Sales Incentives Blog

Archive for May, 2009

As a business owner, you in all probability keep up to the moment with today’s trends, whether in the fields of technology, finance or business services. The current trend is Virtual Business – and it’s here to stay.

As an executive assistant turned virtual assistant, I have seen this industry evolve over the years. I started out as most young aspiring assistants do – in an office with my director close at hand in the next room. Although, when I think back and ask myself, how much time did I really spend face-to-face with my employer? In actual fact, not much at all. With business trips, lunch meetings and appointments, I very rarely saw him at all.

So from my own personal experience, I can tell you, I could have literally been on the other side of the planet, and still have managed his office as efficiently as I did when I was sitting in it. This is the next generation of business – where virtual solutions are utilised globally. Just like fashion changes every season, so does the web, and the creative people that work there are developing new and inventive ways of working with either a single person or a team of freelancers online, as if they were placed directly in your own office.

Office premises, employees, equipment and vending machines are becoming a hassle in the fast pace of today’s society. Do you really want to fix broken printers? Get your tech support to come in to increase the ram on your computers because they are running slowly? Or replace the desks for your team because they are looking shabby? I wouldn’t, that’s for sure. It’s costly – it’s certainly not productive, and I would rather be spending time getting work done that dealing with these small but cumbersome problems.

With a virtual business, you have to worry about one thing only – and that’s delegating. Who do you want to do the work, and when do you want it back? It is as simple as that, and if you want to unlock the doors to your virtual business, outsourcing is the key. Freelancers, Virtual Assistants and other self employed individuals are all responsible for their own time management, their own equipment, and their own software. Often, by hiring a virtual worker you are also able to utilise the many and varied resources they have available to them, that they have personally invested in, to offer you good customer service. For example, you want a new company brochure, now unless you are a graphic designer, you most likely will not have access to the full Adobe Master Collection valued at a few thousand dollars – let alone know how to use it, to produce your company brochure, but it’s likely your virtual worker will have everything you need – so the tables turn, and it is no longer about what perks you can offer your assistant, but what perks your assistant can offer you!

So, what must you acquire to make all of this come to fruition, and what are the necessary tools you’ll need to turn your business totally virtual?

1. A Personal Computer

2. An Internet Connection

3. A savvy, up to the minute, Virtual Assistant

My guess is, if you’re reading this, you can cross off the first 2 items on the list, now all you need is to find number 3, and you know what they say, there’s no time like the present!

Michelle Dale is The Managing Director of Virtual Miss Friday, an Executive Virtual Assistant who assists businesses and individuals with achieving their professional goals. Want to find out more about online business building success strategies? Support the Campaign for FREE Virtual Assistance today!

I know that everyone of us had a fair share on meeting a worst or a so-so customer service. You could have called to inquire about your bill or maybe ask about why it is so high.

You might have called because you want to know more about your bill but because of unfair treatment they get from their customer service representative, even the nicest customer can act irately. You may have been treated rudely or maybe the representative does not really know how to explain your bills and you need to spend hours on the phone just to figure it out. The problem may be solved in the process but think of all the hassle that it has caused.

A good customer service serves as a turning point for the customer. In what way? The customer service representative is literally the representative of the company and one wrong behavior would make the customer stop doing business with the company.

Those who work in customer service should be level-headed enough to settle things with the clients because if they don’t, they might end up fighting with the clients and thus losing them.

Companies should keep in mind to have a good customer service so that clients would stay. Yes, every one of us is different. There are people who hard to please but also there are some who are easy to please. Even though these customers are hard to please, they will still continue doing business with you as long as your treat them well.

As long as the representative is calm in explaining the point, these irate customers would not leave the company because of the treatment that they are getting.

Always keep in mind that your clients are the ones who bring money to your business so they deserve a better service for their money. To retain these customers, many companies are doing intensive training to their representatives in handling different types of customers. Because of this, you’ll have a greater chance of retaining your clients.

Not just proper customer handling but also training on the products and how to explain things to them. Your customers will have confidence on your company because of the reliable service that they are getting. Excellent customer service is the reason why a lot of people are staying with their providers and companies.

Article by Van T and read more about him here.

As a Virtual Assistant, I specialise not just in web design but also in business development and administrative services. I have found many people with small businesses often wondering as to whether a website would really benefit them. I have come across quite a few people with small businesses who have asked me whether a website would really make a difference to their business.

Here is my response to the question so many small business owners have asked me.

Do I really need a website? Answer: YES! Here is why…

1. Introduce your products and services: These are the days of “Enquiry Marketing”. Make your business available 24 hours a day and allow your customers to be in control.

2. Become Recognised: Make yourself stand apart from your competitors with clear, recognisable branding while displaying your products and services to the entire world.

3. Boost Sales: Explain benefits, compare products, and publish testimonials from happy customers.

4. Earn More: Subsidise income and demonstrate knowledge by selling e-books for people to learn from.

5. Professionalism: A letter from “you@yourbusiness.com” will open more doors than an email from a hotmail account.

6. Be Found: People use locally defined keywords in the search engines, “Craft Shops in Cornwall”, for example. This will lead them to your place of business, opening times, contact information, location and more.

7. Collate Valuable Information: An enquiry form on a website can provide you with a lot of valuable information from customers and other interested people.

8. Marketing & Advertising: Newspapers and Magazines have 2 significant disadvantages when advertising. 1) Once printed updating them is difficult and costly 2) The information you can print is limited. A web site can be updated instantly with little or no cost involved.

9. Promote: Do you promote your business at workshops or tradeshows? Increase awareness and advertise the event on your website.

10. People Buy People: A well-developed website displays a viable business, conveying trust and credibility while gaining loyal customers through good customer service.

When choosing to purchase a website, using a virtual assistant will give you a lot more for your money and also the opportunity to take your website further once it has been developed.

So what are the advantages of working with an excellent Virtual Assistant?

More than simply a Web Designer: When investing in a VA website package you’ll get a top notch professional designer that offers exceptional marketing and business advice, including usability consulting and search engine optimisation techniques. Your website will not only look fantastic, it will be really easy to find and user friendly too.

- Diverse: A VA can design and deliver other marketing materials such as business cards, brochures, flyers and more.

- Professional: Most VA’s will have a large repertoire of business experience, skills and knowledge enabling them to be a valuable asset in assisting you to achieve your business goals.

- Efficient: The services of a VA are delivered when you need them with completions to tight deadlines.

- Convenient: As the vast majority of Virtual Assistants work from home, they can be available as and when you require their services.

- Affordable: There is a VA to suit every budget, and many of them offer package deals which include support and administration services to go along with your business website project.

- Independent: As an independent service provider, a VA can negotiate all aspects of project work, hours and rates, and the best of them offer an absolutely FREE No Obligation Consultation.

Michelle Dale is The Managing Director of Virtual Miss Friday, an Experienced Executive Virtual Assistant who collaborates with businesses and individuals with the sole aim of accomplishing their professional goals. Want to learn more about these comprehensive online business building success strategies? Join the Campaign for FREE Virtual Assistance right now!