How important is Networking to you and your business?
by Hazel of Assisting U Virtually

Why?
* to grow your business
* to connect with the right people
* to create a support network around you.

There are a number of ways to network but you need to find out the best way for you and your business.  Whether it is online via social media or face-to-face in networking groups, or both - there are so many options.

Networking face-to-face is important because you can form a relationship which is based on both of you making a commitment to help each other grow and a trust forms.  This will not happen overnight  but if you connect at a networking function, you should ensure that you commit to continue to keep in contact, not to bug the other person but to slowly build up a rapore.

There are a number of options of networking groups, you can join your local Chamber of Commerce, women's groups, organisations have their own groups and breakfast groups exist.

Social media is the way of the future too in terms of networking - you can build up a following by offering advice to followers on the various forms of social media.  As an expert in your field, by posting updates and posts, you will offer realistic advice which will eventually lead to a growth in your customer base and an acknowledgement by the community that you really are an expert in your field.

Don't sit back and think that the world of networking is scary - instead, back yourself and your business and promote it - know your worth and let everyone know.  Be happy to network for others as well because this will increase the trust between yourself and others too.

Assisting U Virtually

You may also interested in:

1. Go for Growth “Business Routines”
2. How a small business owner can utilize a Virtual Assistant (VA)?
3. 10 Steps to Strategic Networking

Sometimes it is easier to work out if you can utilise the services of another business if you realise that your business is very much like another already outsourcing their admin and other services.

So, we thought we would outline one case study of a small businesses utilising my services and how:

Case Study 1

A husband and wife team own their own business –  a cleaning business - where both of them are working in the business.   The wife is trying to work in the business and undertake all of the admin as well.  They also have 3 children.

Their admin includes invoicing, marketing briefs and newsletters, providing quotes to new customers, sending letters and tenders etc etc.

Ultimately, they need to create a website and other marketing solutions for their business and work out a networking campaign suited to their business as well.

They are not sure what to do – there is no time for admin and it is all catching up on them.

RESULT

They haven’t processed a BAS to the ATO 3 times in a row so there are now fines on top of what they owe.

They haven’t invoiced any of their clients for several weeks.

Any monies owed to them hasn’t been chased and therefore they do not have a cashflow in their business (and subsequently their personal lives).

Customer details hadn’t been captured into a database and therefore updates were not being carried out and kept up to date.

They need a streamlined Contact Sheet when a customer contacts them and a system for their filing and documentation because paperwork is building up and they do not know how to control it.

ANSWER

They cannot afford to employ anyone on a permanent basis so they decide to find a Virtual Assistant but are concerned because they do not want their information to be offsite.

A Virtual Assistant, although mainly works offsite (virtually) can attend a client’s office onsite at least once (or perhaps once a month).

The VA is employed and she/he:

• pulls together all of the invoicing required and ensures all invoices are completed and sent;

• chases up outstanding payments from customers;

• creates a filing system (onsite initially) and does the initial filing for the husband and wife team – explaining to them both how it works so that they can easily file everything away as they complete something!.

• all customer details are brought up to date in an easy to use database which the VA has created; and

• all invoices/expenses are entered into an accounting package and sent to the business’s accountants or senior bookkeeper for BAS to be completed.

All in all:

The Admin has been Assessed, A VA has Assisted and the business has an Answer!  

The business can now choose to keep the VA on, on a hourly basis, a project basis or to do the work themselves!

Hazel
Assisting U Virtually

You may also interested in:

1. How a small business owner can utilize a Virtual Assistant (VA)?
2. What is the importance of Networking?
3. The Advantages of Working in a Virtual Office

BLOG – Go for Growth (20 September 2011)

I had the wonderful opportunity to represent My Business Help at the Go for Growth Seminar with Verne Harmish providing practical advice on various aspects of business, including small businesses.

So let’s take you through a series of blog posts which will hopefully give you an insight into how Verne’s experience and advice can assist businesses across the board from small to large business.

Verne says “Routine Sets YOU Free!”.  What does he mean by this?

Well, my understanding from listening to him is that you need to set aside time each day for a face to face meeting with your senior executives – the same time every day.

Why would you do this? 

Well, it is a time for you (the CEO) and your senior management to specify specific issues each individual is having and to get it sorted straightaway.  It is also a time to ensure you know where your business is at, where your competition is at and get ahead of it.

What your team can sort through in 15 minutes by being face to face is much more effective than any email communication or adhoc meeting you may feel is necessary.

Verne provided so much practical advice but his suggestion was to put all of his ideas through a filter and then pick or choose the ideas which suit your company but you must make sure that you implement them – not just choose them.

Learning is important in the growth of a business.  Why?  What I learnt from Verne is that you should never stop learning.  His comment, “if you don’t read then you barely have an advantage over someone who can’t read”, really stuck in my mind.  How often do we take time out to sit back and read a business book to give us great insight into how and what we could do better.  On the weekend, switch off your blackberry or iPhone and read a book.

What type of book may depend on your business but he gave quite a few examples which I would like to share in this blog:

‘Where Good Ideas Come From’ – Steven Johnson

‘Hidden Champions’ – Hermann Simon

‘How Companies Win’ – Rick Kash and David Calhoun

You can also obtain free advice by clicking through to Verne’s website: http://www.gazelles.com/index.html.  There is an amazing amount of downloadable forms, articles and more for a small business owner to download and learn from.

Hazel, Assisting U Virtually
For
My Business Help

You may also interested in:

1. WIN a ticket to the Go For Growth Workshop by Growth Faculty
2. What is the importance of Networking?
3. Transform Your Business One Step at a Time

There are various ways but it really does depend on the individual business.

It could be that a business owner decides that they do not want to attempt any admin and therefore a VA would do everything from typing through to database entries, phone answering to bookkeeping.

Other businesses only use a VA to undertake one or a couple of the following:

-          social media creation and updates
-          blog updates
-          typing and transcription
-          bookkeeping or data entry to MYOB
-          powerpoint presentations
-          collating business cards and adding to a database
-          e-newsletters

A new business could utilize a VA to assist with the set up of their office, systems and procedures.

A Virtual Assistant is a cost effective tool to add to your business.  There are no payroll overheads and as a VA has a professional background in everything admin, a business is in a win-win situation.

How can you tell if you need a VA?

-          When you are getting bogged down in paperwork.

-          When you are working so many hours but not making any money.

-          If you want and need to network but do not have the time.

-          When there is no flexibility any more.

-          When you are missing deadlines or important phone calls.

Do not lose sight of your business and why you commenced your business in the first place.  Seek assistance from a professional admin provider - your VA.

This is based on our first interview with mybusinesshelp.com.au on Alive 90.5.

Assisting U Virtually
www.assistinguvirtually.com.au

You may also interested in:

1. Virtual Assistant (VA) Case Study
2. The Advantages of Working in a Virtual Office
3. What is the importance of Networking?

Sales call reluctance can destroy sales careers. If you haven’t experienced the emotional torture of being ‘call reluctant’ the chances are you will do sooner or later.

Researchers in this field have found that call reluctance is responsible for 80% of sales people’s failure in their first year. And, it accounts for over 50% of failures in the sales profession.

What is call reluctance?

A ‘call reluctant’ salesperson feels immobilized to initiate new business calls, either by phone or in person. Therefore, the mental and emotional energy required to sell is redirected to other more comfortable and ‘safe’ activities. These activities can even include talking to others in the office and taking extended coffee breaks!

Call reluctance is a fear of being assertive: the sales person believes in and acts on self-belief excuses and thus fails to do what they know they need to do.

Call reluctant behaviours manifest in various ways:

* An increase in activity levels with corresponding drop in productivity levels
* Sales reports have twice the information compared to top performers’ reports
* Complaining to get attention and attract like-minded people
* Shifting blame to others and not taking personal responsibility
* Finding excuses to spend time in the office instead of out prospecting
* Over-servicing of existing clients
 
What to do

Firstly, there is no reason to feel embarrassed to admit to being call reluctant. When you have admitted it, at least to yourself, you can reprogram your thinking and correct wrong beliefs. Whatever triggered your call reluctance was a learnt response and whatever you learnt can also be unlearnt.

Put simply this is done by replacing call reluctant behaviours with positive goal focused behaviours. Once the cycle has been broken your proof will be new business and more sales – and you will feel uplifted!

Five Easy Actions

1. Set goals- they need to be realistic and stretch slightly beyond your comfort zone. Being focussed on achieving your goals can re-energize you.

2. Invest in training – the initial expense will pay dividends. Find an experienced sales coach with whom you can speak to candidly and whom can teach you great skills.

3. Catch yourself in the act - if you start thinking negatively challenge the thought. Ask yourself “What is the worst thing that can happen?” The answer may be “I’ll be rejected”. Accept it – you’ll live through it! Counter to this imagine what good could come from the call.

4. Deploy a CRM - good Customer Relationship Management software can be revealing and highlight where you’re falling down and how you can better manage sales opportunities.

5. Build your armour- build your resilience by networking with other professional sales people either face to face or via the Internet, where there are many good groups. Fill your mind with good material, participate in webinars on sales and invest in your ongoing education to build your confidence.

Try and tackle these one by one starting today.

No related posts.