The PA Solution Blog

Your new Virtual Assistant for 2010!

info@thepasolution.co.uk — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 14:43:00 GMT

2010 is almost upon us! Sorry if it seems that I’m wishing away good old 2009 but with the year getting off to a bad start, we are now starting to see an upswing and change in the economy so make sure that your business has a head start for the New Year! Remember the benefits of hiring a Virtual Assistant:

You only pay for the time you need
No need to get involved in messy employment laws
You are hiring an expert
No extra space required to house another member of staff

VAs are passionate about helping you to move your business forward, they help you to look bigger, more capable, organised and more professional. A VA does not have an ‘employee’ attitude as he or she is also a business person in their own right. Equally, seldom do you come across an employee who is as motivated about your business as you are. A VA becomes very involved with your business and treats it as their own. With a VA, suddenly, your business is their business – if your administrative operation fails so does the VA and this will not look good for them.

Grab the opportunity now to re-visit your administrative operation whilst you still have time. Did it work well for you in 2009? Are you happy with the way it worked for your business? Does it need a complete overhaul or just a few tweaks? As we begin the road to recovery, give your business a head start by ensuring that your 'back office' is working with maximum efficiency.

Never miss another sales opportunity!

info@thepasolution.co.uk — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:49:00 GMT

Call Answering Services are making great use of technology to provide their clients with more value for their money. As clients grow more aware of the values that advanced answering services offer, they’re finding ways to expand their business while at the same time, keeping a tight hold on their budgets. When your business needs to find a way to support your customers and clients, turning to a call answering service provider can help you increase your sales numbers. With careful research, you can find a capable answering service that can manage your incoming sales and support calls within your budget. Some offer cost-conscious monthly retainers and some offer equally affordable ‘pay as you go’ options.

Finding the right Virtual Assistant

info@thepasolution.co.uk — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:21:00 GMT

Finding the right Virtual Assistant service to suit your needs can be a challenging task. Communication is key, so make sure that you and your Virtual Assistant have the means to talk on a regular basis. Make sure that your Virtual Assistant's skill set fits your needs. These two factors determine whether the relationship will be a success or not.

Depending on the nature of your requirements, Virtual Assistant sites are among the potential places you could find a good Virtual Assistant, try the Alliance of UK Virtual Assistants (UKAVA).

One issue with hiring a Virtual Assistant is trust. It is hard to trust a stranger with whom you have never met and entrust them with work that is important to you and your business. Make sure that your Virtual Assistant is flexible and is able to meet you to discuss your requirements should you wish them to do so. No matter how well qualified a person may seem at first, he or she may turn out to be unsuitable for the job so make sure that you are clear about your requirements and that your choice of Virtual Assistant matches them as closely as possible. Ask for references and look for testimonials from other users.

Your chosen Virtual Assistant should have the ability to work on flexible hours. A Virtual Assistant should be able to work the hours that your project requires without too many restrictions. Communication is vital and your Virtual Assistant should also be able to communicate with you in various ways ie. telephone, email, Skype. Make sure that your Virtual Assistant is computer and internet literate and again, ask for proof.

Finally, remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

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Outsourcing the 'Back Office'

info@thepasolution.co.uk — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:17:00 GMT

What has indeed become apparent in these challenging times is that increasing numbers of small businesses are recognising the benefits of outsourcing their administration.

How can outsourcing help my business?

Many jobs can be outsourced to a Virtual Assistant or secretarial services company that have staff specially trained to carry out these tasks. It will help the owner to save a lot of time and to shed a lot of worry.

Success today depends on one's ability to provide a quality service, on time. If one or both of these criteria are not met, it is unlikely that you will get another order! If then, businesses are hard pressed for time, it surely makes sense to outsource the tasks, removing the pressure from you and allowing you to focus on your creativity and business building skills.

Good delegation has always been an underlying factor to business success and subcontracting jobs has always been an established business practice. Secretarial services have launched into the equation due to the benefits of internet technology and have the power and skill to deliver quality services in which they are specifically trained. The benefits are also mutual - you benefit by getting your work done on time and to a high standard whilst the professionals you are outsourcing to gain the financial rewards from providing their services.

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Who's Twittering about who?

info@thepasolution.co.uk — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 12:48:00 GMT

I'm loving the concept of Twitter. It started out as a social networking site and has quickly become recognised as a great marketing tool. It enables you to follow businesses and individuals that can provide you with useful tips and advice for your business and in return, they can follow you, giving you an opportunity to keep the business community up to date with all your latest news. Don't forget the great networking opportunity that it provides too! Well worth considering as a free way to network and promote your business.

New PA Solution Web Site

info@thepasolution.co.uk — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 22:54:00 GMT

Hi, and welcome to the new 'The PA Solution' website.

A great deal of thought has gone into the site - however the proof of how good it actually is belongs to you and what you think. So please tell us.

There will be more posts here very soon as The PA Solution fights the cause for the Virtual PA.

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