Win $10 iTunes Card from The Help!

Win $10 iTunes Card from The Help!

Join our $10 iTunes Gift Card Giveaway in collaboration with Piso Bookkeeping

To join:
1. Go to http://bit.ly/13VC3dp
2. Click the “+1” – Easy entry for all The Help fans on Facebook
3. You will be asked to like the page, if you already liked it before that’s fine.
4. Click “✓ I’m a fan”.
5. Click the “+1” – Easy entry for all Piso Bookkeeping fans on Facebook
6. You will be asked to like the page, if you already liked it before that’s fine.
7. Click “✓ I’m a fan”.

Giveaway would run from August 7, 2013 (12:00am PST) to August 22, 2013 (12:00am PST)

Building Success in Virtual Assistance

Building Success in Virtual Assistance

As with other service industry sectors, virtual assistance success is defined by the number of end users who come back to engage the same providers. And in virtual assistance having one or two financially viable clients can mean financial success.

However, behind the three Cs – communication, cooperation, commitment mentioned in last week’s post, there are many other contributing factors towards achievement.  Some of them are:

Punctuality

Being prompt on both assignment delivery and workstation presence will definitely earn extra points from clients. It means the business can depend on its staff – the virtual assistant – and the manager/owner can concentrate on its plans for expansion.

Evaluated skill set

It is imperative that a virtual assistant, matched by a top of the line computer, is adept at technical challenges. This includes a comprehensive knowledge of social media. A fast Internet service would be a distinct advantage to a beginning VA.

Going an extra mile

Experiencing service in the realm of extra mile is downright pleasant! And in the small and medium sized commercial environment, an owner/manager will be wearing many hats. One of these would be representing the company at regional or national meetings.  Creating a personal travel checklist of items such as cell phone charger, company credit card, or even personal medication exemplifies that extra mile.

A positive and seeking mind

Having a mindset that looks for the positive in workplace and everyday encounters will produce conspicuous benefits in the long run. The effort invested in staying positive is a benefit in itself.

 

Other factors to consider are the ability to work in a team, awareness of expectations from both client and virtual assistant, and efficient organization of tasks and projects.

However, each individual must generate the passion and wherewithal to move a virtual assistance business forward. The degree of focus applied will bring satisfaction and profit!

Now that it is in the horizon, how is success sustained?

 

Written by Yoli P.- The Help

What is Virtual Assistance?

What is Virtual Assistance?

Virtual Assistance is a booming service industry basically defined by the nature of its delivery that is via the Internet.

Practitioners or providers of the service are Virtual Assistants, operating as business entities doing administrative, financial, and technical tasks from a remote location.

Growing small businesses, shrinking incomes, and unemployment in certain commercial sectors contributed to the advance of the virtual assistance industry.

 

 

 

So what are virtual assistants?

Overall, virtual assistants are skillful administrative professionals whose long and varied experience give them solid footing in the workplace.  They are Microsoft office systems doyens, presentation experts, and Excel whizzes. Some of them have specialized abilities like paralegals and translators. Others are excellent personal assistants, SEO managers, and writers.  However, certain business traits are necessary to be considered a successful virtual assistant.

Open communication – Building The Help team from the ground up, communication played a major factor.  It meant and continues to mean active listening to the professional needs of clients.  It is also important to listen to the team’s ideas so that cooperation is nurtured. The Help is committed to its vision to enhance operational functions and boost the competitive edge of small to medium sized companies.  The goal makes sharing and initiating open, clear conversations with clients via email, Skype, and the telephone an ongoing activity at The Help. It is a best practice that has caused steady company growth.

Cooperation in a functioning groupThe Help exists to assist another party, implying there is a common goal, which is completion of a given task.  For example a client would like a room reserved at hotel close to the beach. The client is informed via email of the hotel confirmation and upon arrival, the concierge registers him or her. Facilitated by The Help, the hotel and the client are satisfied by the service.  This is translated into prompt payment of The Help’s fees and the strong possibility of a future team up.

CommitmentThe Help’s relationship with employers is a responsibility meaning the team can be depended upon to deliver contracted services. Elance ranks its members performance record accordingly; The Help is at Number 2, nationwide. Accountability is important and each team member is reliable, has initiative and is motivated to improve her/his skill set. There is too, the availability of a virtual assistant. Being on call 24/7 can be a distinct advantage, depending on the client’s contracted hours.

 

However, communication, cooperation, and commitment even availability do not guarantee success for a virtual assistant or team performing virtual assistance.  Underlying all businesses is the passion to move a company forward. The Help will talk about success next time.

 

Written by Yoli P.- The Help

Five reasons The Help stays with Elance

Five reasons The Help stays with Elance

In this entrepreneurial age where lifelong employment is part of ancient history, everyone thinks e-commerce in both personal and professional lives.

Shrinking incomes and company downsizing put freelancing on center stage for one very important reason.  Freelancing stems the onslaught of despair when someone in the family is unemployed.  It provides a temporary solution for those looking to augment income.   There are several online platforms for freelancers but most of them stay with Elance, The Help included; here are five reasons why:

  1. Elance visibility is key. Registered freelancers are subscribed according to expertise ensuring that employers have access to the A-players in the talent pool.
  2. Freelancers are assured payment via the escrow and milestones that are integral to the contract eliminating anxiety for both client and provider.
  3. Feedback from clients insures continued improvement of quality of service fostering trust and growth in business relationships.
  4. The Elance platform is user friendly, which means even older freelancers quickly learn usage of its tools.
  5. Elance recently made $800,000,000, which means its members are getting great money for excellent delivery.

The Help, associated with Elance since its inception, grew by leaps and bounds.  It’s now Number 2, nationwide, and Number 12 (as of Feb 2013,) worldwide in the Administrative Assistance category.

 

Written by Yoli P.- The Help

The Help’s Guarantee

The Help’s Guarantee

Think it doesn’t matter which service provider you choose? Think again!

Remember, it is your business.  It is your money.  It matters!

Read on and find out why more and more clients prefer The Help than other providers.

The Help’s Guarantees

Guarantee #1. Cloud-based virtual administrative assistant professionalism guarantee- We offer prompt, excellent and professional service to you and your clients. If you find that’s not the case and would like to terminate services, we can do so immediately—no questions asked.

Guarantee #2. Cost-effective- We will never charge a monthly retainer fee and will never bill you before the work is performed—only after. You only pay for the services you use. We use Elance tracker that takes screenshot of what we are doing during the shift. Payment is for actual work done at the rate agreed upon in advance. You don’t have to worry about payroll, sick leave, other employment compensation and benefits, providing work space or equipment.

Guarantee #3. Increased Efficiency – Our job as a VA is to minimize trouble and maximize productivity to the business owner. We can take care most of your daily transactions, therefore you will have more time to focus in important projects. Works in your absence- Since the office is there, irrespective of your presence, just like any other office, the calls, mails, post, fax …all are received on behalf of the clients with their consent. We can respond to customer phone calls, reply emails with your generic business greetings and many more.

Guarantee #4 Reduces hassles- You can have the option of transferring all your calls to us and receive only the ones you wish to. This saves you from the unwanted marketing calls.

Guarantee #5. Flexibility with time- We can work with your schedule. We can start working as early as five in the morning or as late as 12 midnight.

Guarantee #6. Flexibility with nature of work- Our range of knowledge is endless. We‘re experts in our field, because we’ve performed these task as employees previously and have Degrees, Certificates and training to accomplish the task. We use globally-competitive platforms and applications to do our job.

Guarantee #7. No Black Boxes Promise- Employees and contractors often create “black boxes” or job security by not sharing procedures, logins, etc. they use to do their job, making it impossible for someone else to do their job if they quit or leave, making them “indispensable” and impossible to fire. The Help will be able to help you set up your virtual office systems by writing down and documenting processes and tasks. We always keep track of the projects development, making it easy for anyone to take over the position at any given time.

Guarantee #8. Minimal Training- We do not need comprehensive training. We normally just need to know what the business is, the mission and we take it by heart. That way, we can handle the tasks, customers’ enquiry etc. the way you will be handling them. We are highly trainable and fast learners.

Guarantee #9. World-class service- Our ranking and feedbacks in Elance would show how good we are with what we do and how satisfied our clients are with our contribution in the success of their business or project. We are not offering just one skill but rather set of skills. We are not just customer service. We build relationships with our clients. We take care of their needs and their questions.

Guarantee #10. Data Integrity and Security- We are very big when it comes to data integrity and security. Any information related to our clients, our potential clients, or any type of business partner cannot be accessed by unauthorized person. This may include but not limited to financial documentation, contract language, patented/copyrighted materials, client documents, software code, business correspondence, business methodologies, business strategies, governance structure, client procedure, business capture techniques etc. Usernames and passwords are being kept on a safe place, soft copies are all encrypted. We can commit to a 100% accuracy of any data that we enter to your database. We use company-provided computer/access/software which is strictly for official business use only. Your data and your system are safe with us. We are happy to sign NDA if required.

Guarantee #11. We value entrepreneurship- We treat our client’s business as if it is our own. We do not want any time, money or effort put into waste. We collaborate with our client and are being proactive in determining issues that arise before it becomes a problem, brainstorm and recommend solutions.