Need 100 Reasons For A Virtual Assistant – Part Two

We now have part 2 of a 4-part series of the top 100 reasons to utilize a Virtual Assistant from Home Office Warrior. Pay particular attention of items 53, 67, 68, and 69 as it pertains to end of year need to do’s!

Are you on track?

Here is Part One from last week in case you missed it.

A belated thanks to Tina Hilton of Cerical Advantage for all the hard work in compiling this list!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Need 100 Reasons For A Virtual Assistant?

OK, only the first 25 appear in this 4-part series. More to come over the next few weeks.

Small businesses, read the list and start brainstorming. Get the administrative help you need for a great jump into 2008!

The Benefits of Homeshoring

I read a wonderful article in Entrepreneur magazine this morning regarding the benefits of homeshoring, instead on off-shoring.

Companies like Dell, have felt the consumer backlash of sending their customer and technical support out-of-country with language and accent barriers and cultural differences. With today’s technologies, companies can now more than ever allow their customer-service workers work remotely from home.  Like Virtual Assistance, there is no need to have separate workspaces, or in the case of customer service, a call center. The cost of commuting drops drastically to almost none, thereby saving on fuel, time, aggravation and lesser impact on the environment.  With multiple time zones, one worker who needs to take a break or go ‘offline’, there are many others across the country to take their place. There is no interruption in service.

When the above negative factors are removed from a worker’s life, they are generally happier workers and thereby more cost effective to the company as there is less turnover, better mental health, less sick leave, etc.

Workers Need To Have Fun

From personal experience of working in the corporate field for nearly two decades, there is a definite need for companies for the sake of their workers to lighten up and have a little fun.  One of the best ways of going about this is having a team-building event.  Team-building not only brings in elements of fun and camaraderie, but also manager’s and associates get to see sides of their peers in ways that they might not otherwise have known in an ordinary work day. When these hidden ‘talents’ come to surface, it brings opportunity to enable them in a work environment later on, thus being more productive.

For example, take the scenario of a team building event in which group goes on a scavenger hunt to find outrageous items or do off-the-wall plays…and take a digital photo to prove it.  One team member, who is known to be rather quiet and hide behind a cubicle manages to convince his team members of some places that could help knock difficult tasks off the list, and get bigger points.  By the end of the day, his input helps his team win the hunt.  He gains courage to speak out…and his boss realizes that the quiet ‘paper-pusher’ actually has some real delegation and managerial talents, and the rest of the group has the most fun all year.

Many of team-building events, although initially catered to large corporations, can be catered and pared down to meet the needs of small businesses. I have seen a couple of event ideas that can handle a group as small as six people. If a business is too small to appreciate the benefits of team-building, then one should consider getting together with other local merchants in the area to make the pool larger. Friendly competition, and a larger sense of community and a reduction in cost per person.  Events can be held indoors or out, on-site or off.  For outdoor events, it is best to book as soon as possible if you wish to plan your event during the warmer months.

If your small business would like to consider the possibility of holding a team-building event, contact Remote Admin Services.  We will be happy to put it all together for you.

Eight Weeks ‘Till 2008…Yikes!

After a night of revelry with my family on my most favorite holiday of the year, November 1st is at hand and it’s 8 weeks until the new year!

Yikes! There is so much to do… Holiday cards, thank you gifts for the clients, get those reservations in for the office holiday party, gifts for family, book that last trip, need to categorize those last minute receipts…the list goes on.

Before the madness begins, let Remote Admin Services help lighten the load of those last minute end-of-year tasks.

What Is In A Business Card?

While I waited for my marketing and stationary materials to arrive via Vista Print, I read a terrific article on the do’s and don’ts of business card design via Entrepreneur. I am very thankful for the most part, that I managed to keep within the parameters of protocol. While I work on  RAS’ .v2 website, my Office Live site blends in very well with a business card template via Vista.

I seemingly dodged a bullet this time. 

I find that if you get on Vista’s email list, the barrage of daily promotions of 80% discount this, and free that get really annoying.  However, I found that there is enough overlap between the promotions that you can really get a deal and beat the system.  It takes a lot of time and patience.  One promotion might offer 250 free business cards, and another promotion offer 80% off…but that same 80% off email also offers 100 free postcards. Orderings too many item between muliple promotions might activate an item to go regular price, so check the cart regularly…and pick your battles. One item that might be setting off the others into charging may not be worth obtaining now.

In the end I purchased, no kidding, about $194 worth of items and just over $20 including shipping.  The bulk of the cost came from my need to print my services on the back of the business cards; which for a Virtual Assistant is critical as most businesses do not understand the concept of what exactly a VA does.

My business cards and miscellaneous marketing materials arrived yesterday.  I am very pleased with the result.