How to Become a Virtual Assistant and Make Great Money From Home

Becoming a virtual assistant (VA) is often one of the most sought after work at home opportunities by those who have clerical skills. As more and more solo entrepreneurs, and small businesses, seek to outsource office tasks to others, they are contributing to a boom in virtual assistant job opportunities.

Before I continue, I want to let you know that while being an online administrative professional is rewarding, it is not easy to enter into this field. If you have only entry-level office skills, meaning you know how to do basic typing, filing and answering phones, this may not be the right fit for your skill set. You see, VA workers usually have many years of administrative assistant or office supervisory skills.

If your skills are only entry level, then you would face very steep competition from those who can offer top level services to small business professionals. However, I don't want to completely discourage you from seeking out virtual assistants jobs. Just understand that you'll need to find a local career center that can give you training in advanced office administration skills.

If you are already a high-achieving administrative assistant, or office professional who wants the satisfaction of owning their own home based business, then you will be able to find a job as a virtual assistant, after you learn how to get set up and obtain clients.

A big misconception about this type of work is that it is just like working a regular job. The reality is, they are independent contractors who only work when they can secure clients. This means learning how to market yourself, stay organized and be able to manage your time well.

You should also think about specializing in a specific type of administrative work. Some of the typical jobs a virtual assistant can do for a client are:

*Bill Paying
*Bookkeeping
*Data Management and Processing
*Proofreading and Editing
*Transcription
*Word Processing

Other specialized areas are:

*Graphic Design
*Legal Assistant
*Real Estate Assistant
*Web Design

When you are just getting started, you can create a new virtual assistant checklist of all the specific skills you can offer busy professionals. Your job evolves around making their lives easier by doing tasks that you enjoy.

Another thing that's important for you to think about is who your dream client would be. There will be clients that come from all walks of life, with very different temperaments and work styles. Ideally, you want to work with clients who you're going to be comfortable working with on a regular basis.

There is also the option of doing subcontracting work for more established virtual assistants. This way, they would be the ones who would give you assignments, and you'd be helping them to grow their business while learning how to run yours.

The quickest way to get your virtual assistant business started, is to learn what to do from others who know how to do it successfully. You can find out more information about this top home business opportunity by visiting a site that features the best work from home ideas.

The Enemy: Words and How We Use Them

As a home based or small business owner you want to exude confidence and authority. You are an expert in your field. How are you conveying your message to your customer? Just like your body language, the words you use and how you use them can take on a whole new meaning.

Some of the words we all have a tendency to use say something completely different to our customers. Let’s say you are placing a call to a customer. When I call I say, “Hi, Joe, I’m calling to tell you about the latest property we have available”. I am very clear, succinct, I have a smile in my voice, and once I finish my reason for calling, I shut up and let my customer or prospect talk.

One of our clients, who we were consulting with on sales, couldn’t figure out why he was having a hard time during his sales calls. What we found out was when he would call rather than being firm and confident, with a smile in his voice; he sounded very tentative, “Hi, I am just calling to see if”. No this verbiage does not work. He did not identify himself, his company, and this client sounded very nervous on the telephone.

So be very careful you don’t use words or phrases that sound as if you are apologizing to your customer right the off bat. In fact, don’t use them at all. Take them out of your vocabulary. Be clear and concise. Speak in an even tone. Nervous people have a tendency to speak way too loudly; or so softly you can’t understand them, or some people speak very quickly. Also, be aware this is not something you are going to fix overnight. These phrases are a habit for many of us. So practice, practice and practice some more. Do role plays and tape yourself. Then listen to yourself, or have family members listen to you and critique you.

Think of the teachers you had in school, or a professor in college who was able to speak in a nice even tone, yet his or her voice carried. Now obviously this is not necessary on the telephone. However, this kind of even toned, lower than usual voice is the kind you want to use.  Try to emulate this person in your telephone calling or in dealing with customers face to face.

The way you speak is very important.  The pitch and inflection of your voice are also very important. If you have a lot of trouble with this you might want to purchase books on speaking that address the issues of pitch and inflection in your speaking voice.  Check out Amazon or Barnes and Noble. They have a wide selection. Again, you are not going to change this overnight. Remember, practice makes perfect.

Two additional  common phrases we all have a tendency to use are I believe, and I think. This is fine for your friends and family. However, as a business owner and “an expert” you had better “know”.

For all of you coaches out there be careful with the “we will hopefully achieve”.  Make a list of all that they will achieve by going with your program, obviously with the caveat that they do the work outlined.

So take inventory of what you are saying on the telephone; your in-person sales and in your dealings with your customers (for those of you in a storefront). Is your “word language” conveying what you want it to. Or like our body language sometimes, are your words conveying something totally different to your customer. Check to see if you are using any of the above phrases and stop!  It may take a while but you will be happy you did.

Help For Your Time Management and Organizational Issues

Many home-based businesses find they have a greater sense of control over how they use time. Working from home affords them fewer interruptions and more flexible ways to work, which makes them even more productive than if they worked in a corporate environment. On the other hand, others have a hard time getting started, sticking to business, and some become workaholics.
Let's start with a self diagnosis of what might be your time management problems.
1. Do you have a hard time getting started and sticking to business?
2. Do you have a hard time organizing your workday?
3. Do you procrastinate?
4. Are you constantly being interrupted?
5. Do you have a hard time getting away from work?
6. Do you find yourself overworking?
If you have any of the above problems you need help with managing your time.
The following will help you to deal with these issues.

Time management and organization of your office are very much tied together. An unorganized office will cost you a lot of time. Time getting started for the day, time finding phone numbers, letters or materials you need.
Some of the basics elements of Time Management are as follows:
1. Setting up a Work Schedule - Some of the ways to set up a workable schedule are to:
a) establish your schedule around the demands of your work.
b) establish your schedule around those times of the day you work best. For Chuck and I, our high energy hours are in the morning.
c) establish your work schedule around the other priorities of your life. For example, some single dads and moms with children might need to work before the kids get up, stop working, and get them off to school, work during the school day, pick up the kids, and spend some quality time with your family, and then do some additional work in the evening. Others work hard for 3-4 days a week and take long weekends.
d) Organize your schedule around a particular work task. This won't work for everyone, but if your business allows you to break off certain aspects of jobs into different days and time periods, do so.
e) Set up an arbitrary schedule. For some of you, any kind of schedule is better than nothing in the beginning. Eventually you will find your high and low points during the day, which will allow you to eventually establish a schedule for yourself that works best for you and one you can stick to.
2. Getting Started - Chuck and I start working after we walk the dogs. This is our trigger to start our day. When we come back in from walking them we immediately head for the office. For others, it might simply be to walk into your office, or set a timer to go off, or once you drop the kids off.
3. Staying With Business Matters - Once you do get started, don't let yourself be distracted by household items or anything else. Don't procrastinate. You want to be efficient. To do so, plan your day, set reasonable goals, praise yourself for the work your doing. You no longer have the water cooler or coffee klatch around to give you that praise, so you must give it to yourself. In fact, reward yourself for a job well done with something you enjoy doing.
The following are some everyday time-savers to build into your daily routine to help you work more efficiently.
a) Be sure you have organized your contacts, and files.
b) Use time saving technology - a touch tone phone, with re-dial button, your computer, printer, copy machine, e-mail. Prioritize your To do List. Use your mail folders.
c) Learn to say no.
d) Make use of down time. File while your printing something or back up your data during lunch.
e) Build a time cushion into your day. It is much better to overestimate the time it takes to do something than to underestimate.
f) Don't make a big deal over little decisions. For example, supplies.
g) Plan to do two things at once. Read after business hours; or get audiocassettes and listen while doing household chores; proof items while printing or backing up.
h) If you prioritize your To Do list, you will have a bunch of little items that will take you 3-5 minutes to complete; filing, update tickle, proofreading are some of these short tasks.
Some of the best ways to maximize your efficiency are to: plan your workday; safeguard your work from unwanted distraction and interruptions; recognize and sidetrack procrastination; set reasonable work goals, praise yourself for your work and reward yourself for a job well done; take frequent regular breaks; schedule your work so it won't conflict with you favorite activities; and arrange for a change of scenery. By doing all this you keep yourself fresh and able to work at your best.
Some of your most time consuming tasks will be: keeping up to date in your area of expertise by reading. Read only pertinent material. For many items you receive just highlighting or skimming the article will suffice.
Meetings are another area that take up a lot of time. Be sure before you schedule the meeting to ask yourself, is it necessary? Can I do this by telephone, mail or teleconference? If you do have to schedule a meeting, be sure you are organized with an outline of what you need to cover, and a specific time limit. If the meeting does run over, see if you can finish it by phone or mail, if possible, rather than rescheduling.
For those of you in lease purchasing, remember your telephone script. You don't leave the office until you get all the information on the script, check out that information, finalize your numbers, then call the seller to schedule a meeting. When you go to your meeting with the seller, be sure to take your flyers and signs to place after you and the seller sign the contract. Don't waste time having to make a second trip.
Correspondence, projects, phone calls and errands are other areas that take up a lot of time. For your correspondence, set up an efficient routine for processing your mail (See the Articles: Organizing Your Office For The Year 2000, Part 1 & 2).
Keep your errands to a minimum, or schedule a specific day when you do them in a morning or afternoon. To expedite your phone calls, have names and numbers handy, use your egg timer to set a time limit for each call. Ask them to send written material to review, or if they need information from you, you do the same.
For your large projects, break them down into smaller manageable tasks. Give each of these tasks a deadline, and be sure to place all of the information in your project file on a sheet stapled to the inside of the file.
Stress is a part of our lives. When you become overwhelmed or something upsets your day, don't let it ruin the remainder of the day or carry over to the next. Take a deep breath; count to 10, take a break; sing a song that comforts you; take a walk around the block; play with the dogs. When you do get back to your desk - remember - nothing lasts forever, and tomorrow is a new day.
4. Interruptions, Distractions and Procrastinating - To safeguard yourself from the interruptions and distractions of household responsibilities: interruptions from family, friends or neighbors; remind yourself and them that even though you are at home YOU ARE AT WORK. If you were at an office outside the home you wouldn't be able to solve their problems or take a break to spend time with them.
Work out a plan with your family of what your hours are, when you can and can't be disturbed. You need to keep focused on your work. The ability to maintain a deep concentration can prevent you from being distracted.
Procrastination is one the of the biggest problems with many home-based businesses. It is very easy to put off or never get to something you want to avoid. One way to avoid this is to think performance not perfection. If you set small manageable goals to be accomplished you won't fear not being able to accomplish them. You need to recognize and side step procrastination.
Procrastination is one of the hardest things to overcome for so many people. However, if you start by doing the one thing you like to do, this could help you to move on to do the other things you don't like. For those of you that have a extremely difficult time with procrastination, start with your favorite thing to do, and then the next and so on down the line. At least this is a start. Eventually you will be able to put all of these items in priority order, not procrastinate and move on to a normal work day..
5. How Not To Become A Workaholic
a) Close the door on work.
b) Set up a end of day ritual. Some people take an exercise class, others will walk around the block. Chuck and I feed the dogs.
c) Set A Firm Schedule - Set firm beginning and ending times. Yes, these will fluctuate on some days if you have early morning meetings or evening meetings. However, for the most part your day begins at a certain time and ends around the same time each day. Take a day off a week, or two if that is what you need. Be sure to put your off time on your calendar.
d) Take time to get out of the house- You want to schedule time away from home. Whether it is a shopping trip with a friend, lunch with a friend, a weekend away with your family.
Make the above mentioned ideas and tips a part of your business and life. They will keep you on track and help you manage your time so you can run a successful home-based business, without sacrificing your personal life.

The Future Of Partnering

Partnering between home-based businesses is a natural result of corporate downsizing. Many professionals who have left large companies and started home-based businesses are successful and don’t want to return to the corporate world, but they recognize the need for and benefit of alliances.

Partnering will continue to gain respect and recognition among home-based entrepreneurs seeking top talent for short and long-term business needs. Across the scope of business today, joint-venturing is in. When it comes to partnering, the home-based business has an advantage in flexibility, overhead structure and unique sources of talent. In other words, getting together to combine the best of talents, the best of direction and the best of enthusiasm is a win-win situation, period.

A couple of examples would be: you partnering with real estate agents, and brokers in regards to lease purchasing; or to use a specific company for inspections or clean up of the property. Or contracting with a web designer to design pages for your clients.

Tips for Effective Partnering

Choose your partners carefully. Be sure they have the skills and abilities you need, and share your level of commitment. Define the scope of the partnership. Are you working on an equal basis, or will one of you function as the managing partner? What roles will each partner play? How will the compensation be calculated and distributed?

Put it in writing. A detailed, well-crafted partnership agreement prevents misunderstandings, memory lapses and future conflicts. Develop and stick to an operations plan. How will the work actually happen? How and when will the partners interact?

Plan for the unexpected. How do you plan to handle problems and resolve conflicts? If a partner wants to dissolve the agreement, who ends up with what?

Set a minimum “no exit” time period. New ventures take time to become productive. Make a mutual commitment to stick with the partnership long enough to give it a chance to prove itself.

So, who do you want to partner with?

The Summertime Blues

The day is sunny and warm. It's 9 a.m., the sky is a bright blue and the temperature is already a toasty 80 degrees. Work is the farthest thing from your mind. The kids want to go to Waterland. "Come on Mom, can't we go!" Even though you don't feel like it, you insist to them, you have to work. Stop, right there! When you feel that you need a break - take one.

Spending a day with the kids, or just by yourself - doing what pleases you, is sometimes just what you need to rejuvenate yourself.

Remember many times just getting away for a while gives you a new perspective on work and even life! So .......go for it.......indulge in those SUMMERTIME BLUES!

Staying Focused

Three of the biggest areas of concern to our home based business owners are repeat sales, getting new business and staying focused while working at home.

First, let's discuss staying focused at home. Remember, to have a separate office or to delineate one area and one area only to your home business. This can be your kitchen table, a desk in your dining or living area, but only one place for the business paperwork. Obviously, if you have to place supplies in a different area, this is OK. In addition, if you have clients come to your home, you can do this in your living room, or family room area, or an area you have designated for clients.

I know, it's summer and all that sunshine and water beckons you. Remember, folks this is your business. If you need a few days off to get it out of your system, do it. You'll come back more motivated, refreshed, and ready to tackle anything.

Your home-based business is no different than that job many of us had years ago, that when Spring and Summer came along we had a hard time concentrating, and maybe took some time off. However, when we came back we were ready to work. And this time it's your own business, so that should motivate you even more.

Don't forget one of the basic tenets of running a business from your home, set distinct hours for that business and stick to them. When the work day is done, close the door, or clean up that area, and go on to household chores, or outside interests.

Use that To Do List to keep you focused. Make it up at the end of each day. Use that last half hour of the day to set up your work schedule for the next, put your work and To Do List in your tickler file, check your daily scheduler, check your goals for the day, did you meet your goals for the day, if not, why not, and what do you need to do to be sure you meet them for the next day, and for the week. Use your goals to keep you focused on your work day and what needs to be accomplished.

What time of day is it when your focus is wandering. Is it late afternoon, early evening? Maybe you need to get up earlier, and adjust your schedule so that your work day is done sooner, and your down time coincides with the periods of time you are having trouble focusing.

We all go through periods when we need to get away or take time off, even from our own businesses. I don't care how passionate you are and how much you love what you do, sometimes you just need to get away from it all. We say DO IT, have your fun in the sun, pool, golfing, whatever. Then come back with a vengeance to that business with renewed purpose and energy.

Partnering For Progress and Growth

Many home-based entrepreneurs are gaining new ground with partnering arrangements. Although it takes many shapes, the core of the partnering concept is two or more businesses teaming up to achieve together what they can’t do alone. Partnering with other businesses can help you offer a broader product or service package to a particular market segment, provide the resources to handle a single major project, or organize resources to meet your customers’ needs. Whatever the scenario, partnering gives you the image of seamless capacity typically associated with large corporations.

Even though it has been around for a while, don’t expect to find fixed rules for individual partnering agreements. With the concept rapidly evolving, some partnerships resemble entities unto themselves; others parallel outsourcing or subcontracting relationships. Some business owners partner only under carefully drawn contracts; others do it on a handshake. What’s important is developing an arrangement that satisfies all parties involved.

Partnering allows very niche-oriented businesses to serve clients’ complex needs and to compete against large firms that have all the necessary staff in-house. Partnering also allows you to handle a large one-time project without actually hiring employees.

Another advantage of partnering is it provides a home-based business the opportunity to grow substantially without having to move to a commercial location.

Get It In Writing

While partnering enthusiasts claim there are no serious drawbacks to the process, you should still proceed with caution, especially in the beginning. Formalize your agreement with a detailed written contract that clearly defines each partner’s role and responsibilities.

The contract covers what each is responsible for and what the compensation will be. It also includes short and long-term goals. The process of drawing up the contract forces you to think things through and be sure both are on the same page before starting. A business relationship is like a marriage-it takes work and sometimes you have to compromise. Just like a marriage certificate doesn’t guarantee a happy relationship, a contract doesn’t guarantee a successful partnership.

Even so, a contract can provide the foundation of a mutually beneficial business relationship and give you processes to end the alliance should that become necessary.

Think about all the things that could go wrong and how you would deal with them. What if one of the partners wants out? If the partnership splits up, who keeps the clients? Who signs contracts? How will you handle a situation where one partner fails to fulfill his or her obligation?

Consider the issue of liability not only from the legal perspective but also as it pertains to image. What happens if one of the partners either performs poorly or fails to perform at all? An attorney can review your agreement and advise you so you’re protected against legal liability, but you may still be putting your reputation at risk. Take the time to get to know a prospective partner, gain confidence in his or her abilities and reliability, and check references.

Where do you find good partners? They’re pretty much everywhere. Clients may also serve as the catalyst for a partnership, or contacts may be made through various networks.

As successful as partnering can be, don’t rush into it. Define your niche and your client base, and develop trust with your clients first. Once your business is established on its own, then look for ways to enhance it through partnerships.

Office Set Up

OK, you say, I've decided to start my business. I have my idea, my identity package, my licensing and zoning done. Now I need to set up my office.

Your first step is to decide whether to convert a room into an office or a space/area in your home to office space.

If your space is limited you might want to get the type of desk that looks like an armoire so you can close it up at the end of the day. Or use a folding table that can be put away at the end of the business day. Or you can set up a mini-office in the corner of a room and put up a screen to hide this area at the end of the work day.

In addition, depending on the type of business you are running, you need to think of files you will need and how you will house those files. For some businesses a small letter file will suffice, which you can cover with a table cloth at the end of the day or you could use an end table with space for files, or you can purchase crates for files and stack those in a corner or closet.

Most businesses today need a computer, along with a printer, fax, and/or scanner. Again, if you use the armoire type of desk they use have space for most of this equipment, and you can close it at the end of the day.

For those of you that devote a separate room to your office, you have a lot more latitude in the design of your office. However, size of your office will come into play. To utilize the space to the best advantage, choose your desk and the placing of equipment based on your office size. This means measure items before purchasing them. Do a mock set up. While this might take a little more time initially, it will pay off in the long run.

The basics for most offices are phone, fax, computer and printer, and file cabinets. The file cabinet can also be used for miscellaneous supplies if you are tight on space.

We all have a picture in our minds of the ideal office. Unfortunately, we have to work within certain parameters. It can be done. You just need a little ingenuity sometimes.

Since there are so many differences between individuals and what they have to work with it is very difficult to be very specific in what to purchase. We would suggest being sure to get the basics: phone, fax, computer, printer and file cabinet, and work from there. Obviously, if you can devote a whole room to an office it will be a lot easier than if your space is limited.

My Family Doesn't Take Me Seriously!

I can't tell you how many times I hear from working mom's that people don't take their home based business seriously. Unfortunately, when I ask them how they react, they don't have real definitive answers for me.

Remember, unless you take your own business seriously, no one else will. You must establish working hours, rules that family members must follow, and rules you must follow.

I know, you started your business so you could be your own boss, work when you want, spend more time with your family, have more flex time.

Yes, you can have these things, but you also have to make decisions regarding your business. If your business is secondary to all of the other things, then just like everyone else you are not taking your own business seriously, so why should anyone else. Your business has to be the first priority, not your house, your yard, your cooking and cleaning, your kids and/or family. I am not saying your family is not important, they are; but you must make them realize that what you do as a business person is important, and that you need your time and space to do this.

Remind them that when you worked outside the home they couldn't ask you a question whenever they wanted or to talk with you whenever they wanted to. I know, this is one of the reasons you wanted to work from home so that you could better deal with these issues. Well you can, but you have to schedule them in. Put the time in your daily schedule to deal with the unexpected and you will be better able to deal with it all.

I work my business, but still get the other things done. However, I have a schedule and I stick to it. My work day starts after the cleaning is done. I've set time aside Friday morning to shop, Saturday to do a full cleaning. I still have plenty of time to myself and to have fun.

So schedule the fun things in. Time with the kids, and the family. And remember, unless you take your business seriously... neither will anyone else.

7 Attributes of a Successful Home Biz Opportunity

Many people are looking for a home business to
give them financial freedom. With so many small
business opportunities to choose from, how do you
discern a truly great home business from the
wannabes? Rather than take a gamble with your
future financial security read on to find out
exactly what to look for with these seven keys to
home business success.

Key 1: How big is the market? What type of people
would be interested in the products and services?
The businesses that go further are those that can
serve the needs and wants of potentially millions
of people; are not restrained by demographics and
that appeal to people with disposable income.
Many small business opportunities would satisfy
one or two of these criteria but few satisfy all
three. The more people interested in your
products the more money you will make.

Key 2: What is the industry trend? What is the
general direction of the industry in which your
business will operate? Is the industry expanding,
staying level or worse still, shrinking? Are
people finding alternatives to your products and
services? Do you remember some years ago the
explosion in home entertainment through videos?
For a short time having movies at home on video
was highly lucrative but has been quickly replaced
with DVDs. Be aware that a product or service may
be considered *hot*...but for how long?

You will need to look for an industry that is
expanding as well as a highly desirable product or
service. If the industry is expanding, it is
possible get a sense for how long that industry
will continue to grow by taking a look at the
generation of Baby Boomers.

Baby Boomers are the people born between 1945 and
1960 who have caused significant industries to
emerge in the past. For example, as they have
aged, the following industries have expanded:
baby foods, station wagon cars, tertiary
education, computers and IT. Baby Boomers are
approaching the latter part of their working
lives and are interested in products and services
that promise financial security, health and
flexible lifestyle.

A home based business satisfying an emerging need
of the Baby Boomers is one that will have some
significant future.

Key 3: The nature of the product or service
itself? Is the product one that people will use
often? Look for a product that is consumed (used
up) and needs to be replaced regularly. This
will give you repeat orders from the same customer
and create a steady flow of income.

Do customers fall in love with the product or
simply use it? The best home business
opportunities are with products that people love,
rather than simply, like. People love products
that save them time, or deliver a solution to a
recurring problem. The product should also
represent value for money and most importantly,
be one that people can’t get anywhere else.

Key 4: How is the product delivered to the
customer? This is an important point as you will
want to leverage or use your limited time in the
most effective way possible. If you physically
deliver to your customers, you significantly
limit your income and market potential. No
business, even your own will pay you for
delivery. Businesses pay on generating sales!
Your time is much more valuable spent in lead
generation than to allow it to be squandered in
delivering the product.

Look for a business where the products can be
delivered electronically over the internet, or
are delivered directly to the consumers by the
parent company - without you having to be
involved, other than placing the order.

Key 5: Is there a proven business system? Is there
a successful business system you can plug into?
Let's face it, you want to get up and running and
be making money as soon as possible, not creating
a business system! Or, worse still trying to make
a bad business system workable!

Look for a business opportunity with well-designed
marketing tools; efficient, automated processes,
simplicity and track record of creating business
success for newbies. A great business is one that
even Homer can master!

Key 6: Is there a support system? Is there a
support structure you can plug into until you grow
your business and learn your businses to stand
independent? Once you get started, are you going
to be left alone or will there be someone there
to guide you?

Choose a home business where someone will teach
you how to run the business and if need be, show
you how to develop your own leaders. Make sure
there is a mentoring system in place so you have
the opportunity to regularly learn from
successful leaders who have gone before you.

Key 7: The credibility factor. Is the organization
believable, stable and have a track record of
delivering on their promises? Have a good look at
the people who are in charge and ask the
following questions.

How long has this organization been in business?
Is the company well respected? Does the company
make unsubstantiated claims? Have they been able
to establish a loyal customer base so far? Do
they meet all government standards and
qualifications in the countries they operate? Is
there a refund policy? Can they deliver on their
remuneration promises?

You should take the time to get to know the
company you will be relying on. Don't just be
dazzled by the so-called income testimonies!

Now there are a number of home business
opportunities out there all vying for your
attention. Armed with these seven success
factors you are well equipped to sort out those
work at home business opportunities that have the
best potential of providing you with true
financial freedom.

Getting Started

One of the first things we do with our Partnering For Your Success students is to have them plan out how many hours they can spend on lease purchasing.

We know that many of you are working and want to start part-time. Well the best way to do this is to take a calendar and to put in the times you will work your lease purchasing business, or whatever business you want to get started.

Your initial planning is the key. The number of hours you can spend, getting your identity package done, setting up your office, making the contacts, making your calls, and setting your goals (both short term and long term). In effect, getting your ducks in order, being sure all your P&Q's are taken care of, and then just getting started.

However, the first step is yours. If after doing all the planning, you never make the commitment, all is lost. You have to implement the plan, and make the commitment to follow through.

And when there are bumps in the road, and believe us, there will be, ask for help, don't just give up. If you just give up, you'll never know what you could have accomplished. Think of the bumps as challenges, and learn from the bumps rather than just giving up. Nothing comes easy. You are not going to be a millionaire by next week (unless you win the lottery), it is not going to work on auto pilot, you need to stoke it and help it grow.

So start planning and doing today. Let this year be a new beginning for you. If you feel you can't do it on your own, check out our Partnering For Your Success program.

Does Your Business Need An Attitude Adjustment

First you need to: Change your attitude. I know you feel you have a good reason for feeling bad. However, instead of moaning and groaning about why me, ask yourself how you can turn the situation around. It’s better than feeling sorry for yourself, and a lot more productive. You may not have all the answers you need immediately. It is important, though, that you are asking questions. Eventually you will ask the right questions, and move forward.

Second, it is very important that you believe that you have the power to change things. The one thing to take from the past is the experience of success. Like us, many people “have had it and lost it and have had it again”. As we discuss in our book, “Who Makes It Happen We Do”, we lost it for a while, but we got it back. As we state in our book and constantly to our students, “who makes it happen, you do!” You have to believe you can be successful, to be successful!

If you haven’t had the experience of creating a business success or earning a lot of money; then you need to get a mental picture of a time when you made a wise choice or acted in a certain way. For example, having the suggestion you made at work implemented. Getting down to a weight goal you set for yourself. Winning a tournament or championship in a particular sport. Closing your eyes and getting a mental picture of yourself succeeding or a mental picture of yourself in a more positive time is a very popular technique.

Third, you need to work harder and smarter. As we have stated before, you are not going to be a millionaire overnight, unless you win the lottery; and we all know what your chances of that happening are. The surest way to make money is the old fashioned way, working for it. When you’re starting a new business, expect to work harder for months, even several years. If you can, hire someone or buy a piece of equipment that saves you time. If all your time is spent producing the product or if you are concentrating only on the supply end, you miss the big picture. You need to be able to see the big picture, to set goals for the future, and make decisions, in fact, some very important ones, to keep your business ahead of the competition. In order to succeed, you need to be able to focus clearly. This means that you need to take the time, away from the work environment, so you can think, without all the distractions and pressure. So your think time needs to be in a calm and serene environment. If that occurs while in your car, walking, exercising, the spa, the shower, whatever, go there.

Fourth, you need to keep focusing on what you want. Unfortunately for too many individuals all the focus is on the negatives. They focus more on why they can’t do it, instead of the positive, and because of this their business failures become a self fulfilling prophecy.

Fear can be very debilitating to the business person, especially in the finance area. If you are fearful of financial disaster you may head toward it instead of taking the risks necessary to become successful. You need to focus on what you want for your business, to be ready for the challenges that will come your way, and then do whatever it takes to make it work.

Five, instead of looking at the recession as an excuse, see it as a time of opportunity. Economic down turns sometimes will open up different opportunities for your business. During these times, people need and want value for their money. Instead of replacing an item, they will repair it. During this time, you may be able to buy equipment or inventory for less. Think ahead. Remember, business growth tends to be erratic with growth spurts and setbacks. You need to believe in what you are doing. You are in business for the long run so learn to deal with the ups and downs. Realize that you will prevail in the long run, since your product or service has value and appeal.

Six, you also need to look ahead by staying on top of changes. Keep in touch with innovations in technology and how they effect your business. Don’t purchase something because it is the latest and greatest, if you don’t need it. However, if a piece of equipment or certain marketing methods will help you reach your goals, save you time or help you run your business better, invest in it.

Seven, be aware that political or social changes that can make a difference, too. They can mean that your whole market is changing. Read everything you can get your hands on, stay tuned in to all the media and don’t forget to be aware of what your competition is doing. You need to keep asking yourself,” How can I cash in on this new trend?” and “What do I have to do to catch up?”

And last but not least, realize that there are going to be certain areas of your business you are better at than others. Let’s say you manufacture and sell cassette holders. You are great at selling them, but not very good with the manufacturing end. Once you find what you can do better than any one else, keep doing it. You’ll not only stay in business through tough times, you’ll stay ahead.

The Art of Knowing When To Say When

When running your own business it is important that you develop the wisdom to know when to say when. It's important to realize that there are actually other things in life that you need to pay attention to.

For example, I know this may come as a surprise to some of you, but you are human and sometimes you need to take breaks to do things like eating and sleeping.

Don't forget about that family of yours. They need to see more than the back of your head. After all, didn't you start this business so you could spend more time with them?

Also, don't be afraid to give yourself breaks just to veg out. It's really easy to become a victim of information overload these days. Do some fun things online. There's nothing wrong with taking some time out to just play some games or whatever it was you used to do before you started trying to make some money online.

Oh yeah, don't forget to bathe. :-) I know it sounds silly, but sometimes we need to be reminded of such things. If you have to schedule these types of breaks on your computer to remind yourself, then do just that. Sometimes I amaze myself when I calculate how long I’ve been on the computer at one time.

Get up and stretch. Get outside(unless the smog alert is code orange). Play with your dog. Play with your cat. Read something totally non-business related.

I know it sounds hard, but I know you can do it. You'll be much more productive when you allow yourself to take a break. Okay, break over. Let's get back to work.

Are You Taking Full Advantage of the Web?

Is your site visible, interactive? How's the infrastructure? Are your mailings personalized? What about tracking and consistency? In order to get the most out of your website all of these items are important.

By following these tips, you can build a sense of community for your web site. This in turn can build a loyal following for both your site and your business.

To make your site visible; be sure you prominently feature your URL (i.e., your Internet address) on your business cards, correspondence as well as any advertising you do - newspaper, magazine, broadcast and direct mail.

To be interactive your site must invite visitors to subscribe to e-mail "hot lists" that specialize in the categories that are of interest to them along with specially-priced merchandise they're interested in.

You want to be sure your site has a good infrastructure. If it does, it will allow you to quickly and easily send carefully-targeted e-mail bulletins to customers interested in specific categories of merchandise, so you can quickly and easily inform them of new products and specially-priced merchandise. And this is one of the main reasons you have a site, isn't it!

Personalization is key today. With all the products out there which allow you to do this, there is no reason your mailings shouldn't make the recipient feel "special".

The interactivity of your site isn't doing you any good if you are not sending targeted emails. So be sure to broadcast targeted e-mails to your core market at least twice a month.

All of the above mentioned tips allow you to grow and expand. However, be sure that you have a tracking system in place. This will allow you to track the results of your advertising, so you can see which media generates the most subscriptions to your hot-lists and which lists produce the most profits. This will help you to streamline your site and get rid of products and parts of your site that are not getting the results.

Targeted Home Based Business - Presenting 6 Skill-Based Ways to Speed Up Your Home Based Business

A home-based business is a very great set-up for some people. It allows them to bridge the gap between home life and career. But the major concern for such a set-up is if it can really make enough money to sustain a family’s lifestyle. In this article, we present to you the six skill-based ways that can really speed up your home based business.

1. Make sure that your website is designed in such a way that people will find it attractive and easy to use. Customers will only come back if they enjoyed their visit and found many things that interest them. Also, make sure that your website is easy to navigate so customers will not spend a lot of time looking for the things they want. Keep the colors simple and avoid neon signage and crazy moving effects at all costs, as these are surefire ways to repel customers.

2. Consider writing newsletters or e-zine articles. Try to be an expert of the field that you are interested in so customers will rely on you for the information that they need. As such, it then becomes your duty to present them with well-written content about your products or any other topic that is related to it. These articles can also be submitted to several online publications and article directories so you can get more links for your site.

3. Leave voice messages, but take caution that you do not abuse this method. Just use this to inform people of the newest products and promotions you have to offer.

4. Use your research thesis-writing skills and create case studies. This is a great way to impress your customers with your professionalism as you present to them the great functions and abilities of your product in a thorough and direct manner.

5. Strive to increase your referrals. Provide excellent client services so people will continue to talk about you and make you the newest word of mouth.

6. Try to join affiliate-marketing programs. You not only earn commissions, but you also open yourself up to a wider range of customers.

Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have just completed my brand new guide to article marketing success, ‘Your Article Writing and Promotion Guide‘

Download it free here: Secrets of Article Promotion

Sean Mize is a full time internet marketer who has written over 1574 articles in print and 11 published eBooks.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sean_R_Mize

Home Based Business : Small Business Marketing Solution - Is Database Marketing Right For You

Database marketing sounds like something Wal-Mart or Amazon.com is fantastic at. And they are. But so are many small businesses down the street. My local coffee shop has one of the best database marketing systems in the world. Their order processing machines remember my favorite cup of joe and serve it up to me hot, on sight, without my even asking.

Of course, their order processing machines are bipedal, with organic computers known as brains and eyes in lieu of optical scanners. Database marketing essentially seeks to emulate what the baristas at the Coffee House do naturally.

So, how can you know if your company is a good candidate for database marketing? There are three essential questions to ask:

1. Do you have best customers? Do you possess a group of customers that clearly drive more profits--not gross sales, remember, but profits—to your bottom line?

2. Can you identify those customers?

3. Can you reach those customers? Can you communicate with them, individually, and treat them special?

It is extremely valuable to you, then, to answer the above three questions…after you answer this one:

Are you already a successful database marketer?

Many sole proprietors already are. So are thousands of sales reps. They are familiar with their customers, they understand their preferences. If they have under a hundred customers, maybe even fewer than 500, they know their names and their likes and dislikes and know which ones contribute the most to their pocketbook.

But once a business achieves a certain size it becomes impossible for any one person to know all the customers. This is where the aid of the computer comes in. But, we don’t want to discuss tactics in this article. Rather, let’s simply focus on whether or not your company is a candidate for a database marketing program. And that means we need to devise some questions that help us answer each of 1, 2 and 3 above.

Payment. Can you capture their individual financial contribution? Does everybody pay with cash or credit card, and then scoot out the door? Or do you invoice your customers?

Communication. Do you know their name and address? Can you acquire their name and address? How about email address? Can you acquire it?

Acquisition Method. Do you know how they heard about your company in the first place? Can you track and quantify how much it cost your to acquire that customer?

Decision Maker. Does the person who actually buys from you control the purchasing decision? If you sell to consumers, the answer is probably yes; but if you sell to businesses it can get a bit more complex. In some industries even finding let alone reaching the true decision maker can be tough but--that’s the person you need to market to for you to be effective.

OK, the above are entry-level questions to ask when evaluating if your small business is a candidate for a database marketing program. Again, the key advantage the application of a database marketing program affords as part of a small business marketing program is the ability to target best customers. You find those customers that send the most to your bottom line, and spend more of your advertising dollar on them.

If you can’t identify and communicate with a best customer segment, then it is probably best to look at a mass marketing program, where you essentially spend the same marketing promotional dollars on each prospect.

If you can identify these best customers, then you are ready to learn more about specific database marketing techniques.

Remember: Brand (who you are) + Package (your Face to the Customer) + People (customers and employees) = Marketing Success.

© 2006 Marketing Hawks

Craig Lutz-Priefert is President of Marketing Hawks, a firm providing essential marketing vision for small business. Marketing Hawks also provides expert sales presentation review at their VideoMyPitch website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Craig_Lutz-Priefert