Bizpro Ltd – Virtual Assistants

The power of testimonials

So, if someone asked you for a testimonial, would you supply it?

Of course you would, if you were happy with their service. So why are business owners still afraid to ask for testimonials? I always look to see what other people have written about a provider before I use them, and I’m more than happy to write them for others when I get a good service.  It says a lot about your business, however make sure your client is happy for your to quote them, and use their details for your marketing purposes.

Anonymous testimonials don’t really mean very much, and sometimes appear less than genuine, however sometimes clients choose to be anonymous, in which case it can’t be helped, however if you have one or two anonymous testimonials amongst several named ones it’s not going to do you any harm!

I make a habit of collecting testimonials, and asking my clients if they are happy with the service they receive. I use feedback forms which I regularly send out to make sure I am informed of the service we are providing, and that our clients are happy.

One of the most powerful ways of gaining testimonials is by video. We still get comments about our testimonial video over a year after producing it. It’s a great way of promoting both you and your clients. It needn’t be expensive to produce either.

Harassing business owners…or, knowing when to stop with the marketing calls!

Yes, this post has been inspired my one of my own experiences. Over the last few months I have been extremely busy putting together the finishing touches for the franchise package, and this has involved contact with several other suppliers to enable me to accurately cost the model. Out of the many businesses I’ve spoken to, one in particular is standing out like a sore thumb, and for all the wrong reasons…

Are you up to date with your filing? Do you have an organised file structure within your business for both paper and electronic files? Can you locate your records quickly and easily?

It’s amazing how much time is wasted due to insufficient filing systems. If you’re not very organised when it comes to filing, putting a system in place for your documents and records can seem like a daunting process. It needn’t be. One of the biggest problems facing businesses is the misconception that they need to keep every document, and every email.

When it comes to managing your records, and putting an efficient filing system in place, there are several things you need to consider…

On the move…

Bizpro is pleased to announce our recent move into lovely new offices in Highworth, Wiltshire. After working from my spare room for the last few years it became even more apparent recently that as business was increasing we needed more space, and more help.

So, on 1st June we moved.

I really never realised quite how much stuff we had. Considering we are an almost paperless environment as the majority of our work is completed online, there were seemingly tons! What with the desks, book cases, files and folders we could have easily filled a small van, instead in the mad disbelief there ‘wasn’t that much’ we did it ourselves over several trips. Never again!

Still, it’s all in now, and starting to resemble an office. We have two new starters to help out, Louise & Emma, so a big welcome to them both, and no doubt you may end up seeing a few blog posts from them too!

The office move and new staff came just at the right time, given how busy we are, but it’s also a great test for us to make sure all our processes and procedures are accurately recorded and translate well enough for a new starter to grasp.

There are many benefits to working from home, but equally, there are many benefits to be had working from an office. I now get to close the door at night and go home, I now get my spare room back, too. All in all, it’s a great move for us, we’ve settled in very well, we’ve joined the local business group to help get established in the area, and Highworth has everything we could ask for right in our reach. Exciting times ahead! 

Bad debts. Is it a taboo subject?

I guess sooner or later it must happen to every business. The trick is how you deal with it.

This year Bizpro has had more than it’s fair share of non payers. No less than 3 clients have ‘done the dirty’ on us this year so far, and whilst that doesn’t sound like much, to a small business it can be crippling. We’re lucky in that we have a ’safety net’ to see us through the lean times, but even so, the point is it’s just not cricket!

If a client is having difficulty in meeting payment and they keep you informed, that’s one thing, and most suppliers, me included, tend to look more favourably on.

However, It’s quite another when they go completely quiet on you and ignore your calls in the hope you will go away. Truth is, it’s not going to go away. Ignoring your situation will only make things worse. I’m a lot more strict than I used to be. This is out of necessity. My payment terms have always been fairly generous for a small business at 30 days, although this will shortly be changing to 7 days. After this period is up, if I’ve not received payment they get just one reminder to pay within seven days – after that it’s straight to the filing a claim online. After all, I’ve provided the service, the client has had the benefit, the least they can do is pay for it on time. 

My advice to anyone struggling to get payment out of a client is not to put up with it! Don’t be afraid to talk money. Make your payment terms clear at the very start of any contract or relationship. Establish your boundaries, and stick to them. Remember, you’re worth it, and so is your business!