Elements of a Market Campaign
When we talk marketing, we talk about making people interested in what we have to offer. Whether it is donuts, cars, houses, chewing gum, whatever it is, marketing is very relevant. So I was thinking that there are elements to a market campaign that will push the proverbial envelope in the right direction. So here is my list that can be used by the virtual assistant, or the small business owner. In fact, it can be used by anyone.
1. Goal or clearly defined plan - you must have a goal, or else you can end up pushing in the wrong direction.
2.Target Group - the group you will target for the sale of cars will not be the same as the ones you target for chewing gum (well hopefully).
3. Focus - as with everything else, you must not be easily distracted and be spasmodic if you want to achieve your goal.
4. Committment - there must be a conscious decision to achieve, and to carry through with those things that a necessary to achieve.
5. Appeal - if you are selling a house, it must be presented in such a way so that the buyer will want to ignore the rest and choose yours. Whatever it is that you are selling, whether its ideas, service or goods, it must have appeal. The benefits must be apparent.
Now these are by no means a complete list, or given in order of importance, they are just noteworthy. So I hope you’ve noted them.
Mb
Five Star Executive
Your Ideas & My Ideas - How They Can Work Together
I believe there is nothing more annoying than someone who sincerely believes that their ideas are the only good ones, and need no enhancement. For me, just about every idea can do with some enhancement. Even if its just on the method for using it.
Sharing your ideas and listening to those of others is a great “recipe” for growth and expansion. For example, the idea of a virtual assistant can only work if small business owners see the need to focus on business building and expansion
So the point to glean from all this is merging ideas can result in powerful resource tools as the virtual assistant is to small businesses.
Mb
Five Star Executives
Making The Most Of It
I am sure you will agree that its not always things work out just the way you want it, or even the way you anticipated it. So when it doesn’t, what do you do. Throw your arms up in the air and announce “I quit”?
The feeling to quit is probably a natural feeling, but that’s all it is; a feeling. Something that comes and goes. This now brings me to the real point. Making the most of any given situation means going beyond feeling and acting rather on principle.
The world of business is operated on a principle, and as a virtual assistant, that principle bears a whole lot of relevance. As a small business owner, that principle, depending on how its applied, determines success or failure.
So when the obstacles roll in, find a way to ignore the feeling, but instead maintain your focus, become creative, even innovative, whatever you do, just press on, and do make the most of it.
Mb
Five Star Executives
TGIF - Some Things to Think About
As the week comes to a close, there are a few things that would stick out in your mind. Now is a good time to give them some thought.
1. Did I do my very best in all the circumstances that I had an opportunity to?
2. Did I make my customers feel that they are special and give the quality of service I’d give if that was the only customer I had? Cause as a virtual assistant, the best temtimonial is the one from a deeply satisfied customer or client.
3. Did I use my down time to improve the quality of service I offer?
4. Am I satisfied with my work ethics?
5. Do I love what I do, because if you don’t, the answer to all the above will be no.
As always, have a great weekend-time is precious, spend it wisely.
Mb
Five Star Executives
Making It Worth The While
I used to get tired of hearing “whatever your hands find to do, do it to your very best”. Now that I’ve reached the age of reason, I can now see what that means. Now I can say, as long as time is going to be spent doing something, might as well you make it worth the while.
If you are building your own business, make it worth the while. Utilize every relevant tool, every good method, every valuable opportunity, as long as it will be worth the while. One thing I should warn you about though, is taking for granted the effectiveness of simple tools and methods.
Getting help is a simple tool and it can make a world of difference. As I said, whatever it is, just make it worth the while.
Mb
Five Star Executives
Communication - A Tool That Is Never Out-Of-Date
There are some things that don’t change, and I was thinking that paper is one of them. No matter the height that technology reaches, no matter how digital, fast paced and global we become, paper will never be obsolete.
I am also reminded that thank you, please, excuse me and you are welcome will never be archaic. Their relevance will always be unchallenged. Its the same thing with communication. No matter how elevated our businesses takes us, we must communicate.From the CEO to the cleaner, the supervisor to the messenger, the manager to the receptionist, we all need to communicate.
Its relevance to the virtual assistant is equally important since business building is as important to you as it is to the small business owner. So whatever your method of communication, email, phone, IM, posted mail, certainly we can all agree on this, that communication is a tool that is never out-of-date.
Mb
Five Star Executives
Change is Good / Improvement is Better
Before you decide on whether or not to agree or disagree with the caption, some definition must be offered for “change” and “improvement”. So what is change. Well according to the dictionary, it is “to make different, to alter, to transform”. What then is improvement. According to the dictionary again, it is ” to make or become better”. So you can see where I’m going with this.
While change can result in either an advantage or disadvantage, improvement is definitely an advantage. This can be seen when in business, a decision is made that the outcome is not certain. That will be change, but improvement predicts a positive outcome. One sure improvement for the small business is a virtual assistant.
So this week, lets all strive for improvement rather than mere change. All this will require will be a little more effort than what change will cost.
Mb
Five Star Executives
Is Virtual Assisting All That? I Mean Do Small Businesses Really Benefit From It?
Thank you for your question. The thing is while we know that the Internet is THE place for scams, and scams galore, we must be able to sift through the mix and extract the good.
To answer this question we must of course know what a virtual assistant does. Giving assistance to small business owners remotely is basically it. The tasks covers a wide range, from admisistrative to real estate.
The benefits this brings to the small business owner is that no in-house staff is required, time training is eliminated, overhead costs is also eliminated, no paid vacation, sick leave, paternity and maternity leave; all these are costs that are non existant with the use of the virtual assistant. Additionally, the business owner can now concentrate on business expansion.
So should I give a yes or no to that question or should I leave it to you our readers to decide. I think I’ll leave it for you to decide.
Once again, thank you for your valuable question, and keep them coming.
Mb
Five Star Executives
Are You Virtually Assisting
What does it mean to be a virtual assistant. To assist virtually or to virtually assist. There is a difference. Do you see it? You see to assist virtually is to intend to help while to virtually assist is to purposefully help.
So now that we have that clear, we can all ask ourselves, what are we actually doing? Sitting on the fence and always saying we are going to, or jumping into the field with our plough in hand?
As the week comes to a glorious close, let’s spend some time scrutinizing the way we work and even why we work. Always remembering that while intent is good, actions are GREAT.
As always, have a delightful weekend.
Mb
Five Star Executives
Don’t Let The Stress Hit The Fan
Its a known fact that stress is the underlying cause of a great many illnesses, well almost known fact because some people still won’t accept that. Now because of this we have to, and I stress have to, learn how to manage the many stresses in our lives. Because believe me, they are many and varied.
Since the world around us is constantly changing and more often than not for the worst, we need to find some means by which we can cope. Now brace yourself, becuase what I am now about to say has become very unpopular in our modern times, but here it is, PUT OTHERS FIRST! Why is this helpful? Becuase many times we can’t change our own situations so we feel trapped and tossed about. But putting others first, by helping others, you take away the focus from yourself and your own sense of ‘victimhood’ and become a beacon of hope. And what better feeling could there be than knowing that you have helped free someone from the pain you yourself might be feeling.
So whether you own a large conglomerate, a small business, you are a virtual assistant or a home-maker, just don’t let the stress hit the fan.
Mb
Five Star Executives
