Danielle Guerin

Archive for the ‘Virtual Assistance’ Category

I can’t believe I still see this…

As I was searching for some of my French VA colleagues on the Internet, I searched for independent secretaries or other professionals that didn’t call themselves “Virtual Assistants” so I could invite them to join the French VA Network. I almost went in shock when I saw the email addresses some of them had chosen.

Some had addresses like “myhusband’sfullname@internet.com”, others had “childrensnamesmomanddad@internet.com” and there where even some that had nicknames that, at first glance, might suggest some other type of professional. I’m almost certain most of them are not in business anymore. A serious VA client might think twice before asking for a proposal.

Please! There are no more excuses! It’s easy to create an email address with your name, your business name or even your tag line. Most Internet providers offer you more than one email and you can easily set up an email address for free with Google (gmail), Yahoo and Hotmail if budget is an issue or while you decide on a domain name. When I started, I had mon.assistante@sympatico.ca (even if it’s French, most of you understand what it says). It was easy to remember and said who I am.

Hmmm… What if I had chosen an address like DanandMario@internet.com or littlechicky@internet.com ? These addresses are tolerated for very personal stuff or for a teenager. Serious business people know that everything is important in your brand and that includes an email address.

In my strive for Excellence, I also want to have fun. Actually, since 2008 my focus is on making everything Simple, Easy and Fun.

I remember… after spending too many hours trying to create an RFP form for the French VA Network (www.rpsav.com) I started searching within my network for someone to do it. The rates were too high for my budget (zero at the time) so I turned to the Internet for an affordable solution.

The solution I found is Formexperts.com. Wow! Now it was simple, easy and fun! I now use it for my clients as well. For one third of the lowest bid for one form by an expert, I can create an infinite number of forms: contact, request for proposals, registration to an event, membership, etc.

Imagine the possibilities…

Note : This post was written last year on another blog that I removed from the web. I’m sharing it now because I think it’s still good advice.

When was your last vacation? Can’t remember? OK. When was the last time you took a few hours to yourself to do only what YOU felt like not what you SHOULD do? Can’t remember either?

Please read the next line slowly.

Beware, while you take time off, the earth will continue to turn and your clients will be there when you come back.

Actually, your clients need you to take time off. Not because you’re getting on their nerves but because when you’ll come back, you’ll be more productive, more creative. Everyone can profit from your time off.

Taking time off doesn’t have to be 2 or 3 weeks of vacation. It can be taking the afternoon off for a walk in the park or lounging around on the beach. This is what I like to call a mini-vacation. When you do this, you’re giving your brain a break from the “busy work” thinking. It can then access the creative part and often, this is when you get some of your best ideas.

If you feel it’s impossible to take a few hours off here and there to get the creative juices flowing, you might want to consider hiring a VA to take on some of the workload. And if you’re afraid to take a vacation, read this post.

This post was inspired by a conversation I had with a VA friend via Twitter’s Direct Messages. At one point, she wrote:

I don’t know about you, but I need down time to keep creative.

I thought it was a great idea for a post so I wrote it. Thank you Pat for the inspiration!