How Virtual Assistants Can Help Your Business Grow!

Perhaps you've got a small business and it's been thriving with your own marketing and research efforts. But if you want to boost your business marketing, consider the services of a virtual assistant.

Virtual assistants who've been trained and experienced in marketing research and business marketing -- particularly through the Internet -- can be invaluable to growing your business. It would take time for you to learn and do everything yourself, time that you could put to better use by focusing on the aspects of your business that you enjoy and are an expert at.

For example, not everyone is adept at using Web 2.0 for business marketing. Besides, it can eat up a lot of your time every day. Wouldn't you rather use that time to develop your business in other ways or even relax and enjoy your family?

Here are a few marketing and research tasks that a virtual assistant can perform for you:

* promote your business on social networking sites, a very time-consuming task
* produce a podcast which will expand your business' web presence
* look at competitors' websites and report on what they're doing - so you can analyze what your competitors' approaches and come up with strategies to outdo them
* find information you need to grow your business, such as identify affiliate programs that are relevant to your business and could increase your market reach
* look for websites or blogs relevant to your business where it might be profitable for you to advertise your products or services

Could you do all this yourself and still live the life you want? Probably not. Yet these things could take your business to the next level and ultimately increase your income. You should certainly be familiar with these processes in order to effectively hire and supervise somebody to do them for you. However, you don't have to do them yourself.

Let a virtual assistant declutter your mind of the minute but essential details of business marketing and research. Then you can focus on work that have greater impact on your business, such as monitoring and evaluating your marketing efforts and those of your competitors, formulating strategies, and mapping out growth directions.

Stephanie Fish is the owner of Buckeye V.A, she works from her home office in Ohio. After completing her Associate of Applied Business Degree from KSUshe launched her own virtual assistance business. To learn how Buckeye V.A. can help your business please visit http://www.buckeyeva.com

Get Refreshed in Your Business and Beat Burnout!

Don't Suffer from Business Burnout! 

Most people would agree that business burnout can occur for many different reasons but the most common reasons are (1) When a person tries to do every task on their own or (2) They don't know their limitations and try to do everything for everyone, and actually end up neglecting themselves.

Here are 3 common ways to get control over your "business burnout":  

1) Chart- (also known as "plan") Make a list of every task that needs to be accomplished, whether its personal, household or business related. Once you have everything written down assign a day of the week that you can solely focus on that specific task. Remember, every task should help you reach your goal. Charting your tasks and goals are very important for any size business. Here's a little exercise that can help you chart your way to success. Get a large piece of paper and draw a bulls-eye with about 5 rings. The middle ring is your ultimate goal, from there each ring would be a step towards your goal. The most outer ring would be where you are today. Beside each task you should give yourself a date that represents the date you would like to begin and end each goal. Making sure you are giving yourself ample time to get a task completed makes you more focused and relaxed, there's nothing worse than getting yourself upset over a task that wasn't completed in an unrealistic time frame to begin with. Charting takes a little effort and some getting used to, but the pay off in the end will be worth it. If you are completely unable to focus on charting by yourself, then utilizing the assistance of a virtual assistant or business coach will be to your best advantage.      

2) Outsource- Outsourcing isn't just for the "big businesses" anymore! Every business can benefit from outsourcing if it's done correctly. If you look at your competition or perhaps a company that you admire, you'll see that they have a team in place, with most projects and tasks being outsourced to another company. The owner does not do every task himself, in fact, his business is so large in part by having a team of specialists in place so that he/she can now focus on other aspects of the business. Outsourcing does not have to cost you a small fortune if done correctly in the beginning. That's why its so important to have your chart in front of you at all times.  

       

3) (Be) Purposeful- Did you know purposeful means "compulsive, determined, driven"? To be successful in business every decision you make should be made on purpose and with a purpose. I find it very intriguing how some people just jump into their businesses without a purpose and when they don't see the increase in sales right away they give up. They might have a goal in mind, say for instance "I want to make $1,000 per week in sales" this is a statement, not a goal.  What is it that you really want out of owning and running your own business? It can be as simple as you not wanting to work for someone else. Being a purposeful business owner takes time, a lot of thought and an inner desire to make it to the next level and stick with your business. Being purposeful in charting your business must include having a team in place. You can't do it all yourself.   COPs isn't just for law anymore, it's what helps your business succeed in this world and help you fulfill your business dreams. Remember the next time you feel like throwing in the towel, hanging up a "closed" sign and shutting your business doors, that COPs is right here waiting on you.   

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Stephanie Fish, owner of Buckeye V.A. offers virtual assistance in marketing, research, and consulting to business owners who are ready to take that next step in business. To learn more about outsourcing and building your business team, be sure to sign-up for our newsletter at www.buckeyeva.com  Article may be reprinted for free as long as the author's resource box is kept intact and all links remain live and clickable. The Article Source must also be included. All rights are reserved by the author  

Offline Marketing: Building Relationships Within Your Community

Offline Marketing: Building Relationships

Offline Marketing, Volunteering

 Offline Marketing: Building Relationships Within Your Community

As a business owner, whether working remotely from home or in a brick-n-mortar building,  you’ll likely benefit from leaving your office once a week to build relationships.

Offline Marketing took on an entirely new meaning to me back in 2012 when I accepted a volunteer position at a local C.A.O. (community action agency) as their Donation Coordinator/Director.

I initially was apprehensive due to being slightly shy, that soon became second thought as I was forced to think outside of myself and into the lives of my area residents who needed my help.

During my stint as a volunteer I was able to bring in the largest single monetary donation that the C.A.O. had received in over 30 years! Not only that, I made some great friendships and was able to meet business owners every week! I also got over my fear of public speaking (thank you Erica M.!!)

I hope you will find a way to reach outside of your business by doing some offline marketing as a volunteer this year!

Business Strategy: How to Grow Beyond Yourself

Business Strategy: How to Grow Beyond Yourself

Growing Beyond Yourself- now that’s how the big dogs play! Do you personally know of any successful business owners in your market that are juggling every aspect of business ALONE?

If you look closely at their business model, I’m guessing they have at the least one support person, if not more. Whether your business is online, offline or a mixture of both you’ll want to add to your business team sooner than later.  Again, this all depends on what success means to you.

No Need to Hire Staff

When a business owner outsources they must realize that the relationship between themselves and the virtual assistant are not like an employee and boss. When outsourcing to a virtual assistant you need to see them as part of your business team. You are actually paying for the expertise of that virtual assistant, so when they give you some advice or perhaps a plan of action it’s very important to communicate your likes and dislikes, and to also follow the suggestions; this ensures better results.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not telling you to do something that you don’t feel is right for your business, but I am saying that you need to communicate your concerns with your virtual assistant. Remember, you are both on the same team.

Start Here!

How much time have you spent trying to run your business by yourself, only to feel at the end of the day that you haven’t accomplished anything?

I’ve had the following results: More exposure (Social Media Management, AWeber mailings and WordPress Website Management).   I would highly recommend Stephanie Grams because it can help your business grow.“~ Karen R    

Hi! I’m Stephanie Grams, a 10-year veteran of the virtual assistant profession. I specialize in online marketing, publicity, transcription, and research. I have been called upon by a variety of business owners, from published authors who needed an excel database created for publicity to television personalities who needed their audio and video lessons transcribed.

What would your business look like if you had the time to communicate with your target market on a consistent basis with Branded marketing materials such as infographics, mailings, and blogging graphics? How would your clients react to receiving physical mail? What impression would you give to a prospective client when they receive a card in the mail?

Schedule your free consultation ~ craftyowlconsulting@gmail.com 

How would you feel waking up each day knowing that your blog content is fresh, your social media posts are updated regularly and your mailing list up to date?

Knowing the proper systems and tools to run your business in a professional manner is half the battle, the other half is having an experienced, reliable assistant on your side!

Consistently using Branded materials and communicating in both active and proactive marketing  is the key to a better, healthier and sustainable business model.