Delegating and multiply your efforts so you can increase your income. Most small business owners don't start with a team because they think they have to do it all, there is not enough money to hire anyone. But the reality is you're losing money if you don't hire someone to help. What you see very quickly is that you can only do so much. You may be able to do it all but you will limit the time you'll be able to spend on the income producing activities of your business. Think about it, if you pay someone $15.00 an hour to help with keeping up your home that could easily be offset by $150.00 per hour or even much more you could be earning by coaching or doing a teleseminar, or networking with a master networker who can give you a ton of leads.
Now be smart and savvy about your help. You may be thinking I can do these things myself. But you need to focus on the things you love (spending quality time with your family and friends)and the things that are going to make you money: (1) client work, product sales or services and (2) marketing to bring in more clients.
So how do you find help? Here’s a few tips:
Ask for Referrals: Talk to other online business owners to see who they use. Finding someone who others enjoy working with is always one of the best ways to find help for your business.
What Types of Tasks Do They Do?: Again, a willing Virtual Assistant (VA) can be trained to perform tasks in the way you specify, but do look for virtual assistants with experience working with online business owners and who has some understanding of their needs. What Are Their Rates?: Rates vary with virtual assistants. Some may charge per project, while others may charge per project. If you plan on working with a VA on an ongoing basis (as you should), an hourly agreement simplifies the process. Ask if there are any discounts available if you keep your VA on retainer.
Test Them Out Before Agreeing to a Retainer: Ideally, you do want to work with a VA on an ongoing basis, but be sure you are a good fit before doing so. Give him/her a few projects and make sure he/she responds in a timely manner, takes direction well, clarifies any details that need clarifying and complete projects on time.
Certification Isn’t Necessary: Although certified virtual assistant’s may disagree, certification is not necessarily an indicator of an exemplary service provider. In addition, the lack of certification is not necessarily an indicator of poor service. They can be trained to perform tasks in the way you specify, but do look for virtual assistants with experience working with small business owners and who has some understanding of their needs.
A Virtual Assistant in Business vs. a Freelancer: When looking for a VA, this can become a tricky thing. Generally speaking, a virtual assistant who is solely in the business of being a virtual assistant, should be able to provide dedicated service to your business. On the other hand, I’ve had good experience hiring individuals who were simply looking for steady administrative work from home. The latter also often charge less.
What you should beware of is virtual assistants who do VA work on the side while trying to build another type of business of their own. That is where you run into trouble with consistency, meeting deadlines, etc. You want to find a VA that is committed to providing support to your business, not someone who is trying to pay the bills in the meantime.
Check References: Because your virtual assistant will have access to so much personal and business information, it’s important to check on any references provided. You should also search on Google for any reviews of their service.
Author Resource:-
The Client Attraction Expert is founder of Attracting Clients Out of Thin Air(tm) and www.ClientAttractionMentor.com. To receive your FREE report "7 Steps to Attracting Your Ideal Client Out of Thin Air" visit the Client Attraction Mentor.
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