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.
by Ace Concierge | Virtual Assistant | Feb 18, 2014 | Small Business, Social Media
My daughter transitioned from Montessori to public school in 4th grade and her first day was harrowing. My little cherub with a head full of blonde curls ran up to a potential classmate on the swing set and asked if she would be her friend. To my daughter’s dismay, the other child gave an emphatic NO and ran away. Of course my heart broke when she got off the bus in tears, telling me she didn’t want to go back to school and no one liked her. She had no friends.
She did survive, unscathed. She graduated college in May with a degree in Forensic Science and starts training in Tampa, FL next month for her new position as a Forensic Science Technician. Yes, I am a VERY proud mom!!
Whether on the playground, at a party, a networking event or online, the rules of engagement and relationship marketing all rely on some straightforward human principles.
Create a meaningful, personalized experience and you will be remembered when it is THE time to do business. Business results come from fostering and enriching your online connections within your community.
“When you try to get close to people you build trust. Staying consistent with that strategy will not only build your influence and authority, but it will also help you make true connections! In order to create a personality that people will trust online, you have to learn how to make time to be personal.” Wade Harman
No one likes a spammy self-serving salesman. Forget the schmoozing and big talk. Focus on creating long-term relationships based upon trust, not broadcasting content to your community. Just because someone liked or followed you does not mean you have relationship.
RELATE!
It is pretty simple. Nurturing a relationship of any kind requires you to relate to another individual. To engage in dialog, share ideas and have rich conversations without an ulterior motive as your frontline purpose.
- Listen and learn about them
- Visit and READ their profile and business pages
- Engage in online conversations
- Generate a personalized experience with you and your brand
- Use their first name
- Comment on their blog posts
- Reshare their content
- Ask questions and express REAL interest
- DEVELOP the connection
SERVE!
You can’t run around wondering what everyone can do for you. Think about how you can serve others. What value do you bring to the table? Social media isn’t ME ME ME! If you aren’t serving and offering value then you are taking. Be a giver instead.
- How can you solve their problems?
- Are you able to educate or inspire?
- How can you offer support?
- If you happen to see an industry related article they might enjoy, pass it on
- Make introductions to other like-minded colleagues and followers
- Serve others as you want to be served
“Relationships are the new currency.” Ted Rubin
Relationship Marketing: You and your brand are the face of your company, the connector to deliver service, value and meaningful relationships.
YOU are the CRO: Chief Relationship Officer.
Now get out on the playground and push that swing like you mean it.
by Ace Concierge | Virtual Assistant | Feb 13, 2014 | Business Values, Communication, Small Business, Social Media
In this cattle drive of digital marketing it is easy to get trampled amongst the hooves of the masses. The pasture is astronomical in size and you may feel like a speck on a “patty.” Literally hundreds of millions of people are clamoring for space to be outstanding in their field, to have their voice heard; their brand recognized.
Jumping on a soapbox with a megaphone sure sounds like a great idea, but just how can it be accomplished in the stampede?
As you have read, it takes time, painstaking effort and a hell of a lot of energy, every single day, to retain and maintain your online presence. It is time consuming and can also divert your focus away from your core business.
There are dos and don’ts and best practices published every second. Let’s just say it is information overload, enough to make your brain explode. Your most esteemed colleagues, industry thought leaders, marketing organizations and the like are continually evaluating, suggesting, studying and pushing content on what to do and how to do it best in order to achieve your social media marketing goals and business success.
You sometimes may feel the urgent need to test the suggestions, add new plugins, try the tools but it gets to a point where it is almost impossible to dedicate your time ON your business because you are so entrenched with the current recommendations for a positive, productive online experience, both for you and your customer.
- Step back.
- Take a breath.
Step above the herd:
- Evaluate some of the tips and tools
- Implement some – test and measure results
- Be cognizant of YOUR strategy and goals
- Realize you can’t try everything and not everything works for everybody
- Know your real value proposition
- Educate your followers about your solutions, not your widgets
- Sell VALUE not cost
- Be authentic
- Engage in real-time, one on one conversations
- Continue to educate yourself
- Nurture relationships
- Write QUALITY content
- Consistency counts
- Share and syndicate your posts
- Be passionate about your business and your customers
- Never make promises you can’t keep
- Share and retweet others
- BE social, don’t do social
- Give without expecting something in return
- Express your gratitude
- Join in community discussions, offering valuable insight, not just idle chatter to get noticed
- People buy from people – let them see you’re human, not just a brand
- Think: RELATIONSHIP MARKETING
It certainly isn’t easy and some days may feel a bit rougher than others but never, ever give up. You’re an entrepreneur. A business owner with a dream and THAT is worth pursuing. You’ve come this far just figure out what works best for you and your company. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel by any means but you do have to take action everyday. I am not saying to bury your head in the sand and ignore some of the main premises and practices of digital marketing; that would be social suicide. Try and manage the overwhelm of the influx of data and suggestions. We all have different ideas, strengths, and opportunities to play upon. Pay attention but you don’t need to feel the craze and institute every single post you read.
Let your true passion tell your story and connect with the hearts and minds of your audience. While some others may just be link pushing or talking in the wind, YOU build and cultivate the relationships based upon integrity, value, character, trust, gratitude and of course some of the basics above. Be patient. Be present. Be you.
“When you’re about something that benefits others, you’re more believable and trustworthy. People want to know you’re not just in it for yourself.” Mike Henry Sr.
This all sounds pretty touchy feely but again, people buy from people they know, like and trust. Your reputation will precede you and your brand advocates will share, promote and talk about you. Word of mouth is your most powerful marketing tool.
What makes you stand out from the herd?
by Ace Concierge | Virtual Assistant | Feb 11, 2014 | Small Business, Social Media
Mining your infinite online follower audience is a low-cost way to propel your small-business brand into the global digital world. Establishing your brand with social media allows you to cultivate relationships as well as strengthen existing ones. Your social media efforts can lead to brand recognition, credibility, brand advocates, increased web traffic, search rankings and word-of-mouth marketing. Social Media’s B2B Value: Building Relationships.
With 73 percent of U.S. internet users turning to social networking sites and 53 percent of American adults carrying a smart phone, businesses that don’t employ social network marketing may find themselves losing out to the competition.
According to a survey by VerticalResponse:
- More than two-thirds of small business owners are spending more time on social media than a year ago
- 43 percent of respondents said they spend six or more hours per week on social media activities for their businesses.
- They are posting to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest and Google Plus and blogs.
You probably invested a great deal of time, effort and thought in building your website, writing content and developing your social channels with the purpose to showcase your products and services. You want to solve your audience’s needs and greatest pain points but if no one follows your brand, or can’t easily find you where THEY want to, then you will only be talking to yourself.
Social media is conversational and value added – allow it to flow as a two way conversation with visible methods of connecting with you and your brand.
Everybody’s talking at me
I don’t hear a word they’re sayin’
Only the echoes of my mind
People stopping staring
I can’t see their faces
Only the shadows of their eyes
Social Media Visibility: How accessible are you?
- Do you make it easy for your community to connect and engage with you?
- Is your page easy to navigate?
- Can people find your contact page?
- Are your social share buttons easily found?
- Do you visibly display all your other social channels?
Many of the projects I work on for my clients revolve around the numerous aspects associated with social media marketing and management. I was recently asked to review an extensive list of blog posts for data mining, pull out tweetable content and create a spreadsheet with some other detailed information.
One of the things I discovered was that many of the sites did NOT list their Twitter handle, anywhere, unless I Googled their company or personal name to find it. It was a necessary component for this project.
This was a little disheartening, even more time consuming. If you have an online presence, you should be straightforwardly displaying your social channels for your audience. They want to engage with you. They want to share your content and give credit but if they have to dig and search, you may be the one missing out on some free advertising and mentions with trackback links to your site. It is all part of the synergistic marriage and magic of social media.
Don’t make it a laborious chore to find and connect with you. Social media and your channels represent your largest piece of marketing real estate to build relationships. Invest your time or that of a virtual assistant to perform a social media review of your sites. It will prove to be an asset in creating a cohesive customer experience.
In a Market Probe International survey about small to medium sized businesses by Twitter they found:
- 74 percent of people who follow small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) follow to get updates on future products
- 47 percent of people who follow brands are more likely to visit the company’s website
- 70 percent of SMB followers retweet because they like the SMB’s content
- There is a 30 percent lift in recommendations of an SMB after following or interacting with them on Twitter
Maximize your platforms with your branding, cross promote, make connecting with you a simple single click of a button. Social is a 24/7/365 endeavor and while you may be offline, your global customers and network are busy searching, reading, sharing and engaging.
“We don’t have a choice on whether we do social media, the question is how well we do it?” Erik Qualman
Streamline the process with your consumers, making participation, connecting and networking a no brainer. Know and understand your followers, what they want, who they are and where they “reside.”
“Over time social media has spawned into a global institution, allowing whole communities, businesses and individuals to engage with each other. Simply put social media is the superlative form of interaction available today.” Susan Dolan
by Ace Concierge | Virtual Assistant | Feb 6, 2014 | Business Values, Communication, Entrepreneur, Small Business
Your business can’t survive online without the trust from your consumers. They won’t buy unless they feel the know, like, trust factor. You must earn the trust and loyalty of your audience; your community. Cultivate your relationships through authentic communications and reliability. Your network is always looking for validation to ensure that a potential partnership or connection is dependable, trustworthy and “real.” Remove the feeling of vulnerability and risk of doing business with someone behind a keyboard. There can be an uneasy feeling and some have been burned, which is something you must understand and respect from the customer’s point of view. It is up to you to help them develop a comfort level and place of safety to do business online.
I believe fundamental honesty is the keystone of business. Harvey S. Firestone
You don’t need a contract to instill honesty and live by a moral compass. Give out what you expect in return and nothing less. Your business depends on it. Your reputation will either make you or break you. Credibility and a sound reputation is what gets you to the finish line toward establishing rapport and a long term relationship.
Each of your social platforms showcase you and your brand. You have the opportunity to personally interact with your followers – your potential customers on a personable level. Let them get to know you through your content, postings, engagement and dialog. Keep it real and keep it you.
Trust = Authority x Helpfulness x Intimacy / Self-Promotion Steve Rayson The New Formula for Social Media Trust
Your 10 Tips to Build Trust:
- Offer solutions: SHOW them you care and are truly interested in listening and solving their problems. Consumers have pain points that need care and understanding. Demonstrate that you you know what they want and need.
- Communicate clearly and responsively. No one likes to be on hold listening to ear bleeding elevator music. Engage. Whether you are responding to a post comment, email or client text message, don’t keep them waiting and wondering. Service them promptly.
- Be transparent. It helps to instill trust and shows the human side of your company and your brand.
- Be accountable. Do as you say; back up your words with actions and if you make a mistake, own it 100% and correct it. The customer is the one who writes your paycheck.
- Privacy and confidentiality. Respect a client’s proprietary information and discussions. There is no reason to share this type of data. You are being trusted with details or questions and they should not become public knowledge or water cooler chatter. Lock it up!
- Testimonials. When you receive recommendations, make sure they are openly displayed as they help to validate your service and your company. Add them to your website, email signature and other marketing collateral. If it is a tweet, then save it as a favorite so others can see “real-time” recommendations. Ask for them on your LinkedIn profiles.
- Under promise and over deliver. It may be a cliché but it is a premise of good business and service. There is nothing more disappointing or frustrating to be let down by a vendor missing a deadline.
- Educate and share valuable content. Enrich the lives of your audience without self-promotion and you become a trusted resource not a snake salesman.
- Feedback. Never bury your head in the sand. Always ask for feedback on a job, a post, a conversation. If you don’t ask, you don’t receive and you won’t know what you are missing. If you off point, you won’t be able to take charge and correct the course. Feedback is a valuable learning tool toward successful relationships and communication.
- Commit to your word. Very simple yet some have a propensity to fall back and forget such a courtesy. Do as you say without hesitation. There is enough misrepresentation in the world, especially online but if you intend to build your brand, your reputation and your business, then follow through with your verbal handshake.
How do you build trust and instill confidence with your customers and community?
