What is a Virtual Concierge and Why Do I Need One?

By Jennie Lyon / January 9, 2015

Virtual concierge services are popping up all around as individuals and business owners seek to outsource tasks and planning in a cost-effective and professional way. You’ve probably heard the term but may be unsure what virtual concierge services are. A virtual concierge does many of the things an in-person concierge would do—make travel arrangements, send cards and correspondence, plan events—except that virtual concierges perform these duties for multiple industries and businesses instead of just one—traditionally a hotel or hospitality business. In my virtual assistant business, I offer both virtual assistance and concierge services. Concierges typically focus on client relations and…

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3 Tools for Anchoring Your Startup

By Jennie Lyon / January 2, 2015

From business plans to budgeting and all the hundreds of details in between, starting a business is a huge undertaking. Not only are you embarking on a new venture that involves a lot of time, money, and energy, you’re also taking a leap of faith—in yourself, the economy, and your market—by pursuing a passion or interest in the form of a business. And to that I say congratulations! Many creative, talented, business-minded individuals dream about branching out on their own but few try. Here are three initial tools for anchoring your startup. 1. Know the Basics Even though you wouldn’t…

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Partnering With a Virtual Assistant Can Help You Focus on the Big Picture

By Jennie Lyon / December 26, 2014

As a small business owner, you have a lot to keep track of, from the smallest details, like spell checking emails and web content, to the biggest—your company’s vision. With so much to check off your to-do list each day, it can be very easy to spend hours at a time on small—though important—tasks, foregoing the essential work of putting your concepts into action and solidifying your vision. Partnering with a virtual assistant with specialized skills and experience will ensure that everything on your list gets done quickly and professionally, allowing you to focus on the bigger picture and move…

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5 Steps for Choosing Your Small Business Idea

By Jennie Lyon / December 19, 2014

The decision to go into business for yourself is an exciting, liberating one that often sparks an endless stream of creative, imaginative business ideas. If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, the brainstorming process is a fun and important step in making your dream of independent business ownership a reality. In the end, though, you’ll have to settle on one—at least to start with! Because entrepreneurs tend to be high-energy, inventive people, it can be a challenge to settle on one idea and to make sure the one you’ve chosen is the right one. By following these five steps, you’ll be well…

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Which is Right for Your Business: Consultant or Contractor?

By Jennie Lyon / November 28, 2014

There comes a time when every small business owner realizes that she needs expert input and if you’ve reached that point in your business you have probably asked yourself whether it is time to hire a consultant. The terms “consultant” and “contractor” are sometimes combined these days with so many entrepreneurs offering independent services to businesses. If you realize you need outside help but the sometimes vague distinction between contractors and consultants has you scratching your head, this brief overview of the differences can help. [Tweet “If you need specialized expertise for a temporary project hire a consultant.”] ConsultantIf you…

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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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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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