Newsletter Mistakes

Well, I learned one big lesson this morning. DO NOT send your newsletter out through Outlook/Outlook Express. I thought when you sent an email to a group of addresses that just the name of the group showed up on the emails. I was wrong. Next time I will send the newsletter through an auto-responder.

I also realize now that I did not put in a link to unsubscribe from the newsletter. I am sure I will learn and will make these changes next time.

Maybe I should send out a newsletter about "newsletter mistakes".

Event Planning

I have been involved in the planning of many different kinds of events - conferences, weddings, concerts, and parties - but the most difficult one to plan and execute is a child's birthday party.

What has happened to the pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey party? Nowadays, you have to have crafts, entertainment, the "right" location, and treat bags to rival the ones given out at the Oscars. Today was my daughter's 10th birthday. It was not a large party, but it was still a lot of work. I had a lot to do. It had to be just right because it is the last "big" party that she is having.

There were invitations to make, goodie bags to make, crafts to create, rooms and a cake to decorate, prizes to make, and food to serve. My wife was working, so I had to do pretty much everything. I tried to break every project down into small parts and get so many of them done each day until everything was all done. It wasn't done until 5 minutes before the kids walked in the door, but it was done!

No matter what kind of event you are planning, it all comes down to preparation. Knowing what the expected outcome is and planning for every possible thing between idea and realization. It sounds like a huge task but if it is broken down into smaller tasks, it becomes way less daunting.

The party was a success and everyone went home happy. There were no fights, and even despite the rain, it went great.

CBC Radio Interview

I was interviewed today for the morning program for CBC Prince Edward Island. The interviewer, Mitch Cormier, asked me a lot of questions about the Virtual Assistant industry and about my practice. Even though I was nervous, he said it would sound great on air. My business name and website will be noted and hopefully the interview will be available online.

If you want to listen for it go to CBC Radio One PEI between 6a.m. and 8:30a.m.AST (5a.m.-7:30a.m.EST). It will either be on tomorrow or Monday.

All of this came about due to my press release (see earlier post). Mitch Cormier picked it up through a Google alert. So get your press releases out there. If you need help, get in touch and we can work on a press release that will get you noticed.

Who Uses a Virtual Assistant?

What types of businesses use a Virtual Assistant?
The list is longer than you might think.

Realtors
Coaches
Artists
Musicians
Actors
Home-based Businesses
Lawyers
Chiropractors
Doctors
Salespeople
Authors
Property Managers
Students
Accountants
Hairdressers
Non-Profit Organizations

There are so many more. Do you use a Virtual Assistant?
Please leave a comment telling us what line of business you are in.
Are you a VA? Leave a comment with a list of the types of businesses
your clients are a part of.

New Newsletter

In "Coming Soon!" I said that I was going to be posting tips on formatting documents. I thought I would take this a bit further and have a tips Newsletter. I am currently writing Issue#1 of "Right-Hand-Man's Handy Tips". It will have tips for business, VA's, Office Assistants and anyone else that wants to present themselves better through the documents they create.

Also coming soon - A NEW Right-Hand-Man Web site! The blog will remain, but I want to double my Web presence with a Web site.

Is Hiring a Virtual Assistant Really Cheaper?

Check out this chart to see the cost effectiveness of hiring a Virtual Assistant!
(Click on button for comparison chart.)

Coming Soon!

I will soon be posting Tips on how to properly format documents. Properly formatted documents show that you care how you present yourself and/or business. Keep an eye out for these Tips!

Virtual Assistant - Spring Cleaning Sale!

From now until June 21, 2007, Right-Hand-Man is having a SALE. Clean up your administrative tasks by getting 5 hours FREE with your first 5 paid hours! Spring is a great time to get rid of the cob-webs that are keeping your business from reaching its full potential. Spring is a time of NEW beginnings. It's a great time to reach new customers, start new projects, and have time to offer new services/products. Spend more time this Spring growing your business and less time on your administrative tasks - hire Right-Han-Man to look after them for you.
See my other posts to find out why you may NEED a Virtual Assitant!

Marketing your Business!

In Real Estate the slogan for looking for a new home is "location, location, LOCATION!" In marketing it's "network, network, NETWORK!"

So what is Networking? One dictionary suggested it means, "meeting people who can be of help to you and being a help to them." This can happen online, through personal contact, advertising, joining groups, meetings, and the list goes on. Networking can happen at the supermarket. Wherever it happens, you have to make the most of it. Talk about yourself, your business, your product/service, and your successes. Don't brag yourself up, but offer up information that shows how you could help that other person through your business.

"Hidden Marketing" is the marketing of your business that goes on behind your back. This is other people talking about your business. This can be good or bad, depending on the impact you have had on your customers. Did they have a positive experience or did you leave a bad taste in their mouth? When people are happy with your service they usually tell you, but when they aren't happy, they tell other people.

Networking and great Customer Service are the cornerstones of successful marketing. If you can find a way to accomplish both these things and one that works for your particular business, then you have it made. I haven't come across a "magic" formula that works for any and every business. Oh, and by the way, it takes WORK. There are no easy shortcuts. It's like your father used to say, "If something is worth having, it's worth working for!"

Virtual Assistants: Benefits to YOUR business!

There are many benefits to hiring a virtual assistant, some which include:

*No need to hire full time employees
*No need to acquire office space, equipment or supplies
*No overhead costs
*No overtime or downtime
*No training costs
*No hiring expenses such as advertising and interviewing
*No need to pay for vacation time or sick days
*No "office hours". I work 6 days a week so am almost always
available for my clients.
*No need to pay for employee benefits such as workers compensation, EI or health benefits. As an independent contractor I pay for my own taxes and business expenses.

(modified from the VANA Web site.)

What is a Virtual Assitant (VA)?

A Virtual Assistant (VA) is a highly-trained independent entrepreneur who provides a myriad of administrative support services and skills via the Internet to provide immediate professional support to busy entrepreneurs, business managers, professionals, and anyone who needs help with an administrative project worldwide.

Partnering with a VA reduces stress, protects cash flow, eliminates administrative hassles, and enables business people to find the success they originally set out to achieve.
(VANA)