by Ace Concierge | Virtual Assistant | Apr 15, 2014 | Entrepreneur, Marketing, Small Business, Social Media
As you have read countless times, social media is about relationship marketing, engagement and making authentic connections. Real-time conversations with real people, doing and wanting real things. Your audience is not a conveyer belt digesting your content. They want and need genuine dialog and interactions.
Yes, it is all extremely time-consuming; eating many hours of your day, but with a mix of “healthy” automation and personal engagement, you can feel the success of this medium.
I am not against automation; however, when you choose to merely schedule all of your posts, without any time for personal communications, you are missing out on tremendous opportunities to meet and network with your global community. I love automation tools for content search and scheduling posts because they help save a lot of time and energy, which there is so little of. Populating your content ahead of time frees up your hours for the “social” in media.
With proper use of social media automation, you can make your time spent on your social media online marketing as productive and profitable as possible. business.com blog
Don’t set it and forget it.
Auto DMs? I can say they are a pet peeve of mine. We just met seconds ago and knowing nothing, you are asking me to click on a link, buy something, join you on a different network or download your product? It’s not going to happen. I had one follower who offered me a free massage when I purchase five, but I highly doubt flying to California is a viable option. If you choose to send a DM to welcome a new follower, then make it personal not robotic. You may get unfollowed.
You are a social being, act like it. Think about your behavior and mannerisms at a cocktail party or networking event. Do you shake hands, immediately hand out your business card and ask for the sale? I don’t think so.
- You ENGAGE in conversation.
- You ask questions.
- You share valuable information.
- You exchange in mutual dialog.
Practice the same online.
Take the time to get to know your followers, their interests, their pain points, their passions…. Human beings enjoy real conversations versus sterile robotic machines.
Review your Twitter stream. Is it just links and tweets or do you engage? Sure, automate some content, but keep it real. Reply to tweets and retweets. Share the love of your follower’s content. Review profiles and websites – discuss them, ask questions.
What does your Facebook page look like? When someone likes or replies to your post, don’t ignore it. They took the time to comment. They are interested in your page. Respond. People love to talk to people, to their favorite brands and pages; stand out from those who don’t engage. Be the brand that you want to buy from.
Whatever various platforms you choose to deploy, humanize your networking with real interactions.
Simple as that.
Have a presence.
Be remarkable and continue to nurture your audience with rich dialog and connections.
Social Automation Tips
- Evaluate your needs and goals to pick a tool that works best for you. Examples: Buffer, Do Share, Hootsuite, IFTTT, Zapier
- Understand when to automate and when to engage.
- Monitor your tools and automated posts.
- Automate your RSS feeds as well as those in your network.
- Schedule non-urgent posts like favorite quotes and tips.
- Don’t schedule the exact same content across all of your platforms. Keep it fresh.
- Don’t overschedule and drown your audience. Too much of anything is a bad thing.
- Update your channels daily with current news and trends. Mix it up a bit.
Once all of that is done, you will have saved yourself a few hours to engage with your audience, creating deeper connections and meaningful relationships.
Social automation is a great time-saver but don’t overdo it. You’ve got real people enjoying real conversations, with real needs. Exceed their expectations.
Be SOCIAL. Don’t do social.
Bring human resources to the table where the opportunity for real social media engagement exists, and use computers to make all else more efficient. Just be sure the quality meets high standards and builds audience. Adam Stetzer
by Ace Concierge | Virtual Assistant | Apr 8, 2014 | Entrepreneur, Productivity, Small Business, Social Media, Virtual Assistant
It’s me! I’m not talking about Siri or Google Now. I’m real. I’m live. Not some plug and play doll, but a real human being, and educated executive with a vested interest in YOUR business success.
A Virtual Assistant is similar to an in-house team member but we help you manage your daily business operations and tasks from our office. We give your back your time to focus ON your business rather than IN it. All of the back end daily administrative and social media management can be a real time suck, which takes you away from your core business acumen. Your job is to run your business and not get bogged down and buried by routine tasks and lengthy To Do lists.
The Bonus of a Virtual Assistant Partnership?
You don’t have to pay for additional overhead, office space, training, insurances, vacation time, taxes, supplies, or furniture.
You only invest for the time spent working on your projects.
As a Virtual Assistant, I outsource as well, helping to increase my productivity, business development and efficiency. If I want to continue to scale my company, I know I can’t go it alone.
M. Shannon Hernandez of The Writing Whisperer,
“I knew that in order to grow my business, the way I envisioned from the very beginning, I needed a support team from the get go. When I am speaking with new business owners, or ones that can’t seem to find the time to get everything done, the very first piece of advice I offer is to partner with a virtual assistant. And once you do, you should embrace this person and her unique skill sets and treat her like a key player in your business.”
After Michael Hyatt left the role of CEO of Thomas Nelson, he rejoiced in the freedom of being his own boss with no more office politics and he was able to follow his passion. We all know that feeling. But soon enough,
“I was spending the bulk of my time responding to email, managing my calendar, booking my own travel, and handling the hundreds of details that go with running a small business. This went on for about three months. I felt like I was drowning. I was running out of hours—and energy. I had to do something.”
Michael created a team of Virtual Assistants!
“None of them work full-time for me. None of them are employees. Together they have enabled me to create a debt-free, highly-profitable, rapidly-growing business. I simply could not have done this without the use of virtual assistants.”
Managing your business and your online presence takes effort, hours, consistency and dedication. You know it is a 24/7/365 day a year journey. Not something part-time. Not a hobby. It is your passion to create and grow a thriving company. Can you do it ALL yourself without sacrificing quality and effectiveness?
“I believe every entrepreneur should be utilizing the sheer power of hiring and working with virtual staff. Back in 2010 when I made the escape from my office, I was doing it for my personal reasons. However, since then I’ve realized that my virtual team has helped our company to grow in not only an efficient way, but also in a much faster manner.” Chris Ducker.
What Can You Outsource to a Virtual Assistant?
The list is limitless!! Here’s a few ideas.
- Content research and curation
- Blog post creation
- Editing/proofing of blog posts, websites, documents
- Blog commenting
- Ghost writing
- Social media management
- Social bookmarking
- Directory submission
- Article marketing
- Web design
- Landing page design and set up
- Bookkeeping
- Calendaring
- Appointment scheduling
- Email management
- E-newsletters
- Customer follow up
Outsource Anything That
- Doesn’t directly generate revenue
- Isn’t your core genius
- Represents administrative tasks
- You don’t like to do
- You don’t want to do
- Is too tedious
- Takes up too much time
- Provides a low payoff
“The whole transition from working in the business to working on the business means letting go of what you’re comfortable doing. You always need to be thinking big and challenging yourself.” Mary Jo Gorman.
Tips to Working with a Virtual Assistant
After you have chosen your vested virtual partner be ready to experience outstanding results.
- Understand your daily processes and business operations
- Be well aware of your core genius and high payoff activities
- Clearly outline your goals
- Know what you want to outsource: for example, content curation, proofing/editing/uploading of blogs, email and calendar management, social media and project management
- Outsource one offs, projects, administrative tasks and daily business operations
- Establish your workflow
- Define specifics, desired outcomes, expectations and deadlines
- Prepare documents to support the processes you use to complete tasks. You may also discover that your VA has some other efficient tools and ideas as well. Be open for discussions
- Accountability and communications are a must for success and satisfaction
- Provide valued, honest feedback
- Trust the VA you have chosen – avoid the need to micromanage
- Expect to participate in monthly strategy calls to brainstorm, share ideas and talk about your business
- If they are to interact with your clients or vendors, create an email address for them at your domain
- Recognize that you are part of a TEAM, investing in your partnership and business
- Every month, review what is working and what isn’t. Consider outsourcing additional operations management or projects while you may decide to pull back others
- Continue to foster and nurture your relationship just like you would with an in-house staff member
Does this all sound enticing?
Do you ever wonder what or how your competition grows their business? If you are ready to scale and spend more time focused on your business core, then the time is NOW to think about partnering with a Virtual Assistant.
Reach out to Ace via our contact page and let’s get the discussions going.
by Ace Concierge | Virtual Assistant | Apr 3, 2014 | Entrepreneur, Life Thoughts, Small Business
Most people equate success with financial wealth and independence but is there something more intrinsic beyond the mighty dollar? In my post “Measure of Success | Is it Dollars or Sense?” I shared what success means to me and the different levels for my personal evaluation. Every person, every entrepreneur has their own vision and measures of success.
One of my clients has recently been honored with an opportunity of great magnitude and prestige to help impact the lives of others, without financial remuneration. In discussing this extraordinary honor he said:
It’s very humbling and makes you appreciate the importance of focusing on being ‘significant vs. being successful.
I don’t think there is much of a differentiation unless you are only bound by money. When you truly think of all of the things money can’t buy, you are wealthier than you realize.
When you are able to give without expecting a return, you are rich.
When you give deeply from the heart, you are rich.
It is this wealth that teaches.
This wealth that is more significant than a coin.
After our discussion, my client shared the video Significance vs Success by Coach Tony Dungy, prior head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the Indianapolis Colts.
I believe Coach Dungy’s significance clearly represented success. What an empowering feeling to realize that you influenced someone else’s life with a positive direction. It is not only gratifying but hopefully an inspiration for others to pay it forward. Touching the lives of others holds greater power than any bank roll. It keeps on giving, far exceeding any dollar value. It is real. It is human.
Significant versus Success
Make change.
Share value.
Do the unexpected.
Random Acts of Kindness #RAOK
A Personal Story:
For many months after my mom passed away from breast cancer, we continued to receive notes and letters from the organizations that she belonged to or volunteered for over the years. Many we didn’t even know about. My dad would call me to read yet another note expressing their condolences mixed with the deep appreciation they had for my mom and her altruistic participation with their organization. She was a true giver of heart and spirit. Like no other. My mom was the director for the International Center at a local college and they built a lounge for the international students, naming it after her. A true testament to her devotion and care for others.
This is being:
1. Significant
2. A success
3. Wealthy
In response to my amazing client: being significant is being a success.
A lot of people who believe they are successful because they have everything they want. They have added value to themselves. But I believe significance comes when you add value to others and you can’t have true success without significance. John C. Maxwell
What about YOU? What are your thoughts on significance versus success?
by Ace Concierge | Virtual Assistant | Mar 25, 2014 | Delegation, Productivity, Small Business
Part of being effective during your work hours is the discipline to spend time on what is truly important even if other things try to steer you off course. Efficiency is learning about your awareness to, acceptance of and ability to determine your real work, the actual tasks and projects that propel you forward versus time suckers, bad habits, procrastination or other low payoff activities that take you away from your personal and professional aspirations. It is a continual building process and without a strong sturdy foundation, you may find yourself with a few cracks, leading to disaster, lost time or missed opportunities.
What are you putting off today and WHY? There are things we hate to do or aren’t all that much of a priority, but what happens when you continually push things under the rug? For one, your To Do list multiplies to such great lengths that some activities just get buried at the bottom.
Procrastination List or To Do list?
Go look at your list, your calendar or wherever you record your tasks and projects. I’ll wait.
How long have some of the items been on the list? Are there any you just file in your head to do, but never make it to a list to get done?
Be honest!! What are you going to do about it? And WHEN?
Stop running away from your lists and responsibilities.
Learn to take action and manage your procrastination.
Melanie Benson Strick, America’s Leading Business Optimizer gives you tips on how to SQUASH your procrastination habits. They are very simple and easy to implement today! Read what she has to say and see if you can’t change up a few of your activities and get more important things done.
“When you find yourself procrastinating high payoff activities because you don’t have time or don’t enjoy doing them, its time to activate a more powerful approach to getting things done.
Here are the four ways to squash procrastination and get her important tasks done:
Delegate. My favorite way to handle tasks that must be done but that drain my energy is to delegate those activities to someone else who enjoys doing them. My motto is if someone can do it better, faster or cheaper than me, get it off my plate.” Melanie Benson Strick
Click to learn about Melanie’s other three suggestions: successconnections.com
What are YOUR tips to manage procrastination?
by Ace Concierge | Virtual Assistant | Feb 27, 2014 | Entrepreneur, Small Business
Being an entrepreneur is no easy endeavor. It requires a 24/7/365 days a year drive, dedication and commitment to growing your business. It isn’t a hobby – it’s a lifestyle and you need to be prepared for the ups and downs. Times of scarcity and prosperity but you dive in and do what needs to be done.
The digital environment gives you a broad scope to share your message and your mission. You have a voice but you must have ears to listen and offer solutions. Communicate quality rich content and engage every day, building your communities and your networks no matter how you feel. No matter what is going on in your personal life. You have a business to operate.
“When you reach an obstacle, turn it into an opportunity. You have the choice. You can overcome and be a winner, or you can allow it to overcome you and be a loser. The choice is yours and yours alone. Refuse to throw in the towel. Go that extra mile that failures refuse to travel. It is far better to be exhausted from success than to be rested from failure.” Mary Kay Ash
It was once suggested to be personable, not personal. There can be a fine line depending on your social platform but sometimes a mix of both gives your audience a peek into your life and who you are. You have the opportunity to share a glimpse of yourself, your passions, your dreams and your pains. Keep it real.
“People relate to stories. Tell yours in a way that allows others to connect with you in a real and authentic way.” Rebekah Radice
In this reality of online relationships, your option to share a piece of yourself will also help to build trust and loyalty, showing the person (s) behind the brand.
You are human and not just a logo or a company pushing a widget.
You are as human as your audience; don’t treat them like machines.
Social media is not a conveyor belt to sling blah content to the masses.
Companies come and go every day; it is a sad fact. Many entrepreneurs and start-ups put their “blood, sweat and tears” into growing their business, and sometimes it falls apart. It could be the market, the niche, the financial climate, but it happens. When or if it does, it doesn’t represent failure, but a time to redirect and navigate the changes.
Innovate and review your industry, methods, systems and processes.
- Take a step back.
- Breathe.
- Remove your filters and blinders.
- Change your viewpoint.
- Think about what may be missing.
- Where do your customers live online?
- What do they want?
- Eliminate your emotional ties and think strategy.
- Overlook your struggle.
- See this setback as a challenge to overcome.
- Don’t go down without a fight.
- What can you learn from your present situation?
- Scream “WTF” if you must but keep moving.
- Know that your dream is closer than you think.
What challenges have you faced as an entrepreneur? What measures have you taken to overcome the challenges toward success?
by Ace Concierge | Virtual Assistant | Feb 25, 2014 | Small Business, Social Media, Virtual Assistant
I have been a long-time supporter of the partnering with other like-minded entrepreneurs and understanding the value they bring to the table. An entrepreneur is a different breed especially when considering building a virtual team to support and scale your business. It isn’t a hobby or a passing fancy – it is a passion we live and breathe every waking moment.
In Mark Harai’s recent post “Entrepreneurship is an Art,” he wrote:
“Entrepreneurship is an expression of every thought, imagination, hope and dream that drives your life and makes you “who you are.”
Entrepreneurs take the visions in their mind – the breadth, the depth, the magnificent colors, and bring them to life in the real world.”
When considering partnering with a virtual assistant, you do have many decisions to make that are beyond just wanting to move tasks off of your plate.
- Do you want a task master who only goes from point A to point B or do you desire someone who is truly interested in your success and your goals?
- Someone to brainstorm and consult with?
- An individual who delivers values, solutions and outcomes to your greatest pain points?
An established virtual assistant will do this and more while a call center is for one offs, the simple tasks to push off of your desk. A reputable, time-honored Virtual Assistant is a highly trained professional who MUST keep current on business management, social media, digital marketing and every other component of operating an online business. In order to keep up with the changes and trends of social media and the digital world, we must constantly read and absorb to be able to translate this knowledge to our client’s business, as well as our own.
We aren’t just here to collect a paycheck and get the job done. We run that extra mile for you because we want to. Because we treat your business as though it was our own. When you are mining for an executive virtual assistant to help take your business to the next level, keep in mind the qualities of an entrepreneur, how you live your day to day, and what you expect from a dedicated partner in your business. This mindset is a key driver for success.
Delegating enables you to scale your business, focus on your core company objectives, removes you from the daily back end details, and enhances your time management and productivity. When considering virtual assistance, think about creating a long-term partnership – not just checking off items on a To Do list. Partner with an entrepreneur and you will see measurable results.
“As the business owner, your time is extremely valuable, and you should be focusing on the items that only you can do! If you have the resources, consider hiring a virtual assistant to take care of these administrative tasks that are holding you back”. Brett Relander
Rebekah Radice and Jason T. Wiser produced a fabulous interview about being able to scale your business by working with virtual assistants. There were many valuable take-aways from the detailed discussion. It was wonderfully supportive of the industry as well as very educational for business owners who are strapped for time, help and needing to grow their companies.
Scale Your Business Beyond Yourself highlights the benefits and value of partnering with a virtual assistant to effectively grow and manage your business. I hope you will take the time to watch this 33 minute video, thinking about your business, goals and how you would like to expand your company in addition to creating a deeper more cohesive online presence.
Jason T. Wiser: “It’s time to stop trading hours for dollars.”
Your actions steps for right now:
- Review your tasks, projects, and goals (both short and long term)
- Recognize what can be outsourced
- Think about a true team partner for you and your company
- What do you value most and need?
- Reach out to Ace Concierge to discuss your pain points, project management and desired virtual outcomes.
Let’s get started before half of the year has gone by and you are still in the same place, doing the same things, needing more time to focus ON your business rather than IN it.
