As more and more people go into business for themselves, more and more people are working from home. Working from home offers many benefits, like eliminating your commute and freeing you from the distractions of co-workers. That said, working from home can prove more challenging than it looks at first glance. Here are 6 ways to make working from home work for your business. 1. Designate an Office Space This is step #1 for successfully conducting your business from home. Dedicating a specific space at home keeps you focused and serious about your business. Having a space that is designated…
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When you have an entire business to run on your own—or with a small staff—there’s always a LOT to get done. Time management is one of the biggest challenges small business owners and entrepreneurs face on a daily basis. With a little planning and discipline, though, your days can run smoothly and calmly—and you can still get everything done. Here are 5 time management tips for busy entrepreneurs like yourself. 1. Make a List & PrioritizeAs an independent business owner, you probably have a running list at any given time of about 1,000 things that need to get done. Some…
Read MoreVirtual 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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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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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 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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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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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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