Five Online Service Providers Share What They Want You to Know About Outsourcing
Several online service providers came together to create a free report on the things they want you to know about outsourcing. It was fun to be one of the service providers contributing to the project 
We shared things you should know about outsourcing. You’ll find some checklists as well as some tips on how to make your outsourcing a success.
Here’s a quick snippet from the report:
“I’ve been working as a Virtual Assistant since 2006 and while I’ve been really blessed to have super awesome clients that I love, there have been a few that made me cry, bang my head against my desk…ok you get the picture
So, what have made those few clients a nightmare to work with?”
Hmmm…I bet you can’t guess who that snippet is written by
So, whether you’ve been outsourcing forever or just getting started, be sure to grab this free report now by clicking the link below. (It’s a PDF file)
Online Service Providers Share Their Outsourcing Tips
I hope you enjoy the report!
Until next time…
Mail Call Monday: I Need a VA Who Works Nights and Weekends
Welcome to a new series here on Tishia Saves Time – Mail Call Monday. Every Monday I will be answering questions submitted to me about working with a virtual assistant, transcription, eBook formatting, etc. I would love it if you would submit a question. In exchange for your question you will receive a link back to your site when I use it. Please fill out the contact form here, put Monday Mail Call in the subject line and your question in the ‘your message’ box (don’t forget to put a link to your site in there as well!).
So, let’s get right to it with today’s question.
Tishia,
I need a reliable and trustworthy VA who is available nights/weekends. Do you know of any? This would be an occasional need such as when I’m out and about or on vacation and my web hosting server needs to be rebooted.
Glennette,
Premium Web Design
First, thank you for submitting your question Glennette. I’m sure this is something other people wonder too. While your question doesn’t have anything to do with time zones I want to take a minute to address this. I know from personal experience time zone differences can sometimes be a hindrance.
For example, I used to have a client who was in California and was 3 hours behind me. We established upfront that me being three hours ahead could get a little tricky – oftentimes my day was done and over and I was ready to shut down when she was just getting around to sending me projects to do. We worked it out so that I worked ‘late’ one day a week for her.
Now, that brings me to your question Glennette. Off the top of my head I don’t know of any VA’s that work evenings and weekends. I’m sure there is someone out there that does. I can’t speak for other VA’s but for myself, one of the reasons I started my own business was so I could get away from the evening and weekend hours. However, with that being said I still find myself working evenings and some weekends. Not because I have to but because I want to. An occasional client here and there will have had something come up during the evening or weekend and need my help. I enjoyed being available for them.
So, to answer your question – I’m sure if you discuss the need for an occasional evening or weekend project that it wouldn’t be a problem. I know I wouldn’t have a problem doing it as long as I knew about it beforehand. But, don’t be surprised if you get charged a higher rate for ‘after hours’ services! If you’re looking for someone that could be available on a more regular basis for nights and weekends, it could be a bit trickier to find a VA that is available those hours.
Tishia
PS. Please feel free to contact me for a free consultation on how I can help you with your outsourcing needs! I would love to talk to you.
Mail Call Monday: How Does a Perfectionist Let Go and Start Outsourcing?
Welcome to a new series here on Tishia Saves Time – Mail Call Monday. Every Monday I will be answering questions submitted to me about working with a virtual assistant, transcription, eBook formatting, etc. I would love it if you would submit a question. In exchange for your question you will receive a link back to your site when I use it. Please fill out the contact form here, put Monday Mail Call in the subject line and your question in the ‘your message’ box (don’t forget to put a link to your site in there as well!).
So, let’s get right to it with today’s question.
Tishia,
I’m kind of a perfectionist and like things done a certain way in my business. I really want to start outsourcing, though. Can you give me some tips on letting go and letting a VA handle some of my tasks?
Kim,
Dramatic Design
What a great question Kim! First, let me start by saying that I think this is normal and something that we all suffer from. It’s only natural for you to be a bit of a perfectionist. After all this is your business, your name/brand/reputation being ‘put out there’ so it’s normal to want only the best work out there representing you.
Now, with that being said, there comes a point where you just have to let go and as Nike says ‘Just Do It’. I’ve worked with clients like this in the past and we always start with something small like article marketing. The reason I suggest a small task like article marketing is because it’s probably one of the easiest projects to outsource. You provide the article(s) and let the VA do the submission. You can’t control the submission process meaning you have no control over the rules of the article directories and the things they accept (no HTML, some HTML, etc). So, there’s nothing there for you to be a ‘perfectionist’ about.
You can also create a QRG (quick reference guide) of how you do something in your business for a VA to follow. It’s pretty hard for someone to mess things up when they’re following step-by-step instructions. Another tip is have a phone meeting and make sure the VA understands exactly what you want. It will put you at ease being able to talk to them so there’s no misunderstanding that could happen in an email. And with web conference rooms and screen sharing, you can expand on that phone meeting and show exactly what you want done.
Thanks again for submitting your question Kim. I hope this helped and you’re ready to outsource now with a small project like article marketing I mentioned. Take baby steps, but the most important thing is that you at least take a step and do something!
Tishia
PS. Please feel free to contact me for a free consultation on how I can help you with your outsourcing needs! I would love to talk to you.
Discover How to Build a WordPress Website
*Coupon Code for $100.00 off & special offer from me at the end of this post!*
If you’re looking for a way to build the easiest wordpress website then you need to take part in my friend Angela Wills’s next Website Design Mojo class. Angela knows her stuff and she’s a great teacher. If you think you don’t have the skills to design a website – think again!
I’ve been using WordPress for a long time now. In fact, you could say I’m a total WordPress snob. It’s so easy to work with. You don’t have to pay a designer thousands (or hundreds) of dollars only to create a website that you can’t even update because it was built on some platform that you have to be a rocket scientist to figure out. You can build the easiest WordPress website in no time at all if you have the basic skills to do so.
That’s where Website Design Mojo comes in. Angela will take you step-by-step through building and customizing a website with WordPress.
So, what exactly do you get with this course?
- 6 video modules with lifetime* access
- 6 weekly live question and answer webinars (with free repeat access multiple times a year)
- 6 weeks of personal email coaching
- Lifetime* Access to Members Only Networking & Coaching Forum
- WordPress Installation and Premium Theme Setup Services ($90 Value)
- Graphics Mojo ($27 Value)
- WP Safety Mojo ($47 Value)
- Premium WordPress Website Theme (Value $97)
- Plus: Extras Worth Over $300
You can clearly see for yourself how valuable this course is. Angela could (and should) be charging way more than $397.00 for this. But she knows the need to be able to build a WordPress website and wants to make it affordable to you. And until October 1st she’s making it even more affordable with her easy pay option of three monthly payments. And if that wasn’t enough, she’s even thrown in a $100.00 off coupon bringing your total down to just $297.00! But hurry, this offer ends October 1st!
Get all the details here:
How to Make a WordPress Website
Coupon Code: mojo
If you purchase though my link, forward me a copy of your receipt (tishialee@gmail.com) for 1 free hour of VA services!
Why Viral Marketing Works
Viral marketing is a phenomenon. It works and works well. Why? Because it puts the power in the hands of the people. It doesn’t rely on advertising executives, million dollar campaigns or celebrity endorsements. It is real, down-to-earth, grassroots marketing that, when it comes down to it, might be advertising in its purest form.
Viral marketing, while driven by strategy and well-planned messaging, is only successful when its audience is captivated. A marketing campaign will only go “viral” if people like it and ultimately, share it with others. Therefore, they have the power. Not the marketer.
Online business owners and internet marketers alike understand the important role viral marketing plays in the success of their businesses today. Social media networks have become just as much about business as they are about pleasure. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and other key players are now joining us in the boardroom and in sales meetings. Blogs are replacing news media in many ways, and we must adapt our marketing approach to become players in this game.
From reaching the masses with special deals, invitations for sale events and enticing customers to purchase new products, viral marketing is a lucrative business tool, approach and strategy all wrapped in to one.
Say, for example, you are an internet marketer. You create and sell valuable sales tools, including E-books, reports, videos and webinars. Not only should you have a list to which you apply your email marketing campaign, but in addition, you can share your products by posting them on Facebook, tweeting about them on Twitter or uploading lessons to YouTube. The possibilities are endless.
With a little bit of creativity and a true understanding of your target market, viral marketing has the ability to skyrocket your business to new heights. Not only should you consider the favor of your current customer base, but approach your viral marketing campaign in such a way that encourages – and makes them want to – share your business with others. You could offer free products for every ten people your customers share your link with. The more you incentivize, the more likely people are to share with others.
Think about it, if you were your own customer, what would entice you to share your products? Would it be quality customer service? Great deals and monthly specials? What grabs your attention? Start there and see what works. The other great thing about viral marketing is, if one approach isn’t working, you lose nothing by switching gears. Just be careful to settle in to a consistent message, no matter what your approach might be. You don’t want to run the risk of turning people off.
So, engage in your viral marketing campaign. Be social on social networks, share others information and they in turn, will share yours. Viral marketing is a give and take and the more you give, the more you will get. There is an unspoken set of expectations that accompany viral marketing, and the most important of all is to respect those you are marketing to. If you do, they will recognize that and most likely help you on your way to going viral.
