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.
