Archive for the ‘virtual assistance’ Category

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Good Review on “21 Days”

Tuesday, February 28th, 2012

You’ll be able to see it on the site!

And with so much great feedback coming in– I am glad that I did.  Thank you, Janet Beatrice at Heat Beat Coaching for that great Facebook message!

Also, thank you Miranda Grimm for such an awesome review at WAH Adventures.  I do appreciate you and everyone else who believed so much in this e-book to donate gift certificates.  There’s $125 worth of gift certificates.

I really appreciate the great endorsement/review of my e-book, I appreciate how you mention Continue Reading

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Posted in marketing, small businesses, virtual assistance | 6 Comments »

Get My E-book and $125 in Gift Certificates

Saturday, February 25th, 2012

I almost hesitated to even put my name on this e-book, because it is more of a “top secret” or “insider’s report”.  But eventually, I did as you will soon see.

I have tried to make this the easiest and fastest way possible to get up and running and making a profit in 30 days.

I have included $125 worth of gift certificates from some awesome business owners to truly help you finally get there.

Hurry before the gift certificates expire.

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Posted in business planning, small businesses, virtual assistance | 5 Comments »

What Goes in Your VA Marketing Package?

Tuesday, January 24th, 2012

Reprinted by permission from WAH Adventures.  All rights reserved.

Understanding Virtual Assisting – Part 6 – What Will You Put in Your VA Marketing Package?

If you have been following this series, then you’ll recall that to date we have discussed what a VA is; how to decide which services to offer; whether or not to become certified; how much equipment is needed; and how to structure your VA practice.  Now the question is, what materials will you put in your VA marketing package?

First of all, what is a marketing package?  A marketing package includes marketing materials for both online and offline marketing that you will want to use to introduce your business to potential clients.

A good marketing package may be mailed to a client via postal mail or emailed as a WinZip file or electronic folder.  A typical offline marketing package may appear to be a glossy pocket folder with your company name and logo and contain a business card, letter of introduction, brochure, flyer, recent press release, and a copy of the last company newsletter.  Large multi-VA practices might even want to include a white paper or recent case study as well as an annual report.

While these marketing packages can be impressive, they can also become expensive.  The cost of designing, printing, and mailing all of these out does not come cheap.

Again, I am going to give you the same advice as I did with your equipment list.  Don’t over do it.  Start small and build.  Please don’t price yourself out of business.

Here is my advice.  All you really need is a web site for online marketing and a business card for offline marketing.  Really.  That is all you really need.  Now, that might not be all you want, but that is all you need.

On your web site, you should have five pages: Home, About Us, Contact Us, Services, and Blog.  You can list your services under Services just like you would in an offline brochure.  You may also introduce your company  with similar language to a sales letter in About Us with contact information appearing under Contact Us.  Put samples of your work under Services or you may want to create a separate Portfolio page.

Just starting out, you won’t have an online newsletter.  You may want to write a press release, and send it to your local newspaper or online to one of the many online press release sites such as PRWeb.  You could even put a copy of your press release saved as a PDF somewhere on your web site.  I would recommend the home page in the left side bar.

Also, if you could barter your services or volunteer your services to collect one or two testimonials to place on your web site–perfect.  This will also boost your credibility.  Place the testimonials in text boxes on your web site or somewhere in the sidebars.  I would recommend doing this on both the home page and in the Portfolio or Services page.

You may also create a signature file in your web site.  This way whenever you reply to an email, your name along with your title and company name will automatically appear in the email.  You can even include your company logo with your email signature file and make it look more like an e-business card.  For offline business cards, Vistaprint has the some of the best prices.

Again, all you really need is a business card and a web site.  Why is this?  The answer is simple, but please don’t misunderstand what I am about to say.  Until you develop an online presence and have accummulated at least six-months’ expertice, you won’t really have much to write about, tweet about or video about.  Therefore, people are less likely to want to hear what you have to say, because they have never heard of you.

However, do not let that discourage you.  Instead use this to become more determined than ever to get out there and get experience and learn this industry!  Look for opportunities to sub-contract under other VAs, volunteer or barter your services.  You can do this!

In future articles, I will be talking to you about how to name your company (if you haven’t already), how to market your services, and how to promote your web site.

As always, feel free to ask questions.

Leisa Good is the owner, VA, and “Diva of Done”™ at GBS Virtual Office Solutions. She opened her virtual assistant practice part-time in 2006 when it was then named Gemstone Business Solutions. In 2008 her VA practice became full-time, and in 2011 the name was changed to its current name. Recently, she has added VA coaching to her services. She lives in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley and within walking distance of the famous Shenandoah River.  Leisa’s Blog

What will you put in your VA marketing package?

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Posted in business planning, marketing, virtual assistance | 13 Comments »

How Much Equipment Does a VA Really Need?

Thursday, January 5th, 2012

Reprinted by permission from WAH Adventures.  All rights reserved.

Understanding Virtual Assisting – Part 4 – What Equipment Will I Need to Get Started

If you’ve been following this series, then you’ll recall that the last two articles focused on certifications to receive and what services to offer.  Now  it is time to discuss what equipment you will need to open and maintain your virtual assistant practice.

Obviously, some of your equipment will be based on what services you plan to offer.  One of the biggest mistakes that future virtual assistants make  when deciding upon their equipment, is they buy too much.  They overspend.  You don’t need an elaborate list of equipment and software to impress  the client.

The client will probably be more impressed with your ability to curb your spending, look for creative options, and assist them with cutting  their own expenses and wasteful spending.  If the client insists on equipment or software that you don’t have and can’t afford, they can purchase it  for your use.  If they can’t purchase it, then find clients who are willing to use what you have.

Below is a basic list of equipment you will need for your virtual assistant practice.  You probably already have most of it:

  • Personal computer or laptop with at least a 1 GHz Pentium P4 processor and a minimum of 1GB or RAM with sound card speakers
  • Updated browser of your choice (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera, Safari are the most common)
  • Printer compatible with PC (one with a scanner and copier is best)
  • Wireless, DSL or Cable Modem connection to the Internet (Comcast, Cox, Verizon)
  • Windows XP/Windows Vista/Windows 7 – (Mac users will want OS X or what is recommended)
  • Email account (recommend having one other than a gmail account)
  • Eternal hard drive backup or an online backup (Carbonite.com)
  • Anti-virus software (Avast, Norton)
  • Anti-malware prevention software (Malwarebytes)
  • Gmail account to use Google Docs and manage mutiple projects and clients
  • Dropbox.com (free account) to share larger documents
  • Cell phone or free Skype.com account (landlines are also welcome)
  • Paper, pens, and a few office supplies

Please note that there are other service providers other than the ones listed above in parenthesis.  I didn’t want to overwhelm you with choices, but you can also check with other friends or online workers to see what they are using.

Fax machines and all other equipment are optional.  Also make sure that you have a comfortable chair and are in an area of the house where you can actually work without distractions.

Accounting software, graphic software, and everything else can be added later.  This is unless you plan on offering accounting and or graphics as your primary services.

In future articles, we’ll also discuss marketing materials.  However, I will go ahead and inform you that you can survive and thrive with a simple web site, business cards, and three FREE social media accounts (Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook).

As you can see, it really doesn’t take an excessive amount of equipment to get started in your virtual assistant practice.  The good news is that most if not all of these items will become tax write-offs for your business.

In summary, my advice is to start small, make a profit, and continue to invest in your equipment, your training, and your marketing.  A low overhead will cause a lot less stress for both you and your future virtual assistant practice.  Nothing is worse than to try to concentrate on growing a business with several maxed-out credit cards constantly on your mind.

Good luck, and I am always available for questions.

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Posted in business planning, technology, virtual assistance | 6 Comments »

3 Challenges for the Serious Business Owner in 2012

Thursday, January 5th, 2012

Happy New Year!  Happy 2012!

As the two faces of the Roman god, Janus, look both to the future with one face and to the past with the other face—let us do the same.  My challenge to your business is to have three things that you leave behind and three things that you do to plan your business success.

Things to leave behind are projects or work that you are not passionate about.  There are just too many other opportunities to find work that is a “fit” for you.  You rob the world of your unique talents and skills when you chose the wrong work.  If you struggle with procrastination, this is probably why.

Another item to leave behind are clients that drain your energy and do not respect you or do not pay well.  Time to get your energy back and your wealth back too.

Lastly, stop wallowing in mistakes and failures.  Use them to learn what NOT to do next time or what to do differently.

Now for the things that you need to “take with you” in 2012 are setting realistic goals for your business, re-evaluating last year’s marketing plans, and striving for a better work/life balance.

What are realistic goals?  They are the ones which you have to stretch a little to reach, but they are reachable and measurable.  They can be broken down into smaller goals.  Most of us know deep down what is realistic and not realistic.

Also, don’t forget to see where you are in your business’ marketing.  The only time you ever stop marketing is when you don’t want any more clients.  So, look at what worked and what didn’t work.

And finally, the one all of us freelancer, self-employed types struggle with is work/life balance.  Have at least one day off a week.  Get away from your computer!  You’ll be amazed at how good and refreshed you will feel.

Again, Happy New Year!

Are there other things you’d like to leave behind in 2012?  Are there other things you’d like to achieve in 2010?

You know a good VA can always help you achieve those realistic goals, marketing goals, and perfect work/life balance.  Consider adding one to your success equation for 2012.  We at this blog and GBS Virtual Office Solutions stand ready to help.

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Posted in business planning, motivation, virtual assistance | 16 Comments »

And the Series Continues…

Thursday, December 22nd, 2011

As you probably know by now, I am also a featured writer at WAH Adventures.  And if you don’t know about WAH Adventures and all of its great work-at-home resources then I would invite you to definitely go, visit, and sign up.  Don’t forget to sign up for the holiday giveaway.

Without any further ado, here is my third article:

Understanding Virtual Assisting – Part 3 – Do I Need to Become Certified?

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Posted in Business Research, business planning, virtual assistance | 9 Comments »

I’m Now a Featured Writer at WAH Adventures

Friday, December 16th, 2011

I know I have been very bad lately about keeping up my blog.  My bad.  There have been a lot of changes in my business and life which I will be filling you in on.

One of the biggest honors was being asked to write a column on virtual assistance for WAH Adventures.  I’ve known the owner Miranda Grimm, and she is one of the most talented, caring people that I have ever met.

She does such a great job providing work-at-home leads for freelancers as well as those seeking to work for work-at-home companies that provide benefits.  If you haven’t heard of the WAH Adventures blog, then you are missing out on a lot of good leads and resources for working at home.

So, without further ado, here is my first article:

Understanding Virtual Assisting – Part 1 – Getting Started

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Posted in Business Research, small businesses, virtual assistance | 6 Comments »

Why Every Web Site Needs an Online Newsletter

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

So why do some web sites bother to offer a newsletter and others don’t?  So why bother?  Believe me, I am contemplating this very thing as I sit here and wonder if there isn’t enough to do already.  However, everything that I do and stand for at Gemstone Business Solutions would be a waste of time if I didn’t do it for my clients.

An online newsletter is just a way of staying in touch with a target market and/or the clients in your business.  It sends the message every time you email it of “Hey, I am here and ready to do business with you.”  In other words, it acts as a reminder.  It is a way of keeping your name and the name of your business before your clients. 

Why should you publish a newsletter on your web site? 

Karen Cappello, a well-known business coach at www.KarenCappello.com states that clients need to see something in front of them in the form of a contact (newsletter, email, card or phone call) seven times before making a purchase.  This also includes making a decision to use your services. A newsletter — especially an online newsletter — can do that effectively by saving your business mailing time and postage.

So what should this newsletter look like?

Believe it or not, many clients and friends have mentioned to me that they prefer newsletters that are either HTML or text.  While the graphically enhanced versions offered through Constant Contact and Aweber are nice, you don’t always know how long they will take readers to download. 

A newsletter which takes too long to download will cause the reader to become discouraged.  They may not want to wait for the newsletter to download.  Believe it or not, there are still those individuals and clients using dial-up, so you don’t want to discourage them from reading your newsletter. 

Headlines should be short and clear with the main articles covering one major point.  This one major point should be covered in two to five sub-points that are easy to understand and are beneficial to the reader. 

The article should inform, clarify, encourage, enthuse, provoke thought or satisfy the need for additional information.  When appropriate light humor may also be used.

Products may also be mentioned in you online newsletter, but too many hyperlinks should not be used.  You want to keep your client’s eyes on your newsletter not clicking to other web sites. 

What should this newsletter say?

The newsletter should be aimed at a targeted audience or industry.  It should cover what the concerns are for that industry.  It should also have statistics to back up your assumptions.  Being able to answer critical questions and concerns for that industry is a must.  Only then will you be able to provide the kind of content that readers will read.  You will also be able to earn the respect of your readership.

Many new web site owners completely dismiss the importance of a well-written online newsletter.  It takes more than a web site to let clients know that you are in business.  The old adage of “Build it and they will come” is something that keeps most web site owners from connecting with their target market via an online newsletter.  They feel that just having a web site should be enough to attract clients. 

However, when clients find your web site, they may not know you or be convinced as to why they should do business with you.  Being able to offer this added feature — this online newsletter — will continue to keep your site visitors coming back to your web site time and time again.  Clients will get to know you and your business through your newsletter.

Who will read this newsletter?

Maria Veloso at www.webcopywritinguniversity.com and the author of Web Copy that Sells says that it all comes down to “courting” the client or giving them a reason to come back to your web site.  Over time, the reader will come to recognize you as an expert in your field.  You will become someone that they can trust.  A well-written, well-researched newsletter will help to position yourself strategically as an expert in your field.

According to Ms. Veloso, another mistake that new web site owners make is to make the newsletter too broad.  The newsletter is not meant to appeal to everyone, but to a target market.  She later explains, “When you call out to everyone, you call out to no one.” 

In summary, it all comes down to balance.  Within the scope of your particular business and industry, you want to appeal to all of the major players in your readership.  Give them content that will appeal to them time and time again.  Remember the four U’s — urgent, useful, user-friendly, and unique.  If you can do these four things each issue for your target market then you have done your job. 

So where does the blog come into all of this?

The best way to explain how to use a blog is to use it as page of your web site, which reflects more of your personality to your target market.  You can also use it to promote products that you like.  This is your “opening up” a little more.  I like to say that it’s your business casual side.

Nowadays some bloggers are using their blogs to add membership sites and videos from YouTube.  I have used my blog to get readers to comment on some of my newsletter articles in my online newsletter, Chiseling Out Success.

What to do if you don’t want to publish the newsletter yourself?

If all of this is sounds like too much work or too complicated to do, delegate it.  We at Gemstone Business Solutions are a group of virtual assistants and other remote professionals that offer newsletter writing and design to small businesses.  We would be happy to accommodate you with this request.

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Posted in Business Research, marketing, networking, small businesses, virtual assistance | 3 Comments »

The Answers Are Finally Revealed & Actually Easy

Monday, July 19th, 2010

No, it’s not magic. It’s the Virtual Business Startup System (VBSS) written by Tawnya Sutherland, a virtual professional and Certified Internet Marketing Virtual Assistant. It’s everything you ever wanted to know about starting a thriving Virtual Assistant business. This system contains the training procedures you’ve been looking for. All of the answers to your burning questions can REALLY be found here.

 Janice D. Byer of Docu-Type has this to say:   

“This is a wonderful reference for all new VAs. It takes you step by step through the entire process of setting up a Virtual Assistant business; from deciding on your business entity to setting up your office and everything in between, this manual guides you through every process. Great job, Tawyna!”

 So, what’s in Tawnya’s bag of tricks? It’s the total package! You get a step-by-step workbook, 2 instructional VA books, and tons of business templates on CDrom. Everything you need to get your business up and running in just 30 days! Hands down it’s the most comprehensive action plan for aspiring virtual assistants. Download this 48-page sample. http://bit.ly/d5vpS0

 Even though the VBSS – Virtual Business Startup System alone is valued at well over $500, it’s being offered combined with more than $1000 worth of bonuses (a total of over $1500 in products). It’s a bursting boxed system of goodies at only $495 (plus shipping and handling).

 Don’t let this opportunity disappear without knowing that there is a 100% satisfaction guarantee! Try it for 45 days and if you aren’t convinced simply return it. Tawnya is THAT sure that this contains the answers you’ve been searching for.

 If you order NOW, for a limited time only, included in your VBSS package will be a 35-page completed business plan and two years of financial in MS Word/Excel from Tawnya Sutherland’s own successful Virtual Assistant business, Mediamage Business Solutions.

 Wait, there’s more!  You will get 10 Virtual Assistant website templates, optimized for high rankings in the search engine, with source files (Photoshop and Dreamweaver), to choose from. Now, there’s no reason preventing you from having website and establishing your web presence.

 And another added bonus – always saving the best for last!  You will get a personalized private VA Coaching Session with Tawnya Sutherland. Grow with Tawnya who has worked directly with virtual assistants to improve the performance of their marketing and business plans. Glean her personalized suggestion specific to YOUR business.

 The VBSS comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee – if you’re not happy after trying it for 45 days then you will get your money back. Put it into action and see for yourself!

 Click here and you, too, will have all the answers you’ll need in one place. http://bit.ly/d5vpS0

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Posted in multi-VA practice, virtual assistance, virtual assistant consulting practice | 3 Comments »

Is It a Browser Add-on, Extension or Plug-In?

Friday, July 9th, 2010

When it comes to your Internet browser, do you know the difference between an add-on, an extension, and a plug-in?  Now before I put anyone to sleep, understanding the difference will speed up your computer and make your online surfing much faster and more enjoyable.

My choice of browser is Firefox, and I do have the 3.6 version.  I know others of you are equally as passionate about Internet Explorer 8, Safari or Opera, and that is fine.

While I thought that I did understand the difference between the an add-on, extension, and a plug-in, I found myself getting confused in an online class that I was taking.  I was hesitant to raise my hand or press the Raise Your Hand button as one would do in a Web-ex.  Everyone else seemed to be following along, and I didn’t want to interrupt this knowledgeable and technically fluent group.

So, I waited until after the class was over, and did my research on the subject.  Then I turned to two other team members in my virtual assistant consulting company.  I am blessed to be surrounded by a team of “cream of the crop” experts in my consulting business.  (I have a network of remote professionals that are phenomenal.)

Now after speaking to those two team members, I am completely clear on what the difference between an add-on, an extension, and a plug-in is, and when and why to use them.

An add-on can be a theme (what YOUR browser’s homepage looks like), plug-in or extension all used for better, faster, and safer browsing.  An example from Firebox would be the WOT-Safe Browsing Tool.  Add-ins are found on the main men under Tools under Add-ons.

Now plug-ins are used to link to external programs such as audio, flash or Java, which may not be supported by the current browser, or supported but slow to load.  An example would be the QuickTime plug-in.  It is found under Tools, Add-ons, then Plug-Ins in Firefox.

Last but not least, extensions offer one-click solutions to a program currently supported but needing the extension to support an upgrade to the actual program itself.  An example would be Microsoft .NET.  And of course, extensions are found under Tools, Add-ons, then Extensions in Firefox.

The great thing about Firefox is that a list of what each add-on, plug-in, and extensions are for is listed right next to the tool itself.  You only have to check the box to add or disable or uninstall if you ever choose to do that.  It is very easy to do.

I am so relieved that I now understand the difference between an add-on, plug-in, and extension.

So why would anyone care about all of this?  Well, when you are self-employed and your own computer guru as well as the other hats you have to wear for your business — you’ll care.

The good thing for me is that I have a team of experts at Gemstone Business Solutions that I can ask.  I never really have to worry about who I’ll ask or whether or not I can find my answer somewhere online.  This has taken a tremendous amount of stress out of my life and business.

Do you have a team of experts for your business that you can regularly rely upon?  What do you do if you have a technology-related question?

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Posted in Business Research, small businesses, technology, virtual assistance, virtual assistant consulting practice | 16 Comments »

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