Entrepreneurs and small business owners alike are extremely busy building, generating, troubleshooting and growing their organizations to scale and own a piece in their market share. It can take an army to build a business; a team to orchestrate your success and manage each facet of your internal systems and processes.

Entrepreneurship requires 150% dedication, focus and effort. It is not a part time endeavor to embark upon while meandering through life. If you are choosing to operate a business, then you must live and breathe your corporation, from top to bottom, every day. A strong interrelated component to your company is your online world and reputation as a solid and reputable organization. Your customers are online every single day and you need to be where they are, serving them and providing solutions.

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination are omnipotent. The slogan ‘press on’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” Calvin Coolidge

Social Media Marketing is essential platform as part of your marketing mix. Consumer buyer behavior reflects their consistent quest for up to the minute information about your company’s products and services. People buy from people and customers prefer the immediacy of the web, the data they can search, the recommendations they find and a community for their voice. You need to not only have an online presence but to be actively listening to your prospects, colleagues, partners, competition and clients.

“Companies need to realize how important it is to integrate social into every part of their marketing and communications plans of 2014.” Lindsay Bell & Laura Petrolino – Arment Dietrich, Inc.

Keeping a tidy and productive digital office necessitates a visible online presence with consistency and frequency or your voice will get lost within the noise and fundamental chatter.  Building and maintaining your networks takes a lot of time, energy and focus. There are literally hundreds of social channels to choose from, which can be overwhelming. You need to evaluate and understand your audience, where they hang out, what they want and what they consume.

Managing your online presence, social channels AND daily business operations requires an extensive amount of time, energy and triaging of tasks and projects. Some days go much smoother than others, averting the challenges and roadblocks.

When you are hit with a few time bombs, take a step back or six, and ask yourself, what is the competition doing that I’m not? Why do they seem to effectively manage their day to day operations and business systems with such ease and simplicity?

They may just have a secret weapon that you don’t. A vested and dedicated partner.

A Virtual Assistant

“If you want to grow your business past a certain level, you’ve got to add more people. You’ve got 24 hours in the day, and you’re never going to get more. So if you need to take care of more stuff. . .because that’s what you need to do to grow a business—do more stuff—you’ve got to add other people’s 24 hours. You’ve GOT to delegate!” Laura Roeder

What does your competitor know that you don’t?

1. Too many hats reduce their focus on their core mission. It isn’t about the fashion statement but getting things done.
2. There is another entrepreneurial expert who can support their business, brainstorm ideas and share in the passion of building their business.
3. They want to work ON their business rather than IN it.
4. They understand the virtual assistant offers different strengths and brings a different skill set to the digital world.
5. The Virtual Assistant uses a variety of tools and platforms to help enhance and expedite daily tasks and systems.
6. They don’t need to stay updated on every single new tool or platform.
7. They are better able to prioritize and accomplish their goals.
8. Work life balance isn’t just a phrase but an important lifestyle decision.
9. Social media is time suck and they need support to gain greater visibility and notoriety.
10. An extra pair of eyes and “brain matter” benefits the editing and proofing process.
11. Valuable and rich content curation takes hours of time and they want to focus on building relationships instead.
12. They would rather be in the field networking and meeting clients than managing their appointment scheduling and reminders.
13. They are able to be more organized and have increased time management to focus on what is important, rather than on what needs to be done.
14. They save money by delegating because they only pay for project time, not benefits, insurances, training, office supplies or taxes.
15. In order to make money and experience the ROI from their online activity, they value and understand the opportunity to partner with an executive Virtual Assistant.

“You cannot grow your business all on your own so stop trying to. It’s time for you to trust others to help you. Without delegation your business will be limited by your own time and energy.” Matthew Swyers

What will be your secret weapon in 2014 to help you drive your business and meet your goals? If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, you’ve got your Ace right here.