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Feb 24 2018

When to Hire a Second Set of Virtual Hands

 

Years ago, I worked for the Federal Government. One day our department announced it was unveiling a Vision Statement. It would be printed and laminated and every one of us would get a copy to hang on our office wall.

It was lovely. It really was very, very nice. It was also really long. And wordy. And kind of nebulous, and cumbersome.

Worst of all, it had taken the committee two years to create.

I looked at it, and, being somewhat young and full of vinegar and opinions, I blurted out (to the Big, Big Kahuna): “Really? I could have written you guys a vision statement in half an hour!”

I didn’t win myself any friends in high places that day, but, I was serious. And OK, maybe it would have taken me two hours – as a writer, we have to take into account time for researching and gathering information. Then there’s time it takes to go back and forth with the client — the drafts and copy changes can take more time that the actual writing sometimes.

In any case, this illustrates my point perfectly. Hiring a professional makes sense in so many situations. Whether you’re renovating your kitchen or writing a proposal — why labour away at something painfully, slowly (and in a committee, no less!) when you could spend a little bit of money to have it done quickly, with beautiful results?

VIRTUAL ASSISTANTS

The virtual assistant (VA) is one of the wonderful results of our digital world. You can hire a VA for a short-term projects, or on an ongoing, long-term basis, and that VA can be anywhere.

You can hire a virtual assistant for literally anything, from the mundane and time-consuming such as addressing holiday cards, to the complex such as setting up your office or a filing system that actually works virtual assistants can also make travel arrangements, and do research.

A virtual assistant can come from almost any background. The right VA with the right experience can be a goldmine for you. Look for legal, financial, or government background, for example, when you need help navigating bureaucracy, or creating a proposal for a government tender.

Hire a VA to do those chores you dread. I used to think there was virtue in forcing myself to do the things I dread. It builds character, right? How about letting yourself off the hook and paying for someone else to do it? This professional virtual assistant, Lisa Jibson (http://www.rossstreetagency.com) for example, offers to “follow up on unpaid accounts receivable.” If the thought of calling people who owe you money makes your hair curl, this VA can help you get money you’re owed. You pay her to get them to pay you. That’s a great return on investment, wouldn’t you say?

WRITERS AND COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALISTS

If writing is a time-consuming chore for you, a writer can take that chore off your hands and free you up to do what you do best.

Do you struggle when it comes to writing? A professional writer can organize information quickly and clearly. I’ve met so many brilliant, articulate people who tell me they struggle to get their thoughts organized in writing; that it takes days or weeks to write up a report or proposal. What else would you do with that time — and more importantly, mental energy, if you paid someone else to do it?

When you should hire a writer:

  • Hire a professional writer when you need a polished and professional piece of writing, such as a media release. For a little investment you’ll get a media release gets results and doesn’t go into the Circular Filing Cabinet on the floor.
  • Hire professional help when you need a proposal, sales letter, or some other written item that could make you money.
  • Hire for help with a writing task or project that is weighing you down, mentally, or worse, holding you back in some way.
  • Hire a writer when you want a better, more polished online presence.

The long and the short of it is this: high-quality writing leads to improved online visibility, which leads to more clients.

More clients are always a good thing.

Stephanie Regan can make your content sing and sway and pop. See samples of her work at www.durhamwritingservices.com.

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Stephanie Regan · Tagged: Hire Help, Stephanie Regan, VA, writer

Jul 07 2016

Life Lessons

Sheralyn

I learned a valuable lesson recently when life got in the way of business.  My mother had a saying when we were kids that went like this: “Never put off til tomorrow what you can get done today.” Seems I had been putting off a few to many things recently and as a result, when hit with an unexpected two day, all consuming event, I was left with nothing in reserve to help keep my business going, even during such a short absence. It turns out Mother was right after all.

As small business entrepreneurs and/or solopreneurs we tend to do a huge chunk (if not all!) of the work associated with our business by ourselves.  We try to be all things to all people: the bookkeeper, the sales team, the designer, the writer etc. This can result in things getting missed, particularly if they are not scheduled well ahead of time. Social Media posts are easy to book ahead but scheduling multiple deadlines and juggling several important deliverables requires skillful management of your calendar. Letting even one thing slide or thinking, “I can get this done tomorrow” can have a catastrophic effect if life gets in the way and makes other plans for you!

Don’t play catch-up. Use a time-management or even a project-management tool to stay on top of work demands and ahead of the game. That way, when a curveball comes your way, you’re prepared. By the way, this record-breaking “shortest post ever,” on a topic that has nothing to do with communications (considered my specialty) has been brought to you by “The Procrastinator”- me!

As Owner and Principal partner of “Writing Right For You” Sheralyn is a Communications Strategist – working together with entrepreneurs to maximize profit through effective use of the written word. Looking for web content that works, blog articles that engage or communications strategies that help you get noticed?  Contact Sheralyn today. Sheralyn is also the mother of two children now entering the “terrible and terrific teens” and spends her free time volunteering for several non-profit organizations.

Sheralyn Roman B.A., B.Ed.

Writing Right For You

Communications Strategies that help you GET TO THE POINT!

416-420-9415 Cell/Business

writingrightforyou@gmail.com

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Sheralyn Roman · Tagged: bookkeeper, business, Canadian Small Business Women, designer, Entrepreneurs, life lessons, procrastinate, project management, sales, Sheralyn Roman, solopreneurs, Time Management, writer, Writing Right For You

Nov 09 2015

Name That Tune…

Sheralyn

I may be dating myself but years ago a show on TV called Name that Tune asked contestants to “name that tune” in as few notes as possible. What you ask is the relevance of this memory? It brings to mind that moment your eyes begin to glaze over at a networking event when someone tells you EVERYTHING you ever DIDN’T want to know about their job, position, title, company and number of years on the job. I know you know what I’m talking about and I know exactly how you can avoid it. Just follow “The Rule of Ten.”

In Name that Tune, the music was so good and the “hook” so memorable that people instantly recognized the song. That’s what you want for your business.  An introduction that is catchy and memorable – your own personal “hook.”  The Rule of Ten is my personal guideline to developing a solid, short and simple introductory sentence that succinctly describes you and your product or service. It’s derived from the “Tenplate for Success” which includes ten critical communication tips for those in business. Taking ten means taking the time to distill your business mission statement or your vision into just ten words (or less!) using catchy lingo that will draw in the audience, inviting them to have a conversation with you. Isn’t that the whole idea behind networking? You don’t want the  “glaze over,” you want to encourage and enable a conversation. For that to happen, all you need is something catchy to get the conversation started.

So – what is the Rule of Ten? It’s simple: Take your main product or service, your goal or vision for your business and distill it down to the BEST TEN WORDS that describe your service and sound enticing to potential customers. Think it can’t be done? It can. Your first attempt might rival War and Peace but I assure you, with a little effort, some fine-tuning and perhaps a hint or two courtesy of Google Thesaurus, you CAN create a ten words or less elevator pitch that gets your potential customer talking to you not running from you.

Compare “I am a freelance writer and editor providing website content, editorial, blogging and advertising services for the small business entrepreneur” vs. “I help small business succeed using words that work!” or this one: “At a loss for words? I’ll help you find them!” In the first intro perhaps all you’ve heard is the word “Writer” and immediately images of a lonely, rumpled and wild haired women in front of an ancient typewriter comes to mind.  In the second or third example however, you’ve created the possibility of a conversation between you and your prospective client.  “Really,” they might say. “How do you use just words to help business?” There’s your opening, your invitation to have a conversation with a prospective client, without any pre-conceived notions that might possibly be associated with the word “Writer.”

Tammy Elliott of The Leadership Forum in Caledon calls this finding your passion and letting it shine through in your “5 second intro.” Using this technique helps you position your passion as a value statement and your client is much more likely to connect with you if you are like-minded and have similar values. Using words like “help” implies genuine caring, enthusiasm for what you do and again, it encourages a conversation over an eye-glaze. Try it. Throw a bunch of words on a page and then start working with them. Break out the Thesaurus or Google words.  Choose the best ten, formulate your catchy sentence and then give it a try at your next networking meeting. Have fun with it and hopefully soon your customers will be singing your favorite tune!

As Owner and Principal partner of “Writing Right For You” Sheralyn is a Communications Strategist – working together with entrepreneurs to maximize profit through effective use of the written word. Looking for web content that works, blog articles that engage or communications strategies that help you get noticed?  Contact Sheralyn today. Sheralyn is also the mother of two children now entering the “terrible and terrific teens” and spends her free time volunteering for several non-profit organizations.

Sheralyn Roman B.A., B.Ed.

Writing Right For You

Communications Strategies that help you GET TO THE POINT!

416-420-9415 Cell/Business

writingrightforyou@gmail.com

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Sheralyn Roman · Tagged: blogging, business, Caledon, Canadian Small Business Women, communication, conversation, editor, entrepreneur, goal, google, introduction, leadership, lingo, memorable, mission statement, name that tune, networking, rule of ten, Sheralyn Roman, Tammy Elliot, thesaurus, TV, vision, website, writer, Writing Right For You

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