Virtually In Focus

Elements of a Market Campaign

merlene — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:09:24 +0000

When we talk marketing, we talk about making people interested in what we have to offer. Whether it is donuts, cars, houses, chewing gum, whatever it is, marketing is very relevant. So I was thinking that there are elements to a market campaign that will push the proverbial envelope in the right direction. So here is my list that can be used by the virtual assistant, or the small business owner. In fact, it can be used by anyone.

1. Goal or clearly defined plan - you must have a goal, or else you can end up pushing in the wrong direction.

2.Target Group - the group you will target for the sale of cars will not be the same as the ones you target for chewing gum (well hopefully).

3. Focus - as with everything else, you must not be easily distracted and be spasmodic if you want to achieve your goal.

4. Committment - there must be a conscious decision to achieve, and to carry through with those things that a necessary to achieve.

5. Appeal - if you are selling a house, it must be presented in such a way so that the buyer will want to ignore the rest and choose yours. Whatever it is that you are selling, whether its ideas, service or goods, it must have appeal. The benefits must be apparent.

Now these are by no means a complete list, or given in order of importance, they are just noteworthy. So I hope you’ve noted them.

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Technology That Can Really Empower You

merlene — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 11:38:31 +0000

As we advance more and more, there are some tools that we just find are more empowering than others. From the computer, to the mobile phone, to twittering to Facebook. These are all tools that empower us in our drive to improve and become more competitive.

Among my favorites is twittering and virtual assisting. Twittering because it puts you in touch with friends, colleagues, relatives, anyone, in real-time. Its a micro-blogging service, or I’d prefer to say tool, that keeps you in touch with no hassles, no formality.

Virtual assisting because it benefits both the virtual assistant and the small business person who decides to hire one. With the advantage of time, which now becomes quite flexible, and each loving what they do, I think it doesn’t get much better than that. Well of course, the computer will always take first place since without it, most of us will be terribly disadvantaged.

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Your Ideas & My Ideas - How They Can Work Together

merlene — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:26:32 +0000

I believe there is nothing more annoying than someone who sincerely believes that their ideas are the only good ones, and need no enhancement. For me, just about every idea can do with some enhancement. Even if its just on the method for using it.

Sharing your ideas and listening to those of others is a great “recipe” for growth and expansion. For example, the idea of a virtual assistant can only work if small business owners see the need to focus on business building and expansion

So the point to glean from all this is merging ideas can result in powerful resource tools as the virtual assistant is to small businesses.

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Making The Most Of It

merlene — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 03:13:21 +0000

I am sure you will agree that its not always things work out just the way you want it, or even the way you anticipated it. So when it doesn’t, what do you do. Throw your arms up in the air and announce “I quit”?

The feeling to quit is probably a natural feeling, but that’s all it is; a feeling. Something that comes and goes. This now brings me to the real point. Making the most of any given situation means going beyond feeling and acting rather on principle.

The world of business is operated on a principle, and as a virtual assistant, that principle bears a whole lot of relevance. As a small business owner, that principle, depending on how its applied, determines success or failure.

So when the obstacles roll in, find a way to ignore the feeling, but instead maintain your focus, become creative, even innovative, whatever you do, just press on, and do make the most of it.

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TGIF - Some Things to Think About

merlene — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:34:44 +0000

As the week comes to a close, there are a few things that would stick out in your mind. Now is a good time to give them some thought.

1. Did I do my very best in all the circumstances that I had an opportunity to?

2. Did I make my customers feel that they are special and give the quality of service I’d give if that was the only customer I had? Cause as a virtual assistant, the best temtimonial is the one from a deeply satisfied customer or client.

3. Did I use my down time to improve the quality of service I offer?

4. Am I satisfied with my work ethics?

5. Do I love what I do, because if you don’t, the answer to all the above will be no.

As always, have a great weekend-time is precious, spend it wisely.

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Making It Worth The While

merlene — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 02:13:22 +0000

I used to get tired of hearing “whatever your hands find to do, do it to your very best”. Now that I’ve reached the age of reason, I can now see what that means. Now I can say, as long as time is going to be spent doing something, might as well you make it worth the while.

If you are building your own business, make it worth the while. Utilize every relevant tool, every good method, every valuable opportunity, as long as it will be worth the while. One thing I should warn you about though, is taking for granted the effectiveness of simple tools and methods.

Getting help is a simple tool and it can make a world of difference. As I said, whatever it is, just make it worth the while.

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Communication - A Tool That Is Never Out-Of-Date

merlene — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:53:17 +0000

There are some things that don’t change, and I was thinking that paper is one of them. No matter the height that technology reaches, no matter how digital, fast paced and global we become, paper will never be obsolete.

I am also reminded that thank you, please, excuse me and you are welcome will never be archaic. Their relevance will always be unchallenged. Its the same thing with communication. No matter how elevated our businesses takes us, we must communicate.From the CEO to the cleaner, the supervisor to the messenger, the manager to the receptionist, we all need to communicate.

Its relevance to the virtual assistant is equally important since business building is as important to you as it is to the small business owner. So whatever your method of communication, email, phone, IM, posted mail, certainly we can all agree on this, that communication is a tool that is never out-of-date.

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Napping is Not Just For Babies

merlene — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:16:07 +0000

Now I’m no doctor, psychologist, psychiartrist, or any of those fancy professions. I am simply a person who has experienced the rejuvenating power of taking a nap. Not a sleep, but a nap.

Everyone of us at times feel some level of stress at some point in time as we take on our daily activities. Irate customers, over-the-shoulder bosses, or for those with their own businesses, just the fluctuations in the business environment, one thing impacting another, machines that don’t work, all these are things that causes us to feel tense and anxious-stressed.

Well believe me, napping for just 5 minutes relaxes, restores patience, gives a different perspective, motivates and envigorates and of course increases productivity. I find to to be well worth those 5 minutes.

So stop chewing on the lip, biting the nail, grinding your teeth or blowing steam at everyone. Pop into the wash room and take a nap. It WORKS. It really does. Give it a try.

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My Passion vs My Day Job or Should There Be A “vs”

merlene — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:57:05 +0000

When your day job is not your passion, giving it your best takes discipline, committment and focus. Now your passion on the other hand just requires focus and time. In fact, for most of us, we make the time for our passion. Committment and discipline is already there, that is why it became our passion.

Why then can’t your day job be your passion? Or is it that you are lucky if it is. For those with small businesses, maybe that can be more of a reality since they can choose the type of business to get involved in, and spend the time building that business. And you build that business day by day using the tools available to do it. A great tool for building that business is the virtual assistant, who allows you the time to now do your day job with passion since it is your passion.

The virtual assistant takes over and takes away the tasks that takes so much of your time that the most important things are left behind.

So for those who are fortunate enough to have a day job that is your passion, embrace it, be fullfilled by it and rewarded with it.

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Change is Good / Improvement is Better

merlene — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 23:44:52 +0000

Before you decide on whether or not to agree or disagree with the caption, some definition must be offered for “change” and “improvement”. So what is change. Well according to the dictionary, it is “to make different, to alter, to transform”. What then is improvement. According to the dictionary again, it is ” to make or become better”. So you can see where I’m going with this.

While change can result in either an advantage or disadvantage, improvement is definitely an advantage. This can be seen when in business, a decision is made that the outcome is not certain. That will be change, but improvement predicts a positive outcome. One sure improvement for the small business is a virtual assistant.

So this week, lets all strive for improvement rather than mere change. All this will require will be a little more effort than what change will cost.

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