Want to have the best relationships with your clients? As your grow your virtual assistant business, it’s important to build solid business relationships with your clients. Then these clients will not only keep coming back, but also refer others to you.
Here are ten fun tips to help you establish a great working relationship:
#1 - Come Again? It’s critical to establish right from the beginning how you will handle the communications with your clients. If e-mailing, what is the standard turnaround time that you respond back to emails. If phoning, what are your hours? Once a client knows when they will hear from you, then they can plan their day and work accordingly.
#2 - No Surprises - Nothing is worse for a client than to discover four hours before you leave that you are heading out on a week-long vacation. That’s stretching it a bit and you probably wouldn’t do that, but think about other ways you might be surprising your client and not giving them the advance notice they need. Keep in mind that they are probably under pressure too to get their work done. Always give as much advance notice as you can when things will disrupt the business flow.
#3 - Where’d She Go? For building good client relationships, try not to disappear off the radar screen. Check in with your clients often. When a client writes and they don’t hear back from you for days (or weeks), they fear the worst. Even if you are working on a large project and the deadline is weeks away, e-mail them and let them know “All is going well.” That builds confidence and security.
#4 - OOPS, Where Did That Come From? We’ve all been there. You get the email from the client saying they found a typo or typos. Ouch. We can’t be perfect, but try and be as close as you can. Proof and reproof your work. Also, if possible wait until the material is fresh and reread it again. Determine the time when you are at your best, and use that time to do your proofing.
#5 - Super Size It Please - Always give your clients more than they ask for. You will be rewarded with not only more work, but lots of word of mouth referrals too. And there are so many ways to do it. For example, 1) Set up an Autoresponder for them so they can sell more products; 2) Set up Google Alerts under their topic or target audience so you can find websites or blogs that will help them spread their message; 3) Help them produce a newsletter or blog; 4) Send them more clients or referrals; 5) Ask them directly what you can do to better the relationship; and 6) Most importantly, listen to what they say. It’s so easy to get busy and listen with half an ear, or try and talk too much about your business. Being a good listener is a valuable asset.
#6 - Short and Sweet – Make sure that all e-mail correspondence is typed accurately and is short and to the point. With everyone having busy schedules, this helps your clients save valuable time. One thing you’ll discover is if you write too long of an e-mail often your main points will be missed. This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t strive to get the answers you need, but keep in mind that their time is valuable and to use it wisely.
#7 - You Need it WHEN? - Determine exactly when work is to be completed or when the order is to go out. This will save a tremendous amount of problems down the road if everyone is in agreement. It’s also good to have a written contract. Be specific. Once everyone knows what is expected, things run so much more smoothly.
#8 - My Dog Ate It - One thing you want to do is always try and make your deadlines and avoid excuses. We all know that things come up and that’s okay if it happens occasionally. However, if you make it a habit of needing additional time or not finishing projects, that client will fear sending you more work. Not a good thing.
#9 - Saved by the Bell - Make it a point to back-up your work on a regular basis. And test those backups. Can you imagine even losing a week’s worth of work? Your clients are counting on you to protect their work so you want to make sure it is.
#10 - Howdy Partner – Remember that you are establishing a partnership relationship with your clients. You want to help their business grow because as you do, your business grows too. Let them know you value them as a client and are glad that they have entrusted you with their work. In other words, you appreciate them. Also, let them know that you appreciate referrals so that they can help in your success. It can be a two-way street with this partnership.
And finally, enjoy. Start a friendship with your clients and let them know that you care about them. Most of my clients today are good friends. This isn’t to say that I’m not professional and don’t conduct myself professionally, as I do. However, I let them know that I’m also interested in them personally and how they are doing. I take time to know their birthdays, their kid’s names, etc. Think how you feel when something lets you know they care about you.
Hope you enjoyed these ‘fun” tips. As our Industry continues to thrive, it’s important to earn the respect and trust of our clients and also fellow Virtual Assistants. When you set up your business with the goal of doing a fabulous job, you’ll end up with fabulous clients, and fabulous friends. It’s a win/win for all.
Diana Ennen is the President of Virtual Word Publishing, www.virtualwordpublishing.com and the author of numerous books on starting a virtual assistant business including Virtual Assistant the Series: Become a Highly Successful Sought After VA and accompanying Workbook and also Corel WordPerfect’s Office Ready Virtual Assistant Solution pack. E-mail her at diana@virtualwordpublishing.com to receive your free Business Informational Package. Article is free to be reprinted as long as bio remains intact
Showing posts with label virtual assistant business. Show all posts
Showing posts with label virtual assistant business. Show all posts
Friday, March 01, 2013
Virtual Assistants – When is it time to hire a coach?
You probably started your virtual assistant business with big hopes of success. You figured as soon as others knew you were in business they would be flocking to you. Yes, you were ready. Success was yours.
However, even though you put up your shingles, “Open for Business” a funny thing happened. No one came. So you go back to the drawing board again and become a little more vocal this time. “Hey, I’m opened, come and get it.” That should do it. But unfortunately it doesn’t.
So many make this mistake. They think with the right services the clients will be able to find you once you get started. Unfortunately instead of that lovely emails you receive of “you’ve got a payment” you can still hear a pin drop and no one is contacting you. Now what do you do?
Believe it or not, this happens to a lot of virtual assistants and other business owners thinking that once you open you can just get down to doing the work. The clients will automatically come running. But that’s not always the case. In fact, that is rarely the case. You need to get out there and promote your business and also you need to be set up for success, well before you send out that first marketing piece.
And that is why you might need a virtual assistant or business coach. Someone who can take you step by step through the process and help you not only get those clients, but also be set up correctly so once you get them, the day-to-day operations of your business run smoothly. Let’s talk about what a coach can do for you.
What can a virtual assistant coach or business coach help with? Here are just a few things:
• A coach will make sure you haven’t forgotten any of those vital business basic steps needed to start your business. Bookkeeping, licenses, business plans are just some of the topics to be discussed and figured out.
• A coach will help you decide with your skills and experience who would be your ideal clients. Then the coach will help you put the steps into place to land those clients. Marketing your business will be a big part of what you will be doing together.
• Your coach will review your pricing and figure out the best way to set up your business, whether you would benefit with going with packages, blocks of time, retainer rates, etc.
• A coach can review all your media including your website, media, blogs, and make recommendations. This alone is worth its weight in gold. Once you get out there marketing, if your site and branding doesn’t convince clients you have what they need, then you can be not only wasting your time and money, but burning bridges down the road. Those potential clients may never come back.
• A coach will be your best friend at times and your worst enemy at others. Yes, they will be there for you when you do things right, but they should also be there for you and guide you gently when you don’t. By helping you prevent many of the mistakes that they might have made themselves, you learn the best way to do things.
This all sounds good, but how do you find a good coach? The main thing you want to consider is to find one you feel confident in by reviewing their business. Is it one that you would like to mimic?
Do they walk the walk and talk the talk? You want someone who you respect and know they have your back as well as the skills needed to help you success. Once you know what you’re looking for, go out there and connect. Your business success is waiting!
Diana Ennen, President of Virtual Word Publishing, www.virtualwordpublishing.com has been in business for over 25 years and is eager to help coach you to better success. As the author of the highly successful, Virtual Assistant the Series: Become a Highly Sought After VA, she can guide to in all you need to do to be successful too. Email for her free informational package diana@virtualwordpublishing.com. Article is free to be reprinted as long as bio remains.
However, even though you put up your shingles, “Open for Business” a funny thing happened. No one came. So you go back to the drawing board again and become a little more vocal this time. “Hey, I’m opened, come and get it.” That should do it. But unfortunately it doesn’t.
So many make this mistake. They think with the right services the clients will be able to find you once you get started. Unfortunately instead of that lovely emails you receive of “you’ve got a payment” you can still hear a pin drop and no one is contacting you. Now what do you do?
Believe it or not, this happens to a lot of virtual assistants and other business owners thinking that once you open you can just get down to doing the work. The clients will automatically come running. But that’s not always the case. In fact, that is rarely the case. You need to get out there and promote your business and also you need to be set up for success, well before you send out that first marketing piece.
And that is why you might need a virtual assistant or business coach. Someone who can take you step by step through the process and help you not only get those clients, but also be set up correctly so once you get them, the day-to-day operations of your business run smoothly. Let’s talk about what a coach can do for you.
What can a virtual assistant coach or business coach help with? Here are just a few things:
• A coach will make sure you haven’t forgotten any of those vital business basic steps needed to start your business. Bookkeeping, licenses, business plans are just some of the topics to be discussed and figured out.
• A coach will help you decide with your skills and experience who would be your ideal clients. Then the coach will help you put the steps into place to land those clients. Marketing your business will be a big part of what you will be doing together.
• Your coach will review your pricing and figure out the best way to set up your business, whether you would benefit with going with packages, blocks of time, retainer rates, etc.
• A coach can review all your media including your website, media, blogs, and make recommendations. This alone is worth its weight in gold. Once you get out there marketing, if your site and branding doesn’t convince clients you have what they need, then you can be not only wasting your time and money, but burning bridges down the road. Those potential clients may never come back.
• A coach will be your best friend at times and your worst enemy at others. Yes, they will be there for you when you do things right, but they should also be there for you and guide you gently when you don’t. By helping you prevent many of the mistakes that they might have made themselves, you learn the best way to do things.
This all sounds good, but how do you find a good coach? The main thing you want to consider is to find one you feel confident in by reviewing their business. Is it one that you would like to mimic?
Do they walk the walk and talk the talk? You want someone who you respect and know they have your back as well as the skills needed to help you success. Once you know what you’re looking for, go out there and connect. Your business success is waiting!
Diana Ennen, President of Virtual Word Publishing, www.virtualwordpublishing.com has been in business for over 25 years and is eager to help coach you to better success. As the author of the highly successful, Virtual Assistant the Series: Become a Highly Sought After VA, she can guide to in all you need to do to be successful too. Email for her free informational package diana@virtualwordpublishing.com. Article is free to be reprinted as long as bio remains.
Virtual Assistant Books – Choosing the Right One for Your Business
Want to have a successful and highly profitable business? Who doesn’t these days? Well, to do that it’s important to have the right resources as your foundation. As a professional Virtual Assistant (VA) your business success, at least initially, can depend on finding the best virtual assistant book. Choosing the right one can be a daunting task at best; however, there are well-written and highly successful VA books on the market that meet those criteria. You just need to know what to look for. You want one that is hands on, practical, current and offers all the information you need to succeed.
But first, what exactly is a VA? A VA is a highly skilled professional who provides administrative support and specialized services to businesses, entrepreneurs, executives, sales professionals, and others who have more work than time to do it. They can do everything from offering PR and marketing services to web design, event planning, bookkeeping, administrative tasks and so much more.
So when looking for a virtual assistant book, here are some recommendations:
Experience
Nothing is less practical than a resource written by someone with very little experience in the industry. Be cautious of the books that have been written by those who have been in business for under a year and have few clients. Instead, look to those writers that:
- Know the challenges, triumphs and pitfalls of being in the industry for a good length of time.
- Are highly successful and sought after for their expertise. Let their record of accomplishment speak for itself.
- Are out there on social networks offering tips and recommendations for others.
- Above all, look for those that know what they are talking about and it shows.
Highlights Business Essentials Including Tools & Requirements
Look for a VA book that contains details to getting set up such as:
- Understanding business basics including the type of business to start, how to choose your name, get your licenses, and more.
- A solid, methodical, well-written, practical business plan you can execute in a reasonable period.
- A checklist of all the components you need to start including examples of forms, client assessments, social media tools, self-assessment forms, marketing checklist etc.
Marketing Your Business Essentials
Look for solid marketing advice that is easy to follow, but will yield great results. Be especially mindful of these areas:
- Marketing to your niche and how best to determine that niche and the experience and skills you will need for that.
- Best ways to market that are cost-effective and time sensitive.
- Social media tools that are current and inclusive to those plans
- Updates on the technology and trends to increase your marketing.
Business Operational Procedures
Nice to have the vision for your business, however, day-to-day operations can be like throwing someone in the water who has never swam before and they have either to sink or swim. The right tools to ease that transition include:
- Explains in detail best tips for organization, time management, client relations, office set up and equipment.
- How to price your services.
- Explains the best daily operational procedures such as turnaround time, work balance, etc.
- Taking not only care of your family, most importantly your number one asset, “you” should be tops on that list.
Let us face it there would be no VA industry without accurate resources. Inspiration with practical and successful material is the perfect component to the successful VA book you need for your business.
Kelly Poelker and Diana Ennen are successful virtual assistants and co-authors of numerous books including Virtual Assistant – The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After Virtual Assistant and accompanying Virtual Assistant the Series Workbook, Stop by http://www.vatheseries.com for information on starting a VA business or contact authors at authors@va-theseries.com if you need a virtual assistant. Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DianaEnnen and http://www.twitter.com/KellyPoelker
Article is free to be reprinted as long as bio remains.
But first, what exactly is a VA? A VA is a highly skilled professional who provides administrative support and specialized services to businesses, entrepreneurs, executives, sales professionals, and others who have more work than time to do it. They can do everything from offering PR and marketing services to web design, event planning, bookkeeping, administrative tasks and so much more.
So when looking for a virtual assistant book, here are some recommendations:
Experience
Nothing is less practical than a resource written by someone with very little experience in the industry. Be cautious of the books that have been written by those who have been in business for under a year and have few clients. Instead, look to those writers that:
- Know the challenges, triumphs and pitfalls of being in the industry for a good length of time.
- Are highly successful and sought after for their expertise. Let their record of accomplishment speak for itself.
- Are out there on social networks offering tips and recommendations for others.
- Above all, look for those that know what they are talking about and it shows.
Highlights Business Essentials Including Tools & Requirements
Look for a VA book that contains details to getting set up such as:
- Understanding business basics including the type of business to start, how to choose your name, get your licenses, and more.
- A solid, methodical, well-written, practical business plan you can execute in a reasonable period.
- A checklist of all the components you need to start including examples of forms, client assessments, social media tools, self-assessment forms, marketing checklist etc.
Marketing Your Business Essentials
Look for solid marketing advice that is easy to follow, but will yield great results. Be especially mindful of these areas:
- Marketing to your niche and how best to determine that niche and the experience and skills you will need for that.
- Best ways to market that are cost-effective and time sensitive.
- Social media tools that are current and inclusive to those plans
- Updates on the technology and trends to increase your marketing.
Business Operational Procedures
Nice to have the vision for your business, however, day-to-day operations can be like throwing someone in the water who has never swam before and they have either to sink or swim. The right tools to ease that transition include:
- Explains in detail best tips for organization, time management, client relations, office set up and equipment.
- How to price your services.
- Explains the best daily operational procedures such as turnaround time, work balance, etc.
- Taking not only care of your family, most importantly your number one asset, “you” should be tops on that list.
Let us face it there would be no VA industry without accurate resources. Inspiration with practical and successful material is the perfect component to the successful VA book you need for your business.
Kelly Poelker and Diana Ennen are successful virtual assistants and co-authors of numerous books including Virtual Assistant – The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After Virtual Assistant and accompanying Virtual Assistant the Series Workbook, Stop by http://www.vatheseries.com for information on starting a VA business or contact authors at authors@va-theseries.com if you need a virtual assistant. Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DianaEnnen and http://www.twitter.com/KellyPoelker
Article is free to be reprinted as long as bio remains.
Virtual Assistant Business Tops The List of Businesses to Start in 2013
It’s no secret being a business owner can be one the most rewarding ventures ever. After all, you get to be the boss, make all the rules, and make a great income—all at the same time, right? It doesn’t get any better than that! Of course that comes with a lot of hours, a lot of sweat, and a lot of sacrifice. Nonetheless, over 20 million of us do it and wouldn’t trade it for the world.
One of the most hottest businesses to start, according to a recent article in Home Business magazine (December 2012 issue) is a Virtual Assistant business. If you’ve been following the industry and the top businesses to start listings for any length of time you have likely noticed that a Virtual Assistant business has been high on many lists in recent years. Why? We would say that is due to rising popularity and ease of entry if you have the right skill set and expertise. And, there is minimal investment for getting started.
As we shared with Home Business magazine, “Virtual Assistants partner with his/her clients and learn about the client’s business to become a trusted and valued member of the team. At the same time, the Virtual Assistant only charges for time on tasks, so it ultimately saves the client in overhead expenses while affording them the necessary time to take care of more business.”
It’s the partnership we create with clients that distinguishes us from other types of service providers, like those bidding for jobs on freelance-type sites. The ultimate goal is to establish a long-term relationship with the client to provide business support services, like those we outlined below. These services are performed in your office instead of the client’s, hence the virtual aspect of the working arrangement.
As an independent contractor you are then responsible for paying your own taxes, providing the equipment, software, and whatever else you need to perform the services in addition to all other aspects of running your own business. This is where the VA can eliminate the overhead expenses of a hiring an employee for a business owner.
The article further went on to say, “Virtual Assistant services include: publicity and marketing, article and press release writing and distribution, social networking updates, legal, medical, and general transcription, bookkeeping, web design, and administrative tasks.” There are a wide variety of services a virtual assistant can offer, this is only a small sampling of the services you can offer.
Want to learn more on how to become a virtual assistant? Take the time to visit different websites and do your research online. There are a number of colleges that offer training as well as industry experts, like us, who offer coaching.
Diana Ennen and Kelly Poelker are the co-authors of numerous books including Virtual Assistant - The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA. Stop by for information on starting your own VA business http://www.vatheseries.com. Also, stop by AcademyVP.com for a VA Self-Assessment to help you determine whether becoming a virtual assistant is a good choice for you. Article is free to be reprinted as long as bio remains.
One of the most hottest businesses to start, according to a recent article in Home Business magazine (December 2012 issue) is a Virtual Assistant business. If you’ve been following the industry and the top businesses to start listings for any length of time you have likely noticed that a Virtual Assistant business has been high on many lists in recent years. Why? We would say that is due to rising popularity and ease of entry if you have the right skill set and expertise. And, there is minimal investment for getting started.
As we shared with Home Business magazine, “Virtual Assistants partner with his/her clients and learn about the client’s business to become a trusted and valued member of the team. At the same time, the Virtual Assistant only charges for time on tasks, so it ultimately saves the client in overhead expenses while affording them the necessary time to take care of more business.”
It’s the partnership we create with clients that distinguishes us from other types of service providers, like those bidding for jobs on freelance-type sites. The ultimate goal is to establish a long-term relationship with the client to provide business support services, like those we outlined below. These services are performed in your office instead of the client’s, hence the virtual aspect of the working arrangement.
As an independent contractor you are then responsible for paying your own taxes, providing the equipment, software, and whatever else you need to perform the services in addition to all other aspects of running your own business. This is where the VA can eliminate the overhead expenses of a hiring an employee for a business owner.
The article further went on to say, “Virtual Assistant services include: publicity and marketing, article and press release writing and distribution, social networking updates, legal, medical, and general transcription, bookkeeping, web design, and administrative tasks.” There are a wide variety of services a virtual assistant can offer, this is only a small sampling of the services you can offer.
Want to learn more on how to become a virtual assistant? Take the time to visit different websites and do your research online. There are a number of colleges that offer training as well as industry experts, like us, who offer coaching.
Diana Ennen and Kelly Poelker are the co-authors of numerous books including Virtual Assistant - The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA. Stop by for information on starting your own VA business http://www.vatheseries.com. Also, stop by AcademyVP.com for a VA Self-Assessment to help you determine whether becoming a virtual assistant is a good choice for you. Article is free to be reprinted as long as bio remains.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Marketing and Publicity Training Program Specifically For Virtual Assistants
Marketing and Publicity Training Program Specifically For Virtual Assistants
Margate, Florida (January, 2010) For the last several years, Cindy Greenway and Tina Forsyth have become known for their elite skills-based training, specifically designed for Virtual Assistants. As Co-Founders and Lead Trainers of Hot Skills VA Training http://www.hotskillsvatraining.com both Greenway and Forsyth want nothing more than to support the Virtual Assistant industry with offering great programs to encourage expertise, great clients and a rewarding business.
“The Virtual Assistant industry is growing tremendously. We’ve seen a big shift over the last two years to where business owners are looking for more specialized support.” says Greenway. “To keep up with the growth, we’ve connected with key experts in various fields to offer top-notch training in various specialty areas. It’s critical that Virtual Assistants keep up with the changing needs of our clients, to best support them and also build a rewarding business for themselves.”
To support this initiative, Greenway and Forsyth have partnered with Marketing and Publicity Specialist Diana Ennen, to offer the only Publicity Specialist Training Program for Virtual Assistants. The 3 week program starts January 25, 2010 and promises to teach critical strategies that Virtual Assistants can implement with their clients to generate publicity.
There are very few Virtual Assistants who specialize in this area yet, there are business owners everywhere desperately seeking a VA who can help them build their expertise and generate publicity.
During this three week program, participants will learn how to:
1. Write and distribute a newsworthy press release so it's posted on the front page of Google almost every time.
2. Write and distribute killer articles so they get noticed by your targeted media and generate attention.
3. Create a professional media kit that gets your client noticed.
4. Pitch to the media - how to effectively connect with the media, including newspapers, TV stations, radio, social media, etc.
5. Avoid the most common mistakes in getting book and product reviews.
This program, in addition to helping virtual assistants add the niche of publicity to their services, will also benefit virtual assistants who are looking to get more publicity for their own business. The PR tips mentioned can be extremely instrumental in helping any virtual assistant take their business to the next level as well.
For more information about the Publicity Specialist program, visit www.HotSkillsVATraining.com
About Hot Virtual Skills Training
HotSkillsVATraining.com was founded by Cindy Greenway and Tina Forsyth. Cindy and Tina offer a combined 15+ years in the Virtual Assistant profession and have worked with prominent online based business owners and marketing professionals.
Margate, Florida (January, 2010) For the last several years, Cindy Greenway and Tina Forsyth have become known for their elite skills-based training, specifically designed for Virtual Assistants. As Co-Founders and Lead Trainers of Hot Skills VA Training http://www.hotskillsvatraining.com both Greenway and Forsyth want nothing more than to support the Virtual Assistant industry with offering great programs to encourage expertise, great clients and a rewarding business.
“The Virtual Assistant industry is growing tremendously. We’ve seen a big shift over the last two years to where business owners are looking for more specialized support.” says Greenway. “To keep up with the growth, we’ve connected with key experts in various fields to offer top-notch training in various specialty areas. It’s critical that Virtual Assistants keep up with the changing needs of our clients, to best support them and also build a rewarding business for themselves.”
To support this initiative, Greenway and Forsyth have partnered with Marketing and Publicity Specialist Diana Ennen, to offer the only Publicity Specialist Training Program for Virtual Assistants. The 3 week program starts January 25, 2010 and promises to teach critical strategies that Virtual Assistants can implement with their clients to generate publicity.
There are very few Virtual Assistants who specialize in this area yet, there are business owners everywhere desperately seeking a VA who can help them build their expertise and generate publicity.
During this three week program, participants will learn how to:
1. Write and distribute a newsworthy press release so it's posted on the front page of Google almost every time.
2. Write and distribute killer articles so they get noticed by your targeted media and generate attention.
3. Create a professional media kit that gets your client noticed.
4. Pitch to the media - how to effectively connect with the media, including newspapers, TV stations, radio, social media, etc.
5. Avoid the most common mistakes in getting book and product reviews.
This program, in addition to helping virtual assistants add the niche of publicity to their services, will also benefit virtual assistants who are looking to get more publicity for their own business. The PR tips mentioned can be extremely instrumental in helping any virtual assistant take their business to the next level as well.
For more information about the Publicity Specialist program, visit www.HotSkillsVATraining.com
About Hot Virtual Skills Training
HotSkillsVATraining.com was founded by Cindy Greenway and Tina Forsyth. Cindy and Tina offer a combined 15+ years in the Virtual Assistant profession and have worked with prominent online based business owners and marketing professionals.
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