My Blog

Start blowing your own trumpet!

02/06/2012 22:38:00

One of the best things to help boost your business is easy and cheap - testimonials!

The '14 days of love' campaign being run at the moment by The Best of Hitchin has had me thinking a lot about testimonials. A few clients have commented in the last year that they had read through my testimonials on my website, or on my Best of Hitchin page, before they contacted me. It's an important part of marketing your business.

If you get an positive email of thanks from a client, or a more formal testimonial then shout about it from the roof-tops! Don't be shy and modest, if you don't let people know that others think you have provided a good, or even an amazing service, then how do they know to choose you over your competitor?

It took me a while to get that way of thinking into my head. A boss of mine once pointed out to me in an appraisal that one of my faults in the workplace was not blowing my own trumpet enough. Since running Actual Admin I have had to get over that, it took a while, but now I'm proud rather than embarrassed to share the positive comments that people have to say about my work! Remember that testimonials:

1. Build trust

2. Improve your credibility

3. Demonstrate success

Testimonial Tips:

Ask for testimonials: Don’t be bashful… ask for a testimonial. You never know unless you ask and if you have delivered a good service/product, chances are you know what the answer will be before you even ask.

Have testimonials on lots of different pages: If you are going to place testimonials on a website or blog, try to have testimonials on multiple pages. Display testimonials in between paragraphs, in a different colour maybe. This reinforces positive thoughts and feelings to your visitors and potential clients.

Use social media: Share your testimonials around on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. People love to share positive stories. This will create interaction which in turn will increase your visibility.

Let the testimonials speak for themselves!

Could you benefit from a Virtual Assistant?

08/24/2011 11:36:00

If you’re wondering if you’re the type of business who could benefit from a Virtual Assistant, on a one-off or on-going basis, then wonder no more! Since I started Actual Admin I’ve had such an array of business types turn to me for assistance. I’ve had a tree surgeon, a business turnaround specialist, a training company, a commercial cleaner, an advertising company, a pre-school, a gymnastics coach, a children’s hairdressers and many more. Some of these businesses have wanted on-going assistance, some have wanted help on a one-off basis.

And the type of work I have carried out for these businesses? Well it’s as varied as the client base. I have put together websites, designed adverts and flyers, organised meetings, typed up documents, put together an email marketing campaign, put together e-magazines, up-dated databases, and so much more!

Basically, if you need assistance with something and you’re not sure if Actual Admin can help then just ask.

Happy 2nd Birthday Actual Admin!

08/19/2011 15:47:00

This second year has been amazing, work has increased steadily. Clients have booked me for more and more work, and work I have obtained from word of mouth has increased.

I thank all those who have asked me to do work for them, and who have written me some brilliant testimonials. My results in TheBestOf's Most Loved Businesses just astounded me: 16th most loved business in Hitchin, and 4th in the UK for Secretarial and Virtual PA Services. I thank those who helped me get there.

Here's to the next successful year for Actual Admin!!

To hire a Virtual PA or not?

05/25/2011 05:50:00

You've set up your own business, recognised your dream, and business is going well. However your stress levels are through the roof and you seem to have less free time now than when you were an employee. Work days are spent juggling the real work of your business, and the paperwork etc. To make up time you work into the evening and at weekends. Surely time you should be spending with family and/or friends?

So what are your choices? Hire a full-time member of staff? Ask your partner to help with the paperwork? Hire a Virtual PA? Or carry on doing it all yourself?

Hiring a full-time member of staff means their hourly rate, plus NI, taxes, office space, computer equipment, supplies, any fringe benefits etc. Quite a cost to your business when you add it all up. This doesn't take into account of the less obvious costs, such as time and money spent on training, the cost of lunch hours and sick/holiday pay, possibly maternity leave, and any non-productive hours.

Using a Virtual PA is simply money well spent.

You have just the costs per hour, or cost per project (whatever you agree with your VPA). Additional costs being only for items such a postage, printing etc. You literally pay only for the time spent on the tasks you need to achieve on. On top of that you are saving money on training, NI, HMTC etc.

That's not to say that hiring a VPA is of no cost in time to you, you still have to invest a certain amount of time in training, and in good communication. Although this subject is now probably a whole new blog post about what makes a successful working relationship with a VPA.

But then again, of course, you could continue to do the work yourself . . .

The life of a Virtual PA

05/03/2011 21:03:00

Hello everyone! It seemed a bit wrong for a Virtual PA not to have a blog, in this age of Facebook, Twitter, Blogs etc! So here it is! I'll share some insights into what a VPA does, shouldn't do, and anything else along the way!