Author: MAB Virtual Solutions LLC

Ways to Gain New Skills in the Pandemic!

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So much has changed since this pandemic began, including the need to gain new skills and learn to pivot in business and life. Are you trying to figure out what new skills you should acquire? Did you know according to Success Magazine, “A Virtual Assistant is one of today’s 20 hottest skills?” What exactly is a Virtual Assistant? I am glad you asked! 🙂 A Virtual Assistant provides administrative, creative, and technical support solutions to businesses, entrepreneurs, executives, lawyers, non-profit organizations, and various other professional industries. How do you become a Virtual Assistant? I am glad you asked this question too! 🙂

I would like to personally invite you to the “Virtual Assistant Business” class offered online Tuesday, December 8th and Thursday, December 10th from 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. This is a two-part class. What will I learn by taking this class? I’m glad you asked this question too! This class is designed to help you successfully launch your Virtual Assistant business, discussing the skills and equipment needed, attracting your ideal client, marketing your business and much more.

To register for this class, visit www.pgcc.edu and enroll under “Owl Link”. The course is BUS-432. For more information contact Kristal Brown at brownka1@pgcc.edu or call on 301.546.0712.

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Why You Should Forget Your New Year’s Resolutions!

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It’s the 1st day of January! Have you come up with a set of New Year’s resolutions? Are you afraid that you will “fall off the wagon” with some of the resolutions for yourself and business? 

Instead of resolutions for the New Year; why not think about “solutions” that you can achieve this year for yourself and business. I believe that goal setting is also a great way to come up with these solutions. Additionally, establishing “SMART” goals for the year will assist with your “solutions.”

So, what exactly are SMART goals and how do you have them? I am glad you asked! 🙂 Quick history lesson, the SMART acronym first appeared in the November 1981 Management Review.  “There’s a S.M.A.R.T way to write management goals and objectives,” shares George Doran, Arthur Miller, and James Cunningham.

The five criteria include:

Specific: Target a specific area for improvement

Measurable: Quantify, or at least suggest, an indicator of progress

Assignable: Specify who will do it

Realistic: State what results can realistically be achieved given available resources.

Time-related: Specify when the result can be achieved.

Remember, goals are important and serve as an effective strategy in making plans happen.  You might be familiar with the quote by Benjamin Franklin, “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”  Planning is essential to your goals.  It is important that your goals are not just something in your head, but rather doable steps. Additionally, you need a process that aligns with what you should do when it comes to your goals. 

The success of you and your business depends on your ability to set and achieve goals. Remember, it’s a new year, however it also requires a new mindset and doing things differently!

3 Tips to Follow Through!

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Do you have a hard time following through? Of course, it’s easier to follow through on the projects or tasks that you enjoy doing and sometimes it’s just about having the time.  If you have put off completing a task as we speak, you have landed on the right blog post for a boost to get things done and follow through! Here are 3 tips:

1) Outsource! If follow through is not your thing then outsource! Today, there are so many ways to get the job done and entrepreneurs should take advantage of “more hands on deck.” Take a moment to figure out what are some of the tasks or projects that aren’t your favorite but are required for the success of your business? And, also think what is the cost of you not completing this task? This is what you need to outsource.

2) Automate things!  There are so many advances in technology — use it to your advantage. If you are able to automate things it can be a great way to multiply your efforts. There are so many technological tools out there to accomplish this! Further, a VA can get you automated — autoresponders, templates, and online appointment scheduling are just a few ways in accomplishing this goal.

3) Keep to your schedule! If you are able to keep to your schedule by starting and ending things on time, you have the opportunity to move forward with your other projects. “Time chunking” which involves dedicating or setting aside time to do that one thing and that thing alone is a way to keep to your schedule. Remember it’s about working smarter!

Remember while you do have a choice to follow through, no business owner wants to miss out on potential customers.  So don’t leave money in your inbox…your potential customer wants to hear back from you. A Virtual Assistant can always help with follow through. Just contact us here and we would love to help!

3 Ways Being A “Solopreneur” Can Work For You!

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Are you a “Solopreneur” and trying to figure out how do I make it all work? I’m glad you asked and are even reading further to find out how! 🙂 A “Solopreneur” is one who often wears a million hats and there are ways that you can make it work for you.

Here are just 3 ways you can make it work:

1) Time chunk!  What is that? You probably do this and don’t even know it! I time junk every thing. “Time chunking” involves dedicating or setting aside time to do that one thing and that one thing alone. This is a way to keep your schedule. This blog is a part of my “time chunk” activities. Mike Vardy describes “time chunking” as the concept of “breaking up your day into larger chunks instead of reacting to constant interruptions. The more chunks of time you can devote to specific tasks, the fewer start-up moments you will have, and your efficiency improves commensurately.”

1) Delegate!  To who? Just think about the time you gain by delegating the duties that simply take up too much of your time! Your time is a precious commodity. A Virtual Assistant can definitely free up your time so you can take on more strategic initiatives. You can have projects that continue to move forward without having to take care of every detail.

2) Tap into your “Team 5!”  Who would that be? It can be Marketing, Accounting, Legal, or Public Relations professionals. You can rely on these individuals to answer your questions in their areas of expertise.

You can make it work as a “solopreneur” and you don’t have to do it all. And if you need help with delegation, schedule a free consultation with us here to find out how we can help!

3 Ways To Expand Your Brand!

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When you think about your brand, what comes to mind? How do you believe that others envision your brand? One way to think about branding is your uniqueness along with the images that come to mind when clients (or customers) think about your brand. Here are 3 ways to expand your brand:

1)  Think about your clients and what you have done that makes them happy!  Remember, “customers are your word of mouth promotion.” Be sure that your services or the products that you offer meet your clients needs.  And don’t be afraid to tap into new markets.

2) Gather feedback from your current clients!  What do your clients think? Consider setting up a method on your social media platform to gauge from your followers the interest in your brand.

3) Host an event! Your event can be online or in-person! This gives your audience a chance to get to know and engage with you “the brand.” You can do this event solo or collaborate with other business professionals you know. Get your creative mind going with your event.

Why You Should Forget Your New Year’s Resolutions!

~ MAB Virtual Solutions LLC ~ Leave a comment

It’s the 15th day of January! Have you already found that you haven’t met your New Year’s resolutions? Have you “fallen off the wagon” already with some of the resolutions for yourself and business? 

Instead of resolutions for the New Year; why not think about “solutions” that you can achieve this year for yourself and business. I believe that goal setting is also a great way to come up with these solutions. Additionally, establishing “SMART” goals for the year will assist with your “solutions.”

So, what exactly are SMART goals and how do you have them? I am glad you asked! 🙂 Quick history lesson, the SMART acronym first appeared in the November 1981 Management Review.  “There’s a S.M.A.R.T way to write management goals and objectives,” shares George Doran, Arthur Miller, and James Cunningham.

The five criteria include:

Specific: Target a specific area for improvement

Measurable: Quantify, or at least suggest, an indicator of progress

Assignable: Specify who will do it

Realistic: State what results can realistically be achieved given available resources.

Time-related: Specify when the result can be achieved.

Remember, goals are important and serve as an effective strategy in making plans happen.  You might be familiar with the quote by Benjamin Franklin, “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”  Planning is essential to your goals.  It is important that your goals are not just something in your head, but rather doable steps. Additionally, you need a process that aligns with what you should do when it comes to your goals. 

The success of you and your business depends on your ability to set and achieve goals. Remember, it’s a new year, however it also requires a new mindset and doing things differently!

3 Ways To Achieve Success This Year!

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It’s a new year with new opportunities! The possibilities are endless, however the success of the year depends on you!  Here are three ways to achieve success this year: 

1) Consistency is key! One reason it can be difficult to achieve success is being inconsistent. Establish a routine and stick to it. Your routine should not be something that you visit every week or even month. Don’t paralyze your own progress by not being consistent and disciplined in meeting your business goals and objectives.

2) Create your own definition of success!  Do not get bogged down in what others definition of success might be. Remember, all of our entrepreneurial journeys are different because simply put, we are all different. Create your own definition and then take the steps that will help you achieve that success!

3) Do not be afraid to make adjustments! Do not let fear grip or stop you. Changes are important in keeping up with the latest things within your industry and taking risks to go further in your business.  And if you need to make adjustments, as Nike reminds us…”just do it!”

So get to it and make it your best, successful year ever!

3 Reasons We Love Linktree!

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One of the things that can be time consuming is continuously editing the link in your profile on Instagram. Often, when you are posting you refer followers to “click the link in our bio.” And let’s say that you have created this great post and forgot to update the link. Yes, this happens to even the best of us.

Alex and Anthony Zaccaria along with Nick Humphreys have created this great resource Linktree which makes it easier to provide Instagram users with what I like to call a “one stop shop.” I love it! Here are just a few reasons why:

1)  Simplicity and convenience all in one link! I now have links that will direct followers to my multiple destinations which include: my website; my Virtual Assistant Mini-Bootcamp (plug here); blog; newsletter; FB; Twitter; and free download (another plug here). You can link your followers to any of these that I have mentioned and more!

2) It is aesthetically appealing! Yes, it is easy on the eyes and doesn’t crowd your Instagram profile with a long URL that can make it difficult to see the other pertinent information in your bio. You can also change the colors of your Linktree profile to match your logo which can assist with your overall brand look.

3) Easy to manage!  Let’s face it, entrepreneurs are looking for ease of navigation and ways to save time (consider a Virtual Assistant…another plug). This link can help save time and providers users with a chance to do more!

And our bonus reason is of course it assists with the world of Instagram optimization. The whole world of editing  Instagram profiles just got easier. Free and pro options are available. Happy linking! Check out my profile here!

 

Tips For Your Business For Small Business Saturday!

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Did you know that “Small Business Saturday” happens annually and is available for all business owners? This event began in 2010 and continues to grow year after year.  “Small Business Saturday” is happening on Saturday, November 25th and you have still have time to get ready!

American Express details that, “small businesses are the backbone of the community whether you are online or have a brick and mortar.” The contributions that you make are important and “Small Business Saturday” can be a great marketing tool for your business. I have already customized my materiaIs and love them. And we were also recipients of the FREE goodies offered by American Express. Check out our pictures below!

Now, how can you participate if you provide consultant services? Here are 4 tips:

1)  During Small Business Saturday, offer a percentage off your service or package.

2)  You can also consider throwing in an extra hour of service or a free service. Remember your offer should be of value to you and the customer.

3) You can also consider offering something similar during Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or Giving Tuesday.

4) Continue promoting “Shop Small” with your business even after the main Saturday event on November 25th! Get creative and add a monthly or quarterly percentage off.

We love Constant Contact! It has so many ideas and templates available to support your efforts. Check out this great infographic and tips here.

If you don’t have the time to manage these marketing efforts, this is where I can help! Schedule a free consultation with me here!

Ways to Grow Your Business and Blog!

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I am super excited to share one of my secrets for great content and a resource that has been helpful to me…”Modern Social” magazine! I love this magazine and you will too!

Last week, I had the opportunity to speak with the CEO and Founder of Modern Social, Matt Cherry.  Yes, this was my WOW moment (backward and forward). During my one-on-one conversation, I learned about Mr. Cherry’s business and management support of Virtual Assistants.  I was delighted to hear that we had the Virtual Assistant industry in common and this fueled my excitement even more to share this with my network and community.

My love for this magazine goes back to the days of “iBlog” which was the name before “Modern Social.”  I have shared this resource with my students and now want to share with everyone.

So why should you get this magazine and join this network of influencers? It’s simple…Modern Social seeks to encourage, elevate and inspire modern influencers to create incredible content and learn from the industry’s top social media experts, leading influencers and national brands how to grow a thriving online business.

You get access to leading experts, top influencers and marketing content to grow your online businesses and to connect with leading national brands for content marketing challenges, projects and campaigns.

Yes, you should absolutely check out Modern Social, I read it cover to cover and get new action items from experts.  So what are you waiting on? Get it today and check out my link here!