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Using a Virtual Assistant

Posted by Dana Williams on October 26, 2010 at 1:45pm

What is a Virtual Assistant?

Need a VA? Call 469-737-0712

A virtual assistant, or VA, is an administrative professional who outsources his or her administrative talents and experience to small business, individuals and corporations for a long or short-term period. Most virtual assistants have several years of experience in the corporate world, and bring to their business the training and experience accumulated during those years.

For me, I have over 15 years experience in administrative roles and worked for top companies such as Fed Ex Office and Southwest Airlines. I also have a degree in Office Management and another degree in Business Management. I used my 8 years experience as an internet marketer to specialize as an internet marketing virtual assistant. So along with administrative tasks, I also help small businesses with marketing online.

Many administrators who leave the corporate world to start their own virtual assistant business do so because they are motivated to achieve and want to influence how their talents are used and developed. Virtual assistants are known for continually developing their administrative skills, business knowledge, and keeping up with leading edge technology to provide you, the client, with professional and reliable virtual service.

Virtual Assistants In Business

Virtual assistants are not employees. We are small business owners who work with you to support your business goals and needs. When you contract a virtual assistant, you receive expert and flexible administrative support, provided through popular and leading edge technology. VAs are business owners themselves and understand why you and your business need professional, timely, reasonably priced service. Because the client's satisfaction is key to the success of a virtual assistant business, you can expect solid and reliable performance on a continuing basis.

Though virtual assistants can be engaged for an occasional project, their potential is best realized in ongoing business relationships with their clients. Over time, your virtual assistant will become more familiar with the workings of your business, so he or she can better support you and add to your success.

The many small business owners and entrepreneurs of today's business world have found virtual assistants to be an invaluable resource. Virtual assistants have come a long way from being "work at home" secretaries. They can be writers, proofreaders, editors, database creators, researchers, marketers, web designers ... The list of possibilities is as diverse as the people who enter the VA industry. Business people are realizing they no longer have to do everything on their own and are hiring virtual assistants to take care of tasks they no longer have time for, or that they don't enjoy doing.

Where Is The VA Industry Going?

It's only going to get bigger and better! The current trend in business outsourcing means that the role of virtual assistants will become more significant in the future. As technology develops and business need grows, a virtual assistant may soon become a vital part of every successful business.

Dana Williams is an Internet Marketing Virtual Assistant specializing in online promotions for small businesses. Visit www.YourInternetMarketingAssistant.com for her special report "Internet Marketing for Small Business".

Create Your Online Branding Strategy in 5 Easy Steps

Posted by Dana Williams on November 9, 2010 at 11:13am

Create Your Online Branding Strategy in 5 Easy Steps

As a small business owner building your brand online is essential in this new economy. A few weeks ago I attended a webinar presented by Coach Tanya, of BePromotable.com, a branding consulting company in Dallas, Texas.

In the webinar, Coach Tanya detailed these five steps to online branding. Follow these five online branding tips and you’ll be on your way to creating a solid brand for your small business.

Develop a Visibility Strategy. Be seen and be heard. It used to said that– “it’s who you know”, but in this new economy, it’s “who knows you” that matters. To accomplish this strategy, create a blog for your business, use social media such as Twitter and Facebook but don’t forget about affinity groups like LinkedIn and Ning. Create a profile and get active on these sites.
Be Known for Something. Become a thought leader. Define your strengths. What comes natural to you? What are you good at? What makes you think “I can’t wait to do that again?” Determine whatever it is and become a known leader in that area.
Decide Your Style. Just because everyone else is doing it doesn’t mean it’s right for you. When it comes to marketing your business online, there are so many ways to do this. There’s social media, article-writing, press releases, blogs, etc. and so on. Don’t try to do it all. Test them out, then decide what’s right for you and go with that.
Manage Your Time. Outsource what you don’t have time to do yourself. A tool like HootSuite is a real time-saver when it comes to posting to your social media accounts. Another way to save time is to hire a virtual assistant or outsource company to handle administrative or marketing tasks you don’t have time to do yourself.
Monitor Your Brand. You can measure how well your brand ranks online by using sites like Klout.com and OnlineCalculator.com. These sites will let you know how strong your online brand is currently and give you some tips to leverage your online clout.

Dana Williams is an Internet Marketing Virtual Assistant specializing in online promotions for small businesses. Visit http://www.YourInternetMarketingAssistant.com for her special report "Internet Marketing for Small Business".

BohoChick Productions: Independent Filmmaker Seeks Stories from Executive/Personal Assistants!

Posted by Kara Ford on July 13, 2010 at 3:30am

Have you ever had to manage the bits and pieces of someone else's life, either at the office or in their home? BohoChick Productions wants to hear your stories!

You don't need the skills of a writer to submit. We're simply looking for funny, strange and downright ridiculous incidents that take place in the office (or anywhere else) from the assistant's point of view.

If your story is chosen, we'll send you more information and a release form which will detail the way in which the story will be used and what you can expect in return.

By submitting your story to us, you attest that you are 18 years of age or older, it is an original work created by you, and you hold the copyright for the work and have not entered into any other agreements with any other entity for the use of this work in any format whatsoever.

Please don't include any names within the story (people, places, companies, etc.); we don't want to infringe on anyone else's rights.

If you have a story you'd like to share, click the link Assistant Story and fill out the form with your contact information, the title (so we can tell the difference if you submit more than one), and your story of 500 words or less (the shorter the better!), and hit submit.

Of course, you can always send it via email to bohochickproductions@gmail.com. Be sure to follow the same guidelines to give yourself the best chance of having your story chosen.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Outsourcing to Survive the Recession

Posted by CMB Virtual Assistants on August 1, 2009 at 12:00pm

Due to the recession, employers are laying off employees to cut costs. Most organizations are being forced to think outside the box in order to survive the recession and to stay competitive.To stay competitive in these tough economic times, business owners are outsourcing some job duties to virtual assistants. An article published Feb. 3, 2009 by Networkworld.com entitled Outsourcing on the Rise explains that “more companies are outsourcing as a cost-cutting strategy”. Today, businesses have many options in delegating tasks to a virtual assistant from administrative office work, bookkeeping, social media marketing, proofing, to customer service. “CMB Virtual Assistants supports and meets the growing needs of businesses,” states Pamela King.Outsourcing is the perfect solution for overwhelmed businesses. There are many creative ways a VA can assist the busy executive to survive these tough economic times. To learn more about these creative options, contact CMB Virtual Assistants at 206.376.0735 or visit www.cmbvirtualassistants.com.

Is it time to Hire an Assistant?

Posted by CMB Virtual Assistants on August 19, 2009 at 9:00am

Are you working every hour of the day, even in your sleep? Are you working odd hours - late into the night or very early in the morning? Are you missing quality family time because you “must” finish this one last thing? Is there simply too much to do and all of it has you feeling a bit overwhelmed?If you answered yes to any of these questions, it may be time to hire an assistant. If you are:1. Spending more than 60% of your day on administrative tasks.You should be focusing on revenue generating activities, instead of pushing paper, making return phone calls, or updating your Facebook or Twitter page. If most of your time is spent on administrative tasks you are not adding value to your business which means your business is not growing.2. You have had to forgo your strategic plan in order to manage the day to day activities.Due to the economy, it is becoming the norm for Executives to play the office manager, the sales manager, and the CEO of their company; however, wearing these hats causes the Executive to lose focus on the long-term projects, which will sustain their business in the long run.3. When was the last time you took a “real” vacation? Are you still thinking? If so, you are overworked and you feel that you can’t take a vacation because you have no one that can handle things while you are gone.You must take time to smell the flowers. An overworked exhausted executive is a hazard to any company. You must take the time to revitalize your mind and body by taking much needed rest periods. Take some time to have fun and come back recharged and ready to grow your business.4. One man show! Be honest - You know you would produce more if you had someone to work with you.You would likely be able to make better decisions because there would be someone there to provide insights and ideas & this will give you the opportunity to delegate some tasks which will increase your time to focus on growing the business.5. You want to spend time with your family and friends and there is simply too much work to do.If any of these situations sound like you or your business, it may be time to consider hiring an assistant. Call CMB Virtual Assistants (206.376.0735) today to set up an appointment to discuss the services that we offer that will help you grow your business through our many levels of administrative support.

It's what we need...Small Biz Sanity!

Posted by Vonetta Booker-Brown on September 14, 2008 at 1:47pm

Hi, everyone:Wow, what a great site Sistapreneurs is! So glad I came across it. A very positive & active community--just my style!If you read my page, I run a virtual assistance practice, Right Hand Concepts--where I provide remote administrative support to small businesses via email, phone & fax. If you've got administrative tasks that you don't have the time or desire to do & would rather focus on the MEAT of running your business, let's talk! (Okay, that was my shameless plug, lol.)I'm going to link this blog post to my main blog, Small Biz Sanity. It's where you can find all types of cool, fun anecdotes, resources & tips for entrepreneurs--plus "how I did it"-type Q&As from other small business owners just like yourself ('cause if they can do it, so can you!).Feel free to visit, check it out--and don't forget to sign up for regular updates on my latest blog entries!Peace 'n blessings,Vonetta Booker-Brownwww.smallbizsanity.comwww.righthandconcepts.comwww.vbookerbrown.com

WBO Talk Radio: Do I Need A Real Estate Agent or Virtual Assistant? Join us on June 11th!

Posted by Altha Sood on June 9, 2008 at 12:07am

The answers to this question can be found when you join us on Wednesday, June 11th at 11 a.m. (EST) on www.blogtalkradio.com/wbo-radio. You join us by phone, "dial - in" number is (347) 205-9229 or in the chatroom on the host page.Believe me...people are still buying and selling homes! It may be at a slower rate but it is being done! Or, it's summertime and want to spend more time with family but, you have got a business to run....hire a virtual assistant! Find out more on what a virtual assistant can do for you!Here is a little information on our radio guests --Melissa L. Newton is one of our newest WBO members and owner of the website, www.melissanewton.remarkableagents.com. She currently is employed with Exit American Eagle Realty. Ms. Newton has been with 2 other companies and has found each to have very different approaches in helping their agents succeed. She attributes her success in this business to Exit American Eagle Realty because she feels treated as an asset to the company. This company has also implemented a new program that supports nonprofits in the community. Each agent will donate 10% of their commission, in the name of the customer, to a charity of their (buyer's) choosing. What an awesome idea! Would you like to hear more about this offer? Tune in to the show on Wednesday.Mary "Kate" LaFrance is a WBO member and owns www.helpvirtual.com. Ms. LaFrance is a veteran of the newspaper business within the trenches experience in graphic design, copywriting, ad sales, management and editorial marketing instincts. All of these skills/talents led to the launch of her own successful virtual assistant business in 2006. Her company has underwent a name change to HELP Virtual Mktg+Admin to reflect her internet marketing focus. On this broadcast, she is announcing the launch of her new website, www.marketingmindset.biz, where she shares her marketing ideas and advice with other entrepreneurs. Come find out more about her new upcoming teleseminar, "Enough to be Dangerous" and how to get a special discount!They are offering special discounts if you utilize their services. Don't miss out on this opportunity!

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.