Tag: virtual business online

process management, sop creation

It’s a Good Year for Better Time Management

Genean

Happy New Year! Here’s to an amazing and productive 2021!

How do we accomplish that in our business? We manage our time well.

Time management is a key skill in becoming/being successful and it includes setting aside the perfect amount of time for each and every task being thrown at you. Here are some tips to better manage your time, which will result in higher productivity in 2021. 

  1. Set Goals 
    1. A fundamental part of time management is not only setting goals for everything you need to complete, but also prioritizing them. One way would be to rank your goals by importance so you have a better idea of what you need to do first, second, third, etc.
  2. Set A Time Frame For Each Task 
    1. Try to estimate the amount of time you will be spending on each and every task so you know when and where to fit in those tasks. It’s very important to have enough time to complete each one, leaving wiggle room in case it takes longer than expected. I can’t tell you how many times I have underestimated the amount of time a task will take me and I had already waited till the last minute to complete it- that doesn’t result in a good outcome. 
  3. Reward Yourself
    1. No matter how big or small your personal reward is, you should have one. It not only gives you greater motivation to complete the task in a timely manner but also gives you something to enjoy and promotes self care. 
  4. Take Out Unnecessary Tasks
    1. Cleaning up your to-do can have a huge impact on not just your stress levels but also your productivity. Having a bunch of unnecessary and just straight up time consuming tasks on your list will only slow you down. 
  5. Give Yourself A Break 
    1. Taking breaks are known to increase productivity as long as you stick to your set break time. Think of it as a recharging period to re-center and boost motivation. Examples include working for maybe 3 hours then giving yourself a 20 minute rest. 
    2. Delegate. Give tasks that you don’t want to work on to an assistant. Hiring a virtual assistant is one way to get rid of those extra tasks and free up more of your time for the things you want to do.

Productivity and time management are serious factors when it comes to not only your mental health surrounding the areas of stress, but also important factors to putting out quality work- no matter your area of expertise. 

Here at Life by Design our team values time management and quality work. We focus on the busy work while you continue to run the business of your passion. If you want to learn more, schedule your free consultation here.

businessbuildingstrategies

Growing Your Business With a Virtual Assistant into 2021

Genean

As e-commerce platforms are growing in the business world, hiring a virtual assistant is becoming more and more needed. As a virtual assistant myself, I believe that we, as professional VAs, should possess certain qualities to help your business grow.

As the need for virtual assistants is growing, more and more underqualified and inexperienced people are starting a virtual assistant business. When hiring a virtual assistant, it’s imperative that you screen them well, ask many questions about their prior experience, and make sure they have the qualities of the kind of person you are looking for in your business.

I have heard from many business owners who hired a virtual assistant, then soon regretted it because the assistant was not as skilled as they claimed. At that point, it’s a little awkward letting them go, not to mention the business owner is now gun shy on hiring another VA.

There are many quality VA’s out there who will do a fantastic job for your business. Many are looking for work right now! A couple things to ask for is a portfolio of past work, and a referral.  These two things can tell you a lot about the professionalism and quality of a VA.

You also want to ask questions to find out the quality of the person. Integrity and honesty, being punctual, and meeting deadlines are things you need in a VA. Here are 3 more qualities to look for when hiring a virtual assistant.

  • Detail-Oriented. A virtual assistant should always have great attention to detail. A quality virtual assistant is one who does the task promptly, does it correctly, and does it with a positive attitude.
  • Responsiveness. Virtual assistants are just that, virtual. So, it is important to have good communication since they are not in the traditional office setting.  Depending on where your virtual assistant lives, the time difference can be a challenge for both the company and the VA. So, it is important to discuss these issues in the initial consultation, before hire, and set expectations.
  • Effectiveness and Efficiency. Effectiveness and efficiency are critical aspects of making any task successful. When running any business, it is of great importance that all deadlines are met, and all work is completed thoroughly and professionally.

If you are currently in need of a virtual assistant, or maybe you are just window shopping for now, you can see what we at Life by Design VA Services do by scheduling your free consultation here.

businessbuildingstrategies

4 Reasons Why Your Small Business May Need a Virtual Assistant

Genean

If you’ve been in business for yourself any amount of time, I am sure you have felt the stress of overwhelm. Too much to do, there are not enough hours in the day, and you are only one person. If you’re looking to grow your small business further than where it already is, you may need some help. You are already stretched to capacity, and in time, as your business continues to grow, your time will be stretched even more.

Thanks to the growth of technology and the amazing interwebs, it no longer matters if your virtual assistant is located nearby, you can connect online and grow your business together with a single click. There are many reasons why your business may benefit from hiring a Virtual Assistant, but here are just 4 of my top ideas.

1 You’re too busy

As a small business owner, you have a lot of responsibility. You have marketing, IT, finance, maybe payroll if you have employees, and then doing the actual work of your business niche. It can be stressful, almost to the point where you want to give up. That’s where a Virtual Assistant can come in and help take a few things off your plate. A VA can help you with many different tasks remotely. Many can help with social media, website management, and general admin tasks you don’t have time to do.

2 You don’t know how

Whether it’s a blog, eCommerce store, or website, most likely you’re not an expert in everything. Just running the basics of your business can be exhausting, so if you don’t have time to learn all the things, it’s OK. That’s what a VA does best. They could help spice up your social media profiles and business pages, help with your WordPress website, or handle your Constant Contact email campaigns, among other things.

3 Your Social Media is Blah

Social Media can be an awesome tool for small businesses with everyone and their grandma being on some sort of social media these days. However, if your social media accounts aren’t providing any value, not growing, and not getting the exposure you need, you may need a little help from a VA. With multiple accounts to manage, it can be a full time job – and one that you likely don’t have time for. Again, that’s where a VA can step in and use Buffer or Hootsuite to schedule posts. A VA can place ads or boost posts for you, manage groups, add content and respond to comments or messages daily. These little things can add up to a lot of work. Having a VA to help can make a world of difference for your online presence.

4 You just don’t want to

Maybe you know all the ins and outs of building a WordPress site, and you are a pro at Mail Chimp and Infusionsoft, and you are a social media marketing king or queen! But maybe you just don’t enjoy doing those things, and you really want to do things that spark joy in your life and in your business. That’s why you started your own business right? To do what you love and what makes you happy!

If any of these relate to you, it may be time to consider a Virtual Assistant. And many times you really need one sooner rather than later, before things get out of control and the overwhelm is more than you can handle.

Schedule a free consultation with me HERE.

To your success,

Genean Roberts

http://www.lifebydesignvaservices.com