Virtual Assistant

Creating an Email List.

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What exactly is an email list? 

An email list is a collection of names and email addresses (what we call subscribers). List-building is the whole process of getting people to opt-in to your website either for a free resource or for some valuable information you provided.

Why does on need a mailing list?

Despite social media being the fastest and surest way of reaching the masses, a mailing list still remains a better means to communicate. Why is that so:

  • A mailing list is specific. The message goes to specific people, which builds healthy working relationships
  • It’s convenient and easy

 

How does one go about creating an email list?

  • Choose an email service. There are several email service providers that you can use for this. I’ll point out some of my favorites and then you’ll have a look and decided which one suits your business needs. There’s MailerLite(which I use), Drip, Active Campaign, ConvertKit… among others.

 

  • Set up your Lists. Now, the next thing is to figure out how to gain subscribers. You can create a freebie or a lead magnet and offer to your audience. Once that is setup, you can set up an opt-in which you will use to get names and email address. You also have to consider how often you will be communicating with your subscribers?

 

  • Import your lists. Sometimes it feels like you have just began, but remember you have subscribers. So all you’ll actually be doing is add more recipients. If you already have an email list in your address book, then inform them that you’re moving to a different newsletter service and ask them if they’d love to be receiving your updates or are opting out.

 

  • Grow your List. Continue adding more addresses to your list. Also, make your sign-up forms are easy-to-find, attractive and in it ask all the information necessary.

 

  • Don’t look like Spam. Do not make your newsletter look like a sales pitch, but more of a personal note. Do not give a recipient a reason to hit that ‘Spam’ button or to unsubscribe from your list.

 

  • Be consistent and creative. Consistency breeds creativity. Make a commitment as to when you’ll be sending out the newsletter. It is what keeps on bringing more subscribers and keeps them.

Feel free to sign up for my freebie that highlights the exacts steps to build an email list or what I love calling list-building 🙂

List-Building Freebie ‘Grab your copy’

 

Use of Automation Systems in the VA Business

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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 🙂

Six Marketable Virtual Assistant Skills

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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.