What draws our eyes to beauty? When we see a lovely painting, or a sunset, or a stunning view, why do we instinctively think, “Wow, that’s beautiful?” Here is the thing: aesthetics matter, even in places that you wouldn’t expect. For example, when you are reading a big block of text (like this blog), you probably don’t think of it as “visual,” but it is. There is the choice of font, the width of the spaces between words, the length of paragraphs. Attractive visual choices make the process of reading much more enjoyable, even when the reader doesn’t quite realize…
Do you want to know one of the biggest problems for new small business owners? Being seen as an expert in their field. The longer that you’re in business, the more credibility you build. Back when I first started out as a virtual assistant, it was much more challenging for me to find clients than it is today. Back then, I already had extensive digital marketing skills, a passion for the work, and all of the knowledge that I needed to succeed. The problem was that no one knew that for sure. And when you want to hire someone for…
New Year’s Eve is fast approaching, and that means a brand-new year will be starting soon. Around this time, I tend to start looking back on everything that I’ve accomplished over the last 12 months and everything that has changed.
Have you ever seen A Christmas Carol? The scene that always stuck with me as a small business owner was seeing Bob Cratchit having to stay late on Christmas to finish his work. Boy, I’ve been there (Although being my own boss, I guess I am sort of my own Scrooge too…)In December, there are so many things on your plate, from work to family, to the holidays themselves, that it can be tricky to get everything done by the last week of the year (not to mention stretching every dollar). But thankfully, there is a holiday miracle that can…
One of the most terrifying and exciting things in life is having to start again.Let’s face it – we are all getting older! Maybe your children have finally left home for university, (Eben, my son, started college early and skipped his senior year!) or perhaps you’re thinking of retiring from your long-time job and want to try something new this time around! Maybe you have recently been let go at work, or simply grew bored and finally want to do what you have always wanted with your life. No matter which the situation, it’s still terrifying and thrilling. For example,…
Do you remember back in the days before Google Maps when you would need to stop and ask for directions if you were lost? In my experience, getting verbal directions from a helpful person would often result in me getting MORE lost. It wasn’t their fault though. Verbal language is, well, imprecise at times. We often think we communicate our thoughts out loud clearly, only to have the person we are talking to misunderstand what we are saying completely. This is partially because, when you are talking to someone on the phone, they can’t see the important non-verbal, physical side…
I like to think of myself as a veteran small business owner. Ever since my twenties, I’ve felt the drive to create my own work. It’s something that comes from within me, to create a business from nothing. I’m sure that many of the small business owners and entrepreneurs reading this blog can relate! I’ve been through ups and downs and have learned many lessons along the way. One of the most important lessons was the necessity of needing help. For the first ten years of my business, I did everything myself without any help. Not even a virtual assistant.…
One of the most stressful times for a small business owner is when they’re about to launch a brand-new product. There’s so much that has to go into it, from product development, to branding, to announcing the product to the press, to simply getting it on your digital store shelves! Is there a way that you could simplify the entire process? You bet. A virtual assistant experienced in all of these areas can help make your product launch go smoother than you could possibly imagine! Branding and LogoAs a small business owner, few things as important as your brand. Your…
Do you know what the most effective method of advertising was back in the golden age of “Main Street” America? The storefront window. Pedestrians would look in all of the storefront windows on main street to see the most interesting. And it worked! People would come in off the street to take a look around the stores. If the store owner was a particularly effective salesperson, they would walk out with a bag full of products. In the marketing world today, the storefront window is the internet and the pedestrians are the ones browsing online. If you want to sell…
Recently, there have been a number of stories in the news that a record number of pregnant women are running for political office, more than at any other point in our country’s history. This absolutely remarkable shift was foreshadowed just a few short months ago when the sitting Prime Minister of New Zealand gave birth to her daughter. Can you imagine being the leader of a country while at the exact same time balancing the responsibilities of being a new parent? For many small business owners out there, it’s easy because they are going through something very similar. It’s time…
