Irene

How Project Management is Useful to a Virtual Assistant

By Leave a Comment

Virtual assistants, are unique workers in that their work involves a lot of multi-tasking. They will be managing a social site while designing at the same time, managing email lists, marketing stuff and sourcing for cheap flights at a go. Therefore, it means they need to plan their time and tasks very carefully lest they mess up some of their work. This is where project management tools or task management apps come in handy.

Project management is simply the discipline of organizing, planning and executing work or a team of workers to achieve set goals while attaining efficiency. This means a VA needs project management to run their work smoothly.

Below are various ways that project management is useful to VAs:

  • Amount of work

In most cases VAs have multiple projects at hand, it is paramount for one to know how much work they can handle within a given time so one doesn’t become overwhelmed. I have a number of clients and I use Asana which is more of a task management tool which helps me stay focused and productive. Other VAs, use either Trello or pen and paper 🙂

  • Time blocking

The other use of project management in VA work is utilization of time. When a VA has a project at hand, they can decide to break it down into chunks for easier execution. Therefore, they can determine how much time the task (project) needs and break it into smaller units. For this, I use an app which is also a browser extension called Rescue.

  • Outsourcing

Outsourcing is common especially if you have a dedicated team. For a tool like Asana, you can create a team and invite members to the project so you can assign various tasks to them. It also allows the owner to set deadlines for the projects at hand. This helps for smooth running of the client’s business. That said, the VA has to utilize project management to distribute the tasks. They also need it to keep track of the work as well as know how to budget for the efficiency of payment.

If you want to know how I can help you in Project management, feel free to schedule a free consultation and let me assist you in this.

Therefore, when they outline the amount of time a project is supposed to take, then can let their employers know of the expected cost. Similarly, after working for sometime while keeping track of the time consumed, they can send accurate bills to the clients.

Evidently, as this post suggests, project management is one of the most important skills that a virtual assistant needs.

The form you have selected does not exist.

Use of Automation Systems in the VA Business

By Leave a Comment

As the roles of the virtual assistant continue expanding due to the increase in the amercement of this career, things are getting better for them. Surprisingly, while under normal circumstances, increasing roles are supposed to mean more pressure on a worker in the VA world, things are different.

Traditional VAs were fixated on roles similar to the office assistant who manages boring paperwork, handles tedious typing or writing chores and hangs around for the boss to order them around. However, the new crop of VA has more interesting work. We’re now managing social media, acting on behalf of our bosses, booking appointments for them, managing their communications, sending out emails, hiring for them, and the list goes on.

The best part about these extra roles is that most of them can be automated! In the light of this amazing revelation, let’s see how automation systems can be used in the VA business:

  • Engaging Clients

Avid users of social media are aware that most social sites as well as websites have automated systems that engage the users when real people are away. For example, if you send a message to a large organization like Amazon via Facebook, an automated system responds by letting you know that your message has been received and you will be attended to soon.

This and other similar auto-response systems are useful in blogs and sites. They can assist clients in some areas by using keywords and client queries. In this way, the VA has their “assistant” as well, and this reduces their work.

  • Making Payments

The other popular automated systems used by VAs are payment mechanisms. In today’s world, a VA has to pay subscriptions and also receive payments. Judging by the many payments that leave and arrive at a VA’s table, they can be overwhelming.

Luckily for the VA, there are now pre-programmed systems that can be used to make and receive payments. They can be attached to financial systems such as bank accounts or smart cards. Then, depending on the programming, they can pay other systems or receive money on behalf of the virtual assistant.

  • Emailing

Emailing is the most used form of communication by most VAs. At some point, a VA might need to communicate a single message to multiple parties at a go. Again, they might have multiple email accounts to manage.

Well, there are automated emailing programs that can do the above tasks for a VA. They only need to be fed with the messages and distribution lists and then they can deliver them. On the second matter, there are systems that will manage multiple email accounts from one point, allowing the VA to remain updated of incoming emails.

  • Scheduling

No VA can survive without using a planning or scheduling tool. In this case, a calendar is the best-suited tool for this need. A VA will need to be reminded to make calls, book appointments, submit work, make follow-ups, send emails, book flights, make payments and so on.

Without a tool to remind them of these tasks, they might forget some or handle them late. This is a forgotten problem since there are many applications such as Google Calendar that can save important dates and remind the user in advance, as per their preferences.

 

Judging from these examples of VA business automation, the last thing that a VA should be worried about is excess work, poor scheduling, late payments and delayed communication.

Automation saves them all the work!

Here are some of my favorite automation tools: Dubsado CRM, Calendly, Asana, Google Calenda, Zapier, just to list a few 🙂

New KAJABI: All in One Online Course Tool

By Leave a Comment

I recently got introduced to New Kajabi by one of my clients. At first, I didn’t think I could handle the heat 🙂 So, after some hard thinking, I finally decided to take up the challenge to LEARN the ins and outs, and later MASTER this amazing platform.

Through my determination and hard work, I can now confidently build a website, set up products, landing… oops I’m spilling the beans 🙂 So, what’s all this fuss about New Kajabi?

Well, sit tight because this is one ride and you’re going to love every minute of it.

Kajabi Logo

The Platform is a home to a number of tools which we use. In this blog, I show you how to use New Kajabi to the maximum. Let’s dig in the list:

  • Online Membership Sites and Courses – You can build membership sites, create online courses, showcase digital products, host virtual groups all VIA Kajabi.
  • Attractive Landing Pages – What attracts clients more than a comprehensive and high-converting landing page? The amazing Kajabi will let you choose a template and customize it into your preferred liking.
  • Send Marketing Emails – Guess what, you can also send emails to your customers and prospects all from INSIDE Kajabi. What’s more? You can manage the emails by tracking which ones are working (have been accepted).
  • Seamless Integration – Here is yet another juicy feature of the New Kajabi tool. You can connect all your third party systems to it from Facebook, Gmail, Yahoo, Aweber,  Active Campaign, Zapier, ConvertKit and so on can be managed from one point.
  • Online Store – Finally, if you market digital goods and services, this tool will help you in setting up an online store. It comes with tones of website templates which you can customize to your taste. They also come with in-built blogs tied to the websites so you can share your messages and interact with people directly.
  • Pipelines – This is the layman’s wording of funnel. You can set up a funnel inside of New Kajabi.

Amazing? I know. These guys have amazing resources and a great support community. Want to know how I can help? Feel free to schedule a call https://calendly.com/divineva and let’s build your site, courses or sell products together with New Kajabi.

 

 

Six Marketable Virtual Assistant Skills

By 4 Comments

I’ll first start by defining who is a Virtual Assistant? A Virtual Assistant is normally abbreviated as VA, is a self-employed assistant who offers services such as design, technical or administrative services remotely for various clients. It sounds quite enticing to be a VA, right? Well, it is however there are a number of skills that will get you high-paying clients.

What are those Marketable VA Skills?

  • Copywriting

Writing is the first skill a VA needs in this industry. It plays a huge role be it writing content for your website, content repurposing for social media or writing blogs.

  • Digital Marketing

A basic background makes it easier for you to be successful in this. Clients will entrust you with the promotion of their goods and services. This means that you should not only know how to promote the products but know your way around the market as well

  • Design

This is one of the leading skills that most clients look for. As a designer a VA is required to work on logos, virtual business cards, calendars, social media memes and many others. If you have some professional training on design, then the most likely you will be successful.

  • Social Media Management

Social Media has become a norm in today’s world. People are taking their business to social media platforms to get sales. One can be hired to manage a client’s business page, group or community.

  • WordPress Management

In this modern day almost every business has a website but what they lack is time to manage it, create and post blogs, the constant upgrades, SEO matters just to list a few.

  • Project Management

Business owners may find that they have a lot on their plate, and that is why they delegate certain tasks to Virtual Assistants. A VA can be in-charge of a project from the moment it starts to its completion. Some tasks would include monitoring the team, ensure the project runs on budget and work is performed to perfection.

 

Virtual Assistants are in no doubt becoming saviors to any small businesses or entrepreneur or corporate.