How can a Virtual Assistant help me?

I attend a weekly BNI meeting and have got to know the chapter members with a couple of them signed up for my services. However, it is always difficult to get across exactly how a Virtual Assistant can help.

During a conversation with 2 members (with one of them being my client), I was explaining that it was difficult to explain exactly how I can help but gave them some examples. My client then said in wonder "can you really do that?". I then proceeded to tell them that it was really important to have one to one meetings with members to tell them what I do and educate them in order to pass quality referrals.

So what do we do? We help people make more money by freeing up their time working as a Virtual Assistant. We do this by providing professional secretarial and administrative solutions to a range of clients. Some non recognised areas we can help include:

• Management of newsletters - this could be writing your newsletter to distributing it
• Internet marketing - SEO, passive income, affiliate programme monitoring, Blogs
• Accounts support - creating and sending out invoices, accounts organisation, payment facilities
• Marketing support - mail shots, follow up calls, advertising co-ordination
• Time management - create systems and processes to organise people and businesses

As you can see, most people would not be able to associate some of these tasks with your Virtual Assistant. That is why we like to talk to potential clients and ask them to draw up a list of tasks that they don't like / have time to complete etc. We then look at the list and give an honest answer of if we can help.

Remember, if you don't ask, you'll never know.

Until next time,

Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions

Volunteering as a marketing tool?

Now I am not a marketing expert but I have read plenty of books on the subject and am in the process of producing my marketng and PR strategy as I want to raise my profile significantly over the coming months.

However, money is always an issue for small businesses and I am already spending a large chunk on a fabulous looking professional leaflet (as opposed to one you can tell has been done on computer at home) so budget for other things is pretty tight. But I am also conscious that I need to spend money to make money (very wisely of course).

I am part of a BNI chapter and have been asked to become a part of their leadership team as the Membership Co-ordinator. I didn't hesitate accepting as it would raise my awareness and profile with other chapters in my area and also increase my confidence. I am really looking forward to the role as I can use all my skills as a Virtual Assistant to do the job.

It got me thinking though about other free profile awareness and advertising and I am researching other opportunities to volunteer as it holds a host of benefits to me personally and professionally. These include:

• Giving back to the community
• Providing my expertise and skills to organisations in need
• Increasing my contacts network
• Raising my profile and that of my business
• Learning new skills and gaining more experience

I am also beginning to talk to my network to research opportunities available for board members as this is another good avenue to take. If you know of any vacancies, please email me.

If you haven't considered volunteering before, now might be the time to do it. Speak to your contacts to find some worthy causes. You never know what might come of it for you and your business.

Until next time,

Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions

Presentation Tips

I thought I would share this article with you to give you a chance to incorporate the tips into any presentations that you do to make sure that you keep the attention of the audience.

The seven lethal mistakes that suck the life out of any presentation
By professional speaker Paul McGee

I’m staggered that after giving a presentation, some delegates remark “Yours was the only talk I didn’t fall asleep in”! What is it about some presenters that makes the audience wish they’d watch the grass grow rather than listen for a minute longer? Here are seven beliefs that lead to woeful presentations:

• Believing that just because you have a lot of knowledge about a subject that automatically makes you a great speaker (does knowing the words to a song make you a great singer?)
• Believing that the more facts and information you throw at a person, the more they are likely to retain it
• Believing that people prefer reading powerpoint slides as opposed to listening to another human being
• Believing stories are for children and that adults want just the facts
• Believing that speaking off the cuff is an adequate substitute for planning and preparation
• Believing that the ‘way’ you deliver your presentation is of little or no importance compared to ‘what’ you say
• Believing that all presentations must follow a standard format, where the audience listens passively and are only expected to contribute during question time

If you want to be a powerful presenter, it might be time to start changing your beliefs. For further information visit www.PaulMcGee.com

Some simple comments but I think if we look at these whilst working on an important presentation, we can't go wrong.

Until next time,

Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions