In this video is a huge company announcement. Check it out to learn more.
Misrepresentation of Virtual Assistants
About a week ago, ABC News did a story titled “Virtual Assistants: Do They Make Life Easier.” However, it did not accurately represent the Virtual Assistant industry. Click here to view it. First of all it focused on tasks that a personal assistant performs. Secondly, the virtual assistants’ fee was $2.00 per task.
The story did not point out the different expertise (specialty) services that virtual assistants (VAs) perform. My colleague, Tina Hilton, wrote an interesting post where she questions is the mainstream news media hurting VAs’ businesses. They are presenting virtual assistants as someone who does personal assistant tasks, at a very low cost, which does not require being an expert. Click here to read Tina’s post.
There are virtual assistants who provide the personal assistant services that are presented in the video, but not at $2.00 per task. The media is painting the Virtual Assistant industry with a limited brush stroke, says Tina, which I agree with. They are not shining the light on the rest of the industry.
According to a post in Huffington Post written by Grant Cardone, there are over 26 million people either unemployed or underemployed, and they are choosing to become entrepreneurs. These new entrepreneurs will eventually need a Virtual Assistant. This type of news story can give them the wrong impression.
A Time-Saving Tip For Entrepreneurs
If you are an entrepreneur and/or a small business owner who needs more hours in a day or if you are a DIY (do it “yourselfer”), this video is for you. In this video, I share with entrepreneurs and small business owners the value in outsourcing their administrative tasks to virtual assistants in order to save valuable time.
A Virtual Assistant’s Tip for Entrepreneurs
When all else fail, Google it. This is a tip for entrepreneurs and small business owners from your Virtual Assistant Rita Cartwright.
I created a drop down menu for my ASPX web pages with Expression Web 2 software. The drop down menu appeared correctly in IE8 but not in FF 3.6. I posted my issue in the Expression Web forum, and the members gave me various suggestions and tips, which were from the perspective that I was designing my web pages incorrectly. So, I applied their suggestions; however, it didn’t solve my drop down menu issue.
Although, their tips didn’t solve the problem with the appearance of my menu, I did learn some valuable information regarding how to correctly lay out my web pages; therefore, it wasn’t all in vain. However, my menu still wasn’t displaying correctly in Firefox. So, I decided to Google my problem. Lo, and behold, I found a solution.
It turns out that it isn’t me, it is Firefox’s browser; specifically, Version 3.6 if using with Vista Operating System. If you are having the same display problems, click here for more information.
As a sidebar, Safari and Chrome browsers don’t show ASPX drop down menus correctly either. The members of the Expression Web forum did help me resolve this.
Anyway, when all else fail, Google your question and/or issue. There is a good chance you will find your solution. This is a tip from your Virtual Assistant Rita Cartwright.
“Go Green” Work With Virtual Assistants
In honor of Earth Day, I am re-posting this post. This is one of many solutions to help us preserve Mother Earth.
With the increasing cost of fuel and pollution, businesses are going to have to come up with alternatives for their employees who drive back and forth to work on a daily basis. One alternative could be to reduce the work week. Another alternative would be to allow their employees to perform their duties from home. Of course, there are certain businesses that cannot operate off-site, as well as certain tasks that cannot be completed virtually.
On the other hand, if you are an entrepreneur, small business, or a small business owner and need administrative assistance, you have the alternative of working with a Virtual Assistant (VA). As a result, you and your Virtual Assistant are able to “go green.” Your Virtual Assistant doesn’t have to purchase as much gasoline, because he or she works from their home office. You “go green” by choosing to work with a VA rather than hiring an administrative assistant who would have to drive to your office. Both you and your VA are helping to preserve our planet by not adding to the levels of carbon monoxide.
This is just another great benefit in working with a Virtual Assistant. “Go green” work with a Virtual Assistant.
Video on Rita’s Virtual Assistant Services
Rita describes what and who are virtual assistants comparing them to corporate world administrative assistants. She also gives a detailed listing of the virtual assistant services that RJ’s Word Processing Services offers.
Tasks You Can Outsource to a Virtual Assistant
Being an entrepreneur and small business owner, chances are you do not have enough time to prospect for new clients, as well as take care of your current clients. Generally, you are faced with daily administrative tasks, which are very time-consuming. You barely have enough time to focus on developing your business. This is where a Virtual Assistant (VA) comes in. When you retain the services of a VA, you will gain valuable time. With this extra time, you can concentrate on growing your client base. In addition, you will have more time to provide your current clients excellent customer service.
Examples of tasks that you can outsource are: bookkeeping, scheduling appointments, returning phone calls, answering phone calls, managing e-mails, making reservations, typing and mailing correspondences, creating and managing your database, updating your website and blog, etc. These are just a few examples of projects that can be farmed out.
Another task you can outsource to your VA is social networking. As an entrepreneur and small business owner, you are aware of the importance of using social media networking as a marketing strategy. You also realize how much time is involved in social media networking. I can spend an entire day on Twitter alone networking with other entrepreneurs. In order to save you some valuable time, virtual assistants can help you with your networking efforts. Keep in mind, virtual assistants use the same social media networking techniques and know their way around social media sites.
A virtual assistant can set up your social media profiles at various sites, as well as filter through posts for any relevant information pertaining to your business. On Twitter, a Virtual Assistant can check your DMs (direct messages) and your replies (posts directed to you) to see if there is anything you need to respond to.
A Virtual Assistant can also post pertinent information about your company and products and/or services. Larger companies are starting to use Twitter to communicate with their customers about their products and/or services, in addition to getting their feedback. Another feature of Twitter is you have people following you and people you choose to follow. A Virtual Assistant can research the ones following you to see if they are viable potential clients. In addition, s/he can search for possible clients for you to follow on Twitter.
As you know, social media networking allows you to create business relationships, as well as give your prospective clients the opportunity to learn more about you; therefore, it is necessary for you to spend some time networking on these social media sites. However, virtual assistants can help you save a huge amount of valuable time; time you can use to focus on your clients. Virtual assistants can help you with social media networking also.
Starting A Virtual Assistant Business
When starting a virtual assistant business, the first item on your to do list is coming up with a business name. You should give this a lot of thought. The name you choose should reflect your products or services, because you will promote, brand and market your business under this name.
Next, decide on a niche. A niche market is a narrowly defined group of potential clients. In order to create effective advertising and/or marketing messages, you need to know who you are addressing.
One method of marketing is Internet marketing, also know as online marketing. Nowadays, because of the Internet and technology, Internet marketing is affordable and popular. Examples of Internet marketing are blogs, websites, article marketing, online networking, and e-mail marketing campaigns. For more detailed descriptions and examples of Internet marketing, click here for a copy of my e-book for only $3.98.
If you are considering starting a virtual assistant business, decide on a business name, choose a niche, as well as create and implement an Internet marketing plan.
Rita Cartwright’s Vision
You may have read in a previous post that I am a Christian business leader, as well as the responsibilities that are associated with this position. This video explains my vision of training women, who are turning their lives around, how to become virtual assistants and entrepreneurs. If you know of anyone who would appreciate this information, please forward this post to them. Thank you very much.
Entrepreneur’s Mindset
Working for someone else and working for yourself is as different as day and night. I suddenly realized this having worked in the corporate world for over 25 years compared to now being an entrepreneur.
It is quite an adjustment to become accustomed to not having to answer to anyone or feeling inferior to a superior. I call this conditioning yourself into a mindset of an entrepreneur. It is not an easy transition, but well worth the transformation.
Your client is not your boss, but your equal. This type of relationship fosters a mutual respect for each other to the point where you can even brainstorm on certain topics or issues. Sure your boss in the workforce may have attempted to show you mutual respect, but there was always that element of inequality that existed.
Having an entrepreneur’s mindset gives you the freedom to express your ideas or creativity without being worried about being stifled or causing confusion in the office or the boardroom. An entrepreneur’s mindset gives you more confidence in yourself and your capabilities. It can also build your self-esteem, especially for female entrepreneurs. Women in the workforce have come a long way, but there is work yet to be done.
In today’s economy, being an entrepreneur is rapidly becoming the norm. According to Entrepreneur Magazine, self-employment rates have been growing at an average of 4.5 percent annually. With all the layoffs, especially among baby boomers, that percentage will increase. Age discrimination still exists; therefore, it will be difficult for them to find employment, forcing them into becoming entrepreneurs.
Overall, thinking like an entrepreneur rather than an employee is a process, which takes time. As I mentioned before, it is a conditioning that takes place. It is not easy, especially for baby boomers after so many years in the workforce; however, it can be done. Enjoy the ride!
From the mindset of an entrepreneur,
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