THE 3 LINKEDIN ETIQUETTE RULES YOU SHOULD NEVER BREAK BY AMBER MAC

LINKEDIN IS ONE SOCIAL NETWORK WHERE LITTLE MISTAKES CAN DIRECTLY IMPACT YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE. AVOID THESE LINKEDIN NO-NOS THAT COULD WORK AGAINST YOU WHEN BUILDING YOUR NETWORKING OR LOOKING FOR A JOB.

1. Stop using LinkedIn's auto-generated templates. 

Whether it's congratulating someone on a new role or requesting a connection with someone, avoid generic messages. While LinkedIn does often pre-populate message fields, you will get a whole lot further with your networking efforts if you take some time to personalize your correspondence. Within a few seconds you can include a custom note to a contact (instead of "I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn) and add a little context. For example, if you're connecting with someone you just met at a conference, remind her about this meeting by including some details about your chat (including the date and any other relevant info). Using auto-generated templates time and time again is a sign of laziness, which is probably not the impression you want to leave with potential colleagues on the largest professional online network in the world.

2. Stop pushing your social updates to your LinkedIn status. 

When services such as HootSuite entered the social media space, they answered the prayers of many networkers trying desperately to update multiple online profiles at once. A good social media dashboard can come in handy when you're trying to schedule messages or post a quick update. However, it's an even better idea to tailor an individual post to a specific social network. For example, if you're writing an update about your new job on Facebook, it's probably okay to use more casual and enthusiastic language on that site if most of your connections there are friends and family. If you're looking to share similar news with the LinkedIn community, go for something a little more polished. In terms of sending Twitter tweets to LinkedIn, it's okay once in a while, but don't make a habit of it (especially if you use a lot of Twitter terminology, such as @, RT, or MT).

3. Stop asking for LinkedIn endorsements from people you don't know. 

In real life, it would be a strange networking move to request a testimonial from someone you don't know. However, in my own experience, it occurs on a regular basis on LinkedIn, despite the company's mandate since its launch in 2003. LinkedIn is very clear that their network allows you to connect with people you know. In fact, if you dig deep into the company's user agreement, you will discover that you are in fact bound to specific rules building on this belief: "Don't undertake the following: Invite people you do not know to join your network." In short, requesting an endorsement from a stranger is a definite no-no and can only hinder your LinkedIn experience because it comes across as a naive and amateur move.

When it comes to LinkedIn etiquette, this is one social network where little mistakes can affect your financial future. To avoid mishaps, tailor your messages, customize your posts, and nurture relationships with people you know.

http://www.fastcompany.com/1841374/3-linkedin-etiquette-rules-you-should-never-break

The Best of Customer Service - A Positive Attitude Counts by EABarnes

As a professional customer service representative, you always want to put your best foot forward. When communicating with customers, your attitude shows. With a warm and friendly smile, good eye contact and a willingness to be of service, you look and act the part of quality in control.

A positive attitude affects the work environment. The energy of a positive attitude produces the spirit of cooperation and helps the work team reach customer satisfaction goals when team members strive to be at their best performance. So a positive attitude enhances communication between customer service representatives and the customers being served.

People remember being treated well. They recognize and appreciate courtesy and kindness. How does your attitude create an effective customer experience? Here are a few pointers to help you step up your positive personality:

Be resourceful: Being able to think on your feet is a gift and a blessing.

Have accountability: Stand by your actions and gain the trust of others.

Perform follow-up: Ensuring a happy result shows that you care about the welfare of your customers.

Get a conscious for quality :Believe in fairness and strive for excellence

Manners please: Practice the golden rule: Do unto to others, as you would have them do unto you.

A considerate persona: Be positively genuine. People love to be around other people who think of them without personal motives

We all win in the service arena when you are the shining example of a great attitude. Your customers will be happier; so keep up the good work!

Want to buy Google Glass? Here's your chance (US only) by NDTV Gadgets

Google has started selling the "Explorer" version of Glass to any US resident who places an online order for the device beginning at 9 a.m. PDT (1800 GMT) Tuesday. The product costs $1,500, the same price that Google Inc. has charged for Glass since sales of the device began last year, the company said Thursday.

The sale is taking place at Google's website. Google isn't saying how many sets of Glass are available during the limited-time offer.

It marks the first time that Google has made Glass available to consumers without providing them special access. More than 10,000 sets of Glass have been sold to a select group of developers, contest winners and other invitees.

This version of Glass, though, still isn't the polished product that Google hopes to release in stores later this year. Although it hasn't provided specifics, Google has indicated that the mass-market version of Glass will sell for less than $1,500. Google is expected to provide more details about its Glass plans at its annual developers' conference in late June.

( Also see: Google Glass review: Uneasy first steps )

For now, Google is still trying to recruit more people willing to serve as guinea pigs for its attempt build a wearable device that features some of the same features as a smartphone. The Explorer program for Glass has been serving as Google's test lab.

"Our Explorers are moms, bakers, surgeons, rockers, and each new Explorer has brought a new perspective that is making Glass better," Google said in a Thursday post on its Plus social networking service.

Glass looks like a pair of spectacles except the Explorer edition doesn't contain any actual glass in the frame. Instead, the device has a thumbnail-sized screen attached above the right eye so a user can check email, see Twitter posts or get directions without having to grope for a phone.

It can also take hands-free photos and video through voice-activated commands. The ability to record images so easily - and perhaps secretly - has raised privacy and piracy concerns and has prompted some casinos, theaters and bars to ban the use of Glass on their property. Safety concerns have also been raised about drivers wearing Glass, prodding lawmakers to draw up new rules forbidding use of the device in moving vehicles.

Google and other technology enthusiasts are hailing Glass as a breakthrough that will make it easier for people to access the Internet while on the go and cause fewer disruptions to social discourse because people won't be fumbling around with their smartphones as frequently. The device is also being touted as a potentially valuable business tool that could help police officers, fire fighters, doctors and reporters do their jobs better.

Glass is the most prominent example of wearable technology, devices that are expected to become more widespread over the next few years. There are already several smart watches on the market, and Google is working with accessory makers to release even more of those devices later this year. Apple Inc., the maker of the iPhone and iPad, is expected to unveil an "iWatch" later this year.

About 19 million pieces of wearable technology will be sold this year, more than tripling from last year, according to study released Thursday by International Data Corp. The research firm predicts the annual sales volume for wearable technology will swell to 112 million devices in 2018.

IrfanView 4.37

IrfanView is a favorite Freeware Program of countless users. As the name indicates, it is an image viewer, not a photo-editor (the IrfanPaint plugin can do basic editing), but it can do most common tasks, and many things that you might not expect, like batch-renaming of any files. See the History of Changes for a complete list of the latest new features. I describe a few of them below.

For those new to IrfanView, this page gives an overview of the menu options. Please take a look at the Tutorials for help on common tasks.

If you are an experienced user, I hope you will discover some new features that you overlooked.

here is the link

http://www.softerviews.org/IrfanView.html

How Can a Virtual Assistant Help Me with Social Media? by Leslie Rivera

As a business owner or professional, you understand how crucial it is to have a presence on social media platforms. Perhaps you’ve tried having your daughter, cousin, or intern volunteer their time to post a couple of comments every few weeks. Surprise, it’s not getting you the results that you desire. It’s a given that you are too busy working on your business—you know it’s time to outsource. Whether you already have a Virtual Assistant or recognize that you need to hire one, social media is a great service that many of us provide.

How do you set a Virtual Assistant up for success? Keep in mind that relationships take time to develop, so communication is key to setting up the right foundation. Here are a few tips to get your social media up and buzzing:

1.    Find someone with social media training and/or equivalent experience. Ideally, the Virtual Assistant you decide to work with has both training and experience in Social Media. Take time to understand their level of expertise. Are they a Social Media Manager (creates daily content) or Social Media Strategist (oversees global strategy)? Which one do you need? Choose someone who will complement your own skills. Virtual Assistants are varied in expertise and can provide strategy, editorial calendar, regular content, increased following, etc.

2.    Download your current and ongoing social needs. Be clear about the kind of assistance you need and how much time you’re willing to outsource for it. Do you need social profiles created or updated? Do you already have a strong online presence and need someone who will consistently engage with your fans and followers? Do you want to build your following? Do you need help with strategy and already have someone else who can implement it? Then, let your Virtual Assistant go to work.

3.    Communicate your vision, voice, and goals. In order to effectively represent your company online, your Virtual Assistant needs to have a deep understanding of who you are as a business and individual. They are the front lines who will be engaging with your followers, and it’s in your best interest for them to be aligned with you. Equipped with that information, they can be your eyes and ears promoting your business and passing along any must-have comments.

4.    Share important events and launches well in advance. Your Virtual Assistant can be your greatest promoter if you can get important details to them ahead of time. They can schedule teasers for important events or product launches and build up anticipation for your fans. They can make your followers feel like insiders by given them the inside scoop before offering them to the greater public. By sending your Virtual Assistant key dates, they can plug them into their editorial calendars and publicize publicize publicize.

5.    Express expectations and provide early feedback. Great, say you’ve completed the first 4 steps successfully – but you’re not off the hook yet! I know, it takes time getting your social media set up correctly, but it will be worth it to spend the time upfront. Make sure that you express your expectations ahead of time e.g. specific posts to include, number of daily posts, etc. Check in on your social profiles and provide feedback early on. This allows you to understand if your Virtual Assistant is on the right track or needs some course correction. Remember that they represent you, and it’s in your best interest to see that they are doing it superbly.

Don't forget, you only pay for the hours worked!

What is the Cost or Salary of Hiring an Office Assistant
vs
the Average Salary or Cost of Partnering with a VA?

Hiring an Assistant for your office - full time:

• Base Salary: $14.75/hr
• Benefits: 15% of salary
• Vacation, holiday, sick time: 13%
• Payroll Taxes: 12%*
• Administrative Costs: 7%** (recruiting, hiring, training, record maintenance etc.
• Space & Equipment for in-house employee: estimated at $2,000

Annual Total: $50,250

Partnering with a Virtual Assistant:

(Don't forget, you only pay for the hours worked!)

• Base retainer of 20 hours a month @ $45.00/hr
• Occasional overage of hours agreed on between partners  @ $45.00/hr.

Annual Total: $12,960

Wouldn't you like to save nearly $20,000 each year to invest in your business?

VA's are independent entrepreneurs and each sets an hourly rate based on her experience. You can expect an hourly rate starting at about $30/hr and up.

* Figures are estimates from the US Chamber of Commerce

http://www.yourvirtualresource.com/articles/cost_comparison.htm

Responsibilities of a Virtual Office Assistant by Diane Dannenfeldt

By the simplest definition, a virtual office assistant is an independent contract worker who provides administrative, creative or technical services. Often that means handling the same types of tasks as an office secretary or manager, but doing them from a home office, using the virtual assistant's own computer equipment, software, phone and Internet connection 

Here are some of the general tasks that an office assistant may do in a virtual office:

• Manage contact lists and customer spreadsheets
• Maintain a calendar and set up meetings
• Take transcription and handle correspondence
• Make travel arrangements
• Handle billing and accounting
• Prepare and send out e-mail newsletters
• Prepare, collate and ship proposals and meeting materials
• Send out requested information to customers
• Handle client inquiries by phone or e-mail

[sources: Entrepreneur and ABC News]

For this type of work, you can expect to be paid $20 to $45 per hour. Businesses may commit to paying a monthly retainer for 10 or 20 hours of the virtual assistant's time, or they may buy hourly blocks of time, leaving the assistant free to work for more than one client at a time. The virtual assistant generally sets the fee, based on the complexity of the work and the turnaround time on specific projects. Rush jobs cost more than those with regular turnaround [source: PR Log].

Depending on the industry, payment may be set up differently. One real estate agent, for instance, pays his virtual office assistant a commission based on the number of closings each month rather than a salary. His assistant, who lives several states away, handles advertising, design and Web site management for him while he focuses on selling and listing houses [source: Realty Times].

By specializing in services they offer or the businesses they support, experienced virtual office assistants can often demand higher fees of up to $100 an hour. You can charge more for these and other areas of specialized expertise:

• Translation and preparation of bilingual written or online materials
• Medical transcription
• Market research
• Specialized Internet research
• Industry knowledge in technology, financial services, law or health care
• Development and maintenance of Web sites

Succeeding as a virtual assistant takes skill, contacts and personal organization. You have to be able to set your own work schedule, based on client needs and stick to it. And you need to be able to produce high-quality work on your own.

Here are the core competencies that the Alliance for Virtual Business recommends that you have:

• Drive and determination to see clients succeed
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Excellent customer service skills
• Basic understanding of business operation, including budgeting, creating business and marketing plans, contracts and agreements and time management
• Willingness to admit and correct mistakes
• Respect for others' intellectual property (no plagiarism or software piracy)
• Good organizational skills
• Good spelling, grammar and punctuation skills

You'll also need current technology, including a reliable computer, Internet connection, phone with voice mail or answering machine, fax machine or computer faxing capabilities, business and communications software and antivirus software. You'll need to be proficient at using this software, along with e-mail, the Internet and instant messaging.

How Can A Virtual Assistant Help You Succeed? BY JENNIFER RAI

Most successful people need a right arm…a helper, a key support person! This is usually a creative person who has strengths where they may have weaknesses. Many small business owners attempt to “do it all” and handle all of the tasks associated with running a business. However, there inevitably comes a time when they can no longer do it all themselves. This is when a virtual assistant can dramatically increase their productivity.

Working with a virtual assistant allows business owners to hand off many of the daily tasks that are piling up on their plate (i.e. social media marketing, contact management, bookkeeping, website & blog support, etc.) and enable them to focus on the tasks that only they can do.

Aligning yourself with a creative and hard working assistant will…

• Increase productivity and sales
• Reduce stress
• Help you find and take advantage of new markets
• Work with greater efficiency
• Improve development and innovation in attracting clients and growing your business or organization

If you’re a business owner...

Today I came across this website https://basecamp.com , Which helps the time you spend on your projects and keep your clients updated.

Basecamp has unique benefits for different people in your organization.

See how??

If you’re a business owner...

Basecamp helps you stay on top of every project in your business. You’ll always see the big picture, what’s in progress, what’s coming up next, and who’s in charge of what.

Plus, every morning you’ll automatically get an executive summary email from Basecamp telling you exactly what happened yesterday.

If you’re a project manager...

Basecamp helps you define and delegate work, establish deadlines, review work in progress, evaluate what’s left to do.

You can also schedule meetings, keep stakeholders up to date, know who’s working on what, give feedback, and keep a dozen plates in the air without them crashing down all around you.

If you’re working on a project...

Basecamp lets you keep track of your assignments and check things off when they’re done.

Basecamp is also a great place to post work for review, brainstorm ideas with co-workers, store important project assets (logos, documents, etc.), and present work to your boss or manager too.

Check this link too - https://basecamp.com/tour

Posted by Dharani, virtual Assistant.http://about.me/vinothdharani

What is a virtual assistant?

A virtual assistant is a self-employed administrative or personal assistant who works remotely (usually at home) for various clients. When most people hear "virtual assistant," they assume it's a secretary who works from home.

But the field has exploded into a variety of skill sets that could be valuable to various professionals. These days, a virtual assistant is someone a lot of busy professionals just can't do without.

Why do people hire virtual assistants?

A lot of people wonder how virtual assistants stay in business. I mean, if you need an assistant, why not just hire someone to work at your business full time?

It's pretty simple, really. It comes down to money and convenience. A full-time administrative assistant can cost anywhere from $35,000 to $50,000 or more (based on data at Salary.com for beginner to senior-level administrative assistants in Dallas, Texas). That's not even including benefits and bonuses. That's a hefty price to pay if you don't need someone around all the time or if you only need their help on a few projects.

A virtual assistant makes ends meet by working for multiple people. So you can hire them to work for only the hours or tasks that you need them for. If you just need someone for five or so hours a week to take phone calls while you're in meetings or onsite with a customer, they can do that. If you need them to work more hours one week, they can usually accommodate that. And if for some reason you need to save some cash, depending on the kind of contract you have with them, you can usually just discontinue their services until you've got the cash to afford it.

What can a virtual assistant do?

There are a variety of virtual assistants and they all have different skills. Some may gear their work more toward scheduling and logistics, while others may focus on web-based services like manning email accounts, doing research or social media. Here are just a few things they can help you with.

• Upload blogs or email newsletters
• Respond to emails and set up email lists
• Transcribe voice memos, conference calls and more
• Run your calendar and plan your travel
• Research
• Compile data into organized spreadsheets
• Handle forwarded phone calls when you're unavailable or out of town
• Any time-consuming or repetitive tasks
• Help you hire other employees by doing preliminary research on candidates
• Write and distribute standard business communications
• Prepare presentations
• Manage your social media accounts
• Coordinate with vendors
• Place orders for new supplies

There are actually so many things a virtual assistant can do, we can't list them all!

How to hire a virtual assistant

Just because virtual assistants can do all this stuff doesn't mean they can all do it equally well. Look for someone who has experience in what you need. A lot of VAs can write press releases, for example, but often you're better off hiring a writer, as press releases are their own skill set. And a VA who's great at press releases can't necessarily handle an extra-busy schedule.

The key is to write down a list of which skills you need, and find someone who can do them all!

by Heather Barnett

The Intentional Blogger: Tips for Hiring a Virtual Assistant

The Intentional Blogger: Tips for Hiring a Virtual Assistant: Here Hello Intentional Blogger friends! I'm so honored + excited to be sharing with y'all today. My name is Alissa and I blog over a...

Just a small Try!!

Here comes my updated website..

http://about.me/vinothdharani

When Your Personal Assistant Is Virtual By Verne Kopytoff

es

Govind Davis, who runs a business software firm in Cleveland, has never met his assistant Jackie—although they work closely together. All he’s seen of Jackie is a photo she posted with her online résumé and on Skype, which is almost their sole means of communication.

Jackie Cullen, whom Davis hired four months ago, is known as a virtual office assistant, an independent contractor who does secretarial work from her home in North Carolina. She works only when needed, usually about 30 hours per week at $12 per hour, to book travel, schedule appointments, and do research. “Certainly, it takes a mental adjustment,” says Davis, chief executive of MCF Technology Solutions. “But Jackie, she’s turned out to be great, and I have no concern about paying her.”

Virtual assistants are a small but growing phenomenon at companies looking to minimize overhead. Because they are contractors, virtual assistants are paid only for hours that they actually work instead of a guaranteed salary for a 40-hour week. Not only do companies save on employee benefit costs, but there’s also no real estate or equipment to fund, no need to lease space for an extra desk or buy a computer.

Acquiring a virtual assistant, however, comes with additional peril. Can you trust someone you’ve never met to handle sensitive corporate information? And how will you know if they’re goofing off?

Virtual assistants are not new. Before the Internet era, they used faxes and telephones to keep in touch with their employers but remained a relative rarity. The term virtual assistant had yet to be coined. Today, they are far more common, according to Kathy Colaiacovo, marketing director for the International Virtual Assistants Association, a trade group that provides certification for its members. Exact numbers are impossible to come by, however, because there are no estimates about the size of the niche. The association, however, has around 700 members.

Companies have become more accepting of remote and mobile workers in recent years as online tools have made it easier to keep in touch with the home office and do clerical work from afar, Colaiacovo says. “When I started four and a half years ago, I had to explain a lot to people what a virtual assistant does,” she says. “I rarely have to do that anymore.”

Of all companies, small businesses are the most likely to hire virtual assistants, Colaiacovo says. A mom-and-pop operation does not necessarily need a full-time assistant, often having only enough work for just a few hours a week.

Companies also gain from the flexibility. Instead of being locked into paying for a set number of hours per week, a business owner can adjust according to the amount of work needed. As with many contractors, a virtual assistant’s hourly cost tends to be higher than that of a full-time employee. However, virtual assistants based overseas in, say, the Philippines or India usually charge far less.

Colaiacovo recommends that the parties sign a contract that spells out what is expected. In many cases, employers pay a deposit up front—half the fee for a project, for example.

Even under the best of circumstances, virtual assistants aren’t for everyone. People who hire them must be willing to give up some control and be comfortable communicating online. “If they need that person there to touch the shoulder and say, ‘This is what I need done,’ it just doesn’t work,” Colaiacovo says.

Davis, the software CEO, says that a virtual assistant is a natural fit for his company, most of whose 45 employees work from home. In all, the business has six to eight virtual assistants, although some of their duties go beyond clerical work. Typically, Davis says he hires virtual assistants for a limited time or for a small project to see how they do. If they excel, he keeps them.

Jackie is the second virtual assistant to work directly for Davis. A previous assistant floundered, for which he takes some of the blame. “I just didn’t take too seriously that I had to vet her,” Davis says. “She was helpful on a few things, but she didn’t have the range of skills.”

Vetting a virtual assistant by checking references and online sites is obviously important. In the end, trust is crucial, particularly if you’re going to share account passwords, for example.

When seeking work, virtual assistants post their profiles on job sites, such as oDesk, which charges employers a 10 percent commission on top of what they pay their hires. Companies can also go through agencies that provide virtual assistants.

Some employers are inevitably concerned that a virtual assistant will charge for hours when they are actually watching television. Silicon Valley’s oDesk, for example, provides some assurances. When an assistant is logged into a job on their computer, an automated program takes six snapshots of the screen every hour. The employer can check those images remotely to see whether their assistant is fooling around on Facebook (FB).

Jackie usually communicates with Davis through Skype’s instant messenger, as he does with most of his employees. They rarely talk on the telephone.

One of the few downsides of her being 500 miles away, Davis says, is that he has to mail her paperwork that piles up on his desk rather than just handing it to her. But the cost savings outweigh any negatives, he adds.

“You have to form some new brain circuits to get used to it,” says Davis. “But I don’t personally feel like I have any downside to it.”

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-09-04/when-your-personal-assistant-is-virtual

Partner With a Virtual Assistant to Grow Your Business

I have some honest words for you, based on personal experience: If you are trying to grow your business, and you are doing it alone, eventually you are going to hit a wide, massive plateau. It's going to look like something from a National Geographic magazine -- flatness for miles, especially from your viewpoint -- which will be you standing on top, scratching your head.

You can't do everything that you need to do on your own. It's impossible. There are not enough hours in a day. And as a business owner, your main focus should be on your clients and customers, how to obtain more of them and networking so you have a growing list of leads to nurture and eventually convert to future clients and customers.

When I launched The Writing Whisperer, I knew I needed three pivotal people on my team: a business coach, a virtual assistant who could handle the many tasks needed to keep my business running, and an accountant to run reports, handle the bookkeeping and take care of all my tax needs.

Did I have the money in reserve to partner with these three individuals right away? Of course not! I hadn't even launched my website yet. But, I knew that in order to grow my business, the way I envisioned from the very beginning, I needed a support team from the get go.

My virtual assistant (VA) is a lifesaver. Her name is Sandy Wiles, and we have been working together since before I officially launched my business. (I partnered with her three months before the launch, so we could get everything ready to go.)

At first, I was nervous to give up control. I'm sure you, as a fellow business owner, know what I am talking about: The no-one-can-do-it-like-me syndrome. Sound familiar? I had to let that perfectionist thinking go, as it wasn't serving anyone well -- not me, not my VA and certainly not my future clients. Once I was able to completely turn over many of the tasks needed to keep my business running on "the backend," business growth was inevitable.

But first, you might be wondering what tasks does my VA handle? Here is just a small sampling:

• Facebook targeted ads
• Set up of all events in Eventbrite
• Scheduling newsletters and auto responder campaigns
• Creating images for marketing
• Social media posts
• Timelines for product and service launches
• Website updates
• Document formatting

Because I learned to delegate these tasks, my business has grown tremendously. Just 5 months after the launch of my company, I walked away from a 15 year career in teaching. I have finished a memoir about leaving the failing public school system, and I have been able to focus on the steady growth of my private coaching practice and copywriting clients. Because I gave up control, it also freed up time to write for The Huffington Post, increasing my exposure to millions of readers. Those readers have called me, emailed me, interviewed me on their radio shows, and invited me to participate in events and Twitter chats. To put it bluntly, I am happy to say that my business view has never been from the top of that plateau, scratching my head, surrounded by flat terrain.

When I am speaking with new business owners, or ones that can't seem to find the time to get everything done, the very first piece of advice I offer is to partner with a virtual assistant. And once you do, you should embrace this person and her unique skill sets and treat her like a key player in your business. Ask her for advice. Get her input. Make her feel welcome and a part of your team.

After having this conversation, about 8 out of 10 times, the business owner I am speaking with will respond in one of two ways:

• I don't have the money to hire a VA. To which I say: Then your business will not grow. If you free up your time by partnering with a competently trained virtual assistant, then you can bring on more clients.
• But I have an intern who does that stuff. To which I say: An intern is temporary, in most cases, and looking for the next big gig. Why not bring someone onto your team who shares your vision and your passion and will support you every step of the way?

Are you struggling to grow your business, or completely distraught by the amount of stuff you just never seem to get done? If so, I recommend you start by partnering with a well-trained virtual assistant. It has changed my business and my life. And from one business owner to another, I want nothing but success for you!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/m-shannon-hernandez/partner-with-a-virtual-as_b_4397910.html

Article by 

M. Shannon Hernandez

Founder and Word Ambassador, The Writing Whisperer

 

Hiring a virtual assistant can increase productivity and reduce costs

In the end, I don’t believe that hiring a virtual assistant is all about price. I have a friend who runs a multi-million dollar business and had a $15 an hour in-house employee walk out on him. I convinced him to hire a virtual assistant – actually, several – to replace said employee, and he built a stable of several $3 an hour workers to handle the same tasks. For him, it just wouldn’t be worth it to deal with the frustrations of hiring a team of $0.50 an hour virtual assistants; he’s too busy and he needed someone to get the tasks done correctly, right away.

That said, don’t think your business is too sophisticated to hire a virtual assistant. I’ve turned friends of mine in the high-end financial services industry onto these tactics, and they love them. In the 21st century, there’s no reason to overpay, especially since even these high-end businesses have issues with their well-paid American employees.

Like anything else in business – especially in internet business – testing is the name of the game. Find out which approach works best for you and build your virtual assistant team accordingly. If you’ve never hired employees before, you may not understand just what a pain it is.

Hiring a virtual assistant allows you to save money and choose from the best talent around the world, but people are still people. Some people quit with no notice. Some people do a mediocre job. Some people do a great job, will be loyal to you, and deserve a nice bonus.

If you want to hire a virtual assistant, put the time in and make a serious effort to build a great team that works for you long-term, not a short-term scorched earth strategy.

by Andrew Henderson- Expat entrepreneur. Perpetual traveler. Citizen of the world. Andrew visits over a dozen new countries each year in search of more freedom and better opportunities. His tips show how you can make money and take back your liberty beyond your own borders.

Virtual Assistant Jobs and Contests | Freelancer.in

Virtual Assistant Jobs and Contests | Freelancer.in

I am Dhara with 4 years of experience as a virtual assistant from India.I understand the importance of your time, that is why me as a Virtual Assistant execute your non-core activities and free up your time to concentrate on higher value tasks, and this results in better efficiency and higher personal gains for you!
I  assist with administrative tasks like managing your MS Outlook and MS Office. We also provide sales support, basic internet research, management of social networking sites, creating blogs, and e-newsletters.


Tasks that can be done by me:

• Upload blogs or email newsletters
• Respond to emails and set up email lists
• Transcribe voice memos, conference calls and more
• Run your calendar and plan your travel
• Research
• Compile data into organized spreadsheets
• Handle forwarded phone calls when you're unavailable or out of town
• Any time-consuming or repetitive tasks
• Help you hire other employees by doing preliminary research on candidates
• Write and distribute standard business communications
• Prepare presentations
• Manage your social media accounts
• Coordinate with vendors
• Place orders for new supplies

you can contact me at dharavino43@gmail.com