Bizpro Ltd - Virtual Assistants » outsourcing

Outsourcing Event Planning Makes Good Financial Sense

Kerry — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 06:00:57 +0000

Small businesses can gain themselves some very big publicity by hosting events in the community. Unfortunately, most small businesses either don’t have the time or the budget to be able to pull off a bash that will get them noticed. Some firms, however, are discovering that outsourcing a bit of the work can help take the pressure off and still deliver an event that gets them the publicity desired.

Using a virtual assistant to help out with planning a networking meeting, a product release, a conference or other event can take a lot of the work out of the proposition and still gain a company some very positive public relations in the process.

At Bizpro it’s not only our job to help with event planning, it’s also our pleasure. I, for one, find this to be one of the most enjoyable aspects of working as a personal assistant. It is very gratifying to take the burdens off clients’ minds and help them map out and pull functions that dazzle attendees without breaking their budgets in the process.

So, what can a virtual assistant do to help with event planning? A whole lot more than you probably think!

Some of the things that Bizpro can tackle on a client’s behalf include arranging the venue, helping with the food, getting entertainment in place (if it’s desired) and even managing the guest list and RSVPs. Basically, we can do just about everything that would take a small business owner or staff days or weeks to organise in a fraction of the time.

When an experienced virtual assistant steps in to help with event planning, small businesses gain the skills necessary to pull off a great event. Plus, they can even save a little money along the way. After all, pros in the field have the know-how to cut corners on the expenses without hampering the quality of an event.

Business Coaches & Virtual Assistants: essential assets for every business owner..

Kerry — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 11:17:29 +0000

I’m a firm believer in accountability. That is, I feel that when someone is held accountable for something, and have someone to answer to they are more likely to achieve it. Most small business owners find they have to wear a number of hats, and have a myriad of tasks to achieve, but more often than not the only person who they are accountable to is themselves.

The difficulty with having no one to push you, no one to show that you did those tasks you said you were going to is that it’s very easy to let them slide. They build up and continue to grow and the bigger they get, the more we are likely to want to put them off. There will always be those tasks that you enjoy doing and those tasks that you don’t. Inevitably, the ones you don’t enjoy doing get put to the bottom of the pile.

Sometimes, they stay there, until they become so urgent you have no choice to complete them, and that’s were you find the task has become even more daunting.

Of course, this is where a virtual assistant could help you, by doing those tasks you keep putting off and, if you pick the right virtual assistant, they get to know you and your business and will be able to foresee and act upon these tasks as they come up, thus preventing you from that viscous circle of unimportant on non urgent tasks.

However, a business coach can also help here. If you choose the right one, they can help you to put your business plans and goals together, and keep your eye focused on achieving your aims. They can act as a sounding board & help you realise your vision and grow as a business owner.

Business coaches know about business, they also know about people. A good coach will be able to connect with you on your level, and coach you to look at situations outside yourself, enabling you to think more clearly. They hold you accountable for your actions and make you look at where you want to be and the steps you need to take to get there.

Generally business coaches have reams of tools, tricks and books to help you on your journey. They know what works, and what can make you more effective in your business.

Most business coaches will also recognise the benefits of outsourcing to a virtual assistant. By passing on the tasks you don’t have the time nor inclination for can enable you to spend more time working on your business rather than in your business.

Telephone Answering

Kerry — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 06:30:14 +0000

Bizpro gets asked about telephone answering services a lot, and whilst we are happy to research the market for clients and get them the best deal, it’s not something we offer as a service ourselves. We believe that as Virtual Assistants & Virtual PA’s our focus needs to be on client work and not just answering the telephone. To us answering the telephone can be just as much of an interruption to our work as it can be to a client. We believe that if you are looking for telephone answering services you should look at a dedicated telephone answering service that is specifically set up to do just that.

And we should know!

We currently outsource all our reception calls to a firm called Kendlebell based in Swindon. We’re happy to admit we use a call answering service, as we are great advocates of outsourcing.

We keep telling our clients how beneficial it is, so we have to practice what we preach!

Kendlebell help to take the pressure off us. They know our service, what we offer, who deals with what, and we know our business is in safe hands. Answer phones aren’t really an option when it comes to business. Most callers won’t leave messages, and prefer to speak to a real person.

Who are we to argue?!