What You’re Not Getting From Your Virtual Assistant and Why

Chances are, if you have ever worked with (or are currently working with) a Virtual Assistant, you have had moments of concern about whether or not you are getting your money’s worth. It’s a legitimate concern and one that is easily measured. Why? Because working with a V.A. involves 3 things:

 
1. What you want
2. What you need
3. What you get
 
It is that simple! Let’s take a look…
 
You seek out a Virtual Assistant or V.A. Team, because you want more. You either want more time, more customers or clients, more sales, more notice, more opportunities…more of whatever it is that you feel you aren’t getting, doing, or accomplishing in your business.
 
In your goal for more – comes the realization of need. To get what you want, you need help, information, guidance, knowledge, wisdom, answers, another set of eyes, another pair of hands…whatever the need, you have it and seek to fill it.
 
Finally, what you get will either be MORE or just more-of-the-same and your NEED will either be neglected, satisfied or (ideally) surpassed. See! It’s not that difficult to measure what you’re getting – or not getting – from your Virtual Assistant or V.A. Team. The “Why” can be a little harder to pinpoint, though. “Why” often requires a deeper look and involves honest answers by you to some or all of the following questions:
 
What does your V.A. or V.A. Team know that you don’t?
What tools are you missing that your V.A. or V.A. Team readily provides you?
What questions are you being asked by your V.A. or V.A. Team?
What answers are you being given when you have questions of your V.A. or V.A. Team?
What differences are you able to note since beginning work with your V.A. or V.A. Team?
How much are you spending on V.A. services?
How much are you saving in money, time, effort, frustration, etc.?
How do you get along with your V.A. or V.A. Team?
How do you communicate – and how often do you communicate with each other?
 
Ultimately, why you succeed or fail to succeed in online marketing will always be on you. So, if you are not getting what you want and need from your Virtual Assistant or Virtual Assistant Team, it’s time to ask yourself, “Why do I continue in this relationship?” Because, that is what you either have or do not have with your V.A. – a relationship – and, of course, a great relationship is built on trust and by meeting one another’s needs. If you are seldom getting what you want or need from your Virtual Assistant or Virtual Assistant Team, the relationship is already over. And now…you know “why”
 
If you are getting what you want and need, if your V.A. or V.A. Team is helping you to make the most of your online marketing, be sure to thank them for keeping up their part of the relationship, and making a noticeable difference in how you do business!

Know What You Are Doing and Prove It!

 

by Charlotte L. Hanna CMO/CMBS Global

 

Boy…do I remember those schoolyard bullies who were always making life miserable for the rest of us! I remember their annoying challenge consisting of just two words – Prove it!”

As an entrepreneur, you may know what you are doing, but business can be a bully when it comes to performance.

As an entrepreneur, you may NOT know what you are doing in some very important areas of business communication and marketing – but don’t let it back you up against the wall and intimidate like those bullies. [Read more...]

Sticking The Landing and Going For Gold

by Charlotte L. Hanna CMO/Director of PMR/CMBS Global

cartwheel

Olympic gymnasts know that no matter how great the routine, you must stick the landing to ensure the highest possible score when going for gold!

It could be argued that the same is also true for scoring well in online marketing. Solid Landing Pages are necessary. And, just as in most Olympic sports, timing can be everything when it comes to optimizing  opportunities for connecting with your leads and maximizing response rates. He who hesitates is left behind. [Read more...]

Keep It Simple: Decision Simplicity Stronger Than Strategy of Engagement?

by Charlotte L. Hanna CMO/Director of PMR/CMBS Global

Sydni Craig-Hart

According to a recent article by Patrick Spenner , contributor to Forbes.Com, marketers have it all wrong. The best way to impact purchase decision and brand loyalty is simplicity. Keeping it simple is stronger than engagement, because it’s what consumers really want. Social media is not the best strategy.

The Corporate Executive Board seems to back up Mr. Spenner’s claims by stating that brands that simplify customer decision making are:

  • 86% more likely to be purchased
  • 115% more likely to be recommended
  • Decision Simplicity is the #1 reason why consumers are likely to buy, repeatedly buy, and recommend it to others

Maybe…but I am hard put to agree with CEB’s argument that customers do not want a relationship with you, they just want help to make good choices. I believe there is demand for both. [Read more...]

How to End the Struggle, Keep Up and Meet Your Needs for Content Creation

by Charlotte L. Hanna CMO/Director of PMR/CMBS Globalkeep up

Are you struggling to create enough content to keep up with your online marketing needs? We have recently begun to step up our business blogging efforts here at CMBS Global and I will admit, the ideas for content creation do not always readily flow – especially when the need also requires it to be fresh, interesting, informative and compelling. If you are like me, it may be that you are often inspired – but actually creating daily, quality content for marketing your products and services is truly hard work! I’d like to share some tips from sources that have been extremely helpful to me and may help bring an end to your struggle, as well.

What are your content needs?

I honestly did not see this for the longest time when I began to blog. As a Virtual Assistant company that provides clients with a variety of marketing materials and back office support, I understood what the client’s needs for content creation were, far better than I did that of our company. Why? Well, for one thing, as I mentioned we offer a variety of services. Most, if not all of our clients, are pretty focused on one particular niche. When addressing their content needs, the focus is on that identified market and the goal for the particular project, whether it be the launch of a new product, an upcoming webinar or teleseminar series or the weekly ezine to their contact list. Our market, on the other hand, seemed to be too broad to me, because of how varied our client’s markets are. I struggled until I understood that, while there may be a wide variety of ways to describe what our clients offer – what we are providing simply makes whatever they are doing, easier for them to accomplish. Not so difficult when you look at it that way, right?  I just needed to rethink (or correct the thinking) that was affecting my approach to content creation for our company.

I suggest that you sit down and brainstorm your content needs with other members of your organization – or if you are a solopreneur – recruit a few close friends to do this with. Once you get the mystery of the TRUE IDENTITY of your market solved…you will be on your way to easier and more effective content creation. Remember: if you are marketing yourself, YOU are the product. Write your content accordingly. [Read more...]

How Being One In A Million Has Taken On a Whole New Meaning

by Charlotte L. Hanna CMO/Director of PMR/CMBS GlobalOne in a million

Remember when being “One In A Million” used to be a very good thing? My how that label has taken on a whole new meaning for the entrepreneur! What used to be a sought after position in business relations is now the challenge to overcome for the online marketer.

Being “One In A Million” used to be a huge pat on the back. It meant that no one else did business like you, served the customer as well or provided for the need quite the way you could. It meant that you were a stand out in your market. It was what every entrepreneur with the goal of ‘making it big’ loved to hear.

The Internet has given that once cherished phrase a whole new meaning. Now, we are all one in a million – or to be even more precise – one among many millions of those clamoring for the attentions of potential customers. Today’s entrepreneur must work a little differently if he or she is to truly be recognized as the one people run to for what they need. Doing business online means knowing how to get noticed, how to get potential client’s attention, how to provide what they are looking for and satisfy their needs – without the benefit of a storefront and flashing neon sign. They aren’t driving by your place of business every day on their way to work – OR ARE THEY?

Did you know that more and more people are viewing online content, getting their news and even shopping for their needs online during their commute time?

See, the problem for the small business owner has always been traffic. Business owners know they need the best possible location. The ideal is generally to be located where there is a lot of traffic…both vehicular and foot traffic. It’s good to have people driving by and walking by on a daily basis. Too little traffic = not enough sales. However, a lot of traffic is only beneficial if they are actually coming in, right? So, not only do you need positioning – you must make it impossible for them to keep on driving or walking without coming in. You have to grab their attention with the look of your store – your signage has intrigue and tell them what you offer – and your merchandise has to knock their socks off, be what they want and irresistibly displayed. [Read more...]

Knowing Your Product Must Include Understanding the Benefits

by Charlotte L. Hanna CMO/Director of PMR/CMBS Global

Knowing your product is key to selling. Any good salesperson knows that to sell a product, they must know as much as possible about it and to sell consistently they must also be able to communicate the benefits of that product to potential buyers. Knowing your product MUST include understanding how it benefits others, because benefits – not features – sell.

While this is not news to an experienced salesperson…it may be news to the online entrepreneur who is single-handedly working to build a business and wondering why all of their hard work and time consuming efforts don’t seem to be paying off.

Many entrepreneurs involved in building an online business are missing out on sales because they are overlooking the benefits their products and services provide. Today’s online entrepreneurs are usually a one-man or one-woman enterprise. Chances are they came up with the idea for their business and they are the sole marketer, content writer, product or service creator, salesperson, spokesperson, manager – and more.

Whew! That’s enough to make even a SUPER HERO’S head spin!

[Read more...]

The B2B Market – 5 Basic Online B2B Practices to Put Your Business Where It Should Be

 

by Charlotte L. Hanna CMO/Director of PMR/CMBS Global

Just what is B2B marketing? Business-to-Business refers to companies that sell things to other companies.There can be many B2B practices or processes that lead up to a sale online and put your business where it should be…positioned for sales.

For example, when you buy a blender from your local Walmart store that is a “Business-to-Consumer” sale – otherwise known as B2C. But, what happened before that blender ever made it to the shelf in the store would be known as the B2B transactions.

®    There was probably a fabrication company that supplied a particular machine to the company making the blender for the stamping out and shaping of whatever material would be used to make the appliance.

®    Then, perhaps a printing machine company that created and sold the print product necessary for the company to be able to print its name on the finished blender. [Read more...]

Do People Really Make Six Figures Online in a Year – Are Rags to Riches Stories Still Possible Even in Today’s Market?

 

By Charlotte L. Hanna CMO/Director of PMR/CMBS Global

 

I am bombarded daily with emails telling of how other people make six figures in a single year while working online -“Rags to Riches” stories, the results of an entrepreneurial spirit and the perfecting of marketing skills etc. But…are these stories really true? Is it possible to make six figures a year marketing online even in today’s market? 

I wanted to take a closer look.

It took very little effort to find all kinds of articles with the words “Earn Six Figures”. Some of the page titles also included “working from home”, “as a freelance writer”, “from Internet Marketing” …you get the picture. But the one thing that they all seem to purport is the idea of a system or program for purchase. So, is it only possible to make good money if you are the one selling the program or the system? [One article actually offered “3 legit online jobs” leading me to wonder about the legitimacy of all the many others being promoted as ways to earn a living online.] [Read more...]

What Is The Best Approach To Blogging? How Having a Goal Helps You Blog More Effectively

by Charlotte L. Hanna CMO and Director of PMR / CMBS Global

 

To be truly effective when writing content for business blogging from the angle of teaching (as Marcus Sheridan suggests) we must remain approachable. No teacher is looked to as a resource or mentor unless those who need their help view them as approachable.

Bloggers should avoid writing as though ‘looking for a fight’ – this can cause the entire article to be written from a defensive voice. Instead, writing from our passion may invite debate, but it won’t invoke hostility toward our words, it will more likely engage and then provoke thought and possibly conversation. [Read more...]