Two Tools I just found for VA's and Entrepreneurs

I'm sure they are by no means new...but I just found out about them.  I am excited to have found both of them.

One is a free mind map program.  I love it.  It took me a little bit to figure out how to use it, but I did.  I'm already using it to plan our vacation in March...but it gives me ideas for planning my work, my business growth, my personal life.  Cool.  It's called Freeplane.    If you have some time for fiddling with it, and you're looking for a mind map - try it out.  

The other program I found was another way to share my stuff on Social Media - free.  It's called Buffer - and I haven't got it all set up yet, but plan to do that this weekend.  It's nice to find some time saving tools that don't require a monthly fee.

Love to find new techie tools to use.  Keep things interesting!  Have a great, fun weekend, and a successful new week.

Encouraging Word for Building Your Virtual Business

Outsource Tasks to Your Virtual Assistant

I try to spend a few minutes reading articles each day that pertain to my business as a Virtual Assistant.  I was reading an article today that had to do with beginning to work with a Virtual Assistant - what to outsource, how to find a VA, and how to work with one.

Someone commented on the article that people should consider using a VA as an investment in their business, and I would heartily agree.  Think of all those office chores you're doing that are keeping you from spending time with clients, or producing income!

If you need suggestions on what to outsource, check out my last article for a "starter" list of tasks you can give someone to do for you.  The "expense" of using a Virtual Assistant might just be worth it if you have opportunity to continue building your business, and seeing it grow.

This week has been a hard lesson about procrastination for me.  I kept saying, "I need to get a flu shot."  Well, I never got around to it, and so now....you guessed it - I have the flu, and it's NASTY.

Don't spend too much time procrastinating in growing your business.  Take some time to investigate the possibility of using a Virtual Assistant, and start outsourcing the non-income producing activities in your business.

Oh, and while you're at it, if you haven't had the flu shot...you might not want to procrastinate about that a whole lot longer, either!

Winter - Bah, Humbug!

Winter is NOT my favorite time of the year.  I know there are those of you who love the snow, the cold, weather for skiing, sledding, ice skating.  You can have it.

First, and foremost, I never feel warm.  I'm in a house that's heated well, I have a bountiful supply of afghans, and a space heater - but I'm still cold.  Maybe that's due to my age...but then I must have started aging right after the teen years, because it's been my M.O. since graduating college!

Second, I'm a klutz.  Which means that skating, sledding, snowmobiling and those wonderful winter activities have left me bruised and beaten when I was young enough, and dumb enough to keep trying to enjoy them.  Never more!

Third, winter means snowy, wet, icy, and dark roads.  Not a fan.  Sorry.  Which brings me to where I am right now.  Cuddled in my afghan, in my warm office, my feet clad in soft, fluffy socks, dog snuggled nearby...working.  And you ask me why I love being a Virtual Assistant?  The only thing to make it absolute perfection would be if my office was located a stone's throw from a warm, sunny beach.  For now, the picture on my Desktop will have to do.

Since I always mark the end of this frigid season as on or around March 31st....I'm down to 80 days and counting.  Have a great day! Now, where's the coffee?  :-)

So...what can I do for YOU?

I was doing some reading the other day - an article on the various things Virtual Assistants do for people.  The list was not meant to be exhaustive by any means, but it was long!  I realized that one thing I could do for my clients, and for potential clients was to let them know the various things that I specifically could do for them.

So here it is.  Connie's Not Totally Complete but Pretty Inclusive List of Things I can do for YOU:

PHONES:

1.  You're going on vacation, and you're going to be off grid but you want to make sure your clients have their questions answered if possible, or that they know when you'll be in touch.  I can check your email for client requests for info, and either answer them as you've instructed, or assure them you'll be in touch soon.

2.  I can answer your phones for you while you're away.  Use call forwarding, and your calls will come to me.

3.  You have international clients you are trying to schedule.  Using Skype, I can call and schedule them for you.

4.  You need client appointments confirmed.  If I have your calendar, or you prefer to send me a list of those I need to call - I can confirm appointments for you.

5.  I can send and receive faxes for and from you.

INTERNET

6.  You send out automatic email/newsletters.  People receiving them may need an address change, or other contact information updated.  I can do that for you.

7.  I can do research for you, whether it's regarding travel arrangements, or a hot topic, or names of CEO's, Presidents, VP's etc.  (For example, I had a client who wanted to replace a lost pair of unique sunglasses he received as a gift - I found them, got the price, and sent him the info - if he had wanted, I could have ordered them for him, and had them sent to him as well.)

8.  You have written some pertinent articles concerning your business and would like them posted to several ezine organizations.  Send them to me, and I will post.

CALENDARS

9.  You have business meetings that are regularly scheduled, send me the dates - I'll post them to your calendar.

10. You need to schedule clients, let me know the dates and times you prefer to schedule, and I'll schedule them.

11.  You received the school schedule for your children, send me the list - I'll put it in your calendar.

TRANSCRIPTION AND WORD PROCESSING

12.  You're a speaker, and have just completed a series of recorded seminars that you want to make available in print.  I will transcribe your seminar to a Word document or .pdf.

13.  You've written out notes from a great training you took, and you want them transcribed - send them to me.

14.  You're writing a book, but record your notes, or write them down first - I can transcribe them into written copy.

15.  You can dictate a letter to me, and I will transcribe and send you a draft for revision/ and a final copy.

SPREADSHEETS

16.  You have hundreds (or more) business cards.  At the end of each month, send them to me, and I'll add them to a spreadsheet for you.

17.  You have incomplete information for your list of clients, old addresses, or phones numbers and such.  I can create a new spreadsheet for your contact list, call for correct information, and send you the update, as well as keep it on file for additions and deletions in the future.

PERSONAL SERVICES

18.  Perhaps you're planning a party, or an event, or an outing.  Let me send the invitations, take RSVP's, call for catering information.

19.  You're in a meeting, but you have a sick child that needs an appointment for the doctor.  Let me call and make the appointment for you.

20.  You want to order a book, or a magazine, or a gift.  Send me the information you're looking for, and I can get it ordered.

SERVICES TO YOUR CLIENTS

21.  Let me send them questionnaires, letters of introduction, pertinent information, reminders.

22.  Remember their birthdays or anniversaries?  I can put them in a list, or on your calendar, and send a card, or if you prefer - a gift.

23.  You would like to routinely send CD's, letters, or other token to prospective clients.  Have new prospects name and address forwarded to me, and I can send packages out.

Well, I could go on...but that would make this a tremendously long post.  It does give you an idea of what I do, and might also make you think of something not on the list, and if so - please just ask!

It's the beginning of a new year.  Let's make this one a great success.  Are you finding you do way too much of the paperwork, calling, ordering, and so on?  If so, let's work together to reduce that burden so you have time to do what you need to do to make your business grow.

It's Been Awhile!

After a long hiatus, I decided it was time to get back in action.  Learning and working on a new business seemed a full-time business, though I only wanted to work part time.

Sheppard Virtual Diamond Services is now the name of my business.  It's official.  I have a bank account and everything!  All that means to me is one more checking account to bring up to date every month.

I'm also finding myself in a bit of transition.  I have found my favorite niche - General transcription.  I love typing, I love the tools I use - Express Scribe, and most of all - I love my clients.  Having been in training at one time for medical transcription, I'm finding general transcription a breeze.

Business has been growing.  I have several clients, and am considering even adding a subcontractor.  Now, don't everybody pester me to add you just yet - I said CONSIDERING.  It's a thought in progress.

Ramping things up is my goal for this year.  I'd like to have more clients - and do more general transcription in particular.  I'm a new member of  The VA Insider Club, and hoping to learn a lot more about moving my business along.

If you're at all interested in learning more about what I offer as a VA or General Transcriptionist - please contact me at 937-698-5508, or at sheppardVA@gmail.com.  

Here's to a great New Year in business, and personally.  May God bless you.