What Is Google Base?

Google Base Products is a way of listing products onto the web and increasing  traffic and sales for ecommerce websites. Google Base is an online marketplace where virtual assistants with SEO experience submit online merchant products or services shopping feed under certain  fields e.g. product name, description, image and price etc. These products are listed on ‘Google Product Search’ and ‘Google Web Search’ allowing buyers to easily find your products or services. Virtual Secretary Solutions Google Base Products/Services Listing Package offers Feed Creation, Submission and Follow up Solutions at affordable prices to take full advantage of Google Base.

With 100 products costing just £15 to get online it is a quick and affordable way for businesses to expand the reach of their online store.

Call 0844 588 7474 today to discuss the other offers we have for Google Base and get your products online today.

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As a virtual assistant, one of the areas I excel in is organisation; working from home requires dedication, systems and a clear plan of what you wish to achieve and when.  Without these three elements organising my working schedule to fit around client deadlines and often last minute projects would fall into chaos.

When asked how many businesses I support clients often cannot comprehend how a virtual assistant can effectively support more than five or ten clients at a time.  My solution has always been to create lists relating to each client, their respective project and the tasks associated therein.  Once this is outlined it becomes a systematic process of assessing how long each task will take and what is the deadline for the task.  From that you can create a daily business task planner.

This daily business task planner is an invaluable arsenal in my box of virtual assistant resources; I use it every day just after closing the office and spend just 20 to 30 minutes outlining my key tasks for the next day; key calls I need to make; the times I need to make them and any important notes that relate to these tasks.  This task lists is then printed out and affixed to my desk for the next morning.

Why do I need to plan my time?

We all know the importance of starting our day by eating a healthy breakfast; a proper breakfast provides your body with the fuel it needs to function well.

The same concept should be implemented into your business by ending each day with a business or task planning session.  This of it this way, by doing this simple tasks it provides you with the tools you need to make the most out of your business day.

By setting aside just 20 to 30 minutes at the end of the day allows you to focus on your business goals and energise yourself for the day ahead. Spending this time organising yourself at the end of the day will save you time the following day and will ensure you reach your desk with a clear head and a methodical approach to work.

The benefits of business planning

So, remember the three objectives of your daily business planning session:

• review your progress on the specific goals you’ve set;
• set your daily agenda;
• prioritise your tasks of the day.

To help get you started on your business planning why not download my free daily task planner and feel the benefits of how being organised today saves you time and energy tomorrow.

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With printing it is easy and often fatal to go for the cheapest deal on the market; this is not the approach I take.  I believe that if you are spending money on marketing material that it should be of a high quality finish and therefore reflect the high quality services that you are offering.

I have an excellent relationship with a printer who uses excellent quality materials and inks. In return for my business he gives me excellent turn around times on orders and very competitive prices.  The flyers were A6 in size and printed on 300 gsm gloss art board double sided.

On delivery to the client I received an email from them saying that they were exceptionally happy with not only the design work but also the finish of the flyers and the quality of the printwork.

Design prices for marketing and business material start from £35 so why not contact me today on 0844 588 7474 to discuss new business cards, flyer or brochure design for your business.

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In reality doing all of this and more leaves many business owners with little or no time for building the business, developing new strategies, networking and ultimately increasing profits.

Any time you do have spare is often spent with family or trying to catch up on other lifestyle areas.

This is where the role of a Virtual Assistant comes into a league of it’s own.

Virtual Assistants (or VAs) are an industry of small business owners who specialise in providing administrative and/or marketing support to other small business owners, all via the internet.

There are many different types of virtual assistants from administration support, book keeping experts through to VA’s specialising in internet marketing and web development.

Marketing and web Virtual Assistants such as myself specialise in providing internet marketing support to business owners who lack the time or necessary skill to undertake activities in this area themseld.

Small business owners who hire my services as an internet marketing virtual assistant find they then have the time to work on building their business and increasing their profits.

As their dedicated VA I handle everything from helping with website search engine optimisation, link building, press releases, article submissions, blogging, setting up and maintaining their social networking profiles, maintaining their websites, tracking their web analytics, and setting up their Google Adwords campaigns.

One of the most attractive benefits to many businesses is that because virtual assistants are in effect freelance contractors there are no liabilities to the business; furthermore a virtual assistant only works when required.

In the growing business markets where time is precious ans opportunities for nes business a heavily cobtested area virtual assistants are oftenthe answer to time strapped business owners.

In business, time is money. Leveraging the services of a virtual assistant could be the answer to your business success.

Contact me today for a free time management review of how using a virtual assistant in your business would benefit you. Call 0844 588 7474.

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However, when you work as a virtual assistant collaboration can be an essential tool in your workbox. Why? Because by collaborating with others you can improve the range of services that you can offer to clients and secondly you can get to know other virtual assistants in business that may in turn have clients that will benefit from your skill set.

Thankfully, there is a group operating within the UK that actively encourages collaboration between virtual assistants and that is VASG or Virtual Assistant Support Group.

The group was formed in 2009 by Emily Robe, Anne-Marie Mittleman and Dee Uzoka. Subsequently I have been bought on board as a board member to assist and advise on branding the group with a logo and developing their new website soon to be unveiled.

Virtual assistants or virtual PA’s are an increasingly popular career choice for secretaries or PA’s who want to make the move from full time employment to self employment.

We use our expert skills and training to support entrepreneurs, small businesses and corporates in a wide range of duties. Many VA’s offer traditional office administration services whereas others such as myself can provide a mix of traditional PA services combined with marketing and we design.

Through the VASG group we have created a network of over 40 full and part time virtual assistants. By using the online network virtual assistants can support not only their own clients but also my clients should I choose to outsource tasks when at capacity.

Already the group has created a fantastic call answering service which many virtual assistants and clients are benefitting from.

With the 4th National VA Conference happening this year now has never been a better more positive time for businesses across the UK to investigate how using virtual support can help their business.

If you need a virtual secretary chances are you will find exactly what you need here on my website; and if you don’t I certainly know where to turn to so that you do find the right support.

VASG collaboration not competition.

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Credit Crunch

• 4 logo concepts
• Unlimited revisions
• Final designs in all formats on disc
• £50

High Street

• 6 logo designs
• Unlimited revisions
• Final designs in all formats on disc
• Letterhead design
• Business card design
• Compliment slip design
• Email signature design
• £80

Couture

• 8 logo designs
• Unlimited revisions
• Final designs in all formats on disc
• Letterhead design
• Business card design
• Compliment slip design
• Email signature design
• Start up print package includes 500 business cards (double sided 350gsm laminated full colour)
• £140

Contact us today on 0844 588 7474 to see how we can give your business the right image.

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What Does This Mean?

Our Virtual Assistant Time Saver Package is a bundle deal of hours that you can take at any time during January to help you lighten the paper load on your desk and to make sure you can see the wood for the trees.  By outsourcing your basic administrative, call minding and daily planning duties to a virtual assistant – you the business owner can focus on those elements of your business that demand your full attention.  If you’re ready to really be in charge of your business; to use your time working on the projects that will catapult it to the next level, and less time on administrative tasks then our Time Saver Virtual Assistant package is the answer.

What Is The Cost?

Our usual rate is £25 per hour; our usual 10 hour package costs £250.  However, with our Time Saver Package we are offering 10 hours for just £150!  That’s a saving of £100 on our normal prices and allows businesses to experience just some of the ways that a virtual assistant or virtual secretary can support their business.  This package deal is available to all new business enquiries during the month of January and must be used within 4 weeks of purchase.  Under this package we will provide support in the following areas:

• Mail Shots & Email Campaigns
• Data Entry
• Blog writing
• Article commenting
• Diary management
• PowerPoint presentations
• Customer contact management
• General typing & report generation
• Credit control
• Travel booking
• Audio transcription

With so many ways that a virtual assistant can support your business get in touch with us today to discuss our Time Saver Package deal or to find out more about our services.

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However, in order to make a successful impact you need to ensure that the voice you choose to use represents the values of your company – is respected and above all else trusted by those you want to reach.

The following points are intended as a guide to how you can use social media in your businesses marketing strategy.

Know your market

Before undertaking any social media marketing make sure you know how to communicate effectively; read case studies that will help you differentiate between “mass broadcast” and “conversational” style messages to ensure you understand the best method for your business and social media campaign.

If you want to use social media effectively it is about interacting with existing content; you need to be actively contributing to online communities such as LinkedIn, Twitter and online blogs. If you do not understand the platforms available then your campaign will fail in its execution at the outset.

Be a strategist

You wouldn’t go into a business meeting without a business plan or structure would you? The same approach must be taken with regards to your social media strategy within your organisation. The strategy you develop should be used company wide to ensure that their is consistency of your brand message, identity and also to build up trust amongst your target audience.

By creating a social media strategy you will be able to use this within your business to benchmark tactics against objectives and also to show results and measure any return on investment. All important elements of being able to analyse your social media campaigns.

In using your social media strategy you will be listening to the conversations taking place around you; you will be researching what challenges your clients are currently facing and also spot any potential areas you can tap into and prospect for new business in.

The biggest benefit of listening to conversations is that it gives you a unique insight into competitor analysis; companies are more and more shouting about their gains and successes on the social media platforms. You may get first wind of a new idea or the chance to seize an opportunity.

Transparency

Social media works best of all when you are open and honest in your communication. This means you need to be transparent in everything you do. Use the platforms available to interact with your customers and find out where you can improve and become a better organisation.

Social media creates a long lasting imprint online and comments you post can be tracked for a log time – an open door policy from the outset will lead to a better relationship with your audience.

In for the long-haul

Social media is not about quick wins – what you start now will have long term benefits if you follow the suggestions above. By adopting a strong long term strategy you are laying the foundations within your business for successful future marketing campaigns and have a better chance of engaging successfully with your audience.

Ensure that any social media platforms you use to broadcast your messages are updated regularly so that your competitors do not move in and seize your spot; even short term campaigns can have increased longevity and effectiveness when linked to larger activities.

Content is king

If you write drivel expect no response or little take up. Social media is about engaging conversation – start topics and conversations that are current and will kick start a debate. Use the internet to carry out research and create white papers which you can offer out to your wider audience.

The more you seek to create unique and engaging content the more you will become recognised and respected in your industry field.

Remember, social media is not like t-shirt; one size definitely will not fill all. Each business will have to adapt different strategies to fit their industry and audience but no matter what route you take the above principles will remain the same.

Spend time and effort in creating a social media strategy now and you will have more fun and better engagement in the long term.

To discuss how Virtual Secretary Solutions can work with your company in identifying and creating a social media strategy for your business call us today on 0844 588 7474 for your free consultation.

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You would think that business would realise that it makes sense that social media and promoting on a local level go hand in hand.

After all it is much easier to interact and be social with the people who are actually in the physical real world than it is in the virtual one.  People are more likely to engage with local businesses and those businesses they can actually visit in person.

So if you are a local restaurant use your outdoor signage to promote your Facebook page for example.  As a business it might not have occurred to you to interact interact with potential customers in this way, but think about it by prompting the average consumer with this message they are more likely to hunt you down online – find your fan page and become a follower.

Once this is achieved you have an open door to stream informative news and special offers to them and actually find out what they are interested in based on how they interact with your posts.

Best of all this idea is not just limited to Facebook. With companies having profiles on Twitter, Linkedin etc there are now multiple platforms to find the right level and platform for engaging with your customers.

So get adding the images and recognised icons to signs, business cards, vehicles, and any other direct marketing materials and boost the value of your social networking profile offline and online.

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