Opening a business can be frustrating and rewarding all at the same time. Unfortunately many potentially successful businesses close their doors because they are not prepared for handling all the issues that arise out of running a business. No matter what your reason for opening your business, you must be sure you are prepared to handle any crisis that may arise.

As business owners, we know that if we want repeat business and referrals (both of which are the foundation of growing our business) then we need to include integrity and reputation in everything we do. How can we, as business owners ensure that we are continually moving forward in building our integrity and reputation in a positive light? Actually, if we remember a few simple “rules,” then we can continue to build and grow.

Marketing is one of the most important pieces of your business plan. Without marketing, people will not be able to find what your business is about and all your wonderful services. Find some simple tips to get started.

Everyone knows that with the New Year comes the big New Year’s resolutions. Many of us do not set New Year’s resolutions for our business. Get started on your “marketing resolutions for the new year."

Have you ever needed to quickly pull up that file on your computer, but it takes you forever to find it because of the millions of files cluttering your desktop (computer desktop that is)? Get the art of organizing your desktop down so that next time a client calls, you know exactly where their file is!

Could you do with another hour added to your day? How about 10? Well, unless you are magical, this isn’t going to happen, so you need to learn how to squeeze every second out of your day. Here’s a plan to get you started.

Here are some tips to help you get started using a subcontractor to help you find more time to grow your business and make more money.
 

What is a Virtual Assistant? Who uses a Virtual Assistant? How much do they charge? How can they complete my work without being in my office? How is a Virtual Assistant more beneficial than someone in my office? How do I know that I can trust the hours they charge and that they won’t share my personal information? How do I go about finding a Virtual Assistant that is a “match” for me?

Having your own business takes sacrifice from you and your family, but it’s worth it if you can find the balance.  Make finding your balance a priority!!

Whatever happened to great customer service and pride in one’s work?  Part 1 of 2 part series.

In this age of ever-declining customer service, it’s important that we, as small business owners, take responsibility of our customer service skills and really take care of our customers and clients.  Part 2 of 2 part series.

Tips on how you can make some “me time” and then some ideas of what you can do to make time for yourself.

Have you ever wondered what the purpose of networking groups online are?  How can you get the most benefit from a networking group online?

Everyone has dreams of things they want to accomplish, so set your goals to help you achieve your dreams!

Here are a few tips to help make your trip go smoother.

Why Do I Need a Coach?
Would you go up to the starting line of a marathon without any preparation, without any planning, and wearing the wrong clothing?  Preparation should also be taken when setting up your business.

Why Do I Need SEO?
You’ve gone through the steps of setting up your business, getting all your licenses and insurance in place and you’ve designed your site or hired someone to design it for you…. Now, how do you get people to your site or to choose your site over one of the millions of others out there?

Acknowledging Christ at Work
Patty Benton and Dolly Hooker partnered together to start a Christian ministry that helps Christians encourage either to start standing up for Christ in our lives.  Read the article that ignited the idea for this ministry!

Sit Still and Be Quiet?
Are you tired of hearing that Christians need to sit down and be quiet while the minority of the world systematically takes God out of everything?  Read the first of a 2 part series, in which we speculate about what the world will come to if we continue to sit and be quiet, and part 2 will look at what happens when Christians do unite and stand together, looking at real life examples.

Articles by Others.... (If you have an article that may be of interest to virtual assistants, new and established, please feel free to send the link and a short description to us .  We reserve the right to accept or decline the article.  We do not host articles, so you must provide a link to your article.  Thank you!)

Maintaining Your Professionalism at Home by Kathie Thomas
How do you do it? How do you cope with family and working at home?

The Email Tamer by Kathie Thomas
Do you fight a constant battle with incoming email? Would you like to see an almost empty inbox again? Well, here’s something that will help you!  Also be sure to read the additional article on this page entitled "Become Resilient to Business Pressure."

Acquaintance, Client or Advocate? by Kathie Thomas
Much is said about networking these days, and word of mouth referrals. It seems that they are a very popular way of developing our businesses and building our profiles. Which may be a difficult thing for someone who may be shy or not so outgoing – how do they network or develop word-of-mouth referrals?

Networking for Business by Kathie Thomas
I belong to a number of online forums, most of which relate to the Virtual Assistant industry, and one of the most asked questions is: How do I get work? The mindset seems to be that ‘now I am in business, have a website, and belong to a network, the work should be coming in’ – and it isn’t. Why?

Communication or Spam? by Kathie Thomas
The latest Spam Bill Legislation, whilst not intended to confuse anyone, has for some, made them react negatively towards receiving any email. I was amused at a recent business meeting when one person complained that, as a result of briefly meeting someone one morning at a breakfast meeting, that person then proceeded to email them thereafter about how nice it was to meet them, and if they ever had need of the other’s services… I believe there is a difference between genuine communication (including emails of introduction) and what constitutes spam.

5 Good Reasons to End a Client / Contractor Relationship by Dina Giolitto
Whether you're a coach or a copywriter, an accountant or an architect, there will always be that one icky client who puts your patience to the test. You've signed the papers, but with each day that passes, you dread working with this person more and more. Should you grit your teeth and suffer through, or just end it early, like a bad blind date?

10 Common Marketing Mistakes to Avoid from AllBusiness.com
A good marketing plan can help launch a new business or grow an existing one. Make sure, however, to avoid common marketing mistakes.

How to Use Target Marketing to Grow a New Small Business from AllBusiness.com
As the founder of a new small business, you are most likely looking for a cost-effective manner of marketing. Therefore, it’s in your best interest to direct your efforts to your target market.

10 Marketing Tools for Home-Based Businesses from AllBusiness.com
Owners of home-based businesses sometimes view marketing as an unnecessary expense, but nothing could be further from the truth. Because a home-based business doesn't have a storefront for passers-by to notice and no opportunity to generate walk-in business, home-based businesses need marketing more than other types of businesses, not less.

60-Second Guide to Building Word-of-Mouth Referrals from AllBusiness.com
Even in today’s media-driven world, there is no better form of advertising than word-of-mouth—a personal referral from someone whose opinions others trust and respect. Small business owners are among the biggest beneficiaries of word-of-mouth referrals, as they require no advertising and marketing budget.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Print Advertising for Small Businesses from AllBusiness.com
Whether you choose to advertise in a newspaper or a magazine, prepare print ads that have some lasting power. Typically, a print ad will run several times before you’ll want to start working on a new one, especially a magazine ad. Below are some advantages and disadvantages to both newspaper and magazine advertisements.

Developing a Press Kit for Your Small Business from AllBusiness.com
Marketing yourself to the media isn´t as difficult as it sounds, even on a budget. Many firms choose to introduce themselves to the news media with a press kit that provides reporters with the basics about the company and its recent news, already pulled together in a cohesive, appealing package.

Business Startup Success Secret: Build the Business To Suit Your Life by Rob Spiegel
Most entrepreneurs are appropriately cavalier. Haughtiness is not just appropriate, it’s a necessary personality trait, since the launch of a business typically prompts an onrush to negative response. When you tell acquaintances that you’re starting a business, you can see them struggle to keep from rolling their eyes. Some don’t even bother to hide their doubts about your abilities.

Relationship Marketing Small Business Style by Rob Spiegel
What does it take to be successful? Coming up with a great product or service idea? Finding the funding and getting the business off the ground? Finding a market and selling sufficient quantities of the product or service to pay the bills, support yourself and build wealth? Yes, yes and yes. If you can accomplish that short list of items you’ll be successful. Yet those modest tasks can be exasperatingly difficult.

The Purpose Driven Business by John Jantsch
I'd like to start this article off with a question. What's the purpose of a business? Or, perhaps more specifically, what's the purpose of your business? Do you ever think about that throughout the course of the day? Or, does it only haunt you at night or when you are trying to clear a jam in the copier?

Four Reasons Why Small Businesses Succeed (or Fail) by Robert A. Normand
The American system of business management has been admired and emulated around the world. This system is characteristic of two traits in the American psyche: (1) enthusiasm for the future and making things better, and (2) an openness and willingness to change in order to achieve that end.

Make More Money Online: Show Your Expertise by Biana Babinsky
When we go to a doctor, take our favorite pet to a vet or hire someone to paint our house, we all want to deal with experts. We want to hire someone who has made a career out of helping people with the same issues as we have now. Thus, it is no wonder that when your customers need help, they want to hire an expert too.

Timing is Everything - Creating Timely Marketing Campaigns by Biana Babinsky
Just like in everything else in life, timing is everything in business. Appropriate promotions targeted to specific days provide excellent marketing opportunities.

Corporate Internet Branding — Branding your Business Online by Biana Babinsky
Here are a few ideas you can use to make sure your marketing plan reminds your customers of your business long after they leave your store or web site.

Strategic Internet Marketing by Biana Babinsky
Many business owners put a web site on the Internet and think that "if you build it, they will come." They, of course, being web customers. You have many potential clients out there, looking for someone with your expertise, looking for your products and services. However, it would be difficult for them to visit your web site and buy from it, if they didn't know it existed.

How to Create Promotional and Marketing Deals with Online Business Owners by Biana Babinsky
One way to market your business online is to create marketing and promotional ventures with other business owners. There are several techniques for doing this, but the main idea is to achieve win-win situations by cross-promoting each other's products.

Online Marketing Techniques To Drive More Traffic by Biana Babinsky
One of the most popular questions I get when I speak about online marketing is how to drive more traffic to a web site. Eight different techniques for doing just that are outlined below.

Read more articles by Biana Babinsky...

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