Treat Others as You Want to be Treated

Posted on May 22, 2009 by lesaw
Filed Under Client Issues | Leave a Comment

: Image via Wikipedia

Isn’t it amazing how often many variations of the Golden Rule pop up, especially in the world of working? In fact, it may turn up more when you are working than at any other time in your life. Taking that one step further, it is particularly important that Virtual Professionals are familiar with the Golden Rule and what it means.

Everyone has a bad day. It’s simply unavoidable even if you are completely happy with your chosen Virtual Profession. Every day is just not going to be a perfect one no matter how much you would love for that to happen. So when you happen to have an off day, do your best to understand what’s going on so that you can keep control of your personality. Do everything you can to treat all of your clients just as you would like to be treated, even if you are getting some difficult ones.

When you have an unhappy client who seems to be doing nothing but trying to make things worse, do what you can to take a step back and calm down. Imagine yourself in the shoes of your disgruntled client and look at things objectively. Does your client have a valid complaint? If so, you need to provide reassurance that you will sort out whatever the issue is. On the other hand, if you really cannot see what the problem is, you may want to consider that your client is also having an off day.

There will always be motivating factors. A big one is when you get paid. There’s really nothing like seeing money turn up for work you have done to get you feeling energized and ready to do some more work. So when you are having a day where you aren’t feeling quite so tolerant, don’t go after someone for a late payment. It’s just not the day to do so. There could be many reasons why the payment is late. If you are in a bad mood, chances are you will come off hateful and rude. Therefore, wait another day to sort things out.

Whatever you do, when you have one of those days where nothing goes right, do not take it out on others, especially your clients. Remember to think closely about how YOU would like to be treated and proceed accordingly. The next “good day,” you will be quite thankful that you put the Golden Rule into effect.

To your business success!

God bless,
Patty Benton
Co-Owner of JERPAT, BA, Certified Life Coach | Founding Virtual Assistant & Coach, Business Manager
Connect with me on Facebook - http://profile.to/pattybenton/
Follow me on Twitter @ http://www.twitter.com/jerpatvas
Learn more about our Virtual Assistance Services and Coaching &
Training Services - http://www.ProfessionalAdminTeam.com

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The Check’s in the Mail

Posted on May 20, 2009 by lesaw
Filed Under Accounting, Client Issues | Leave a Comment

: Image by Smithsonian Institution via Flickr

Something that is very important when you become a Virtual Professional is to work out payment agreements ahead of time. Of course, it depends on what sort of business you are running as to what this will be. Products will normally be paid for ahead of time with possible guarantees attached for refunds if those products don’t work out. However, what if you are someone who offers a service? How do you go about being compensated for your work?

There are many ways to do this but some are most likely more workable than others. First of all, make an agreement up front regarding when payment will be made. If there is a significant amount of money involved, you probably want to consider drawing up a simple contract. Both you and your client or customer will sign it to show that the amount to be paid and the date it will be paid are agreed upon by both parties.

Doing things that way eliminates a lot of headaches later if payment is not made on time, or is less than the amount agreed upon. While you may not wish to actually have to involve attorneys in order to collect your money, should you decide to go that route, the signed contract will give you a legal leg to stand on. It usually ends up costing you more money than you will collect because in these situations, only the attorneys really win.

When a client or customer is late paying you for a service you have performed, you can begin by politely contacting this person and reminding them that your fee is due. Sometimes this is all that is needed because people get busy and things slip their minds. In most instances, your fee will be paid promptly with an apology for it being late.

If you run into a situation where you have reminded the client or customer and they have not responded, you may want to contact them again and be a bit more forceful. You can do this by email or a phone call, or however you send your invoices. Most of the time these people will eventually pay you and some may even apologize for being late.

Now, suppose you are in a situation where you can not contact the person who owes you money, and they are not responding to emails or messages left. You may want to send them a letter by registered mail. They have to sign for it and you will be informed when this letter has been delivered. What you do beyond this will most likely depend on how much money is owed to you. If the amount is not a significant one, you may just want to write it off and cross this client or customer off of your list of people to do business with.

One more step you can take is making the portion of the public who may have the chance to be taken in by this client aware that they do not pay for services rendered. This is actually a public service as you are saving others from the unpleasant experience you have encountered.

To your business success!

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Contracts and the Virtual Professional

Posted on May 18, 2009 by lesaw
Filed Under Business, Client Issues | Leave a Comment

: Image by ? Mallmus via Flickr

Something that you, as a Virtual Professional, may need to decide about is whether or not you should make use of contracts. Of course, it is totally dependent on what sort of business you are running. Products and physical items are generally paid for in advance and carry a guarantee if it needs to be returned. This may be considered a type of contract because you, as the seller, are offering a promise that this product is a good one. Most people involved in selling products, however, don’t actually need a contract.

It’s a little different if you are working as a Virtual Professional who is offering a service for pay. These include such things as web design, graphics, article writing, and many other such professions that you are paid for by the job. In these instances, you may need to draw up a simple contract to protect yourself. Actually, a contract is meant to protect both parties by stating what services you agree to perform and if there is a specific deadline for those services to be completed. Your contract will also state what your fee is for that service and how soon upon completion that you expect to be paid.

When both parties sign the contract there is no doubt what the arrangements are. Therefore, if one party reneges on their part of the agreement, there are legal steps that can then be taken to resolve the situation. While no one likes to think that people cannot be trusted to keep their word, the truth is that it happens more often than anyone realizes. In addition, with the economy being as it is currently, there will be more and more situations where clients will try to get out of paying you for a service rendered.

There are many situations that a contract can be of help to you but only you can decide if the Virtual Profession you are in requires one. If you do feel that a contract would be a handy thing for you to have, you can actually do one yourself. There are many websites on the Internet that will walk you through the process. If you are more comfortable having a professional draw one up for you, you still don’t have to pay an exorbitant amount of money to an attorney. You will find plenty of paralegal websites that will do contracts for a lot less money. The choice is yours.

To your business success!

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Making the Best of a Bad Situation

Posted on May 15, 2009 by lesaw
Filed Under Branding, Marketing - Offline, Marketing - Online | Leave a Comment

: Image by Colin Purrington via Flickr

In these days of terrible economic outlooks, it’s easy to get caught up in the gloom and doom of certain failure. All you see on the news is about another bank that has collapsed or how the stock market is seriously floundering. There is only one thing to do in order to survive this crisis. TURN OFF THE TELEVISION!

There is nothing worse for motivation than immersing yourself in terrible news. You eventually start to believe that there is no hope for you and you may as well pack it in. This is exactly why you should either search for something positive on television or use your time to be creative and develop your own Virtual Profession.

This is not to say that it isn’t a very hard time for many people, because it is. However, if you are reading this, chances are you’re in a position to make the most of an idea or an opportunity that comes your way. If you are a victim of one of the many onslaughts of layoffs and firings, you have actually been given a gift of sorts. Yes, you did read that right.

You now have the time to explore some things that you have probably just had sitting on the back burner for a very long time because you were so tied up with work that there was never the chance to do anything with it. Now is the time to take that first step and become a Virtual Professional. Go apply for whatever government related aid you need to get your by and then get to work turning your dream into a reality.

Figure out just what you want to do and then start talking to some people who can help guide you through the process. Set up an office space right in your home at first. That will save on any extra rent. If you need to move later, you can. Take an inventory of the office equipment you already have and what you will or will not need. Print up some business cards and flyers, or advertise on the Internet. You want to get the word out to the public that you are in business. Networking is an excellent way to do this so use your friends and acquaintances as a megaphone.

You may be thinking how simplistic this is made to sound. Truly, it is simple or it CAN be. It takes an idea or desire, along with a lot of motivation and drive. Put that all together and you will have the Virtual Profession of your dreams before you know it. You will be so happy you turned off that television!

To your business success!

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Starting a Virtual Profession in Sales

Posted on May 13, 2009 by lesaw
Filed Under Business | Leave a Comment

: Image by Ben Lawson via Flickr

If you really enjoy selling things to people you will find that sales are one of the fastest Virtual Professions you can become involved in. Someone who loves sales can be working within a just a few hours selling a product. It truly is just that easy.

There are so many products and services that are on the market and they need people to introduce and push them to the public. This is done in many ways but something that is typically needed for a successful sales career is a good website. You can reach so many more people and potential clients or customers through the use of the Internet. The website you design, or have made FOR you, should contain all the information needed to convince someone that YOUR product or service is the one they MUST have.

Once a prospective customer has finally contacted you regarding what you are selling, it will be up to you to use your winning and charming personality to convince this person that they came to the right place. If you happen to have a natural sales personality, this will be a piece of cake for you. In no time at all you will have added this person to your customer or client base.

If you are selling a product or item of some sort, once your business expands a bit you may need to evaluate your working space. You may start to need more room to store the products or items you are selling. This could mean a move to an office space outside of your home. But don’t be so hasty to make that move until you are positive you have exhausted all reasonably available space at your house as an outside rental is going to cost money, which will eat into your profits.

The real motivating factor for taking a sales job is that you LOVE selling something to people and that you believe in your product or service. If you feel excitement bubbling up inside when you think about starting a Virtual Profession in sales, then you most likely have found the perfect business for you. Don’t waste another second. Find the business opportunity that fits with you the best and open up shop, virtually speaking, of course. In no time at all you could be running the Virtual Profession of your dreams.