| All business have been impacted by the economy | | | | assistant is an entrepreneur and professional that |
| in the last 2 years. Businesses have gone | | | | dedicates hours in helping business keep afloat but |
| bankrupt; have had to layoff employees, cut back | | | | everything is done virtually. |
| on productivity and much more. Small businesses | | | | VAs can answer your emails, schedule |
| are the ones that have been most impacted by | | | | appointments, create and edit documents, make |
| this economy. They are forced to run their own | | | | travel arrangements, send out your newsletters, |
| office with out administrative help, therefore, | | | | send email blasts, help with marketing and a |
| loosing time and not being able to focus on the | | | | number of other tasks from an off-shore location. |
| core of their business, to make it grow. | | | | They communicate with you on a daily basis or |
| As we listen to the news, the economy is not | | | | as many times as you need, they use the latest |
| getting better; the Dept. of Labor has been | | | | technology to help your business. Some of the |
| reporting that there is a huge rise in | | | | technologies used are:o Communicating via email, |
| unemployment in the last year alone. Here are 3 | | | | instant messages and phoneo Use online back up |
| strategies a small business can implement, to help | | | | systems to ensure that data is safe and available |
| them keep their business going: | | | | VAs cost less to hire than having an on-site |
| 1. Assess what needs to be taken care of | | | | employee, you do not have to pay for benefits, |
| administratively - Such as, answering phones, | | | | office supplies and everything associated with |
| answering emails, creating and editing documents, | | | | maintaining an on-site employee. In today's |
| sending out newsletters, updating social media site | | | | struggling economy, businesses need to explore |
| or making travel arrangements. | | | | how they can keep their business afloat and keep |
| 2. Calculate if you really can afford to have an | | | | organized. Many are looking at to hire VA as they |
| on-site assistant. | | | | will be able to save money and time. By using |
| 3. Consider hiring a virtual assistant. | | | | these 3 strategies, you will be able to continue |
| Let's concentrate on strategy number 3. First of | | | | growing your business in light of today's economy. |
| all what is a virtual assistant (VA)? A virtual | | | | |