phone to work on my blog whenever I have a few extra minutes throughout the day. Try to think several months in advance and create a schedule of post topics. Some ideas for post topics include:

- Interview an influential person in your industry.
- Choose evergreen, timeless topics, so when a visitor reads your post months or even years in the future there is a good chance that it will still be relevant.
- Review and discuss a pertinent article or publication.
- Provide information on a product or service you’ve found particularly helpful.
- Answer the question of a current issue in your industry, providing a solution or instructions for your readers.

"Becoming the reader is the essence of becoming a writer." ~John O'Hara

CREATING YOUR CONTENT
You’ve determined your blog’s home, name and target audience, created an opt-in and delivery system and created a list of topics; now it’s finally time to write your first post.

TITLE - Create an intriguing title (and subtitle when appropriate). We all know that first impressions influence opinion, and this is true for blog and article titles as well. The title should convey the information contained in the post and draw the reader in with the promise of helpful and interesting information. It is best to be brief.
OUTLINE - Once you’ve decided on a post topic, create an outline, and then use bullets, bold and italics to format for scanability. Most people won’t read every word, so this type of formatting will help them get the gist of your article.
PROMISED INFORMATION - Assure that the information included clearly delivers what was promised in the title.
CLOSING - Include a call to action, and reiterate the original idea or key element that drew your audience in at the start of the article.
PROOF & EDIT - proofread, edit, proofread, edit & then find an outside proofreader.


IMAGES MATTER
Choose at least one lead image that will draw the reader in and clearly portray your message. There are several free, online image galleries that allow the unlimited use of photos when the proper credits are included.

OPTIMIZE
Assure that you get the most from all your hard work by optimizing every blog post so they will appear prominently in search engines. “Being attentive to keywords and formatting will drive more traffic – and qualified traffic – to your blog by leveraging the search terms used by your target audience.” states Janet Aronica in her article: How to Optimize Your Blog Posts for SEO

PROMOTE YOUR WORK
Share, Share, Share. My previous article "GROWING YOUR BUSINESS WITH BACKLINKS - Link Building Techniques Used by the Pros",
describes numerous tips for establishing wide-spread distribution for your blog posts. Adding social media share buttons and creating an ebook or giveaway are other highly successful methods of promoting your work and gathering subscribers.

BLOG COMMENTS
The final consideration regarding the success of your blog is comments. Comments add a whole new valuable dimension to your blog by establishing a sense of community, and providing the opportunity for you to interact with your readers on an individual basis. It’s important to encourage comments from your audience and respond to each one promptly. You will build a level of trust and respect that will further enhance your reputation in the industry, increase your leads and ultimately grow your business.

If you’re just starting out in the world of blogging this might seem like a bit much. However, if you stick with it, you’ll soon come to realize that the benefits quickly outweigh the effort. If you’ve had particular blogging successes or challenges, please let us know by commenting below. We can all learn from the experiences we share with each other.

(Blog image by renjith krishnan)
______________________________ ____________________
This article was originally published as a guest post by Progressive Business Solutions for the Bluegrass Small Business Development Center's website: www.uksmallbiz.wordpress.com ]]> ProBusinessSolutions http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/probusinesssolutions/492-step-step-guide-successful-business-blogging.html What You Need to Know About Marketing Research http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/wingman/491-what-you-need-know-about-marketing-research.html Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:45:41 GMT Image: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JX84rrOlyTA/T33LXFCpkaI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/W4ZAzZVivJ4/s400/marketing-research-services-01.jpg Many have heard of and may...

Many have heard of and may have even been offered marketing research services but are not quite sure what exactly it is or how it may benefit them. Marketing research can aid a company into making intelligent decisions as to what their current customers want and do not want. This type of research allows the company to communicate with its target market and meet its expectations. This is the perfect way to let the customer know that you care and want to improve your product(s) or service(s).

There are many different types of market research to suit your style, from online focus groups to webcam interviews. No matter what type of business you are running there is a marketing research service that is right for you. Even if you have never tried marketing research before it is definitely worth it to take some time out of your day to learn about it and its benefits.

There are many different scenarios wherein it would be worthwhile to have marketing research done. It is ideal for a company to look into marketing research before they branch out into another aspect of their business. Before they offer a new service or invest in advancing their product, doing some sort of market research will allow them to identify the potential that it will have. This will save them a lot of time and money. Their customers will be able to tell them firsthand what they think of their proposed services or product.

By contracting marketing research services a company can deter itself from the risk of investing in something that their customers will not be interested in. It allows a sneak peak into the minds of their target market and what it is they really want. Companies will be able to mold and build their businesses focused on the demands of their end users.

Marketing research helps companies see how far they have progressed or what they need to improve on. The advantages that a company can gain through the use of marketing research services are quite endless. At the end of the day the goal is always to please the customer and give them what they want. What better way is there to figure out what they want than to hear it from the customers themselves? Marketing research services provide you with customers’ preconceived notions about the intended product or services beforehand. ]]> wingman http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/wingman/491-what-you-need-know-about-marketing-research.html 5 Super Time Management Tools http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/apex-virtual-assistance/489-5-super-time-management-tools.html Thu, 22 Mar 2012 01:33:32 GMT The Pareto Principle, also known as the 80–20 rule or the law of the vital few, says that in many situations 80% of the results come from only 20% of the... The Pareto Principle, also known as the 80–20 rule or the law of the vital few, says that in many situations 80% of the results come from only 20% of the work. This may not be always the case but it will certainly get you thinking. Effectively managing your time will definitely help you even out this ratio.

Here are 5 of our favorite time management tools.

Google Calendar

Online calendars are a great way to stay on schedule. Google Calendar is one of my favorite online calendar management tools. A calendar is the foundation of any time management program. Google Calender is simple and integrates really well with various other apps and tools. Google offers reminders in the form of pop-ups, text messaging and even email alerts.

RescueTime

There are tons of tools available to help you increase your productivity. RescueTime is a web-based time tracking and management tool. It has tons of awesome features like time tracking, project tracking, real time stats and a reporting system that will help you see your efficiency and attention trends over a selected period of time. They have both free and paid subscriptions.

Checkvist

Chevist is a task list manager program. It offers collaboration, gmail/browser integration, email notifications and several other great features. Chevist is great for the novice.

Tungle

Tungle is a great tool for small business owners that offer consultations or coaching sessions. This tool prevents double booking or back and forth emails trying to resolve conflicting schedules. The best part about tungle is that you can sync it with the calendar you’re already using.

Highrise

Every small business owner has a long list of contacts. Highrise gives you a central location to store all of your computer information, notes and emails. You can share information easily and quickly with everyone in your organization.

Author:
Trena V. Stubbs of Apex Virtual Solutions ]]> Apex Virtual Assistance http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/apex-virtual-assistance/489-5-super-time-management-tools.html Free Download: Getting Started as a Virtual Assistant Workbook http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/vaf-admin/488-free-download-getting-started-virtual-assistant-workbook.html Sun, 18 Mar 2012 04:06:09 GMT Download your own copy of our FREE printable 'Getting Started as a Virtual Assistant' workbook (AND while you're at it, grab our useful guide to making the most of your membership at Virtual Assistant Forums.)

Click the links below to download the PDF files:

Free printable 'Getting Started as a Virtual Assistant' workbook

Free Guide to Making the Most of Your VAF Membership

VAF has TONS of free resources, information, and opportunities waiting for you on the boards, so after you’re done reading through the info in the download, be sure to register so you can participate in the community as an active member. The ONLY ‘membership fee’ is your participation. The only thing we ask you to commit to is your own success.

You can use all that Virtual Assistant Forums has to offer to help you reach and maintain a successful business, but it’s up to you to do so. The tools are here. Use them! ]]> VAF Admin http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/vaf-admin/488-free-download-getting-started-virtual-assistant-workbook.html GROWING YOUR BUSINESS WITH BACKLINKS - Link Building Techniques Used by the Pros http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/probusinesssolutions/487-growing-your-business-backlinks-link-building-techniques-used-pros.html Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:48:47 GMT The term “Search Engine Optimization” often brings to mind visions of large, intimidating companies that can be hired for a small fortune, with promises... The term “Search Engine Optimization” often brings to mind visions of large, intimidating companies that can be hired for a small fortune, with promises of having your website listed on the first page of Google. What many small business owners don’t realize, is that most of the techniques used by SEO experts can be accomplished successfully by the novice as well. With a few professional tools (included below) and some focused efforts, you can significantly raise your website’s traffic, rankings and visibility. This is the basis of inbound marketing.

The three main components of basic search engine optimization (SEO) include: keyword research, onsite optimization and today’s topic, link building. The practice of link building is an off-page component of SEO which is often overlooked by small business owners, yet plays a vital role in a website’s standings with search engines.

PROVEN LINK BUILDING STRATEGIES

So you’ve built a website and created new, relevant content that you feel the world will want to read. Now, do you put down your pen, turn off your computer and wait for your readers to flock to your site? Unfortunately, the theory, “If you build it, they will come” just doesn’t apply to this situation. Don’t quit just yet - with a planed outline for sharing your latest masterpiece you can easily put that content to work growing your business.

Share on Social Networking Sites - The first place to share links to your new content is through your business & personal accounts on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. This is where your friends and followers are. They often know you and your brand, have an interest in your business and are most likely to appreciate and share your content. Further, make it easy for your readers to share your content by always including social network widgets.

Seek Out Industry Specific Networks and Blogs - Backlinks have the best chance of success when they are placed on sites with high PR or Page Rank (check out this free tool Page Rank Checker) and that appeal to your target market. Look for reputable networking sites, forums and web directories within your industry that allow you to join, create a profile and post relevant content. Remember to place helpful comments on other member posts as well, including a link to your article or website when appropriate.

Request Publication With Online Magazines - Research and compile a short list of online publications that best match your content, and then visit each to gather information about their submission guidelines and deadlines. Next, craft a specific letter of introduction for each outlining your intentions and qualifications, and explaining how the information you’ve provided will be of interest to and benefit their audience. Be prepared for some rejection, and keep trying. If done right, this can be an excellent source of promotion.

Submit to Social Content Publishing Sites - Sites like Digg, Delicious, StumbleUpon, Squidoo and Reddit all hold high page rank value, and people flock to these sites seeking content that appeals to their specific interests. This makes them extremely valuable for link building. Here’s a huge list of additional Submission Directories for your consideration as well.

Submit to Search Engines- Having your link appear on other websites will raise your visibility. However, directly submitting your site to search engines will boost your rankings even more. (and resubmitting your site every 3-6 months is recommended). Luckily there are free tools like Submit Express that make it easy to submit to multiple search engines all at once.

Ping Your Feed - Your website and blog should always include an RSS feed. Distributing this feed is a powerful means of creating backlinks. This can be done in a matter of minutes on several sites such as Pingomatic, Pingler, Feed Shark and Pingates, and the results can be dramatic. Simply submit your your site or feed to these services when you update or add new content. Some will even provide code to automatically distribute your feed with each new update, saving you valuable time.

NEGATIVE LINK BUILDING PRACTICES

Although the point is to get as many links to your website as possible circulating on the world wide web, some links may actually hurt your standing with the search engines and discredit your business. Steer clear of link farms - search engines are designed to grade the quality of the website that includes your link. Each link to your web site (i.e., backlink) is considered a "ranked vote" to your site's popularity. This is not to say that establishing reciprocal links with a selective choice of respected businesses is frowned upon. Quite the contrary. A few good links from legitimate, high PR sites are of much greater value than a multitude of spam links from sites of questionable integrity.

STREAMLINE AND TRACK YOUR EFFORTS

Finally, streamline the process by keeping pertinent information at your fingertips such as a single sentence lead in (or several variations) and the complete web address of the page you are linking too. Keep a list of the sites you place a link on, the date posted, and then develop a system to rank the results (how many comments, etc.) so you know where your efforts are best spent. Use your website’s analytics to determine whether you’re seeing increases in search traffic and referring link traffic. Those are the indicators of an effective, well managed link building campaign.

For more information, visit: www.ProgressiveBusinessSolutions.net ]]> ProBusinessSolutions http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/probusinesssolutions/487-growing-your-business-backlinks-link-building-techniques-used-pros.html My Love of Technology http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/tinathelen/486-my-love-technology.html Mon, 27 Feb 2012 01:01:59 GMT OMG! I cannot believe how much "techy" stuff is out there nowadays!
My latest "love" is my iPad! How many of you have one? Do you use it in your business? Well, the lastest new APP for the iPad is one called "OnLive" and it is totally awesome! It literally turns your iPad into PC!! What that means is that you can actually open and revise and edit MS Word, Excel and Powerpoint documents! PLUS you can save them "in the cloud" and they are available on your other computers too!
This would really come in handy if you were meeting with a potential client and wanted to show them a proposal of your work, and projects. You can make changes and tailor it to your client's needs right when meeting with them!

I guess the best part is that its on the iPad and its still small enough that you can carry it in your handbag if you'd like!

Oh yes, and don't forget that once you get this OnLive app, you'll HAVE to get a keyboard for your iPad!!! There are a couple of really COOL ones I've found recently. I posted about them on my personal blog site at http://techgadgetgal.blogspot.com
I also have posted them on my Pinterest site too!!

Ahhhh, I just LOVE technology! And being a Virtual Assistant just gives me more options and features I can offer the "virtual" client!! ]]> TinaThelen http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/tinathelen/486-my-love-technology.html Download my new eBook Now! http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/writer-s-block-admin/485-download-my-new-ebook-now.html Sat, 25 Feb 2012 14:47:28 GMT There are no fanfares or streamers but I have finally managed to launch my eBook today, 3 Key Benefits of using a Virtual Assistant... There are no fanfares or streamers but I have finally managed to launch my eBook today, 3 Key Benefits of using a Virtual Assistant. I am hoping that businesses who have not yet taken the step of outsourcing to a Virtual Assistant will download the eBook and realise what some of the key benefits are of using a virtual assistant.

In other news I have also launched my eBook formatting page on my website. I will be showcasing all the books I format for clients on this page and have provided links to where you can purchase them or if you click the Smashwords link you can download samples for free.

I am really pleased that I outsourced a banner design to Eos Grafx, they did a great job and I hope to use this banner on some other websites and blogs. If you’d like the html code for this banner to place on your website or blog then please get in touch, it’s very easy to implement.

I am still working on some updates to the website and hope that in a few weeks time it will all be complete. If you have any suggestions for the navigation of my website, please drop me a message, I want to make sure the website is user friendly so any feedback is appreciated. ]]> http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/writer-s-block-admin/485-download-my-new-ebook-now.html Elderly Comic Relief !!! - Have You http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/uniquely40/484-elderly-comic-relief-have-you.html Sun, 19 Feb 2012 00:10:36 GMT I have to share this with you all, my nephew have started laughing at me because, I have started calling him by his sister's or cousins' name. It was just a short while ago, I starting laughing at my mom's for doing the same thing, she is 77 years old and I am still being referred to as Deb, Pat, Butch, Gervin or Dee; all my siblings. Now I am going through ELDERLY COMIC RELIEF!!! What a pay back. But what he fail to realize is, it will happen to him and I'll gonna to be laughing, of course, I'll be a 104, but it will be worth it. (LOL).

ELDERLY COMIC RELIEF

Have you ever wonder why you've forgotten where you placed things? Is senility setting in or is it just carelessness? Have you ever wonder why you've walked out of one room into another and you can't remember why you've entered the room?

Have you started a conversation with someone and forgotten what you were talking about? Have you started driving and forgotten why you are in the car and where you are going; so you continue to driving hoping it will come back to you? Have you walked out of your house without your keys, close the door, and start looking for keys because you know you have them?

Have you started calling relatives, friends and your kids by someone else's name and get angry because they wouldn't answer you? Have you went to the grocery store, started shopping with a cart, went down the aisle to get an item and returned to your cart, and you couldn't figure out which shopping cart was yours because you could remember what items you placed in the shopping cart? Is this stupidity or a no care attitude?

NO, IT IS PAY BACK TIME, YOU HAVE AGED (LOL) WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE LAUGHED AT ELDERLY PEOPLE WHEN THEY'VE FORGOTTEN THEIR WAY OR CALLED YOU BY YOUR SISTER OR BROTHER NAME. NOW YOU HAVE BECOME THEM (LOL) :happydance: :happydance: This is Elderly Comic Relief!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :happydance: :happydance: ]]> uniquely40 http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/uniquely40/484-elderly-comic-relief-have-you.html 10 Virtual Assistant Resources http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/writer-s-block-admin/483-10-virtual-assistant-resources.html Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:46:31 GMT When I started my Virtual Assistant business I researched it day and night, luckily at the time I was living alone and didn’t have anyone wanting my... When I started my Virtual Assistant business I researched it day and night, luckily at the time I was living alone and didn’t have anyone wanting my attention (apart from the cat). So I spent a lot of time online looking at how I could start my business and to get lots of advice and tips, ideally for free.

I wasn’t disappointed, the longer I looked the more resources I found, and even now nearly 6 months down the line I still come across some great websites that I wish I had found when I started.

As an avid reader in my spare time I immediately went to Amazon to see if there were any books that were aimed at virtual assistants, there weren’t many, but one book did stand out and I immediately put an order in, so we start the list with this book.

To read the full article click here. ]]> http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/writer-s-block-admin/483-10-virtual-assistant-resources.html Giving and Receiving http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/jacqulyn/482-giving-receiving.html Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:36:34 GMT I just want to express my appreciation to everyone who shares on this forum. I am a big believer in "Give and You Shall Receive". I am a new VA and still learning, from all of you. I feel that anything I need to know about being a successful VA is right here. I love it that we can unabashedly call out for help on this forum, knowing there will be many who will rush to give assistance. When we focus on helping others, help will be there for us when we need it, also. I am so happy to have found this forum of great people. Many thanks to all!:D ]]> Jacqulyn http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/jacqulyn/482-giving-receiving.html Do you use MS Publisher? http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/jacqulyn/481-do-you-use-ms-publisher.html Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:19:58 GMT If you use MS Publisher in your business, what do you create with this software? If you use MS Publisher in your business, what do you create with this software? ]]> Jacqulyn http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/jacqulyn/481-do-you-use-ms-publisher.html A better description of Entrepreneur http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/jacqulyn/480-better-description-entrepreneur.html Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:42:06 GMT A good article from INC.com. Does this describe you?... A good article from INC.com. Does this describe you?
http://www.linkedin.com/redirect?url...=tracking_anet ]]> Jacqulyn http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/jacqulyn/480-better-description-entrepreneur.html My Top 3 Social Media Apps http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/writer-s-block-admin/479-my-top-3-social-media-apps.html Sat, 07 Jan 2012 12:20:42 GMT I get excited about new apps on my iPhone, or I used to until I started my own business (http://www.writersblockadminservices.com). I still make an... I get excited about new apps on my iPhone, or I used to until I started my own business. I still make an effort to check out the new apps available on iTunes, but I’m now interested in what apps can help my business grow and I’ve come across a few recently that are excellent. I thought I would share some of them with you, and if you want to have a go at installing them and letting me know what you think, even better!

Buffer

I’ve been using Buffer for a few weeks now, there are three different plans, I have the free plan at the moment. This offers 10 posts in your Buffer, 1 Twitter account, 1 Facebook account, free browser extensions, free mobile apps and you can use your Bit.ly details. The other plans offer more posts and other extras, in fact the best plan offers unlimited posts.

Buffer works by scheduling Tweets (or Facebook updates) at optimum times of the day. So when you install it (either as an add-on for your browser, on your iPhone or a widget on your blog/website) you can click the Buffer icon and the tweet/update will automatically be scheduled to post at the next slot.

I tend to use this more for the weekends, it is set-up to post 4 tweets/posts per day, I go through my updates I’d like posted over the weekend and very quickly schedule them. It’s so easy I actually prefer it to Tweetdeck which I use on a daily basis. You don’t have to mess about with the dates and the times, it’s all done for you.

SocialBro

I have only been using SocialBro for a couple of days but I love it!! It’s all about stats, and I am a self confessed stat-aholic. I have installed it as a Chrome add-on and when I open it up it synchronises with my Twitter account. It tells me everything I could ever want to know about my followers and who I follow.

Just on the front dashboard it shows me New Followers, Recent Unfollows, Influence Stats, Not Following You Back, You Aren’t Following Back, “Low Follow Ratio” Users You Follow, “Low Follow Ratio” Followers, Inactive Friends, Inactive Followers, Famous Friends, Famous Follower’s, Influential Friends, Influential Follower’s, New Friends, Newbie Follower’s, Newbies Friends, Follower’s Bio Tagcloud, Very Active Friends and Friends Bio Tagcloud.

But that’s not all, within the application you can customise what you want to see such as ‘Best Time to Tweet’ or ‘Analyse Your Competitors’ and sooooo much more! Can you tell I love this app? You can also link it to Buffer and it will automatically customise the best times to tweet, it suggests you do it once a week so your tweets go out at optimum times.

While writing this blog I also added the Twitter accounts of my clients to SocialBro, being a virtual assistant / social media manager for others it’s going to be a great when I can provide my clients with all these stats and manage their social media more productively.

It would be impossible to try and tell you everything about this wonderful app, so take a look at the SocialBro User Guide.

Flipboard

This app is for the iPad and iPhone, and I’ve had it on my iPhone for some weeks. When you are overwhelmed with social media this is a great app which consolidates everything into a magazine style format. You literally flip through page after page of updates, it’s nothing like your Twitter feed, it includes the images so it makes it so much easier to pick out items of interest. I find that during the evenings when my eyes are getting tired after a day on my laptop, flipping through Flipboard is really easy on the eyes. As well as the feeds you choose, you also have other content which you might not have come across before, such as cover stories, news and Flipboard picks, it’s fully customisable.

So there you are, my top 3 apps for social media. I hope you try some of these out and love them as much as I do and don’t forget to leave a comment and let me know what you think. ]]> http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/writer-s-block-admin/479-my-top-3-social-media-apps.html The Power of WordPress http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/your-faithful-assistant/478-power-wordpress.html Fri, 06 Jan 2012 03:09:39 GMT Whether you have a blog or are creating one, WordPress is one of the most popular blogging tools available. However most people do not know that it is... Whether you have a blog or are creating one, WordPress is one of the most popular blogging tools available. However most people do not know that it is also a powerful (CMS) Content Management System that is used for more than just blogging. With WordPress, you can create a blog, a website or both.

Web Content Management systems are tools that allow you to manage creation and updates to pages on your website. WordPress is an incredible content management system that is free which makes it prefect for that small business looking to manage its own website. As a small business owner, it is important to have a site that allows you to update content quickly and easily.
WordPress was originally created as a blogging platform, however with a little customization you can use it to run your website, with or without a blog. Being that WordPress was designed as a blogging platform gives it some unique advantages. WordPress is optimized for easily changing content. And getting good search engine rankings depends on fresh, unique content.
In this series of blog posts, we will explore why WordPress is a good choice for your small business and why we use WordPress here at Your Faithful Assistant.

Let's start by looking at the Power of WordPress

1. Easy Installation- WordPress can be installed with one click installation that is provided by many web hosting services. Here at Your Faithful Assistant, we use Bluehost.

2. WordPress is easy to update without knowing HTML. WordPress has a rich text editor which allows you to make changes effortlessly.

3. WordPress provides good search engine rankings upon installation. There are some adjustments that may need to be made, however WordPress provides may SEO benefits for free.

4. WordPress support is easy to find as there are thousands of thousands of developers out there that can support your needs. And as WordPress users continue to increase, you will be able to find an answer to literally any question you have on the web.

Over the next few posts, we will be sharing additional information on WordPress and why it is a valuable resource for your small business. ]]> Your Faithful Assistant http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/your-faithful-assistant/478-power-wordpress.html A Day in the Life of a Virtual Assistant http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/writer-s-block-admin/477-day-life-virtual-assistant.html Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:39:37 GMT I don’t suppose a day in the life of a Virtual Assistant will be that interesting to a lot of people, but I thought it might be nice for those of you that... I don’t suppose a day in the life of a Virtual Assistant will be that interesting to a lot of people, but I thought it might be nice for those of you that are interested to get an idea of why I love my job!

Background

Having taken voluntary redundancy back in July I decided I wanted to work from home, utilise my skills but not be tied to a 9 – 5 job anymore. The commute alone was taking nearly 4 hours out of every working day so to work from home would benefit me not only because I would be at home, but I would gain more time to get the jobs done I needed to.

I started my business almost immediately, I hadn’t planned it that way, I thought I’d take a couple of months ‘off’, but I was so excited about getting started that’s how I went from ‘employed’ to ‘self-employed’ in a matter of days. After a couple of months I also relocated to France, and the process of becoming ‘self-employed’ here then began again.

So onto a ‘day in the life’ of a virtual assistant…

Generally I will get up around 8am, take breakfast and a shower and then sit down at my laptop and check emails, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, VirtualAssistant Forums and Google Analytics (for the previous days stats). I like to write a brief to-do list the day before so it gives me an idea what I’d like to have achieved the following day.

For the rest of the morning I work on client tasks (such as scheduling blog posts, tweets, formatting eBooks and other documents) and if that’s a bit slow I will take a look at some blogs that interest me and maybe comment on a few. I like to schedule a few Twitter posts at the beginning of the week, just so that my online presence doesn’t wane if I am not at my desk. I tend to do this on a Monday for the rest of the week, and also at the same time schedule tweets for my clients, that way I know that the work is covered if something urgent comes up which takes me away from my laptop.

Around midday I switch into my other role as girlfriend and start to make lunch for my boyfriend who usually arrives home between 12.30 and 1pm. We usually take at least 1 or 2 hours for lunch together (that’s what the French do, it’s not taken long for me to adapt!).

In the afternoon I spend a few hours on client tasks and then for the rest of the day I look at promoting my business on social networking sites, coming up with new ways to work and making the all important to-do list for the next day.

I do love to work in the evenings, it’s when I’m most creative (such as blog writing – it’s currently 9pm), but I also need to spend time with my boyfriend so while watching TV I tend to scroll through Twitter on my iPhone so I can keep up with what’s going on and checking out blogs of interest. I’ve also recently come across Flipboard on the iPhone which is great for checking out the best posts for the day and being able to share them quickly.

Overall I love my job, I get to work the hours that suit me and I don’t have anyone telling me what I should or shouldn’t be doing. If you’re thinking about working from home too, I recommend it!! You must do your homework though, it’s not easy and for it to take off you need to be disciplined and put in a lot of hard work. Take a look at my recent blog post ‘Freelancer? How Do You Manage Your Time?‘ or if you’d like some examples of how I help clients, my post ‘20 Reason’s For Hiring a Virtual Assistant‘ will give you some ideas.

Are you already self-employed? I would love to know how you organise your day? ]]> http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/writer-s-block-admin/477-day-life-virtual-assistant.html Who do you Follow on Twitter? http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/writer-s-block-admin/476-who-do-you-follow-twitter.html Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:35:15 GMT So you’re new to Twitter, or you’re new to creating a Twitter account for your business. So who do you follow? Who do you want to follow you? These... So you’re new to Twitter, or you’re new to creating a Twitter account for your business. So who do you follow? Who do you want to follow you?

These are some of the questions I have been thinking about lately. Since starting my business back in August my Twitter following has gradually grown, I think on average around 2 – 4 new followers per day. It doesn’t sound much, but compared to when I was just using Twitter for personal tweets it was a lot less.

Who to follow?

For me in particular I tend to follow people who have interesting things to say. Some I follow because I am interested in the subject, such as books, food and France. But as Twitter is where I promote my Virtual Assistant business I need to follow people relevant to my business. So on top of the general subjects I’m interested in I also follow other virtual assistants, bloggers (and social media) and authors. I am gradually increasing the categories I follow to gain access to potential clients.

When you reach a certain point and you start to increase your following you can easily scroll through your recent follower additions and choose whether to follow these back. I generally ask myself a couple of questions and look at certain things before following back.

Do they have an interesting bio?
Do they have a website I can look at?
Are they real?
Is the picture relevant to their bio?
Do they tweet regularly?
Do the tweets interest me?
Are they posting spam?
Will they benefit my business?
Once I have answered these questions I then decide whether to follow back or not. Sometimes I like to go away and think about it some more and come back a couple of days later to see what they have posted and decide whether it’s relevant to me.

Your followers?

In terms of followers, what you’re looking for will depend on what your Twitter account is used for. If you’re a business like me you’d hope that your followers will eventually turn into clients, whether that’s directly or through referrals. The way you can ensure getting the right followers is posting the right tweets. Aim them at your niche, tell them what you offer, explain how you can help them. I think one of the most important things when tweeting is to be personable and be a real person.

I follow some really great bloggers; some of them tweet about every day things along with links to their blogs. Others just bombard you with tweet after tweet of blog post after blog post without anything in between. This is fine if you have a good following and don’t seem to be losing followers, but for someone just starting out you need to be careful not to scare people off by tweeting too many links and try and come across as someone they’d like to get to know.

Twitter has evolved a lot since it first started out, many people are using it to promote their businesses, their books etc… it can be quite overwhelming, especially for the new user. If you follow my suggestions above and ask yourself these questions, you’ll grow a following of useful contacts who have some great things to say and pick up tips to help you with your goals.

This blog post is from my website, click here to read more. You can follow me on Twitter here. ]]> http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/writer-s-block-admin/476-who-do-you-follow-twitter.html Top Social Trends for 2012 http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/timeforlife/475-top-social-trends-2012.html Thu, 22 Dec 2011 21:35:19 GMT Social media is quickly becoming common place for small business owners to get their message broadcasted to a larger audience for a fraction of the cost... Social media is quickly becoming common place for small business owners to get their message broadcasted to a larger audience for a fraction of the cost of advertising. As we enter 2012, businesses are able to take advantage of many new trends that are emerging and will give business owners even more reason to dive into using social networking to grow their customer base.

Top Social Trends for 2012 include an increase in:

Branding: Social & Sponsorship
Social Gestures
Social Commerce
Social Search

What do you think will trend in 2012?

Read the full post at: http://timeforlifeconcepts.com/2011/...ends-for-2012/ ]]> TimeForLife http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/timeforlife/475-top-social-trends-2012.html Becoming a virtual assistant http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/vadiana/474-becoming-virtual-assistant.html Sun, 11 Dec 2011 20:51:46 GMT _READ, LISTEN AND LEARN_ 1. Read all the information available to you in this forum. 2. Read information carefully from other sites. 3. ... READ, LISTEN AND LEARN

1. Read all the information available to you in this forum.

2. Read information carefully from other sites.

3. Listen to your friends and family, like my friend Rita, she tells me "you are moving to fast, slow down", and I did slow down.

4. Learn as much as you can and see how far you can go.
:welcome: ]]> vadiana http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/vadiana/474-becoming-virtual-assistant.html I’m finally hiring a virtual assistant: Tips on getting the most out of your VA http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/expert-business-support/473-i-m-finally-hiring-virtual-assistant-tips-getting-most-out-your-va.html Sun, 16 Oct 2011 02:43:11 GMT You’ve made the decision to begin delegating many of the tasks that eat up your time, which in the long run eat away at your profits. Good for you, you... You’ve made the decision to begin delegating many of the tasks that eat up your time, which in the long run eat away at your profits. Good for you, you are hiring a virtual assistant!

In my last blog I gave a few suggestions on how to find a qualified virtual assistant and a few tips on finding the one who is right for you. This month I want to share how to successfully get the most out of your virtual assistant and keep her or him around to help make your business a success for years to come.

Get to know your virtual assistant.

Like any relationship, whether personal or professional in nature, it is going to take time to build a strong, trusting, mutually respectful association with your virtual assistant. Your virtual assistant is eager to please you and will be working hard to gain your trust and respect. I say this because it is really important for you to have the same mindset. Put the effort into gaining your virtual assistant’s trust and respect. She or he will take notice of your efforts, which is going to lay down a solid foundation for a successful relationship.

Clearly describe your needs and provide detailed instructions.

Now it is true that virtual assistants are all professionals and we are absolutely experienced in our niches. We don’t need a step-by-step manual on how to upload documents or – well, you get the picture. However, it’s important to take the time to explain your preferences. If your virtual assistant is going to take charge of your out-of-control email accounts, clearly state what stays, what goes, what receives a reply, what gets routed, etc. If your virtual assistant will be handling your calendar, please be clear about what times of your day/week/month are off limits to accepting invitations. This is where you really want to take the time to clearly explain how you run your business.

Include your virtual assistant in your business.

By this I mean just because your virtual assistant may only be performing certain tasks, invite her or him sit in (virtually, of course) on meetings, discussions, or other events going on with your business. If your virtual assistant has the time to do so, she or he will be more than happy to be a bigger part of your business. She or he will absorb all of this information like a sponge, ultimately providing you with an even higher level of support.

Honor your virtual assistant’s schedule.

In most cases, your virtual assistant has other clients. This does not mean you are not important – but remember that she or he is most likely working throughout the day with other tasks. Discuss the best times and ways to communicate with each other. Will you need to touch base each day? Will having a meeting once a week be enough? Personally, I look forward to my scheduled calls with my clients. Even if there aren’t pressing topics to go over, I still enjoy a small chit-chat, which I feel only enhances a growing relationship.

One of the main reasons you decided to hire a virtual assistant was to ease your workload. You needed to rid yourself of many of the tasks that were weighing you down and keeping you from being the success you know you can be. The above tips are only my own points of view. But if you remember that your virtual assistant’s goal is to help you and you remember that your virtual assistant is a professional just as you are, I can guarantee you that your virtual assistant will be around for you for many years to come. ]]> eXPERT Business Support http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/expert-business-support/473-i-m-finally-hiring-virtual-assistant-tips-getting-most-out-your-va.html Savvy Subcontracting: Journal 006 http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/hbplifestyle/472-savvy-subcontracting-journal-006.html Sun, 09 Oct 2011 02:44:57 GMT Tomorrow I turn the big "40". Can't say as though I'm looking forward to it however I do know I will soon be turning it into the new "20."

The other night I was priviledged enough to attend an event with Kinza a motivational speaker. I really believe it's what I need to help me start this next decade of my life. She told us to take things that are on our someday list and start doing them. We need to visualize, plan and do it. Well I share my vision with you tonight.

A year from now I want to be a work at home mom that has the flexibility to attend my kids events, run out supper to my husband in the field and just plain enjoy life as it comes. I don't want to be frantically hopping from one thing the other and dreading Monday mornings. It's not about the money it's about enjoyment and knowing I succeeded at something I learned all on my own. ]]> hbplifestyle http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/hbplifestyle/472-savvy-subcontracting-journal-006.html Marketing Strategy: Are You Interrupting My Dinner? http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/va-simple-services/471-marketing-strategy-you-interrupting-my-dinner.html Thu, 06 Oct 2011 18:00:02 GMT Image: http://vasimpleservices.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Interrupting-Dinner-300x260.jpg Has this happened to you lately? You’re having dinner...

Has this happened to you lately? You’re having dinner with the family and the phone rings. On the line, an annoying marketer trying to sell you something you really don’t care about! Feeling aggravated and disrespected from such an interruption, you just hang-up!

Interruption Marketing

Traditional marketing is often thought of as interruption marketing and usually includes a strategy that focuses on finding customers by creating brand awareness through different forms of advertising. It typically targets a general audience using television ads, print ads, telemarketing, cold calls, direct mail, unsolicited e-mails, etc

“Interruption”-based: Average response rate: 1-5% (Hubspot.com)

Traditional marketing doesn’t work as well anymore because we have learned to ignore it. The average person today is inundated with over 2000 outbound marketing interruptions per day (Brian Halligan, HubSpot). Consumers also have more control to prevent advertisers and marketers from disrupting their lives such as caller id, Do Not Call lists, spam software, etc.

“Audiences everywhere are tough. They don’t have time to be bored or brow beaten by orthodox, old-fashioned advertising. We need to stop interrupting what people are interested in & be what people are interested in.” Craig Davis

Permission Marketing

Permission marketing is marketing without interruptions.

This type of marketing entails that people give businesses permission to send their promotional message or offer. It can also be an implied permission such as people using search engines like Google or Yahoo to search for a specific business in order to find a product or service.

In general, permission marketing will use inbound marketing strategies that focuses on getting found by customers. Inbound marketing can include: blogging, SEO (search engine optimization), social media, Opt-in email marketing, etc. Inbound marketing only targets people who express an interest in your content, product or service.

“Permission marketing is the privilege (not the right) of delivering anticipated, personal and relevant messages to people who actually want to get them. It realizes that treating people with respect is the best way to earn their attention. Permission is like dating. You don't start by asking for the sale at first impression. You earn the right, over time, bit by bit”. Seth Godin

“Permission”-based: Average response rate 20-50% (Hubspot.com)

This doesn’t mean that only one method is the right one. Both strategies can be used successfully and under the right conditions, interruption marketing can be appropriate and effective. The point here is that business owners and marketers have to change their mindset and accept that consumer behaviour has changed. Marketing strategies have to change and evolve along with it or businesses run the risk of getting left behind in the dust!

How has your marketing strategy changed over time?

Original article visit VASimpleServices.com

Image: 7thsens / FreeDigitalPhotos.net ]]> VA Simple Services http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/va-simple-services/471-marketing-strategy-you-interrupting-my-dinner.html Savvy Subcontracting: Journal 005 http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/hbplifestyle/470-savvy-subcontracting-journal-005.html Tue, 04 Oct 2011 13:28:02 GMT Earlier when I got to work the first thing that came onto yahoo was planning a second career. It's quite appropriate since I'm soon turning 40.

http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/power...155006372.html ]]> hbplifestyle http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/hbplifestyle/470-savvy-subcontracting-journal-005.html Developing a Reputation of Virtual Assistant Dependability http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/workingwithyou/469-developing-reputation-virtual-assistant-dependability.html Fri, 30 Sep 2011 23:20:03 GMT When you need to have a project completed, you need it now or by your deadline. If you choose to outsource this task, it’s important that it be completed... When you need to have a project completed, you need it now or by your deadline. If you choose to outsource this task, it’s important that it be completed on time or it might throw your entire schedule off. In fact, you couldn’t run a business properly without deadlines.

Why are deadlines so important to our businesses? We have made promises to our clients and customers, and we want to keep our word. If we miss our scheduled completion date, they are unhappy and understandably so. This is why, that when the business owner has outsourced the task, it becomes imperative for the individual completing the work to understand that the business owner’s deadline is their deadline.

However, meeting deadlines goes further than just customer satisfaction. Meeting deadlines shows others involved in the project that you are a team player. If your client needs your report on Wednesday, because they plan to use it in a presentation on Thursday, Friday will not do. Late delivery of your report might cause them to have to reschedule their presentation or to lose a client.

Since dependability is so important in business, how do you show yourself to be dependable? If you promise to take care of a project for someone, take care of that project. If you promise to get something to someone by Friday, get it to them by Friday. When you give someone your word, keep your word. This is crucial to good business, even if it means you will be inconvenienced along the way. Keep your word. Be dependable. Let the business owner know that they can count on you.

When we remember that the best of intentions are not enough and that we must keep our word in business, we see the big picture. If the customer doesn’t get the promised result, they will look elsewhere. When we don’t meet their deadline, they will find someone who will. In the long run, we will be happier if we keep our word and show ourselves to be dependable. ]]> WorkingWithYou http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/workingwithyou/469-developing-reputation-virtual-assistant-dependability.html Savvy Subcontracting: Journal 003 http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/hbplifestyle/467-savvy-subcontracting-journal-003.html Fri, 23 Sep 2011 20:35:38 GMT This morning I was up early on a call with my contractor. It's been a long day but what I wanted to share with other subcontractors is how important routine is when starting.

I wish someone would have encouraged me to establish a good routine. It helps discipline yourself, focus, have more time for the family and make goals. This client is teaching me in small steps but its working. So get out your calendars and start small by scheduling responding to emails. It's a start in the right direction. ]]> hbplifestyle http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/hbplifestyle/467-savvy-subcontracting-journal-003.html Savvy Subcontracting: Journal 002 http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/hbplifestyle/466-savvy-subcontracting-journal-002.html Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:25:52 GMT It's been a long morning already. I had my weekly call with my current contractor. The one thing I wish someone had told me when I first started is this whole virtual business is part of the growing is getting thicker skin.

Over the last six months my contractor has done just that. Given me thick skin, in a good way of course.

We've really started to communicate and he tells me what bothers him about my work or what needs improvement. Before this I would have taken offense to it. Now I take it and run with it. It's the best way to learn. ]]> hbplifestyle http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/hbplifestyle/466-savvy-subcontracting-journal-002.html Savvy Subcontracting: Journal 001 http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/hbplifestyle/465-savvy-subcontracting-journal-001.html Wed, 21 Sep 2011 16:01:06 GMT After listening to many other successful VAs' inspirational podcasts I thought this site would be appropriate for these blog posts.
As a virtual subcontractor I want to share my daily thoughts, frustrations and achievements with everyone. It's important that we know that each of us are just ordinary people trying to become successful in the virtual world.
Today as I came up with this idea I was listening to a podcast which is what inspires me. Nicole Dean is the host and she shares others stories of their trials and error. This is what I want to do for other subcontractors. Some day I too will be very successful. Some of the goals I have for myself are:

1. Recurring income with affiliate marketing
2. Make a consistent $200 each month
3. Partner with my mentor
4. Be a WAHM to inspire my kids that they too can do what they set their mind to. ]]> hbplifestyle http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/hbplifestyle/465-savvy-subcontracting-journal-001.html Working from a home office http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/clockwiseva/464-working-home-office.html Wed, 14 Sep 2011 02:35:02 GMT I imagine there are many professionals who at some point of their career have thought about working from a home office. Here are some aspects to consider:... I imagine there are many professionals who at some point of their career have thought about working from a home office. Here are some aspects to consider:

No Commuting
Let’s face it who appreciates sitting in stop-start traffic, whether it’s first thing in the morning or after a long day at the office? Add to that the wear and tear on your vehicle, rising costs of fuel, and contributing to pollution. Sadly, public transportation isn’t always available or a practical alternative, and even when it is you are still faced with the rigors of getting to and from work. When your commute is a few steps down the hall to your home office, it makes a stress-free start to every work day.

Flexible Schedule
Depending on your situation, working from a home office can allow you to create flexibility in your schedule. By portioning out your work into manageable blocks of time, you will be able to get your work done and still fit in family commitments, appointments, errands and housework. It may mean that you end up working in the evening or at weekends but as long as you are meeting your deadlines and managing your schedule effectively then a flexible schedule can be achieved.

Challenge Yourself
Staying motivated when you work in a home office can be a challenge. But rather than take this as a negative try turning it into a positive. Every day it is up to you to get out of bed, into a business mindset and produce results. If you can do this you’ve already accomplished more than the average person. This is the beauty of being your own boss, it makes you stretch yourself. Set achievable goals each day and hold yourself accountable to them. Learn from your mistakes and consider each stumbling block an opportunity to improve. Celebrate each achievement no matter how small – be your own cheerleader.

Pajamas
Ok, let’s dispel a myth – when working from home most people are not sitting in their pajamas. That said, there is usually more flexibility in the attire that home-office workers can wear. Should they wear a suit? It depends. Some people loath suits while others say that they don’t feel professional unless they are wearing formal business attire. It’s down to each individual to dress for success, in whatever form is appropriate. If you work from a home office and choose to work in your pajamas, go for it as long as it does not affect your work. You could try wearing different outfits from casual to formal, and see if you notice a difference in your attitude and productivity. Wear whatever works best for you and your business.

Your Own Office Space
In my opinion, companies should pay more attention to the work environment that they create for their employees. I’ve seen some pretty drab office spaces in my time: old carpet tiles, dull paint, dated furniture, and musty restrooms (“toilets” for my U.K. audience). Having a home office gives you plenty of options to create an environment that inspires you and helps to promote productivity. Don’t just throw something together, this is your opportunity to really think about your work space and make it your own. Consider paint colors, lighting, possible distractions, comfort, and functionality.

Peace and Quiet
For some people, working in a busy office environment is energizing. These people thrive on the social interaction and activity that surrounds them and would likely feel isolated in a home office environment. For others, a constant hubbub is an unwanted distraction and a home office can provide an ideal work environment. If you have the space, locate your home office in a separate room away from the rest of any family activity. It will give you greater control over the noise level and it will be easier to establish boundaries with your family. It also means that you can close the door when you need to switch off at the end of your work day. This can be the toughest discipline to master when your office is just down the hall.

Tax Deduction
Finally, don’t forget to ask your tax adviser whether you can claim a tax deduction for your home office. Every little helps.

Is It Right For You?
If you are considering working from a home office, be realistic about how feasible it is given your current situation at home, and ask yourself some honest questions about whether you think it would be a good fit for your personality. For many, like me, it was one of the best decisions ever made. ]]> ClockwiseVA http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/clockwiseva/464-working-home-office.html Deciding to Raise Your Rates http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/d_victoria_virtual_assistance/463-deciding-raise-your-rates.html Sat, 10 Sep 2011 16:11:37 GMT We've all heard the expression, "You've come to a fork in the road." This usually symbolizes a choice you need to make. Do you go right or veer left?

As the owner of your business, you will be faced with many different forks in the road. Decisions that you will need to make; some will be easy and others will be extremely hard. One such decision you may face, is the decision to raise your rates.

The decision to raise your rates can come with a multitude of emotions: excitement, fear and even self-doubt.

The best way to face a tough decision such as this is to look at it from all sides. Then, ask yourself some key questions.

Let's say you have determined that your rates are too low.

To help you come to a decision you could ask yourself the following questions:
  1. If my rates remain the same, what will the outcome be? Can I live with that outcome?
  2. If I raise my rates, what will the outcome be? Can I live with that outcome?
  3. Finally, ask yourself why you need to come to this decision in the first place.
The biggest fear that comes with raising your rates is the loss of clients. When you ask yourself "If I raise my rates, what will the outcome be?" Your initial answer may be, I may lose clients.

I urge you to move beyond that and really envision what the outcome can be. If you raise your rates, yes, you may lose clients. But, by doing so, you have opened up time for clients who are willing and able to pay you for what you are worth.

Finally, if you do decide that a rate change is in your near future, be sure to devise a plan for implementing the increase and then stick to it! ]]> D_Victoria_Virtual_Assistance http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/d_victoria_virtual_assistance/463-deciding-raise-your-rates.html How to find a virtual assistant who is right for you. http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/expert-business-support/462-how-find-virtual-assistant-who-right-you.html Fri, 09 Sep 2011 02:18:13 GMT You've heard about virtual assistants and have been wondering if hiring a VA would be right for you. As a matter of fact, one of your colleagues has been noticeably more relaxed and has even started bragging about his golf game again since working with his VA. You’d like to know more about working with a virtual assistant but have been holding back because you’re not sure how to get started or maybe you’re thinking it would be too expensive for you.

If this sounds like you, please take the time to read on. The purpose of my writing this is to help guide you into the wonderful, liberating world of working with a virtual assistant.

Ask yourself what your needs are and make a list of the tasks you need the most help with. What are some of the tasks you absolutely hate doing or don’t have the time for -- yet they are a must in order for you to get your job done? Do you need to input data into a spreadsheet, Salesforce, or other CRM platform? Do you have a long list of potential clients that need confirming or even scheduling? Has your boss been after you for that presentation, but you just don’t have the time or are not savvy working with PowerPoint? Whatever your needs are, I can guarantee you that there is a virtual assistant who is an expert in providing those services.

Yes, you too can afford a virtual assistant. In general and depending on location and complexity of the work, most virtual assistants charge between $25 to $75 per hour. This may sound extremely expensive, but remember that you are only paying for the actual time your VA spends working on your tasks. In addition, as experts in our fields, VAs are highly skilled, proficient, and extremely efficient. You would be amazed at how much a VA can get accomplished in one hour. Moreover, many VAs offer packages or monthly retainer rates at great discounts.

I would suggest that you start out with a few contracted hours each month and add more if needed. Or ask your VA if you can “try it out” for a week or two. Most VAs are open to trial runs to see how much work you actually need help with and if the two of you are a good fit for each other.

How do you find a qualified virtual assistant to help you with your business? Many VAs network locally at their Chambers of Commerce and other trade associations. These are great places to meet a VA in person. LinkedIn is another fantastic resource for finding a virtual assistant. As a matter of fact, LinkedIn hosts a number of VA groups where you will find helpful discussions regarding the VA industry. There are several VA directories whereby you can submit an RFP (request for a proposal). Virtual Assistantville, one of the top VA directories on the Web, will direct your request to VAs who are qualified and experienced in your specific industry. And of course, ask around. What better way to find a qualified professional in any field than through a recommendation?

And on that note ... I oftentimes meet professionals who will get the "deer-in-the-headlights" look when I say that I’m a virtual assistant. I like to explain that if they are or know a busy executive who does a lot of traveling, then most likely this executive has an assistant in his or her office taking care of business. In most cases because of the great deal of traveling, these executives are not in their office all of the time. They communicate and work with their assistants via email, phone, or fax. These assistants are supporting their busy, traveling executives virtually! And this is what I like to call the “aha” moment.

I hope this article has encouraged you to ease your workload by hiring a VA so that you too can become more relaxed and maybe even start bragging about your golf game again. Please stay tuned for next month’s topic, I’m finally hiring a virtual assistant: Tips on getting the most out of your VA. ]]> eXPERT Business Support http://www.virtualassistantforums.com/blogs/expert-business-support/462-how-find-virtual-assistant-who-right-you.html