3 Ways for Busy Entrepreneurs to Build Relaxation into Their Work

By Jennie Lyon / November 20, 2014

Anyone who is dedicated to their job, especially an entrepreneur, tends to throw everything they’ve got into their work, sometimes logging 60+ hours per week and giving 110% of themselves. While this kind of dedication can result in a handsomely rewarding career, it can also throw off work/life balance and cause burnout. I know what you’re saying—“But, the work’s got to be done!”—and you’re right, it does. While this is true, we can accomplish a lot more when we’re rested, calm, and focused than we can when we are frazzled and constantly burning the candle at both ends. Fortunately, there…

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Why Your Business Needs an Ezine and What to Include in it

By Jennie Lyon / November 15, 2014

For those who are unfamiliar, ezines are electronic newsletters or magazines that you email periodically to customers or clients who have opted in (signed up for the e-zine). Ezines allow you to stay in contact with your customers/clients while building a relationship of trust and interest. At Jennie Lyon Virtual Assistant Services, newsletter services are one of my specialties. If you are a small business owner who is new to ezines, here are a few basic do’s and don’t’s: DO: Include blog posts, special offers, and coupons Offer the ezine weekly or monthly, making sure that your business can stay…

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9 Ways A Virtual Assistant Can Save You Time and Money This Week!

By Jennie Lyon / November 12, 2014

If you are like most small business owners, you want to focus the majority of your time on building your business. Yet, you may be finding that you are spending an exorbitant amount of time on tasks you shouldn’t. Even if you find that you are getting sucked into these tasks and they are taking away from you really building your business – it’s time to get a team in place. The first team member that I would suggest that you hire is a virtual assistant. Read on for a quick rundown of 9 ways our team can save you…

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Starting a Business? Partner with a Virtual Assistant and Strengthen your Foundation

By Jennie Lyon / August 8, 2014

Starting a business in any industry, time period, or global climate can be a serious roller coaster. So many changes will be made in policies, procedures, staffing needs, marketing, and so on that you are going to feel overwhelmed most of the time without someone there to help you out. It’s always great to feel confident and proud enough that you can start your business by yourself, but with all the stress and endless preparation that comes with it, why wouldn’t you want an anchor to keep you focused and organized? Hiring a virtual assistant from the get-go is the…

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5 Online Tools a Virtual Assistant Should Be Using to Manage Your Business

By Jennie Lyon / August 1, 2014

It’s fairly simple to start working with a virtual assistant. I start by having an in-depth consultation with my prospective clients to give me an idea of the areas they need assistance with. This initial consultation also gives me enough time to decide if I think working with the client would be a good fit for both parties. Once the contracts have been signed and we are ready to start working together, there are several systems that I use to keep my client and their projects organized. I’ve outlined some of these systems, all of which are essential for a job well done.…

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11 Ways a Website Virtual Assistant Can Manage Your Website

By Jennie Lyon / July 25, 2014

As a busy small business owner or self-employed entrepreneur, managing your website and blog can seem like too much to deal with. You need a website virtual assistant! Why? Although you have all of these amazing ideas and the best of intentions for sharing them with your community, doing so keeps falling to the bottom of your to-do list each week.  Between finding the time to write your blog post, post it with an amazing photo, and schedule your week’s social media, it can all seem overwhelming. On top of that, there’s putting your blog posts into a newsletter to go out to your…

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Are There Parts of Your Business That Are Falling Through the Cracks?

By Jennie Lyon / July 14, 2014

As a busy business owner, you know deep down inside that you can’t do it all. If you don’t have a team in place to support you and your business, there are areas of your business that are falling through the cracks. Ask yourself: Are your emails and voice-mails being answered in a timely, professional manner? Are your blog posts and articles being submitted to the appropriate sites and social media platforms? Are you missing appointments, double booking yourself, or having a hard time with scheduling, period? Are updates being made to your website quickly, and are you staying connected with your online…

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Does Your Business Have a Procedure Manual in Place?

By Jennie Lyon / June 7, 2014

When I start working with a client, one of the first questions I ask is whether they have a procedure manual in place for their business. Nine out of ten times, the answer is either 1. No, or 2. What is a procedure manual? A procedure manual is one of the most important documents to have in place for the people who support your business. It allows your virtual assistant, in-house assistant, web designer or technical support team to quickly access whatever information they need to support your business from your procedure manual and get the work done instead of calling or…

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How to Hire the Right Virtual Assistant for Your Business

By Jennie Lyon / May 30, 2014

If you are looking for a virtual assistant to help you manage your business, you need to know how to hire a virtual assistant without wasting a lot of time or energy. You can find virtual assistants on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn for starters. Anyone who considers themselves a virtual assistant should have a website so a Google search is another great way to get started. Also, asking other business owners for recommendations can be THE best way to find a great virtual assistant. Once you have compiled your list of virtual assistants to interview, I highly recommend only interviewing…

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7 Tips for a Successful Virtual Assistant Relationship

By Jennie Lyon / May 17, 2014

If you are ready to find more time, be more productive and build a fantastic team that will support you and your business,  hiring a virtual assistant is one of the best investments you can make. You can’t do it all, don’t get stuck in the misconception that to be successful as a business owner you have to do all of the work yourself. Once you join forces with the perfect virtual assistant for your business, it’s important to consider the ways that you and the virtual assistant can make the most out of your relationship to keep everything running…

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