When was the last time that you got a really good night’s sleep? As a small business owner myself, I know what it’s like to have to have to work 12 to 14 hour days. Back when I first started my business, I would get up in the morning, work all day, and then go to sleep. It’s rewarding, no question, but also exhausting. And what choice do we have? As a small business owner, you’re responsible for everything and, if something doesn’t get done, the only person that you can blame is yourself. But what if it didn’t have…
I honestly think that one of the bravest things a person can do is start a small business. They have to overcome so many obstacles, even before they take their first official steps. They have to deal with family and friends doubting them. They have to worry about the potential loss of income from their current job. They have to consider the current economic climate and judge if it’s a good time to open a small business. That’s an awful lot to have on your mind! As someone who has gone through it all, trust me, I know how much…
Providing your customers with value is what business is all about, and that also goes for your advertising. No one wants to read dry, boring copy going on and on about how great your business is. Customers are far more savvy than that, they know how advertising sounds and they know to ignore it. The way you can connect with your customers today is with content. If you provide them with authentic, personality infused, valuable content, like blog posts, free downloads, email campaigns, etc, then you can sneak in under the advertising radar (stealthy selling, anyone?) by giving them what…
Some of my favorite people in the world are small business owners. There is something I just love about an entrepreneurial spirit and a drive to succeed. I admire them for starting out with nothing but a dream, building that dream into a plan, and that plan into a successful business. The big question that I’m asked the most by new small business owners is, “How do I get started?” Well, I can help with that! Hiring a virtual assistant in the early days of your new small business can give you a huge advantage, getting things started in the…
You’re launching a new product! Now what?Small businesses need to walk on the edge of innovation to keep up in the market nowadays. You can’t just sit back on your laurels, you need to keep providing your customers with new and updated products and services. You need to keep things fresh! When you are about to launch a new product, it’s a time of celebration. It’s exciting! But it can also be a tremendous amount of work. Designing and creating a new product already takes a massive time commitment, marketing it and getting the word out to your customers can…
One of the biggest challenges that small businesses can run into is a lack of funds to hire new employees. If your business is rapidly expanding and you need an extra hand, hiring someone to help out might be unavoidable. Unfortunately, you have to pay for their training, their sick days, holidays, etc. With a Virtual Assistant, you can get the same, if not an even better result for much less overhead. AdministrationIf you are in the business of providing services to customers, then client care probably takes up a great deal of your time, especially if you have few…
There is a simple equation that drives most entrepreneurs: Hard work + time = money. If you want your business to grow, you need to invest a ton of time and energy into it. Being an entrepreneur can be super-exhausting, especially in the early days of starting your business. There are lots of entrepreneurs out there who dream of being able to build systems that will earn them passive income without them having to raise a finger. Well, with the help of a virtual assistant, you can make that dream a reality! [Tweet “If earning passive income is the dream,…
Has this winter given you the blues? It’s around this time of year when the winter weather can really start to wear you down. With stunningly cold temperatures all across the country, even in the states that are warmer during the winter, folks are really starting to miss the sunny days of the summer. Feelings of “hibernation” and depression are normal around the end of January/beginning of February. It’s called Seasonal Affective Disorder, and it can take a huge toll on your productivity and your business. As an entrepreneur and small business owner, you need to be able to give…
Is there anything worse than having a bad customer service experience during the holidays? The holidays are packed with stressful situations. You need to get everything at work finished before the holidays start. You need to buy presents. You need to decorate. And you need to go to all of those wonderful social occasions you’re invited to! Earlier this week, I got a quick reminder of how important good customer service is over the holidays. I had ordered a very special holiday gift for my husband that was supposed to arrive on Monday. Wednesday morning, two days later, I awoke…
There is nothing like shopping for gifts to make the holiday stresses pile up! Even though Black Friday is behind us, the malls are still packed with folks trying to find the right gifts for their family and friends. You’re probably one of them (if you can find the time…). Gifts are more than just objects; they show someone how much we care about them. And who does a small business care about more than their clients? Small client holiday gifts or gestures can be a great way to reinforce current client relationships while also reviving old ones. These don’t…
