This month...

• Small Business Resolutions for the New Financial Year
• Virtual Assistants in a Global World
• Thought for the Day

This month we have guest writer Sharon Housley share on ideas for the new financial year for your business.

Small Business Resolutions:

1. Have a Plan
Small businesses often rely on just a handful of individuals and few small businesses have contingency plans if key individuals are unavailable for any length of time. Cross train employees and document procedures so that your business will survive regardless of the circumstances.

2. Prepare a Budget for 2007/2008 and Stick to It.
Determine where and how you intend to spend your business' hard earned cash in the coming year. Too many small businesses fail to follow a business plan. Build a budget and stick to it.

3. Define Yourself
As a small business it is important to know your strengths and weaknesses. Identify your strengths and reinforce those strengths in your communication with your customers or potential customers. Be aware of any weaknesses or deficiencies in your small business, and do not over commit. Use this knowledge to stay competitive with other businesses.

4. Use Metrics
It is difficult to know what works and what does not if you are not tracking metrics. Measure the results of advertising campaigns, track website visitors and use metrics to determine what works for your business.

5. Communicate
Communicate with your customers more. Few small businesses understand the value of communication, or realize what they can learn from past, current and potential customers. Communicate and you might learn important information about your business. The unique perspective an outsider can provide about how they are using or product, or what interested them about your business is invaluable.

Resolutions are easier made than kept. In 2007/2008, consider paring down your list and focusing on resolutions that are attainable and will help your bottom line.

About the Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds and podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing for NotePage http://www.notepage.net a wireless text messaging software company.

Virtual Assistants in a Global World

If you haven't visited our site for a while you might not be aware that we have VAs in 14 countries. So, apart from Australia, New Zealand, USA and the UK, we also have VAs in Argentina, China, Dubai, France, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Portugal, South Africa and Spain.

What does this mean to you? Well, a number of things:

If you plan to visit any of these countries being able to contact someone who already knows the geographic placement of cities and towns, and the best way to get around can be of tremendous value for you. You can contact them by email, Skype or phone and get them to help you make contact with the people you intend visiting and organise your itinerary and even your accommodation and domestic travel inside that country.

If you need translation services relating to any of these countries, we have native speakers who read and write in that language and they can assist you.

If you are planning to set up business in that country then having someone there who can be your virtual office will assist in business operations considerably.

And if you need to get something done urgently overnight whilst you are sleeping, then contacting a VA in another country is the ideal way to go - they can be working whilst you are sleeping and the work will be ready waiting for you when you arrive at your computer in the morning.

Not to mention other benefits which include differences in currency, cost of living or even just an understanding of a different culture if you're doing business with people from that culture.

If you would like to make contact with any of these Virtual Assistants you can either contact them direct via our website or contact my office and I will forward your details on your behalf. In the past we've been able to assist Australian businesses set up offices in New Zealand and South Africa, and get assistance in the UK. We've also assisted UK and USA businesses with support in Australia. We even provided support for a company in Kzakstan with a conference in Melbourne. I'd like to see a lot more of this happening and thought I'd highlight some of the possibilities for you and your business associates.

Have a great month everyone!

Kathie M. Thomas

Thought for the day:

"People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in themselves they have the first secret of success."
-- Norman Vincent Peale

About Our Organisation…

What is a Virtual Assistant?
It's a term for home-based secretaries, administrative and secretarial support, and others who supply remote or virtual support.

We are as close to you as your computer and can do almost anything traditional support staff do - except virtually. You don't need to provide office space, equipment, software or furniture - we have our own!

Location no issue as the work is carried out 'virtually' no matter where you are!  However, if you need someone locally we can supply. See our list at VA Directory