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 to the brim with folks trying to find the exact 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 are a way of showing 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…
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Tis the season… to be ridiculously stressed out! The holidays can come at you fast, sometimes too fast for you to get everything done in time. Your usual workload is often augmented by extra holiday-related tasks, and not just at your small business. There is decorating, cooking, gift shopping… That kind of stress can build up! If you have limited staff at work, or if it is just you, getting a little extra holiday help can be useful. But it can cost too much to hire and train new employees just for the holiday season. Enter an experienced virtual assistant!…
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With the advent of social media, the world of advertising has been blown wide open. It used to be that small businesses would have to pay through the nose to get print ads in major publications. I mean, how else could they get the attention of new customers? But social media and the internet changed all that. Now, small businesses can run specifically targeted ads on social media platforms, and best of all, they can do it at a price point that is WAY cheaper than it used to be. One of the best advertising platforms today is an app…
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As a self-employed entrepreneur, you know that the overall goal is to reach that sweet spot of a steady flow of business with a solid clientele you love. To accomplish this, it’s worth reconsidering the methods you use to market your services effectively and stand out as a pro in your field. Even if you are hugely talented, you probably won’t be able to draw in clients if you don’t use effective marketing techniques. There are quite a few marketing mistakes that many small business owners and entrepreneurs make, even if they are in-the-know. Sometimes it’s because they’ve never had…
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Automation is the way of the future. Large businesses and corporations around the world have been taking advantage of automation for decades now, saving themselves huge amounts of time and money. With the advent of many affordable online automation services, and the skills and abilities of Virtual Assistants, automation is now in the hands of small business owners and entrepreneurs. By effectively utilizing a Virtual Assistant experienced in setting up and managing these automated systems, you can also save yourself a great deal of time and energy that you can then reinvest back into your business. #1: Social MediaSocial media…
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Everyone loves a summer vacation, but taking one can seem impossible for busy entrepreneurs! When you run your own small business, it can consume all of your time and energy if you aren’t careful, and letting go can be difficult. Trust me when I say that I understand! However, even passionate entrepreneurs need time to relax, and that means finding a team who can keep your business running smoothly in your absence. When you have a virtual team that you trust, it makes taking time off much less stressful. The trick to developing that trust is getting used to working…
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Writing can be daunting for many small business owners; you’re an expert in your field, but that doesn’t mean you’re also an incredible wordsmith! Even savvy entrepreneurs don’t always stop to consider just how much writing work is involved in running their own business. Aside from emails (and any other documents you send to clients), you also have to worry about website copy, advertisements, and branding collateral like brochures. That doesn’t even begin to cover all the regular blogging and social media posts a small business needs to appear active in this digital age! The quality of your copy demonstrates…
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“A picture is worth a thousand words.” Boy, how about that old cliché, huh? It’s just one of those phrases that gets thrown around, without any real through as to what it means. Well, I am going to reclaim that phrase because it is a truly fantastic piece of advice for small business owners. When you are talking with a client, even if you are engaging, interesting, and are offering them something really special, there is a chance that they might not be fully listening. That’s the problem with words, it can be easy to get lost in them. If…
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Social media is an essential component of marketing for small businesses, but it can also put a huge strain on busy entrepreneurs. The “always on” nature of our modern, interconnected world may mean your clients expect to be able to reach you via any communication channel at any time. This is a recipe for overworking yourself and living under constant stress. As entrepreneurs, we need to be especially careful to take care of ourselves. Small business owners are more likely to try and do it all when it comes to running our companies! The current expectation to maintain active social…
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