The Next Level

Note from the Editor

Ho, Ho, Ho - Merry - uh... er... Festivus?

No matter your spiritual or religious preference, we're right in the middle of the best time of the year. Only a few days until Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa... There's goodwill in the air!

I have to take a moment to thank Andrew Young, who helped me reinstall my blog(s), stay sane in the process, and understand PHP and SQL a bit more. He has some exciting things beginning in this next year, and I will surely keep you updated. And, if you need a php-guru - let me know and I'll send you his email. He saved my sites, I'm sure he can do the same for you :)

Also this month, after some gentle cajoling, Mark Silver of The Heart of Business has begun a blog and podcast! Now, I know Mark and consider him a friend, so this may be a little biased - but - he has a lot to say, an entertaining way to say it, and you can learn a lot from him. I surely have in the short time I've known him. So take a moment to check out his blog, web site - and if you like what you see (and I'm sure you will), buy his book, Unveiling The Heart of Business. It will give you the guidance you need to market without having that 'marketers ucky feeling', and attract the right customers.

And last, but certainly not least, at the end of this month's newsletter you'll find a cartoon created by Sean D'Souza, whom you may know from Psychotactics. Before we knew him as the brilliant marketing guru of Psychotactics, he was the brilliant cartoonist... and this cartoon made me giggle out loud, which is hard to do in the cartoonist's world.

See you in 2006!

Warm Regards,
Erin Banister
TrinityJacobs - Your Personal Virtual Assistant

Ti-ime Is On My Side

When was the last time you caught yourself humming that Stones' song?

Get the gift of time this holiday season with virtual assistance, and free your time to do whatever you please - either in business or at home.

www.TrinityJacobs.com

Action Plan Marketing

In the past couple months, I've received many requests for basic marketing services - Elevator Speeches, core marketing messages, etc. etc., and I would like to pass along to you this great book I found by Robert Middleton of Action Plan Marketing.

This book walks you step-by-step through the basic marketing process, and gives you instructions on many topics, from your basic core message to writing effective web copy, and a plethora of other great marketing ideas! A MUST READ if you're doing your own marketing, or if you would like to understand more about the marketing process!

Ask Erin...

Question:

What Should I Plan For in the Upcoming Year?
Susan, consultant

Well, isn't that a loaded question. No one person can give you sure-fire techniques to building your business; however, there are some things you should look into.

As a consultant, you're probably spending a lot of time trying to find clients, and then you're overwhelmed because they all come at once. When those consulting gigs are over, you find yourself looking for clients again - because you don't have time to market and actively find new clients while you have those nice, high $$ clients.

Here's what I propose: CREATE SOMETHING. Create an eBook to sell 12 months a year, so you always have that backup income. (You know, if you only sell 100 books a month, at $30 apiece, you'll make $3000 profit monthly. Straight profit. That sounds good, eh?)

Don't think you have anything to write about? Take something you're knowledgeable in - something that pertains to your business - and begin writing about it. What are the steps necessary to achieve the goal of your knowledge? (i.e. If you're knowledgeable in HR, then write an ebook on the hiring process: how to find good people, how to interview them, how to gauge their potential loyalty, etc.)

Lay out those steps as the foundation of your book, then fill in the space. I promise you'll write more than you anticipated, and you'll see a nice reward if you market it right. :)

Have a question for Erin? Send your questions to Erin about virtual assistance, business, or marketing topics, and you may be in a future issue of The Next Level!

What is Virtual Assistance?

Depending on where you look, you’ll find varied definitions of the term ‘virtual assistant’. Since the virtual assistance (VA) industry is still in its infancy – many VAs create their own definition. The International Virtual Assistant’s Association (IVAA) defines virtual assistance as: “A Virtual Assistant (VA) is an independent entrepreneur providing administrative, creative and/or technical services. Utilizing advanced technological modes of communication and data delivery, a professional VA assists clients in his/her area of expertise from his/her own office on a contractual basis."

My definition of virtual assistance is simple – because I work with solo-preneurs, I work hand-in-hand with business owners in concert to grow, systemize, organize, and simplify their business.

How on Earth can you simplify business?

By definition, business is not simple. Administration no doubt eats away at your valuable time. Everything from responding to inquiries to scheduling appointments, setting seminar dates and agendas, even the research for your new eBook – are all devouring the time you could use to be super-productive.

Image yourself an extra 4 hours …

What would you do with it? Would you network a bit more? Finally begin working on that eBook you’ve had in the back of your mind? If you’re working 8-hour days, these 4 hours would triple your ‘passion’ time. (Yes, I know, when soloing many of us work many more than 8-hour days – humor me for argument’s sake)

Case in Point:

Jack Jameson owned a small deli in a sleepy town. Precisely at the crack of dawn you could find Jack in the deli, preparing for the day. As he had no employees, he was stuck doing everything – from preparing and opening the food preparation areas to setting placemats and beginning the day’s paperwork. He worked tirelessly all day in the business – save the few precious hours he could work on perfecting his technique.

For a new deli, he was successful. He didn’t have all the business he wanted, so he couldn’t justify having an employee - but he certainly didn’t have enough time to perfect his art.

He finally became fed up and called for a virtual assistant. He’d heard the financial benefits from one of his customers, and called as soon as he could. At first, he was a little leery – a new person, taking over his procedures and operations manuals, placing his food orders, making marketing materials, running specials, and creating new menus.

Releasing all these tasks was difficult for him – he’d had the mantra ‘busy is successful’ for so long, it was hard to let go. But he did.

He soon saw amazing results. He had created a new sandwich that was the talk of the large law firm across the street. Soon, he had a line at his door at lunchtime from all the business the attorneys' had sent his way. And with each new sandwich he made, he’d have the same response. The market loved his passion, his sandwiches, and they came in droves.

The majority of your time is eaten up with business ‘stuff’, not your true passion.We've all heard of the 80/20 rule - 80% of your time brings in 20% of your profits. What are you wasting 80% of your time on?

Virtual assistance will not breathe life into a dead business. But, if you have vision, drive, and the passion to bring your customers new and exciting products and services, then partnering with a virtual assistant will free up that time you need to create a profitable and meaningful business - without working yourself to death.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Erin Banister is the president of TrinityJacobs, a virtual assistant firm. Erin’s expertise includes marketing and desktop publishing, amongst other administrative specialties. For more information, visit www.TrinityJacobs.com.

"Come, woo me, woo me; for now I am in a holiday humor, and like enough to consent"

~William Shakespeare

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