It was an honor to be selected from countless entries as one of three Business Owners to be feautured in the “Savvy Spotlight” for Savvy Biz Women Magazine (www.SavvyBizWomen.com). My feature story was published in the January 2015 edition of the online magazine. I am pleased to share the contents of the interview here on my blog and in this link: Savvy Biz Women PDF article.
Jaimie, tell us about how you launched your Virtual Assistant business in 2009. What was the on-line climate like then? What early challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?
Twenty years of love for “admin” work and consistent appreciation from my bosses led me naturally to becoming a “Virtual Assistant” when I was ready to own my own business. The online climate was phenomenal, yet still relatively in its infancy, and therefore underutilized by most solopreneurs. Introducing them to the great efficiencies and growth opportunities provided by the internet was and continues to be an immense source of satisfaction.
My early challenges were:
Finding clients: SEO was very expensive. I mastered social media, learning how to target specific audiences and engage interest through blogs, tweets and articles that strike a chord and lead potential clients to my website. From there, there is little further need to “sell.”
Convincing potential clients of the benefits of a Virtual Assistant: Less so today though still an occasional problem, potential clients could not grasp that work could be handled “off-site.” I would explain how easy this was with the internet and low-cost computer software, and how much less expensive than hiring an employee.
Convincing clients to hire me: Most Virtual Assistants, I included back then, simply listed their services on their website. I now pose questions on my website that make readers think about their businesses and what they want from it and for themselves, and I show the difference I can make for them. Beyond being purely task-based, I illustrate how I bring and implement ideas that transform systems and produce growth. With the passing of years, fortunately I have wonderful testimonials on my website too, so have less of a need to “convince.”
Pricing: After trying various business models, I have found that package pricing for a bundle of customized monthly services, with savings for long-term commitments, is the most attractive to clients.
Getting clients to actually delegate: There is a tendency to want to keep control. “Letting go” is painful. Initially, I felt the need to tread carefully and have clients give me little projects to build up their confidence in me. This slowed the real progress I could make. Now I boldly state which tasks they can safely hand over and I point out how this will allow them to focus on their core strengths or simply free up their time. “Getting Started” instructions with forms to complete take away the “figuring out” and greatly ease their whole process of delegating.
At what stage of business should you hire a virtual assistant? What are the best tasks to delegate first?
Unless a business owner is herself an expert in organization and social media, a Virtual Assistant will be a worthwhile investment at any stage. Virtual Assistants run the gamut from basic secretary to creative, big-thinker consultant.
If there are pressing tasks that have an upcoming timeline, this will be where to start. Otherwise, I suggest an overview of existing systems and procedures should be the Virtual Assistant’s first assignment; very often these can be revamped to effect significant improvement in efficiencies and customer service. For example, I produce an (online) indexed Business Operations Manual that documents all processes, templates, standard email responses, etc., constantly added to and saving time “reinventing the wheel.” The next task to delegate will be to see that processes are in place to prevent anything “falling through the cracks.” After this, the decision has to be made as to which ongoing tasks to delegate to the Virtual Assistant. Ideally, these will include tasks the business owner dislikes, does not have the requisite skills for, which free up her time to focus on her core strengths and income-producing activities, and that put her on the path to greater success.
Should social media be outsourced? Or should entrepreneurs use their own personality and “voice” in social media to better connect with their audience?
Indeed, an entrepreneur’s own personality and “voice” are vital in social media, BUT a good Virtual Assistant can “copy” this. Rarely does a business owner have the knowledge or time to effectively use social media…it is multi-faceted and multi-purposed, and constantly changing and advancing. Therefore it is essential to outsource, but to someone “in the loop,” who knows how to navigate the maze that social media has become, where, when, and how often to place content, what type of content this should be, how to measure its success…and who has an overall plan.
My own experience has proven that speaking with clients about their businesses and their target audiences, reading their websites and blogs, tweets, and newsletters has enabled me to assume their personality and voice for social media application. We discuss or they supply content I adapt. Messages must be consistent, quality material, thought provoking, sometimes humorous, and never stale. They must showcase the business owners as “filters” of relevant content that demonstrates knowledge within their areas of expertise.
Social media is not a one-night stand. It’s for the long haul. I provide clients with metrics that demonstrate the effectiveness of the social media we do together.
What is the next step for you? How are you going to “upscale” your business?
To be honest, I am happy where I am, but never complacent! I stay at the forefront of every change or shift in business administration, software offerings, social media applications, and anything that enables me to evolve; and I share it all with my clients.
Had you asked me this question a year ago, I would be excitedly talking about transitioning my business from AVirtualAssistant4You.com to www.UpscaleYourBusiness.com. Over the five years I had been in business as a Virtual Assistant, I learned many new skills and found myself brainstorming ideas with clients and bringing my own fresh ideas to the table. I attended seminars and mastermind groups, read business magazines, and Google researched. I had “upscaled” my own business and was ready to show clients I could do the same for them, as well as being their Virtual Assistant. Hence the new business name.
Each year, I will continue to write an eBook or report that will help business owners. These are free and can be ordered through my website. Titles include 99 Ways to Outsource Your Way to Success and Effective Social Media Marketing Strategies. Most recently I have published a Book and self-study program for new and struggling Virtual Assistants.
What is your best advice for women who are starting businesses today?
- Define your ideal client. The more specific you can be in “niching” your products and services to those who will benefit the most, the more you can target your marketing messages and attract people you will love working with.
- Choose a business mentor. Someone who has been there and done that!
- Be open to learning and experimenting. Take advantage of private and/or group coaching programs, mastermind groups, webinars, and teleseminars. Be open to fresh ideas.
- Don’t be afraid to fail. The challenging and hard times will force you to be innovative and to try new things. If your marketing efforts have clients banging down your door, your confidence, comfort, and complacency actually prohibit opportunities for growth.
- Be choosy about who you work with. Work with professional collaborators who enhance and support your vision. I am a VA who has several VA’s on my team, though always very carefully selected. They assist me in countless areas of my business.
- Don’t allow feeling overwhelmed to be the excuse for not taking action. Use a mind-mapping program such as Workflowy (www.workflowy.com) to get all your ideas and action items out of your head. Work on what you can, when you can.
Tell us about your book. What made you want to write a book and how did you make the time to do it?
Since I have become successful in this business, many Virtual Assistants have contacted me for advice, suggestions, and guidance. They see my business as an accomplished model which they’d like to emulate. I was happy to offer my help and insights, but it became very time-consuming to respond to all these requests on an individual basis. I decided a solution would be to bring my business-building guidance to the VA community by writing a book and companion online self-study coaching program.
I did not want this to interfere with my VA business and the quality service I always provide, so over the last year, at weekends, I set about writing a step-by-step self-study program that would help new Virtual Assistants start-up in this industry and would also provide ideas for struggling Virtual Assistants. I followed this up with a Book on the same subject. Both the book and the course were launched in the Fall of 2014.
Readers who are considering a new career or home-based business are welcome to receive a free chapter from my book via www.UpscaleYourVABusinessBook.com. My book is also for sale as a hard copy or Kindle version on Amazon at http://bit.ly/UYVABBookReview.
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Websites Owned and Operated by Jaimie Skultety:
http://www.UpscaleYourBusiness.com
http://www.EndtheFeastorFamineCycle.com
http://www.UpscaleYourVirtualAssistantBusiness.com