Showing Some Appreciation

integrityvirtual — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:51:02 +0000

Everyone loves to be appreciated. So are you showing appreciation to your clients and customers? Normally, when a product or service is purchased, a “Thank You” at the time of purchase is typical, but anything more than that like a “Thank You” card is extremely rare. When a “Thank You” card from a business is received, the excitement and surprise causes someone to be more eager to return and do business with that company again. Then, that excitement leads that person to tell everyone that they know that this company believes in appreciating their customers. Most doctor and dentist offices send a “reminder” card in the mail, but when was the last time that you received a “Thank You” card from your doctor or dentist? It’s probably been a while.

Statistics show that it’s cheaper to retain a client than to obtain a new one. So my question for business owners is, why are you NOT showing your clients some appreciation? It’s almost like some marriages, you wine and dine while dating, but when the honeymoon’s over, it’s like you don’t care as much anymore. Sending a personalized thank you card to anyone, if anything, should make you feel good because you’ve done something special and unexpected for someone else. A verbal thank you or an e-mail to clients is a necessity as well, but there is nothing remotely close to the meaning of a tangible card. Once you begin sending personalized thank you cards, go on to send an even more “unexpected” card, for example, a “Thank You for Being My Partner” for Valentine’s Day or a “Just Because” or “Just Checking In” card at any given time. This will let clients and customers know that you really appreciate their business, and don’t feel entitled. These customers and clients will also be more willing to refer other business owners and colleagues to you because you have done something that was special and almost unheard of today.

So you don’t think you have time to send a card? It’s vital that you make time. Consider partnering with a Virtual Assistant to help with sending cards. This is important to any successful business. If your business is already successful, showing appreciation can take it to the next level. The web-based tool that I use has over 12,000 cards. The card that is selected can be personalized with my very own handwriting, personal message and a picture or even my business card. All of this can be done from the computer, and the web-based company prints, stamps and mails the card. A gift can be included as well, for example, a gift card, brownies or cookies, just to name a few. It’s an awesome, user-friendly and efficient tool essential to every business. It will probably take, at the most, 3 minutes to send a card.

Some other ways to show appreciation is to send a “Thank You for Doing Business” card to new clients, and send a card to them either monthly or every other month. Remember, the honeymoon is not over. Also, send a card to prospective clients to thank them for taking the time to talk with you. For one of my clients, a card is sent when someone places an order on her web site with a picture of the product that the customer ordered. Her online sales have increased 250% in the last two months because of return customers and referrals. Not only is this because of the unique, quality product that she offers, but because we are following up and letting the customer know that their business is appreciated.

E-mails, phone calls and newsletters are other ways that to keep in touch with clients and customers on a more regular basis. You may never get the “Wow” response from a phone call that you can get when you send a tangible card. It’s especially awesome when the client or customer says that they were having a bad day, and then they received the card in the mail that absolutely made their day. Now, that’s customer service! It makes you as the business owner feel great to know that you made a difference during a difficult time. So, remember to show some appreciation. “Recognition and appreciation BEATS promotion every time” by Kody Bateman!

Time Really Is Money

integrityvirtual — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 20:55:07 +0000

As a new or seasoned business owner, you understand the “headache” of the many administrative tasks that come with owning a business because completing those tasks may not be your expertise. They may be like eating an elephant! Granted, that an elephant can be eaten one bite at a time, but administrative tasks must be done timely in a business or your business life may be relatively short. Similar to you starting your business because it is a service or product that you are passionate about, I started my Virtual Assistant business, Integrity Virtual Solutions, because assisting other busy professionals is my passion. It has been a passion for as long as I can remember. Even as a 9-year old little girl, I volunteered to help my teachers and pastors with their “paperwork”. My handwriting, even at that age, was unbelievably, legible and impeccable. As I got older and went to high school, I continued to volunteer to help the principal in the office. When I joined the United States Army as a Military Police, I somehow still managed to get selected to help the General in the office. Then, I went on to become an Executive Assistant for 9 years at a Fortune 500 company where I loved my job, and my family and friends could never understand how someone could love their job that much!So you may ask, what exactly is a Virtual Assistant? A Virtual Assistant is an Administrative or Executive Assistant that works from his/her own office, and typically has a wider range of skills than an in-house Assistant. As a business owner, some of the benefits of using a Virtual Assistant versus an in-house Assistant are:

You pay only for the services that you receive

You do not pay for health benefits, employee-related taxes, office space, and office equipment

You can use a Virtual Assistant for a long period of time or a short period of time, for example, if your in-house Assistant is on vacation, holidays or leave of absence.

You will save time and money with a Virtual Assistant

You will not need to retrain, for example, if you are thinking of using a temporary agency

You will receive high-quality service because Virtual Assistants have a vested interest for providing first-class service to protect their business and its’ reputation

As a business owner, some of the benefits of using a Virtual Assistant versus doing it all on your own are:

Being stress-free, which leads to better health – physically, mentally and emotionally

Having more time to spend IN your business to acquire more clients and customers or to provide better service to your current clientele

Having more time to spend with your family and friends

Keeping the passion of having your own business without being frustrated by doing the things that you despise

Letting things “slip through the cracks” – follow-up, missing meetings and deadlines, keeping your business on top with the latest techniques, tools and technologies.

The Virtual Assistant Industry is growing rapidly, and this is hugely due to the camaraderie of the industry. Since each Virtual Assistant strives to stick with their niche and target market, there is little to no competition. For the most part, we all want to do what we LOVE to do, as well as work with those clients with whom we can complement!! Each Virtual Assistant has a unique selling proposition. I have not met two VA’s that offer the same exact service with the same personality – we’re all unique in one way or another. We brainstorm together, have weekly seminars, always share the newest technologies and techniques and are willing to help each other when needed. Even if I have a client that is requesting a service that I do not offer, to make sure that the absolute best service is provided to that client, I will subcontract that work to another VA that specializes in the skill being requested. Our ultimate concern is delivering the best to our clients because if we do not, in the end, it hurts the industry as a whole. With no discredit to secretaries, VA’s should not be confused with a secretary. The VA industry skill set ranges from secretarial skills, like data entry, to web site setup, design and management to a full online/virtual business manager. For the busy professional that understands how a Virtual Assistant work and can help their bottom line, getting the full package of an online business manager is an easy decision. They understand that time is money, and the more time that they have to interact with their current and prospective clients and customers, the more money they have the potential to make. So if you are trying to juggle everything in your business, stop driving yourself crazy and contact a Virtual Assistant today to discuss ways to partner together to get some time back to work ON your business or to spend with your family.