Time Well Spent - Blog

To grow your business you need to be able to look at the business as a whole, dividing the business up into segments and reviewing the tasks that are imperative to the business but could be done by someone else rather than yourself.

1.     List the administration tasks that take up your time on a daily  and weekly basis – the VA can usually offer some solutions to streamline some of your processes to ensure better use of time.

2.     Arrange for someone else to manage your appointments and diary

3.     Set up a policy and procedures manual for your business – this is imperative if you would like to have your business run in a smooth and efficient manner

4.     Utilise the VA to be the constant customer contact person – following up on any enquiries, changes in appointments, queries on services etc

5.     Create marketing timeframes – review your marketing strategies and utilise the VA to upload articles to your website, blogs, ezines, forums etc. Social networking is time consuming and your VA can assist in how best to use this type of marketing

6.     Managing payments – if you have ongoing products and payments that need to be made or processed your VA can do this remotely for you. As well as sending out packages/letters and then following up with an email confirmation – this type of service is seen as excellent customer service

7.     Research – so important for keeping on top of the latest trends, products or services, it is very time consuming and your VA can do this research for you in a timely manner. Also researching other cost saving techniques for processes eg. Purchasing supplies, equipment etc

8.     Marketing strategies – if you consistently write articles, white papers or send out press releases your VA can assist in getting these out to the appropriate sources

9.     Instigating, writing, editing and producing newsletters for your clients – either hard copy of through an email campaign program

10.  Website development – use your VA to manage enquiries, purchasing products, updating articles and content and keeping all information up to date

It is important to know your capabilities for time, skills and expertise when discussing new project opportunities with potential clients.

Time is important so that you know that you can give them all the time and more necessary to finish the tasks required.  Make sure your clients give you timeframes or deadlines so that both parties are working under the same expectations. Once you have these deadlines it is good practise to put the deadline into a calendar to be completed the day before the task is due. This gives you a little bit of leverage in case something comes up, but best of all, if you can complete the work and send it through the day before it is due, you will have exceeded your clients expectations.

When discussing your skills with your client, always be honest and upfront. If you are a little rusty with a particular skill, make that you practise the skill in your own time to make sure you are capable of fulfilling the clients needs.

After practising a skill for some time you will have some expertise in which you will be confident enough to use with your new clients. This will help you in being able to use this expertise and relate it accordingly to your new clients business. As a Virtual Assistant business you will more than likely be a multi tasker, talented person so go on, brag about your time management, skills and expertise and sign up the new client today.