Lorac Virtual Solutions

Archive for the ‘Business Tips’ Category

I have been out in my community a great deal talking to many of the business owners of both large and small businesses and I am shocked as to how many do not have a website.  A few don’t even have email!  That one really surprised me.  I asked him for his email address to send him a proof for an ad I was doing for him and his response was “I don’t have one.”  I ended up driving to his business about three times just to show him the proofs and get his approval.  What a waste of time.  I guess he didn’t think so or he would have an email address and hopefully a website.

Everyone of all ages is on the internet these days looking for information and forming opinions and making decisions based on what they find.  By having a website advertising your products or services you stand a better chance of getting those customers than if you don’t have one. 

It doesn’t have to cost a bundle of money and doesn’t have to be difficult.  I know small businesses don’t have the budget to hire a website designer but for a very little amount of money to purchase a domain name, find a reputable server (they should be a separate company) and use a wordpress theme which is free!  It may be daunting if you have absolutelyy no knowledge of how to go about this but by spending a few hours on the internet all of your questions can be answered.

I recently met a writer who has published a couple of books and wanted to get a website up so she could market her books ~ they are listed on Amazon.  I directed her to www.GoDaddy.com to purchase a doman name (she used her personal name) which I think cost her less than $10.00 and then I recommended Hostgator as her host.  I use Hostgator myself and really like their service.  For $15. a month I can have an unlimited number of websites and the price doesn’t go up.  I like that.  However, the writer only wanted one website and was even more economical than I am and chose another h.  That’s okay.  At least by asking me questions she knew what to look for when she started her research.  She then downloaded a wordpress theme, plunked in her information and she was up and running. 

Okay, it wasn’t quite as easy as that but for the most part it was not difficult.  She actually jumped the gun and started a wordpress blog before getting a server and so I had to transfer all of her information from one site to another but it worked.  She now has a very nice website listed under her own name, with links to Amazon and information on her books.  That is all she needed but now if anyone asks her about her books she can direct them to her website where they will find a preview of both and a bit of information on her and can purchase the books without any issue.  Problem solved.

If you have a retail store of any type, a restaurant, pub, provide a service or sell a product either physically or online YOU NEED A WEBSITE!  Don’t waste any time thinking about it – get one up right away.  It doesn’t have to be fancy but it does need to provide some information on your product or service, a little bit about you and your company and information as to how they can contact you or purchase what you are selling. 

My question to you is ~ why wouldn’t you use every resource possible to market your business?  You need a website!

PS:  Visit Go Daddy and Hostgator by clicking on the banners below and find out for yourself how reasonable they are.  Do it now!

Are you like me and sign up for interesting newsletters or free reports only to be overloaded with information coming at you from every direction?  At times I found myself deleting many of these emails without even reading or glancing at them.  There may have been information that would have been useful but I missed it.

When I first started working online I tried to do it all, read absolutely everything about everything and accomplished absolutely nothing.  I was going off into every direction, bouncing back and forth like a yoyo but that had to come to an end.  I couldn’t do it all.  I still receive hundreds of emails with information on everything but now I glance through each one – see if it is relevant to what I am currently working on and if not – gets deleted.  Straight forward. 

If I am ever in need of information on a new project all I have to do is Google it and once again the information will be at my disposal.  My email box has gone from 1500 emails that I was trying to juggle to less than 100 and that is being reduced every day.  I am actually accomplishing much more and still have time to read up a bit on other subjects. 

 So to answer my own question at the beginning of my blog – no there is NOT too much information on the internet.  We have to use our time wisely and not get side tracked by irrelevant information.  There can never be too much information – it just has its time and place.

All the best,

PS: Do you know how to organize your PLR content?  Read this…

A business plan is the road map for the direction you wish your business to travel.  Before you can travel down that road you must figure out where you are going, why you want to go, how you are going to get there, how you will pay for your trip, who you are taking with you and what you will do when you reach your destination. 

So when putting a business plan together it’s like planning a trip – doing the research, planning everything and then implementing those plans. The first thing that must be done is the background work before anything else can be started.

The 1st Step

Background work (research) ~ this is probably going to be the most detailed list of things that must be done in preparation for creating a plan.

• SWOT ~ you probably already have a business idea and think it is great.  However, just because you think your idea is wonderful doesn’t make it so.  Your idea must be analyzed for its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.  This is called a SWOT analysis and is probably the most important aspect of your background work and should never be neglected.

• Are you an entrepreneur?  What are your strengths and weaknesses?  Be honest.  Just because you have a couple of weaknesses do not mean you shouldn’t be in business – it just means you will need to acquire assistance in those areas.  By doing a self assessment you know this fact in advance and can prepare for it.

• Goals ~ what are your business goals?  What are your personal goals?  Be very clear as to what they are so you know what you want the end result to be both professionally and personally.  Remember, the trip planning? You have to know where you want to travel to and why.

  
  

• Financial elements ~ what financial resources are available to you?  Do you need to obtain funds elsewhere?  What are your financial needs both for your business and for personal expenses?Risks ~ know what the financial risks are to start your business.  If it is going to drain all of your personal funds be sure you are prepared to take the risk of losing it all.  It could happen.

• Costs ~ what is it actually going to cost you to start your business?  Do you know precisely what you need in order to open your business and what everything costs? 

• Location ~ where will you open your business?  Do you have a location picked out? Have you done your research as to availability, accessibility, and expense? What are the pros and cons of the place you intend to operate from?

• Market research ~ what is happening in the market place? Look for everything related to your idea.

• Customers ~ who will be your customers?  What are their needs?  Where will you find them? Can you reach them?

• Competition ~ who is already doing the same type of business or offering the same product?  What aspect are they not servicing and what do you think you can offer that is not already being supplied? What makes you unique?

• Marketing Plan ~ you must also have a plan as to how you are going to market your business in order to reach your customers. By doing your previous research you will know what your business will be, who your customers are and what their needs are.  By knowing these things you can think establish a plan as to how you will reach them – by marketing to them.

 Is it much clearer now? 

 By doing the above step you should have a better understanding of whether your business idea is good, whether you have the ability, finances and skill to be successful.  Knowing the market, who your customers are and the strengths and weaknesses of your competitor will give you a clear direction to follow.  Remember your business plan is the road map for you and your business to follow.  Stay tuned for the next step – business transaction.

All the best,

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You know there are business owners who are struggling with their workload, not having the skills to do everything necessary for their business.  They are not in a position to hire an employee because of cost, work structure, etc.  These are the business owners who will be submitting Requests for Proposals (RFP) to applicable networks and associations looking for bids from qualified Virtual Assistants.  An RFP may be posted for special projects you have the expertise and skills to bid on.

Don’t be overwhelmed by the process of putting bids forward on work posted.  If you have the ability to handle the work then let the business owner know you are available and willing to work with him or her.  Don’t give up before you even start. 

How to Respond to Request for Proposals (RFP)

First – be clear as to the type of work or project that has been posted and whether you have the skills and tools to fulfill your commitment as a Virtual Assistant.

The next step in the process is for you to put together a response to the Request for Proposal (RFP) indicating that you are the Virtual Assistant they need. Remember, there are going to be other bidders and you need to stand out!

What to include in your Proposal for an RFP

Your proposal should respond in full to the RFP providing all of the information requested, indicating why they should hire you and not your competitors.

•  Be clear as to who you are – what is your business name, location, etc.

• Address the job itself – what do they need done?  Can you fulfill the requirements?  Do you have the skills?

• Are you available for the time frame they require?

• Are you in the time zone they have requested? Or is that an issue?

• Do you have the software or special programs they have listed?

• Are you looking for a long term working arrangement with potential clients or would you prefer short term projects? 

• What will you charge for the services they require?  Don’t be afraid to post your prices if you are qualified to do the work.  Just because your competitors may undercut you with their low prices does not mean the business owner will be getting a suitable Virtual Assistant.  You know what you are worth – don’t undersell yourself. 

• Have your proposal submitted prior to the deadline.  Don’t be late.

• Submit your proposal in the method requested.  If they want them via email – then do so.  It shows you can follow instructions.

• Do you have any questions that need answered prior to submitting your proposal?  Don’t be afraid to contact the business owner and get clarification if needed.  However, don’t start asking about what they are willing to pay.  This should only be discussed in your proposal or in follow up by the persona who posted the RFP.

Where to locate RFPs.

Once you have determined the type of work you are looking for, what tools and experience you have available and what your prices are, it is time to respond to RFPs.  Many business owners will post RFPs with Virtual Assistant networks, social networks, employment agencies, Craig’s List, or other international listings such as Elance or other work from home job sites. 

Another excellent place for a Virtual Assistant to find new clients is by joining a Virtual Assistant Network such as VAnetworking, where there are many Requests for Proposals to respond to. 

Don’t be bashful!  If you know you can do the work and meet all of the requirements listed, let the person know you are the individual they want and need! It won’t be long and you will have added to your list of clients and have a full client list. 

Now start writing!

All the best,

PS:  Struggling with starting your Virtual Assistant Business?  I spent months researching material before I opened my VA business – get my E-Book with the basics of what you need to do when Start a Virtual Assistant Business.

I spent a couple of hours on Friday researching some of the local businesses in my home town looking for websites, blogs, social networking information, etc and what I found was NOT pretty. 

Exposed! 

Not everyone has a website! I am so surprised that in today’s business atmosphere everyone does not have a website. Those websites that do exist are not necessarily doing the businesses any favors either. Some are not easy to read, tell me nothing I want to know and either have really small font or spelling errors.  Shocking, isn’t it? How do they expect to attract new clients or customers? 

A website is like having a sign in the window letting everyone know you are in business. It’s no longer feasible to hang a shingle outside your business and hope everyone will come.  They won’t.  That may seem a bit harsh but by not marketing yourself online you are missing out on an opportunity for growing your business like you never have before.  I won’t quote statistics because they change hourly but it would be fair to say the majority of customers check out local businesses before they walk in the door.  What a shame if they don’t know you exist.

Put Blogging to work for you!

Blogging is a golden opportunity to educate your customers on your products and show them how your products or services are the answer to all of their needs, whether it’s the latest walking shoe or a new service you are providing.  Blogging encourages readership, which will increase your client base, dramatically leading to more sales and more profit.  Why wouldn’t you blog?

 Use Social Networks or lose business to your competitor!

Connect with your customers!  Today, more than ever we must interact with our customers through social networks and forums. Seriously, if we don’t use social networking sites our competitor down the street will start taking business away from us. 

Social networking sites such as Twitter or Facebook give you a golden opportunity of interacting and connecting with people, responding to their questions and building a reputation as the person to go to when they are in need of your product or service.  It’s a proven fact that people do business with someone they trust so what better way of building a credible reputation than connecting via social networks.

It’s not easy

Maintaining an online presence and building a reliable reputation does not happen overnight.  It does take hard work and time, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming.  Consider the time spent as an investment into your business, the same as if you placed an advertisement in the yellow pages of the phone book.  Do you know very few people use the phone book anymore? 

It’s your choice

Take the first step and ensure you have a website that shows you at your best; start blogging and connect with your customers using social networks.  None of it has to cost you a great deal of money but it will reap huge benefits so why wouldn’t you want to get started today? The choice is yours.

 All the best, 

PS:  I am here to help.  Don’t be overwhelmed when I am only a phone call or email away from guiding you in the right direction. Email me right now at carolann@loracvs.com to arrange for your free ½ hour consultation.

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