I'm ready for your honest criticism! I haven't added a "links" page yet, but will in the next couple of days. I'm looking to add something that keep viewers coming back. Any & all suggestions are welcome! Thank you all so much for all the support you offer. Please drop by http://www.efficiency-hq.com & tell me your 2 cents!

Shelly
efficiency-hq.com

Oh, Shelly! "Our hourly fee usually ranges from $1x-$2x depending on degree of difficulty." Ouch! That is what poorly trained employees should make, not properly trained business owner bookkeepers. This is NOT a reasonable fee to make if you intend to have a successful business without working 70 hours/week. I highly recommend you check out some other VA bookkeepers sites to get a better idea of a more appropriate range not only for bookkeeping, but also for other admin services.

That being said, I like the look of your site. Very clean, well laid out. I do suggest you add a page with your background so potential clients can see where your experience lays as proof you can handle their needs.

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Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
Author "How to Do Your Own Small Business Bookkeeping"

Thank you so much for reading & replying! I had higher rates & then changed it because I was afraid clients would say "ouch!". Especially in my area. I'll research some more & increase. Like I read on one post it will be easier to lower than to raise later. Again, thank you so much for your support!

Shelly

Hi Shelley,

The site is good. I agree with Lily tho about your rates. One other comment I'd have is to darken your background a little. I get that your writing on a piece of paper on a desk, but because itis all white it is difficult to make out the paper clearly (and therefore the concept). It doesn;t have to be dark, just a little darker than the paper.

Cheers

Fiona

Thank, Fiona. I'll see what I can do & I totally agree.

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Shelly Lipe
Efficiency-HQ

Originally Posted by shelly311

Thank you so much for reading & replying! I had higher rates & then changed it because I was afraid clients would say "ouch!". Especially in my area. I'll research some more & increase. Like I read on one post it will be easier to lower than to raise later. Again, thank you so much for your support! Shelly

And keep in mind that you are virtual so the rates in your area don't have anything to do with the price of tea in China! In other words, if your geographic area is relatively low, market to an area that will not blink at your rates. Try marketing in the Dallas area, etc. It's a mental shift, but learning to think more globally than locally will help with the 'comfort zone' of having higher rates.

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Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
Author "How to Do Your Own Small Business Bookkeeping"

I don't offer bookkeeping, but do have some general suggestions that hopefully will help. If you're going to market more locally (you can still be virtual and market locally), then research the rates in your area to be competitive. But at the same time, don't sell yourself short. If you're way under the competition (either locally or elsewhere) it may give you the appearance of being inexperienced. And you'll also tire quickly of having to work so much to reach your budget! It's a balancing act--especially in this economy--to price yourself competitively in order to get the work, and also make what you're worth and what you need. For example, I have a friend who charges more than I do and used to constantly try to get me to raise my hourly rate. I know my current clients, I know the competition, and I'm happy with my hourly rate....I also have almost more work than I can handle right now, and she has very little. She feels her work (and mine) are worth what she charges, and I agree. But at the same time, I need money to pay the bills.

Oh, my husband does accounting and taxes on his own and charges the upper end of your range. But he only works with people locally. Rates, as you know, can vary widely between states and even between cities in the same state.

You have a typo thingy here: Efficiency-HQ is located in East Texas and will be available to do handle any "on-site" assignments you may need.

Also, if it were me, I'd put just a little something on your home page about what you do.

Hopefully I was some help and didn't confuse things!

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Pam Deyerle - Transcriptionist in the Richmond, Virginia area
The Perfect Word Transcription Services

Thanks so much for all your opinions! My husband thought I was nuts asking the "competition" for advise. I explained how impressed I was with this board & all the support it gives. He don't get it though. Again, thank ya'll!

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Shelly Lipe
Efficiency-HQ

Hi there,

I think your site has a nice clean look to it. The one thing I would change is the navigation order because most people tend to want to see the services and rates before the blog. Just my two cents

Example:

Home Page
Services
Rates
Contact
Blog
Favorites

The other thing you may want to reconsider is the total number of hours for Plan C. Unless you have someone to help, it is not a good idea to offer a plan with 100 hours. Most VA's don't offer more than 40 hours/mth. 100 hours/mth could result in spreading yourself too thin . Try revising the plans to offer 10, 20, 30, and 40 hours as this will allow you to have a little breathing room .

Hope this helps!

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Angela D. Jordan
Your Humble Assistant, LLC

Thanks Angela! This is why I really love this board. I appreciate everyone's input so much!

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Shelly Lipe
Efficiency-HQ

Hey Shelly....Wow there are a lot of Shelly's on this forum. Spelled differently of course. I just wanted to say thank you for your encouragement on my website post. It is much appreciated.

I think your website looks very clean and professional. I did however notice a number of grammatical issues and was wondering if you could use my help. I'm pretty good with it and wouldn't mind helping at all. It's free too ; )

Feel free to send me a private message and we can go from there.

Shellye

Originally Posted by shelly311

My husband thought I was nuts asking the "competition" for advise. I explained how impressed I was with this board & all the support it gives. He don't get it though. Again, thank ya'll!

Maybe you could explain to him that because we are virtual, geographic areas have no impact on our ability to gain clients. Therefore, we aren't really in competition with each other! Also, by supporting each other we are helping to strengthen the whole VA industry, thus providing more opportunities for all of us to obtain more clients!

If he does taxes for a living has he considered offering virtual services himself throughout your state? Just a thought...

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Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
Author "How to Do Your Own Small Business Bookkeeping"

The site and information is good. I would do a little something to draw attention to the home page, especially. It's rather dry and looks a bit like a template. Add some of your personality in there! Introduce yourself! Soften it up a little! Have FUN!

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Mary Henaghan
Harmony Business Services

Here is an example of eye-catching and interesting web design.

http://lsvirtualassistant.com/

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Mary Henaghan
Harmony Business Services

Thanks for all the great advise. I'm going to have a busy weekend!

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Shelly Lipe
Efficiency-HQ