For many, you will find that virtual assistance falls into this category. Working with a virtual assistant is more about making an investment instead of gaining another expense.

Where to begin

You need to begin by examining where your weaknesses are. What is not getting done? Or worse, what is taking time away from allowing you to concentrate on revenue generating work? This could be as simple as email management or as complex as organizing a 5 person virtual event.

First steps first, you must list all the items that you complete daily or weekly that do not require your immediate attention. After making your list determine which will allow you to generate more revenue and this is your immediate needs list.

Build a relationship

Next you need to develop a strong working relationship with a partner. You will want to know their business goals and ethics. What is important and does that match your core business values.

Choosing just any partnership will not do, especially if it is a mismatched team. A business partnership is like a long-term relationship. You first go through a courtship, you move onto steady dating then an engagement and finally you know each other so well that you are willing to commit to marriage.

Move Forward

Now you need to know… Can the partner be trusted to complete the project on time? Do they have the expertise to work your needs? How does their skillset and offerings compare to mine?

Partnering with a business manager or virtual assistant is a great way to move your business forward. It saves you time by allowing you to concentrate on what you do best. It will allow you to work smarter and work different to achieve your next level of success.

We help many business owners get a plan of action together and systemize processes so that they are working on revenue generating products to build their business. What is one area that you could give up control of?

The post What is a Joint Partnership? appeared first on My Office Assistant.

Roles Available 

The traditional roles available with WordPress itself range from super admin and admin to contributors, authors and basic subscribers. WordPress roles will stop contributors and authors from accessing important details and information about the actual setup of the website. Admins and super admins have more control over users, comments and even the structure and layout of the site that is being worked on. Organizing WordPress users on any type of website is a way to ensure there is more control over the content being published, subscribed to and commented on.

Who Can Use WordPress Roles? 

WordPress role options are ideal for any type of WordPress website whether you have a personal blog or if you are representing a corporate business. WordPress roles help to distinguish authors and contributors from those who are simply interested in reading the content you publish. Additionally, it is also easy to control the settings and permissions for all users with just a few clicks from the WordPress administration panel.

A major benefit of using WordPress roles is the increased security by preventing basic users from accessing important information or having access to other users and their own permissions. Roles allow you to build an entire community of writers and contributors without worrying about the security of your site.

More Information on WordPress Roles

For more details about the WordPress roles and capabilities, the official WordPress Codex includes a complete guide. There are also plugins such as the WordPress Role Scoper that can offer additional features while overriding traditional WordPress user and role settings you have set in place.

Using roles within WordPress can help to ease your mind of who is an author versus the admin while still allowing those who are interested in contributing to do so without hassle.

Not sure howto assign roles to users, we offer website reviews for both functionality and visual interest. Contact My Office Assistant today for a website review.

The post WordPress Roles – Giving Access to the Right People appeared first on My Office Assistant.

Flickr photo via vegancraftastic

Technology is evolving rapidly. So is the Internet. Web design has to adapt to new standards. Most successful websites are the ones that are constantly reinventing themselves by adopting the best practices in the industry.

If you are a business owner, having a website is perhaps the single most powerful marketing strategy that you could take advantage of. If you already own one, it is time to ascertain if it is serving its purpose. If your website is more than 2 years old, chances are that it has been built using old technology. Yes, that is how fast-paced the World Wide Web is. With new browsers, smartphones, tablets and enhanced scripting languages to deal with, a website has to be resurrected often in order to help a business achieve its true potential.

Below is a checklist that can help you decide if your website is outdated and in urgent need of an overhaul.

Using Old Technology
Your website might look elegant and professional. But, it might not look the same across different browsers and screen resolutions. How does your website look on an iPhone or a Samsung Tablet? Potential customers are constantly using the Internet to make decisions about products and services. If your website is not browser-compatible or mobile ready, you risk losing valuable business to competitors. Adopting the newest standards is the key to being a user-friendly website, one that encourages customers to learn more about you. A haphazard layout, excessive clip art use, too many effects or a slow website might repel visitors.

Can You Find Information Quickly?
A website needs to be updated periodically. Old and irrelevant content is not flattering. Moreover, information should be easily accessible. Visitors should be enticed with crucial information that is embedded in a seamless layout with effortless navigation. Having too much or too little content can create a negative impression. Strategically placing useful content, in an aesthetically arranged design, will help draw the attention of customers to the right place in your website.

Is It Time For A Branding Change?
Most businesses, both large and small are tapping into the power of social networking. By integrating your website into popular social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook, you can create a strong online presence. Customers look for credibility and reputation. Traditional advertising and print campaigns involve considerable costs and effort. Being able to update promotions and discounts online can be a very economical marketing approach.

If you fear that your website is vanishing into obscurity, now is the time to give it a makeover.

A website relaunch can certainly help your business realize its true potential. When it comes to the Internet, staying current is everything.

Not sure how your website looks to other, we offer website reviews for both functionality and visual interest. Contact My Office Assistant today for a website review.

The post Is Your Website Stuck In The 80’s? appeared first on My Office Assistant.

The first thing to realize is that there is nothing wrong with asking for help. This advisor will have experience with managing a business and will understand and respect how important your business is to you. Their knowledge can help you to learn how to deal with situations that may seem out of your control. In fact, they will be happy to share what they learned in how to grow a successful business.

So, what is the best way to use a mentor in your business? One of the best things you can do is choose two or three challenges that your business is facing. Once you do this, you can then prioritize them on which ones are impacting your success the most. This will give you and your mentor a place to start.

One of the biggest questions you may have is how to find a mentor for your business. The best place to start is to look at the various government programs available in your area. You may also want to consider independent organizations that offer this service, as well as asking personal contacts if they know of anyone that could mentor you.

After you and your mentor have agreed upon the relationship, you can then figure out the best way for you both to communicate. With many, communication through email is ideal, however, you may find it beneficial to meet once a week if you feel that there are a lot of complications you need assistance with.

A mentor is more than just someone to get answers from. An advisor of this type can be the person that will support your business processes and help your business to get to the next level. A good mentor can inspire you beyond what you ever imagined and will be there to help you with anything that comes your way.

The post Could Your Business Use a Mentor? appeared first on My Office Assistant.

Offer Referral Bonuses
One of the best ways that you can get new clients is to reward your existing clients for making referrals. If you let your customers know that there is a referral bonus in place for them if they will bring you a customer, you’d be surprised how quickly word of mouth will travel.

Use Promotions for New Customers
If you want to bring new customers in the door, you may have to offer them something special to get them there. New customers want some kind of incentive to come to your place of business. You may have to send out coupons or advertise a great sale to get people to come in.

Start Affiliate Program
Another strategy that you may want to use is starting an affiliate program. When you start an affiliate program, you’ll be able to have others promote your products and services. You don’t have to pay the affiliates until they deliver you a sale. This means that you’ll be able to save money on advertising and still bring new customers into your business.

Partner with Others
In some cases, you may be able to partner with other businesses to expand your own customer base. For example, if you can find a business that offers a related product or service, you can market to their customer base. Offer to give the business a fee for each customer that they provide you. You may also be able to simply trade customer lists without exchanging any money.

Position Yourself as an Authority
If you want to attract new clients, you need to spend some time positioning yourself as an authority in the industry. If you do not give your clients a reason to come to you, they probably are not going to be beating your door down to get there. You need to make them feel like they will get a high level of expertise if they buy your products or services. This can be done by writing articles about your niche or providing free information in some way.

The post Easy Tips to Attract More Clients appeared first on My Office Assistant.