Step It Up VA Coaching

DECEMBER 11, 2014

Look at your marketing strategy, your financial projections, and your service offerings. Look at everything from contract negotiations, client communications and project management to software upgrades, billing and even file storage. If you identified why your financial projections fell short (maybe because of your marketing strategy?),

Holidays 100

Holidays Negotiating Goals Project Management 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

MAY 31, 2012

When you’ve got a pool of experts, you’ll be able to take on bigger projects, focus your talents-and best of all, make more money. There are a number of free and paid project management websites with valuable time tracking software and other goodies, such as Clientspot and Basecamp. Use an online portal to stay organized.

Google Docs 100

Google Docs Basecamp Project Management Mentoring 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

OCTOBER 4, 2012

We tend to attract the kind of clients that fit with the image we project. Be aware of the image you project to others. If you project an image of professionalism, confidence and success, then you will attract clients who are of similar mindsets and want to work with you because of that. And what about your team members?

AT&T 100

AT&T Confidence UPS 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

APRIL 3, 2015

And if you’ve ever remodeled anything, you know it’s almost inevitable that problems will come up during the course of the project, so it’s important to work with a professional who will know exactly what to do when it happens. The same is true in your own business. Don’t commit skills, time or resources that you don’t have. Be proactive.

Training 100

Training Skills Budget UPS 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

MARCH 13, 2014

The technician or worker in any company thinks about the project at hand. The manager focuses on how all the projects work together to satisfy clients and meet the short-term goals of the company. You have to be the leader, the visionary, the decision maker. To be a CEO, you have to think, act and work at the CEO level.

AT&T 100

AT&T Stress Phones Management 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

JULY 3, 2014

Another great benefit, especially for retainer clients, is that you don’t have to stop working on a project because you’ve reached your monthly retainer limit on time or dollars. Because it’s no longer about the time or hourly cost, you can continue the projects you’re working on and accomplish them on time for your clients.

Credit Card 100

Credit Card Social Media Skills Management 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

When you’ve got a pool of experts, you’ll able to take on bigger projects, focus your talents—and best of all, make more money. There are a number of free and paid project management websites with valuable time tracking software and other goodies, such as Clientspot and Basecamp. Use an online portal to stay organized.

Google Docs 100

Google Docs Basecamp Project Management Mentoring 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

SEPTEMBER 19, 2013

In addition to the master contract, there may be a separate project or service agreement that details the actual work to be performed. This is convenient because you don’t have to re-create the entire contract with every project or change in services. Expectations. All of this needs to be made part of the contract.

AT&T 100

AT&T UPS 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

MAY 2, 2013

The technician or worker in any company thinks about the project at hand. The manager focuses on how all the projects work together to satisfy clients and meet the short-term goals of the company. You have to be the leader, the visionary, the decision maker. To be a CEO, you have to think, act and work at the CEO level.

AT&T 100

AT&T Stress Phones Management 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

DECEMBER 1, 2011

How can you trust someone else to invest the same amount of attention in and put the same value on a project or task as you would, without becoming a micro-manager? ” Set your team member, and your project on a trajectory for success by clearly communicating the details and requirements, and the importance of the task at hand.

Basecamp 100

Basecamp Project Management Calendars Goals 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

JUNE 14, 2012

Set a date for an initial call to clearly outline your strategies and goals for the project, and to solidify the lines of communication between you and the client. If they don’t like constant emails with status reports, then use a project management tool and put the information there so the clients can check on things on their own time.

Google Docs 100

Google Docs Dropbox Project Management AT&T 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

OCTOBER 31, 2013

And if you’ve ever remodeled anything, you know it’s almost inevitable that problems will come up during the course of the project, so it’s important to work with a professional who will know exactly what to do when it happens. The same is true in your own business. Don’t commit skills, time or resources that you don’t have. Be proactive.

Training 100

Training Skills Budget UPS 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

JUNE 25, 2015

For example, if time management is an issue for him, send him a few tips for managing his calendar, or recommend an online project management tool that you know about, and let him know that you can set it up for him if he’s interested.

Networking 100

Networking UPS Calendars Email 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

NOVEMBER 29, 2012

Look at your marketing strategy, your financial projections, and your service offerings. Look at everything from contract negotiations, client communications and project management to software upgrades, billing and even file storage. If you identified why your financial projections fell short (maybe because of your marketing strategy?),

Holidays 100

Holidays Negotiating Goals Project Management 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

APRIL 14, 2011

Avoid taking on last-minute projects so if a team member suddenly needs to care for a sick child, for example, they can find a different chunk of time that day or the next day to get the job done. But, you can also avoid a lot of stress by leaving wiggle room in your schedules so when issues arise, it’s not the end of the world.

Stress 100

Stress Social Media Negotiating Finance 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

NOVEMBER 8, 2012

In addition to the master contract, there may be a separate project or service agreement that details the actual work to be performed. This is convenient because you don’t have to re-create the entire contract with every project or change in services. Expectations. All of this needs to be made part of the contract.

AT&T 100

AT&T UPS 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

MARCH 7, 2013

Another great benefit, especially for retainer clients, is that you don’t have to stop working on a project because you’ve reached your monthly retainer limit on time or dollars. Because it’s no longer about the time or hourly cost, you can continue the projects you’re working on and accomplish them on time for your clients.

Credit Card 100

Credit Card Social Media Skills Management 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

MAY 12, 2011

However, systemizing your VA business – having standard operating procedures, a company manual, and a way to easily manage your projects, team and clients – not only gives you the option to expand when and if you decide to do so, it frees you up in a number of ways. Having a system allows you to: Keep your eye on the ball.

Project Management 100

Project Management Goals Management UPS 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

JANUARY 3, 2014

You’ll complete your marketing plan, revenue projections, action steps and more! Telephone check-in, support and accountability for selected project completion. ONE Full Day VIP Virtual Intensive. Y o u will spend 5 hours on the phone with me to map out and plan the next three months (or more).

2014 100

2014 Email Phones AT&T 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

AUGUST 23, 2012

Again – by purchasing a complete service package from your company, they save a significant amount of time – time they would have otherwise spent searching for database specialists, project management specialists, web designers, SEO specialists, article marketers, or copywriters…or trying to figure out how to do it all themselves.

Project Management 100

Project Management Purchasing AT&T Management 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

FEBRUARY 7, 2013

And if you’ve ever remodeled anything, you know it’s almost inevitable that problems will come up during the course of the project, so it’s important to work with a professional who will know exactly what to do when it happens. The same is true in your own business. Don’t commit skills, time or resources that you don’t have. Be proactive.

Training 100

Training Skills Budget UPS 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

APRIL 24, 2014

So how do you get your long-time, loyal clients to accept someone else handling their projects when what they really want is you? You may have special clients that you want to continue serving personally, or a particular project you enjoy working on and would like to keep for yourself. First, talk to them. One last note.

Confidence 100

Confidence Goals UPS 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

AUGUST 4, 2011

A few things for setting client expectations include: How we work: If you don’t want same-day projects, say so. For example: “ We are a streamlined, project-oriented business that is dedicated to giving 100% to clients. Turnaround time: Provide a basic turn-around timeline for projects.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones Phones Skills Email 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

DECEMBER 30, 2010

Set Communication Expectations: Next, set a date for an initial call in which you clearly outline your strategies and goals for the project, as well as solidifying the lines of communication between you and the client. Do you prefer e-mail or telephone communication? Are you available after normal working hours?

Purchasing 100

Purchasing Goals Skills Email 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

OCTOBER 6, 2011

Provide a quick email update about the status of a project. Even if you’re a Virtual Assistant who doesn’t handle “on demand” services, or projects that need attention on the same day (or the day after), inform your clients when you will be away from the office. Give regular updates. Be a deadline master.

Customer Service 100

Customer Service AT&T Email UPS 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

OCTOBER 2, 2014

And not all projects go as planned. When you vent about your clients, your work, your projects, or other aspects of your business, what are you really doing? Is it affecting your life? How about your business? Being an entrepreneur can be very stressful and frustrating at times. And not all clients are the easiest clients to work with.

Stress 100

Stress AT&T Management UPS 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

OCTOBER 13, 2011

Again – by purchasing a complete service package from your company, they save a significant amount of time – time they would have otherwise spent searching for database specialists, project management specialists, web designers, SEO specialists, article marketers, or copywriters…or trying to figure out how to do it all themselves.

Project Management 100

Project Management Purchasing AT&T Management 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

MAY 23, 2013

So how do you get your long-time, loyal clients to accept someone else handling their projects when what they really want is you? You may have special clients that you want to continue serving personally, or a particular project you enjoy working on and would like to keep for yourself. First, talk to them. One last note.

Confidence 100

Confidence Goals UPS 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

AUGUST 21, 2014

Ask them how things are going for them with their projects, their workload, etc. It allows them to discuss projects they’re working on and share their ideas, and it provides the perfect opportunity for them to get to know one another. It all starts here. You need to be open, approachable and available. Pay your team members right away.

Management 100

Management AT&T Skills Goals 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

NOVEMBER 6, 2014

Drawing from my days in high school Algebra class, if we know it takes us X amount of time to perform a task or complete a project, and it takes us Y amount of cost to run our business, then we know that with X times Y equaling Z, we get our hourly rate, and we’re done, right? Focus on outcomes and results—not tasks/projects.

Confidence 100

Confidence Training Skills UPS 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

APRIL 19, 2012

If you don’t have a project manager, select your most thorough and knowledgeable team member to be the designated point person to handle any issues that might come up for clients, other team members, or any other party with whom you do business. Leave it to her to resolve the issues, or in a last resort, call you.

Twitter 100

Twitter Facebook Project Management Travel 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

MARCH 14, 2013

For example, if time management is an issue for him, send him a few tips for managing his calendar, or recommend an online project management tool that you know about, and let him know that you can set it up for him if he’s interested.

Networking 100

Networking UPS Calendars Email 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

AUGUST 7, 2014

Trying to focus on a project while you’re being interrupted every 5 minutes is simply not going to get the job done. And I think it actually makes my clients feel more comfortable knowing that I’m not going to drop their work and their projects to answer a call from another client. Implement boundaries. So implement boundaries.

Management 100

Management Phones Agenda Calendars 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

FEBRUARY 28, 2013

Are you excited about a prospective new client, a new project, an upcoming conference or coaching program? Before taking on any new client, project, skill or service, make sure it’s something you’re excited about, and are taking on for the right reasons. Then that’s a sign you should do it.

Social Media 100

Social Media AT&T Skills Interviewing 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

JULY 18, 2013

Trying to focus on a project while you’re being interrupted every 5 minutes is simply not going to get the job done. And I think it actually makes my clients feel more comfortable knowing that I’m not going to drop their work and their projects to answer a call from another client. Implement boundaries. So implement boundaries.

Management 100

Management Phones Agenda Calendars 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

AUGUST 3, 2015

And we’ll create a full roadmap of a one-year strategy that will include creating an effective marketing plan, determining revenue projections, and mapping out your calendar/schedule for the entire year. I’ll show you how to systemize and streamline your business for more productivity and profitability, and less overwhelm.

Calendars 100

Calendars Email UPS 100

Step It Up VA Coaching

MAY 14, 2015

Basecamp, Central Desktop, or some other project management software is a great place to load information, documents, policies, etc, so the team can discover answers on their own rather than have to ask. Here you can keep answers to frequently asked questions, company information, client information, and SOPs.

Central Desktop 100

Central Desktop Basecamp Policies Project Management 100