Gayle 's Blog on Virtual Assistants and Team Double-Click®

What Everyone Should Know About Networking

Gayle Buske (Team Double-Click and VirtualAssistingUSA) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 13:16:27 -0700

Networking has become something of a lost art these days. With the rise of social networking sites and increased travel costs, more and more businesses are eliminating live networking events from their budgets in favor of utilizing sites like Twitter and Facebook.

While these sites do offer some fabulous networking opportunities, it’s also easy to log in and lose track of your ultimate goal. It’s also very easy to get so caught up setting up the new account in anticipation of the thousands of promised leads, that we forget to take the time to learn how to utilize these tools in order to achieve the desired results.

Networking, whether live or virtual, has a few basic rules that must be adhered to in order to be effective.

Be interested

Care about the people you are networking with. Ask questions, find out more about them and honestly look for opportunities to assist them regardless of whether or not it benefits you.

Be interesting

Don’t just sell, sell, sell! No one wants to be around someone who does nothing but toots their own horn! A well rounded, friendly, intelligent person with a smile on their face is simply an appealing person to be around. Don’t be afraid to discuss subjects outside your immediate professional objective. Let others enjoy being around you. Share your wisdom, wit and personality and soon you’ll be the person everyone is looking for. This holds true whether the event is physical or at a social networking site.

Be responsive

No one wants to work with a person who drops the ball on a project or doesn’t communicate well with others. When someone sends you an email or leaves you a voicemail then you should return it as promptly as possible. By the same token you should be looking at your @ reply messages and direct messages on Twitter and checking your comments and inbox on Facebook. You never know when a great opportunity will present itself and if you don’t respond to it then someone else will. Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and have a conversation with someone you’ve met online! In my mind there’s still no better way to discover a mutually beneficial relationship then to just say a friendly hello from time to time!

What are some networking lessons that you’ve learned over the years? I’m always looking for great opportunities to network with others and create mutually beneficial relationships. If you’re interested in the same then drop me an @ reply on Twitter by tweeting to @GayleBuske or leave a comment on our Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/teamdoubleclick

Let’s set up a time to talk and get to know each other!

Are You Broadcasting When You Should Be Tuning In?

Gayle Buske (Team Double-Click and VirtualAssistingUSA) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:38:18 -0700

Recently I’ve been writing a lot about missed opportunities. I write as much to myself as to anyone else. It helps me think. It offers me a few minutes to sit down and give some honest thought to the opportunities around me and determine whether or not I’m taking advantage of them appropriately. In this uncertain economy it’s important to take advantage of every opportunity that comes our way.

I share my thoughts and I sincerely hope they benefit my audience, share some insights into our company and offer you an opportunity to think about your own business.

This morning I read this quote, “Opportunity is often missed because we are broadcasting when we should be tuning in”. I can’t find an author associated with it so unfortunately I can’t offer credit to the very intelligent person who said it.

It makes me think. How often this week have I been broadcasting when I should have been tuning in? How often have I eagerly shared my expertise without really listening to the person in front of me? Have I missed out on a new client? A new business partner? A new connection? Maybe I’ve simply missed hearing a great idea.

As we aggressively become more and more involved in social media it’s easy for me to get so excited about the new programs and services we’re offering that I forget to ask what our potential partners are looking for. I forget to ask what they want before I start telling them what we offer.

As we end one week and get ready for the next my intentions are to eliminate yet one more missed opportunity for my business. My goal should be to reach out to those around me, get to know them and tune in to their needs. Relationships first – business second. That’s the foundation of what we at Team Double-Click® have always believed. Today I’m grasping this opportunity to take a step back and remember why we got started doing what we’re doing to begin with and get back to doing the things that made us successful in the first place.

With that in mind, I’d like to reach out to those of you who would like to introduce yourselves and help me get to know you a little better.

My name is Gayle Buske and I’m a change agent, an opportunity seeker, a virtual CEO, a wife, a mother and an advocate of relationships before business. Please introduce yourself! I can’t wait to meet you!

Missed Opportunities Are Everywhere!

Gayle Buske (Team Double-Click and VirtualAssistingUSA) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 11:18:23 -0700

Missed opportunities are everywhere! I say this to myself as much as I say it to everyone else. One of my favorite quotes by Thomas Edison states, "When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this. You haven't." That statement always speaks to me. It serves as a reminder that there is always one more thing I can try if only I’m willing to go a little further, step outside the box, be creative or work just a little bit smarter.

It’s all too easy to blame the economy for poor sales or blame someone else for a bad day. The bottom line here is though that, “If it is to be it is up to me” ~ William Johnsen.

I was reading the Sales Lead Management Association Blog yesterday and came across a post that I found very interesting. It was titled, Don’t Blame the Economy: Don’t Be A Victim! http://blog.salesleadmgmtassn.com/ It provided some interesting statistics that immediately caused me to run to our CRM and begin pouring through our lead files.

It stated:

…from 1979 to 2009 several figures remain constants in business annals…

As I read these numbers I had difficulty wrapping my brain around how this could possibly happen. After giving it some thought, however, I would have to guess that many things have contributed to these sad statistics.

Small business owners are constantly busy multitasking and may simply let a perfectly good lead fall by the wayside in their mad dash to “get it all done”. We all know that some leads simply take longer than others to close and as time goes on it’s easy to get sidetracked and miss valuable follow up. Many business owners also aren’t using the right tools to track their leads and simply don’t have the time to follow up with a sales team to ensure it is being done correctly. In this economy we’re seeing many small business owners who are the only sales person their business has.

Unfortunately that same small business owner is usually the sales person, marketing department, operations team and secretarial staff all on their own. When this is the case, it becomes easy to see why everything doesn’t get done. Unfortunately this means missed sales, missed referrals and many missed opportunities to advance a potentially profitable business.

Fortunately for our sales team, I found that our leads are being followed up on! They are taking notes, following up, adding services and I'm pleased to say doing a great job at what they were hired to do. But missed opportunities are everywhere. This week I had a fabulous opportunity to scrutinize a potentially missed opportunity for our business and found that in at least this one instance we aren’t lacking. But I’m going to keep looking! I love finding areas in which we can improve! I thrive on finding opportunities that we’re missing because once I know where we need to improve; we get to work finding ways to make that improvement! Where are the missed opportunities in your business?

Missed Opportunities

Gayle Buske (Team Double-Click and VirtualAssistingUSA) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 06:53:07 -0700

A few weeks ago I wrote a blog post discussing some potential missed opportunities for your business. Very often we as small business owners find ourselves in a crunch to get work done and suddenly we’re the one doing all the work! It’s easier than passing it off to someone else or training someone to do it.

The problem is that when you’re the one answering phones, updating your CRM or researching information for your newsletter then you’re not gaining new business! You’re simply hanging on!

This is only one of many possible missed opportunities though. Very often we get so bogged down with getting new business that we forget about the business we have in front of us.

When was the last time you called one of your clients just to say hello? Have you thanked them for their business? Have you shown an interest in their blog? Have you connected with them on their favorite networking site?

Dale Carnegie once said, “You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.”

Just because someone has agreed to do business with you once doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll continue doing business with you unless you continue taking care of them. That includes having a genuine interest in what they’re doing.

This call also gives you an excellent opportunity to see if they need anything else, ask for a referral or offer them an opportunity to take advantage of a new product or service you may have available.

And never discount the fact that sometimes this can simply be a bonding experience that allows you to cement your current relationship with an existing client.

Missed opportunities are everywhere! Regardless of what the economy looks like, there are still people out there who need to and have the ability to buy. It’s our responsibility to find them, retain them and further our relationship with them in such a way that it evolves into a long term partnership that neither of us would consider severing.

If you’d like some personalized help with eliminating missed opportunities in your business please send me an email at marketing@teamdoubleclick.com and I’ll arrange for one of our experienced Virtual Services Representatives to give you a call. She’ll provide you with a free consultation to discuss your business needs and help identify some areas where you may be missing opportunities. She’ll work with you to help you evaluate the types of things you could be doing to generate more revenue today.

Are you missing opportunities to earn more money and build your business? You’re not alone! Please join me over the next few weeks as I discuss possible missed opportunities and how you can take action to avoid them!

Are You Missing Opportunities?

Gayle Buske (Team Double-Click and VirtualAssistingUSA) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 08:14:57 -0700

Have you been missing out on good opportunities to increase your revenue? Times are tough right now and most small business owners can’t afford to miss out on even one opportunity to make a sale, keep a customer, or form a strategic alliance with someone who might be able to facilitate new opportunities. Unfortunately, however, we see people everyday who are doing just that!

Over the last week I’ve spoken with several of our clients and prospects who’ve mentioned they’re answering phones, doing paperwork or handling follow up calls. Why? Well, the answer is obvious. It has to be done. Although it’s true the work has to be done; are you really the one to do it?

This is just one example of ways that small business owners can miss opportunities and lose business. Over the next few weeks we’ll be discussing other opportunities you may be missing and I’ll show you how to take advantage of a few very simple tools that we use to ensure our client database continues to grow.

The first thing I’d like you to do today is ask yourself this one question. “What brings in business for me?” Is it networking, sales calls, and marketing tasks? Or do you make more money when you’re answering phones and reading emails?

Make a list. On the left side list all the tasks in your business that directly generate revenue. Example: Sales calls Networking Client contact

On the right side list all the tasks that are necessary but that won’t directly increase your revenue. Example: Answering phones Calling vendors Researching information for your newsletter

Once you’ve finished, take a closer look. Are you personally managing the right list? If you find yourself mainly accomplishing tasks on the right then you’re missing opportunities. If you aren’t selling, marketing, networking and increasing your connections then you are effectively working yourself right out of business!

Your challenge today is this. Consider where the potential for income lies in your business. Then take five minutes and make your list. Don’t have time? Well, then close your doors and hang a “For Sale” sign on your office door because if you can’t find five minutes to think about how to generate more revenue you’re in real trouble!

Normally my blog posts are designed with quick answers to our client’s most pressing problems. Today, however, I’d like to leave you with this one assignment. Simply make a list of the things that will generate income for your business. Think about it. Are you doing tasks that you should be delegating to others? Are you bogged down with 'busy' work?

If you’d like some personalized help with your list simply send me an email at marketing@teamdoubleclick.com and I’ll arrange for one of our experienced Virtual Services Representatives to give you a call. She’ll provide you with a free consultation to discuss your business needs and help identify some areas where you may be missing opportunities. She’ll work with you to organize your list and then help you evaluate the types of things you could be doing to generate more revenue today.

Are You Delegating?

Gayle Buske (Team Double-Click and VirtualAssistingUSA) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 06:56:23 -0700

Over the past few weeks I’ve been blogging about how to market your business, get in front of your clients, get free PR, etc. Although I’ve shared quite a few really great ideas about getting more exposure for your business; there are still only so many hours in the day. One person just can’t do it all!

Many great suggestions for getting in front of your prospects include utilizing sites like Twitter and Facebook. Article marketing is a great tool as well. And let’s not discount submitting press releases, doing TV and radio interviews, blogging and much, much more!

The problem is that once you’ve done all of these great things, there just isn’t any time left to actually run your business! You can have the best marketing plan in the world but if you aren’t out there rubbing shoulders with your prospects, thanking your clients and selling to the right people then you can not compete in this market.

So how can you get it all done? You have to delegate! In these tough economic times more and more people are scaling back and doing many things themselves that they would have hired someone to do in the past. They’re using family members or friends to help with some basic tasks and trying to save money.

We’re definitely for that! At Team Double-Click® and VirtualAssistingUSA we’ve done that ourselves. Everyone is scaling back right now and we’re no different! There are some things, however, that we’ve found are best left to the professionals. We save money, time and headaches in the long run when we place the right task in the hands of the right person.

The right virtual assistant is definitely the right person! Many virtual assistants are Jack’s or Jill’s of all trades, some are more specialized, but just a few of the tasks a virtual assistant can do are:

Cold calling
Sales
Accounting
Bookkeeping
Collections
Marketing
Social networking
Travel arrangements
CRM management
Research
Word processing
Appointment setting
PR
Meeting arrangements
Event planning
Letter preparation
Transcription
Manuals
Newsletters
Flyers
Data entry
Email processing
Answering phones
Customer support
Audio Editing
Setting up teleseminars

Your virtual can do follow up calls after post cards or letters have been sent (which by the way, she can also mail those post cards or letters for you). Follow up calls and outbound cold calling are essential in any business to keep touching new potential clients – your virtual can also do the cold calling for you.

Give her a simple script, tell her what you want done with the good leads, and unleash her on your prospect list! If the prospect appears to be a good lead, ask her to garner as much information for you as she can and send the good leads back to you for follow through.

Your virtual assistant can also take your inbound calls for you. Answering your inbound calls for you is as easy as forwarding your existing business line to one of our virtual assistants.

Not sure how to get started with social networking? Ask your virtual assistant! She can set up your profiles on as many sites as you’d like. Talk to her about the types of people you’d like to connect with so she knows who she should accept connections from and who she should decline. She can even research ways to get you in front of the right connections! She can send birthday greetings to your “friends” and “followers”. She can also keep you updated on the terms and conditions of each of your networking sites so you never step outside the lines of what each site permits.

A virtual assistant can free your time to do what you’re good at and what’s important to your company. Whether that’s making sales, following up on leads, attending speaking events, or doing the other meaty tasks your business requires.

Whatever the tasks may be, a good virtual assistant is as invaluable today as a good PDA. Never leave home without one!

Team Double-Click®, the country’s foremost staffing agency for trained Virtual Assistants - Matching Top Virtual Workers with Top Companies! Visit Team Double-Click for a variety of full-service virtual staffing options.

Looking to delegate while saving money? VirtualAssistingUSA is a self serve option that gives small business owners direct access to our database of virtual assistants - without the ongoing agency fees and gives them access to talent that is not available through other venues. Save up to 50% off the cost of hiring a virtual assistant through a staffing agency! Visit VirtualAssistingUSA for more information.

Big Successes For Small Businesses

Gayle Buske (Team Double-Click and VirtualAssistingUSA) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:09:08 -0700

It seems that across all industries now people are “window shopping” but few are buying. We work with small business owners every day (both virtual assistants and niche business owners/managers) who are frustrated with the general lack of interest people are showing in purchasing new products and services.

At Team Double-Click® we too have felt the burn. Although we’re working in an industry designed to save people time and money, we still find ourselves constantly struggling to come up with new and inventive ways to entice people to buy.

I’m pleased to say that we’ve found some success. Now don’t get me wrong; we don’t pretend to have all the answers. We have our ups and downs just like everyone else. We’re constantly looking for new ideas, brainstorming new strategies and diligently tracking our efforts to ensure we don’t become a casualty of this recession.

Today I’d like to share with you a few simple things we’ve learned that have made a big difference in our bottom line.

Social Networking Is Our Friend.
I know it’s scary and seems time consuming but social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter are definitely the place to be. Twitter is one of the fastest growing networking sites on the internet and Facebook has over 225 million active users! In fact, Facebook is the 4th most trafficked website in the world offering opporunities for both networking and SEO. With those kinds of numbers it becomes very hard to ignore the potential results of marketing on these sites. Invest a little time up front in learning the etiquette of each site, site rules and best practices and you’ll find yourself with an affordable marketing avenue with the potential for huge results!

Don’t Give Up On Traditional Methods.
Although there are many new ways to market your business affordably via social media; the old ways are still quite productive. Things like article marketing, issuing press releases and writing free reports are still great ways to establish yourself as a leader in the industry and get your name in front of the right people. Educate your prospects, help solve their problems, give them something of value and you’ll have a friend for life. Make an honest connection and commit to helping those around you and you’ll not only find new clients, you’ll find new partnerships of all different kinds. Zig Ziglar once said, “If you help enough people get what they want, you’ll get what you want.” Provide your prospects with solutions and your problems will be solved as well.

Now Is Not The Time To Be Timid.
It’s depressing to watch your customers cancel and your income decline but now is not the time to crawl in a hole and try to forget. Now is the time to be aggressive in your marketing strategies, try new sales methods, find out what your prospects are looking for and make it happen! Get mad about the state of our economy and commit to changing your own situation! People still have money. People are still buying. They’re simply taking more time and educating themselves about their choices before spending the money. Position yourself as the leader in your field and be the solution they’re looking for. Learn the latest networking strategies, brainstorm with a mentor, join a mastermind group, do whatever it takes to get you and your business to the next level! Your clients will thank you, your prospects will be eager to do business with you and you’ll find yourself with a vast supply of new partnerships, new ideas and a newfound sense of achievement.

What types of things are you doing today that bring you success? I’d love to hear your comments, questions, suggestions and successes!

Free PR - 4 Ways To Get Publicity For Your Small Business

Gayle Buske (Team Double-Click and VirtualAssistingUSA) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 10:48:16 -0700

Are you looking for ways to get more attention for your business? Most small business owners are! Do you ever feel like the “best kept secret” on the internet? You have a great service to offer but very few people know about you.

As a small business owner it’s important to use a well rounded approach to gaining attention for your business. It’s easy to get caught up in all the new social media strategies available to you. They are extremely important and should definitely be integrated into your marketing plan but they are by no means the only way to market yourself or your business.

Don’t forget about some of the more traditional approaches. They may be old but many still do the job when it comes to introducing your products and services to the public. Below are just a few ways you can gain attention, partnerships and sales for your small business.

Article marketing: Articles don’t necessarily have to be long in order to get your point across. Think about your audience. Who are they and what are they looking for? Then provide value to them in the form of a short informative article. Give them information that benefits them and you’ll have a friend for life! And don’t forget to use some of the top article directories to submit your articles. It’s great to have them on your website but getting them in front of others through sites like http://www.isnare.com or http://www.ezinearticles.com allows you to get tons of exposure by allowing others to use your information for content on their websites.

Free Reports: Offering a free report is a great way to build your lists! Use a sign up form on your website, blog or even on your Facebook page (yes, you can do this if you use the FBML App) and you’ll have the opportunity to market to all of these prospects at a later date. Make sure you’re offering something of value. Provide them with information that will help them sell more, earn more or save more and you’ll soon find yourself with an endless supply of potential new business.

Press Releases: When was the last time your business did something newsworthy? It doesn’t have to be groundbreaking but it does need to be something that provides value to the people you are trying to get in front of. Are you offering a new product that will change the way they do business? Do you have a new service that will help them save money? Is your company volunteering in a community project that will benefit your hometown? All of these things are newsworthy! Once you’ve written your press release you can submit it to sites like http://www.businesswire.com, http://www.internet.com or http://www.prnewswire.com. Using distribution sites like this not only save you time but also help you get your news published instantly!

Help a Reporter: http://www.helpareporter.com/. This is one of our favorite tools for free publicity. You’ll receive information from reporters who want to write specific stories. If you have something to say that can add value to their work then you may quickly find yourself with tons of free publicity for no more than a few minutes of your time!

With information so freely available on the internet there are lots of ways to get free or inexpensive publicity for your small business. So get yourself a plan, ask for help when you need it and enjoy helping your business grow!

Getting It All Done Virtually

Gayle Buske (Team Double-Click and VirtualAssistingUSA) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:10:23 -0700

Here at Team Double-Click® it's nothing uncommon for us to have a dozen or more projects in progress at once. We have big goals and that means lots of steps need to be taken in order to achieve them. Just like many of you, we've been forced to tighten our belts and cut back on staff in order to combat the rising cost of living. Although we probably have more tasks to do now than ever before; we have fewer people to do them. Clients are always asking me how we manage to get it all done and keep our sanity. The answer to that is very simple; we have a plan.

There was a time many, many years ago when I would jump into projects head first and try to get it all done myself. It didn't take long, however, before my business, my home and my sanity began to suffer as a result! There are only 24 hours in a day and one person just can't do it all! That's when I sat down and created a plan. It's a plan we still use today. It worked for us then and it still works for us now. Below are a few simple things that we've done and that you can do too in order to cut costs and still get your projects completed on time!

Prioritize

Decide what makes you the most money and what only you can do. If your business will only grow when you're out networking and talking to clients then you absolutely MUST do these things!! Maybe it would be nice to have some extra flyers or a cool PowerPoint presentation on hand but those things can probably wait. Unless you're really efficient and skilled at doing those things you'll probably end up spending tons of time trying to make them look good. In the meantime you aren't out doing the things you know will bring in more money for your business.

Use the right tools

There are a lot of simple, free tools available that you can use to get organized. Below are just a few that I highly recommend

Online Meeting Software - http://www.dimdim.com

Need to schedule more time with potential clients but no time or money for travel? Dimdim is a free web conferencing software that allows you to deliver synchronized live presentations and share voice and video over the internet. Expand your network globally and meet with your clients at no cost to you!

Note Taking Software - http://www.jott.com

Do you have post it notes and note pads all over your desk? Jott is a talk to text application that allows you to call a number, speak your notes or messages and have them automatically sent to the right people via email, text or web updates. This can save a ton of time, help keep you organized and is absolutely free!

Project Management - http://www.project2manage.com

Project2Manage is a free project management solution that allows you to keep projects organized, assign tasks, post messages and manage to-do lists. It's easy to use, free and an absolute must have for any virtual office!

Ask for help

This is the hardest for me to do. I don't like admitting when I can't do something. I don't like admitting I'm not superwoman. The reality is, however, that if I want to accomplish the thousands of tasks I've set out for myself then I need some assistance. To be perfectly honest, there are some things that I shouldn't be doing at all. Some things I'm just not good at and if I insist on doing them myself then they won't get done well and in many cases they won't get done at all. And while I'm wasting tons of time trying to do them; my business isn't growing.

Hiring a good virtual assistant is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to get the help you need and still come in under budget. A virtual assistant will allow you to hire an expert in marketing, sales or general assistance and keep you on track with your deadlines.

If your multi-tasking has gotten out of control then it's time to take action. Prioritize, get the right tools in place and hire a virtual assistant to save you money and get things done.

If you'd like more information on how a virtual assistant can help save your business money, give us a call at 888-827-9129. One of our experienced Virtual Services Representatives can provide you with a free consultation today!

About the author:
Gayle Buske is the co-founder, president and CEO of Team Double-Click®, the country's foremost virtual staffing agency and VirtualAssistingUSA. As the head of a virtual staffing agency with over 57,000 virtual professionals in its pool, Ms. Buske is uniquely qualified to aid clients' growth through virtual outsourcing as well as speak to the ins and outs of the industry. Gayle enjoys spending her free time with her husband, business and life partner, Jim, their daughter Madison, practicing Yoga, reading, hiking, flower gardening, and playing with the family's three dogs and three cats.

VirtualAssistingUSA provides virtual assistants a place to upload their profile and advertise their services to small and home based businesses. Virtual Assistants at VirtualAssistingUSA are given access to affordable training, marketing and billing assistance for their business. Visit VirtualAssistingUSA's website at http://www.virtualassistingusa.com to get help with your virtual assistant business.

From Gayle's Desk

Gayle Buske (Team Double-Click and VirtualAssistingUSA) — Thu, 14 May 2009 09:26:54 -0700

If you're like most small businesses in today's economy you're probably looking for new and innovative ways to cut costs while still maintaining your day to day business activities. This is a common problem that we hear every day from small business owners and entrepreneurs in a wide variety of industries.

Many small businesses, self-employed individuals, and even large corporations are turning to a virtual office assistant to stay on top of administrative tasks while eliminating the need to fund a full-time staff. As USA Today wrote, "The savings come from being able to concentrate efforts on building the business instead of balancing the checkbook and typing envelopes."

Your time and money are worth more when you are able to concentrate on what you do best and leave the rest to an assistant.

What exactly is a virtual office assistant?
"Virtual Assistants (VAs) are independent entrepreneurs providing professional administrative, creative, managerial, technical, business office and/or personal support services. Virtual assistants use the most advanced means of communication, and the newest and most efficient and time-saving office products and work delivery, regardless of geographic boundaries. Virtual Assistants work from their own offices, on a contractual basis, and abide by an established Code of Ethics requiring integrity, honesty and due diligence."

~The Alliance for Virtual Business

What tasks can a virtual office assistant do for me?
Here are just a few tasks that a Virtual Office Assistant can handle for their clients:

§ Appointment Setting
§ Cold calling
§ Answering Phones
§ Database management
§ Newsletter preparation
§ Lead qualification
§ Internet marketing
§ Social networking activities

How much money can I save by hiring a virtual office assistant vs. an employee?
Although exact dollar amounts will vary, you can expect to see a huge savings in the following areas:

§ Avoid buying an additional computer for your assistant.
§ Avoid buying a desk for an assistant.
§ Avoid paying FICA (Social Security Tax) - legally!
§ Avoid paying unemployment tax - legally!
§ Avoid paying for holiday, vacation, and sick time.
§ Have happier workers who are more efficient at their jobs.
§ Pay ONLY for the time used/work produced - not several hours a week more due to a "9 to 5" workweek.
§ Finance your payroll with your credit card or PayPal account.
§ Get highly-skilled workers from around the country for a fraction of the cost of hiring locally.
§ Stay on budget with your staffing needs-you can set a cap with the virtual assistant.
§ Get daily reports from the virtual assistant so you can see where your money is going every day.

These things alone can add up to a substantial savings for any small business but at Team Double-Click® the savings don't stop there. For a limited time we're offering a 15% rate reduction on all of our virtual office assistant services in order to help clients combat a poor economy. We understand that if a company cuts costs too deeply it can no longer grow and so we're reaching out to small businesses everywhere who are interested in saving money without taking away from their business.

If you would like a free consultation to see how a virtual assistant can save money for your business please visit us at www.teamdoubleclick.com. Talk to one of our experienced Virtual Services Representatives and start saving money today!

You are welcome to reprint this article as long as the following byline is included: Team Double-Click^® provides virtual assistance for small and home-based businesses. Visit Team Double-Click's Web site at http://www.teamdoubleclick.com or phone 888.827.9129.

Virtual Office Assistant = Cost Savings for Small Businesses

Gayle Buske (Team Double-Click and VirtualAssistingUSA) — Fri, 01 May 2009 10:29:09 -0700

In today's economy small businesses are looking for new and innovative ways to cut costs yet still maintain their day to day business activities.

Many small businesses, self-employed individuals, and even large corporations are turning to a virtual office assistant to stay on top of administrative tasks while eliminating the need to fund a full-time staff. As USA Today wrote, "The savings come from being able to concentrate efforts on building the business instead of balancing the checkbook and typing envelopes."

Your time and money are worth more when you are able to concentrate on what you do best and leave the rest to an assistant.

What exactly is a virtual office assistant?

"Virtual Assistants (VAs) are independent entrepreneurs providing professional administrative, creative, managerial, technical, business office and/or personal support services. Virtual assistants use the most advanced means of communication, and the newest and most efficient and time-saving office products and work delivery, regardless of geographic boundaries. Virtual Assistants work from their own offices, on a contractual basis, and abide by an established Code of Ethics requiring integrity, honesty and due diligence."

~The Alliance for Virtual Business

What tasks can a virtual office assistant do for me?

Here are just a few tasks that a Virtual Office Assistant can handle for their clients:

•§ Appointment Setting

•§ Cold calling

•§ Answering Phones

•§ Database management

•§ Newsletter preparation

•§ Lead qualification

•§ Internet marketing

•§ Social networking activities

How much money can I save by hiring a virtual office assistant vs. an employee?

Although exact dollar amounts will vary, you can expect to see a huge savings in the following areas:

•§ Avoid buying an additional computer for your assistant.

•§ Avoid buying a desk for an assistant.

•§ Avoid paying FICA (Social Security Tax) - legally!

•§ Avoid paying unemployment tax - legally!

•§ Avoid paying for holiday, vacation, and sick time.

•§ Have happier workers who are more efficient at their jobs.

•§ Pay ONLY for the time used/work produced - not several hours a week more due to a "9 to 5" workweek.

•§ Finance your payroll with your credit card or PayPal account.

•§ Get highly-skilled workers from around the country for a fraction of the cost of hiring locally.

•§ Stay on budget with your staffing needs-you can set a cap with the virtual assistant.

•§ Get daily reports from the virtual assistant so you can see where your money is going every day.

At Team Double-Click® the savings don't stop there. For a limited time we're offering a 15% rate reduction on all of our virtual office assistant services in order to help clients combat a poor economy. We understand that if a company cuts costs too deeply it can no longer grow and so we're reaching out to small businesses everywhere who are interested in saving money.

Please visit us at www.teamdoubleclick.com to get your free consultation from one of our experienced Virtual Services Representatives. Let us help save you money today!

Team Double-Click® provides virtual assistance for small and home-based businesses. By using Team Double-Click® virtual assistants, clients can cut costs and increase revenue by hiring virtually. Visit Team Double Click®'s Web site at www.teamdoubleclick.com or phone 888.827.9129.

NOTE: You may publish this article for your magazine, trade journal, newspapers, business journals, website and/or Ezine provided you keep it in its original

Getting the Most Out of Your Virtual Assistant

Gayle Buske (Team Double-Click and VirtualAssistingUSA) — Fri, 01 May 2009 10:26:31 -0700

Want your business to grow? What kind of question is that, right? Of course you do. Unless of course you're already making all the money you want and have all the free time you need. But then who in business ever has enough of either? That's right - business owners are ambitious people who are always looking for more, more, more. And correctly utilizing your virtual assistant is just the way to get it for you!

So what can you do to make more money and gain more free time? How about putting your virtual assistant to better use for starters? Quite often we find that even though our clients are very interested in and concur with the virtual-working concept, they don't quite know how to use their virtual administrative assistant to his or her fullest potential.

Avoiding the "it's-easier-to-do-it-myself" syndrome

It's important to first remember that your virtual assistant is there, period. And she's there to assist you. She's there to take things off your plate that are keeping you from contributing to the bottom line. This can be difficult when you don't see her smiling face each morning. Here are some ideas to help you remember that your virtual assistant is there:

When your virtual assistant sends her daily reporting to you, use that as a trigger to think of other tasks she could be doing to free up your time to sell more, make more deals, or spend time with family.

Keep a journal of your daily activities. This will help you to pinpoint your virtual assistance needs. Jot down some notes throughout the day or use a small tape recorder to track the tasks you're doing. Look (or listen) back through those notes and take a critical look at what items you shouldn't be spending your time on. Then decide which ones your admin can do instead.

Remember: a virtual administrative assistant can do almost anything that an in-person assistant can do. It's just a difference of how you send tasks to her.

Getting work to your virtual assistant should be easy. Instead of buzzing the intercom button, program her number into your speed dial. Instead of walking a paper folder to her office, hit the attach button in a new email and send it to her.

One of the biggest traps is thinking that "it will just be quicker and easier to do this task myself". Not so! Yes, it will take you a few minutes to show your virtual assistant how to do that particular task. However, the next time it needs to be done, all you need do is say "Jane, please do task XYZ - just like I showed you last time." Voila, time saved!

There are probably a lot of things you're doing each day that your virtual assistant could take over for you. Decreasing your workload means you'll have more time to spend growing your business and making the connections you need to make. It means more money in your pocket. It'll also mean more free time for you to spend with your family. It's all about consciously remembering that your assistant is there to help you grow your business.

If you're ever unsure of how to make good use of your virtual assistant or what things you can have her do, don't hesitate to talk to your Virtual Services Rep. We're all here to serve you and help you get the most out of working with Team Double-Click®.

Featured Client - April, 2009

Gayle Buske (Team Double-Click and VirtualAssistingUSA) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:28:39 -0700

Matt Fein
Fein Properties

What industry do you work in? How many years have you been in that industry?

Real estate, 5 years

How long have you been Team Double-Click®?

About a year and a half.

Why did you choose Team Double-Click®? How did you learn about us?

Was referred by another agent in my office - Lorita Kimble

Was it difficult getting started with a Team Double-Click® Virtual Assistant?

It took a little time to get the VA trained on some things, but it was much easier than when I had in-house assistants

How do you get work to your VA?

Email/fax

What work is the VA managing for you?

Listings and closings management. Returning some calls. Coordinating advertising. Vendor management

Is there any special software you use to manage your VA's tasks?

Top Producer

What systems did you have in place prior to bringing on a VA, or did you change any in order to work with a VA?

I was using Top Producer before using the VA - it was easy to train her on the software and get her up and running.

Did you have to overcome any obstacles to working with your VA?

Not really, the work she does is easily done by phone, online or by fax.

What impact has the VA had on your business?

It has freed me up from doing administrative stuff - allowing me to grow my business (or take time off).

Has your VA been receptive to additional training opportunities? If so, have they helped in the success of your business?

Yes she has - very eager to learn new things. She has helped the success of the business too - one example is a suggestion she had for marketing that greatly increased the number of calls we received.

How are you combating a poor economy while using a VA?

I am actually using the VA more now than from last year, since I am busier. So even though the economy is not doing well, my business so far is doing OK.

Twitter Tools: TweetDeck

Gayle Buske (Team Double-Click and VirtualAssistingUSA) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:26:10 -0700

Here is a great article that I came across!

Organize and Search Twitter Tweets Quickly and Easily
© Shelly Hokanson

Twitter is a fantastic communication tool, but it is easy to be overwhelmed with messages. Organize tweets with TweetDeck and never miss another message.

Twitter is all the rage - the micro-blogging service that allows users to post short messages online and on the go via text messages. Its simplicity is apparent. Users are encouraged to answer one simple question: "What are you doing?"

The trouble is, Twitter's interface is purely chronological. Whether accessing Twitter via the web or via text messages on a mobile phone, users see nothing more than a chronological list of messages (or "tweets"). TweetDeck was designed to make it easier to organize, search, and post tweets.

Tweet Deck Features : What is TweetDeck?

· Groups

· Reply Tracking

• Search

The most handy feature of TweetDeck is the "Groups" feature. It allows users to create groups for sorting Twitter friends. One approach to sorting friends is to create groups to separate the chatty types from those whose posts are of the "must see" variety.

Another is to sort friends based on interests, such as sports, technology, poker, photography, etc. Local friends can be grouped separately from internet friends, work friends separately from personal friends - the possibilities are endless. Grouping in TweetDeck makes it much easier to keep up with the must-see tweets.

In keeping with the theme of organizing tweets, TweetDeck has an impressive reply tracking feature. Replies sent directly to you from friends automatically show up in the Replies column in TweetDeck, as well as any messages that mention your username via the @username syntax. Simple buttons allow users to quickly reply or send a direct message back to friends.

The Search feature in TweetDeck is a handy way to keep up with interesting topics. Searches can be performed locally to find matches within existing tweets from friends, or globally to find matches from all public posts on Twitter. The search terms will remain in effect until the Search column in TweetDeck is closed. This is a great way to find new friends with common interests on Twitter.

TweetDeck collects tweets as long as it is running. Users can step away from the computer (such as, to sleep at night) and come back to find all of the evening's tweets waiting to be read come morning. It can save up to 48 hours worth of tweets.

Interface and Integrated Tools

Aside from these useful organizational features, TweetDeck also makes it easy to post tweets to Twitter. The interface includes a character count so that messages don't exceed the 140 character limit.

TweetDeck is integrated with several common Twitter tools:

· Bit.ly - a built-in tool to shorten web URL's for posting to tweets

· TwitPic.com - a tool that allows users to post photos to Twitter

• TwitScoop.com - a tool that displays a cloud of keywords that are currently popular on Twitter

TweetDeck's interface is customizable and allows users to display anything from a single column to a full screen multi-column layout. A multi-column layout is particularly useful running full screen on a second monitor, for users with dual monitor configurations. It shows its status as well as Twitter's network status, and can be configured to sound audio alerts when new tweets arrive.

Downloading and Installing TweetDeck

TweetDeck can be downloaded free of charge at TweetDeck.com. It is an Adobe AIR based desktop application available for Windows Vista and XP, Mac OS X, and Linux. If the Adobe AIR runtime is not already installed, the TweetDeck installer will prompt users to install it. (Adobe AIR is a tool that allows developers to create internet based applications that run on the desktop).

At the time of writing, TweetDeck is in a public beta testing stage with version 0.16.1. It is a free application, but its developers gladly accept donations via PayPal for the continued development of TweetDeck.

Source: TweetDeck.com

The copyright of the article Twitter Tools: TweetDeck in Social Networking/Tagging is owned by Shelly Hokanson. Permission to republish Twitter Tools: TweetDeck in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Read more: "Twitter Tools: TweetDeck: Organize and Search Twitter Tweets Quickly and Easily" - http://social-networking-tagging.suite101.com/article.cfm/twitter_tools_tweetdeck#ixzz0AmvtV3Oh

Putting your virtual assistant to good use…helping you grow your business

Gayle Buske (Team Double-Click and VirtualAssistingUSA) — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 16:01:22 -0700

So what can you do to make more money and gain more free time? How about putting your virtual administrative assistant to better use for starters? Quite often we find that even though our clients are very interested in and concur with the virtual-working concept, they don't quite know how to use their virtual administrative assistant to his or her fullest potential

Avoiding the "it's-easier-to-do-it-myself" syndrome

It's important to first remember that your virtual assistant is there, period. And she's there to assist you. To take things off your plate that keeps you from contributing to the bottom line. This can be difficult when you don't see her smiling face each morning. Here are some ideas to help you remember that your virtual assistant is there:

Keep a journal of your daily activities. It's simple to keep a notebook with you and jot a couple quick notes about each task you do throughout the day. Even a small tape recorder works well. Look (or listen) back through those notes and take a critical look at what items you shouldn't be spending your time on. Then decide which ones your admin can do instead.

Remember: a virtual administrative assistant can do almost anything that an in-person assistant can do. It's just a difference of how you send tasks to her.

One of the biggest traps is thinking that "it will just be quicker and easier to do this task myself". Not so. Yes, it will take you a few minutes to show your virtual assistant how to do that particular task. However, the next time it needs to be done, all you need do is say "Jane, please do task XYZ - just like I showed you last time." Voila, time saved!

As for teaching your virtual assistant how to do a new task, it doesn't have to be difficult or time consuming. For instance, you can email the instructions to her in a step-by-step format. This way you can chip away at the procedure whenever you have a few spare moments. What about taking 10 minutes on the phone while you're on your way to a meeting, or soccer game with the kids, or on your way to play golf? You can speak the instructions and your virtual assistant can jot them down. Just ask her to send you a recap of the instructions you gave via email so you can check them over and make sure you conveyed them correctly and she understood them correctly.

About your virtual assistant

Virtual administrative assistants are also eager to do more work and are flexible about when they can be reached for additional training, i.e. weekend or evening for an hour or so.

Ask your virtual assistant! You might be surprised at what they know or what they might recommend. A few minutes of conversation might save YOU some time and money.

As you send "step by step" procedures to your virtual assistant, she can keep the instructions for each task and compile them into a business manual that can be continually updated as she performs new and different tasks. A business manual such as this can become an invaluable tool for you and your business.

As you can see, there are a wide variety of tasks that your virtual administrative assistant can do to help you make more money and save you time. It's all in the "how" and consciously remembering that she's there to help you grow your business. If you're ever unsure of how to make good use of your virtual assistant or what things you can have her do, don't hesitate to talk to your sales rep, admin, or client services rep. We're all here to serve you and help you get the most out of working with Team Double-Click®.

You are welcome to reprint this article as long as the following byline is included: Team Double-Click® provides virtual assistance for small and home-based businesses. Visit Team Double-Click's Web site at http://www.teamdoubleclick.com or phone 888.827.9129.

Featured Client for March, 2009

Gayle Buske (Team Double-Click and VirtualAssistingUSA) — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 15:38:35 -0700

Susan Daffron
Logical Expressions, Inc.

1. What industry do you work in? How many years have you been in that industry?

I own a publishing company called Logical Expressions, Inc (http://www.LogicalExpressions.com), which is based in a small town in Northern Idaho. I have been involved in publishing in one way or another since the late 80s, but we started our company in 1994. Currently, we have 9 books and one software product that we sell mostly online. We also offer consulting and book production services like cover design and layout. I also am the founder of the National Association of Pet Rescue Professionals (http://www.naprp.com). The mission of this organization is to help people working in pet rescue or humane organizations save more companion animal lives.

2. How long have you been using Team Double-Click®?

Since August 2008.

3. Why did you choose Team Double-Click®? How did you learn about us?

I found out about TDC online. I was researching virtual assistants because I had a horrible experience with a VA who disappeared without doing any work. (I ended up having to file a claim with the Better Business Bureau.) I was very tired of dealing with flakey independent VAs, so the idea of a VA agency was extremely appealing. It almost sounded too good to be true.

4. Was it difficult getting started with a Team Double-Click® Virtual Assistant?

Not at all. I talked to my client representative and told her about some of the problems I'd had with VAs in the past. She answered all my questions and concerns. Then she matched me with a VA who could perform the type of tasks I needed.

5. How do you get work to your VA?
Generally, I email work to her.

6. What work is your VA managing for you?

She posts weekly to my two blogs, uploads press releases to Web sites, schedules guests for my radio show, confirms their information, and follows up after the audio is posted online. She also adds contacts into our marketing database and performs various tasks related to social media.

7. Is there any special software you use to manage your VA's tasks?

I use a software program called Chaos Intellect for my email and appointments and a program called Time and Chaos for my contacts. Both synch to an online database at ChaosHost.com. My VA can see my schedule, post new appointments, and add contacts and information into the online database. Every day, I synch my desktop software with the online database, so everything she enters online is on my desktop computer (and vice versa). Our company also has an online project management tool we developed in-house that we use to keep track of who is doing what. So my VA has a log-in to that tool as well.

8. What systems did you have in place prior to bringing on a VA, or did you change any in order to work with a VA?

I already had systems in place because I had worked with VAs before.

9. Did you have to overcome any obstacles to working with your VA?

No. Actually, the first VA I had with TDC was great, but she got very sick. Team Double Click was extremely proactive about the difficulty and found me my current VA quickly and efficiently. There was no down-time at all. I was extremely impressed with how professionally the transition was handled.

10. What impact has the VA had on your business?

I can simply forget about tasks and know that my VA will handle them. For example, I was really bad about updating our blogs with new information. Now it just happens every week like clockwork. I LOVE that!

11. Has your VA been receptive to additional training opportunities? If so, have they helped in the success of your business?

Very much so. I've also encouraged her to tell me if she sees opportunities to apply her training to any of the things I'm doing. Every other week, we talk on the phone, which helps keep her in touch with what's going on in our business.

12. How are you combating a poor economy while using a VA?

Most of the tasks I have outsourced so far relate to marketing consistently. In a bad economy, it's vital that you NOT pull back on your marketing efforts. My VA also is helping us keep up with customer contact and outreach, which has helped our business. As our business grows, it's great to know that I can just add more time. I like the fact that I only pay for work that gets done and I'm not locked into a restrictive "retainer" arrangement where hours can "expire." As a business owner, I love the flexibility offered by working with a VA and I recommend TDC to other people all the time.

You are welcome to reprint this article as long as the following byline is included: Team Double-Click® provides virtual assistance for small and home-based businesses. Visit Team Double-Click's Web site at http://www.teamdoubleclick.com or phone 888.827.9129.

A quick view of the Business side of being a VA

Gayle Buske (Team Double-Click and VirtualAssistingUSA) — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 16:06:56 -0700

http://screencast.com/t/s3W26aDTd

Key #3: Training

Gayle Buske (Team Double-Click and VirtualAssistingUSA) — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 15:48:36 -0700

By Ruthie Palmatier

Are you struggling with the thought of how to train your virtual assistant? Is that preventing you from getting started? I hear that a lot. Maybe you are concerned with the amount of time it might take to train her. I hear that too. The first thing to remember is that if don't train your virtual assistant to take over those tasks, you're still stuck doing them yourself. Are you ready to move forward and get back to doing what you do best? If so, then let the virtual assistant do what she does best. She's the skilled administrative assistant. She LOVES doing that kind of work.

Now, there are a couple of ways to go about training your assistant. While your assistant is already a trained administrative professional, you will still need to train her to your specific ways of doing things. Yes, it may take you some time to go through each of the steps, but once you do and she's off and running you can move on to those things that you have been wanting to get to. If the training is complex or lengthy, consider recording the training call. That way she can go back over her notes and make sure she didn't miss anything.

Did I say notes? YES! Have your assistant take notes of your training calls, each and every time. At the end of the training, have her type up those notes and email them to you. Go over those notes yourself to make sure she got all the steps and that you didn't miss anything. This is a good way to also ensure that she understood you correctly. Then have her save that document into a new folder called "Training Manual". Each time you go over something new, have her document the training and then again, email you those training notes. These notes are now building a training manual for you and your business.

As a business owner, having a training manual, or a procedures manual is really critical. What if your VA gets sick and you need to bring someone else to fill in? What if down the road you decide you want to add to your staff, virtual or otherwise? Having document training materials will truly make your life easier. So, please take the time to train your assistant properly. It is an investment that will pay off with high returns!

About the Author:
Ruthie Palmatier began her "virtual" career in 1996 doing transcription work for California-based private investigators. After her family's move to Idaho in 1999, Mrs. Palmatier returned to onsite employment as a personal assistant to a commercial real estate developer. Her career progressed and she went to work for a commercial and residential broker.

Feeling the urge to work from home again, Ruthie investigated virtual employment opportunities. It was not long before she discovered Team Double-Click® and started transcription work for several of the company's clients. Before long, Ruthie had gained five clients and expanded her responsibilities into the real estate investing industry providing administrative support. This allowed one of her clients to leave their full-time job within 3 months of obtaining her services to focus real estate investment only. In early 2005, Ruthie shifted her career into overdrive by becoming part of the Team Double-Click® Core Team. As a virtual staffing consultant, she educates and empowers current and prospective clients on the benefits of having an extra set of hands, eyes and ears.

Team Double-Click® provides virtual assistance for small and home-based businesses. Visit Ruthie on Team Double-Click's Web site at www.teamdoubleclick.com/teambios/Ruthie_Palmatier.html or call her at 888.827.9129 ext 87. Click to receive your free report, 101 Ways To Work With A Virtual Assistant. If you've enjoyed reading Ruthie's article, check out her blog at www.teamdoubleclick.com/blogs/Palmatier.

NOTE: You may publish this article for your magazine, trade journal, newspapers, business journals, website and/or Ezine provided you keep it in its original form and include the resource box at the end.

So I'm a Control Freak

Gayle Buske (Team Double-Click and VirtualAssistingUSA) — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 15:46:45 -0700

By Gayle Buske, President and CEO, Team Double-Click®

Yep, that's right, I admit it - I'm a control freak. I wonder if there's a 12-step program for that. I wanted to bring this issue up as a benefit to all of those poor people out there (virtual assistants especially) who work for people like me. And for the benefit of all of my partners in making the misery - my fellow control freaks.

Being a control freak isn't as bad as it sounds. You just have to realize where your limits are and of course, it's best if you can admit it so that you can begin to deal with it. And if you're working with or for a control freak, you just need to know how to deal with us. Really, it is possible to overcome some of your control-freakishness and it is possible to work with us.

I'm going to wager that most control freaks are A-type personalities (or if you prefer to talk in terms of D.I.S.C. profiles - high Ds). That's not all bad. It means we're the ones who put ourselves out there on a daily basis, are driven, and make the world go ‘round. We're also very task oriented (e.g. get it done!). We're usually very successful and we don't give up until we've got what we want and then some.

So how did I get over my freakish side? Well, I didn't and I don't know if you ever really can - it's part of who you are. What I have done though is learn how to tame it so others can live with/around me. So how do I handle my freakish side? For one, I like lists. I make lists like you wouldn't believe. Here a list, there a list, everywhere a list list. In fact, I'd be happy make a list for you now.

Tips to overcoming a little of the control freak in you:

It always makes me feel better, when giving instructions to someone, to write it all down. Every last detail of how I want whatever it is done. Then I feel that nothing is or will be missed.
Make your instructions clear and to the point. This should give you piece of mind that whomever you are delegating tasks to understands what you want done and how you want it done.
Take it one step further and have your virtual assistant repeat back those instructions. This is your assurance that s/he understands what you're after and will help you trust him/her more.
Learn to trust. Okay, maybe not the first time you delegate a task to someone new. But certainly, after that person has successfully completed the tasks you delegated, and completed them to your wishes, you really CAN begin to let go and trust that they'll do it "correctly" each and every time.
Write it down. Write it ALL down! I've found that writing everything down helps me feel more like I'm in control so that freakish side doesn't need to bare itself to the world quite so much. Take notes on your phone conversations, list out what you need to accomplish, write your instructions out, and so on.
Learn to let go. Really. Other people CAN do things as well as you can and sometimes even better - even if they're not an A-type, High-D, control freak!
Find a complimentary assistant. Find someone who is good at and enjoys the things you hate.

Working with a control freak:

Realize that we can't help it.
Realize that we do our best to overcome.
Ask us for a list of what we need to have done.
Ask us HOW we'd like things done.
Write it down for us. If we give you a whole bunch of random stuff that needs to be done, write it down and email that list back to us. This way we can look it over, change our minds, add, and subtract and send it back to you.
Ask us questions about what we want and how we want it before we flit off on another subject. Keep asking until you have enough information from us to understand what we want.
Do what you say you are going to do. Nothing makes us run away faster than not doing what you say you are going to do.
We have to be able to trust you. You need to be honest EVERY time - even if it means telling us what you think we don't want to hear.

These tips should help you, the control freak, overcome that freakish side and for those of you working with us, maybe this will make it easier. We control freaks really aren't as scary as it may seem.

About the author:
Gayle Buske is the co-founder, president and CEO of Team Double-Click®, the country's foremost virtual staffing agency. As the head of a virtual staffing agency with over 29,000 virtual professionals in its pool, Ms. Buske is uniquely qualified to aid clients' growth through virtual outsourcing as well as speak to the ins and outs of the industry. Gayle enjoys spending her free time with her husband, business and life partner, Jim, their daughter Madison, practicing Yoga, reading, hiking, flower gardening, and playing with the family's three dogs and three cats.

Team Double-Click® provides virtual administrative assistance businesses. Visit Team Double Click's Web site at www.teamdoubleclick.com or phone 888.827.9129. Click to receive your free report, 101 Ways To Work With A Virtual Assistant.

The Joy of Networking

Gayle Buske (Team Double-Click and VirtualAssistingUSA) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:44:19 -0700

By Gayle Buske, President and CEO, Team Double-Click®

I have a new favorite book that I'd like to share with you: "The Go Giver" by Bob Burg and John David Mann (available on Amazon). I've mentioned my friend Bob in other articles I've done on sales and marketing. "The Go Giver" is a great, short story that truly shows the joys and benefits of networking.
Have you tried networking - really networking? You've got to try it! Trust me, if you get into it you'll have the time of your life. At Team Double-Click® we've always practiced networking, but more recently we've kicked it up a notch. We're actively seeking value-added partners who offer services and products that will be of benefit to our clients and virtual assistants.

While this may sound like a very bland task, it's actually a constant high and very fun. You simply can't imagine the rush when you selflessly connect two people or two organizations that can benefit one another until you try it. Once you do, I guarantee you'll be hooked. And that's a huge part of networking - simply talking to other people, finding out what they do, and then connecting them with other people who can help them with whatever ails.
Once you've made the connection, stand back and watch what happens. You'll see those two entities that you connected flourish. Oh, and there's something in it for you too. Those folks will remember you when your products or services can be of benefit to them and their network of people. As if watching two people, whom you connected, grow and flourish and help one another doesn't make you stand in awe of the process, having those connections come back to help you later will.

So how do you make connections between other people? Listen. Listen. Listen. Listen to what your connections have to offer. Ask what makes the ideal client or the ideal solution for them. Store that information in your database and in your brain. When you talk to another contact, repeat the process. Then you play the memory game and use your outside viewpoint to see who fits with whom.

Once you've identified a connection between your contacts, make the introduction! Call Joe and say, "hey Joe, I know someone who can help you out...here's her information." Then you call Suzie and say, "Suzie, Joe would be a great client for you...he needs X, Y, and Z...exactly what you have to offer." You can simply give contact information to each party or you can go one step further and set up a conference call so you can introduce them personally.

I recommend a conference call whenever possible. This gives you the opportunity to make proper introductions and give a better background on each party, which will maximize the success potential of both parties.

In a short article like this, there simply isn't enough space to give you all the finer points of networking. What I can do though is suggest another book: "Endless Referrals" also by Bob Burg. "Endless Referrals" will give you dozens of great tips, like the couple above, and many how-to's for successful networking.

So get out there and start networking and find your own networking high!

About the author:
Gayle Buske is the co-founder, president and CEO of Team Double-Click®, the country's foremost virtual staffing agency. As the head of a virtual staffing agency with over 45,000 virtual professionals in its pool, Ms. Buske is uniquely qualified to speak to the benefits for growth through virtual outsourcing as well as the ins and outs of the industry. Gayle enjoys spending her free time with her husband, business and life partner, Jim, their daughter Madison, practicing Yoga, reading, hiking, flower gardening, and playing with the family's three dogs and three cats.

Team Double-Click® provides virtual administrative assistance businesses. Visit Team Double Click's Web site at www.teamdoubleclick.com or phone 888.827.9129. Click to receive your free report, 101 Ways To Work With A Virtual Assistant.

Top Five Business-Growers

Gayle Buske (Team Double-Click and VirtualAssistingUSA) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:40:52 -0700

By Gayle Buske, President and CEO Team Double-Click®

You may not have the financial resources to hire a full-time administrative assistant, receptionist, or marketing assistant to join your staff, but that doesn't mean growing your business is out of the question. Read on to learn how to grow your business this year utilizing Team Double-Click® pay-only-for-what-you-use virtual assistants.

Hiring a full-time assistant to join your staff may not be in the plan this year, but growing your business should be on your must-do list for 2009.

Want to know the top five business-growth tasks you should be focusing on to keep your business moving forward? We asked our most successful clients what they were doing to grow their businesses right now. Here are their top picks:

1. Cold calling
How do new clients and customers find you? If yours is like many companies, cold calling is a must to reach more and more people and more business. You have target markets and geographic regions which are preferred. But do you have the time (or the desire) to sit down and cold call all of those prospects in order to make the sales?

While we can't speak for independent virtual assistants or other staffing agency's virtual assistants, Team Double-Click's virtual assistants are sent through a very thorough cold calling course. The cold calling course teaches them how to successfully get past gate keepers, how to effectively present products and services to the prospect, and how to gain the best advantage when it comes to making a sale.

Why not pass that icky cold calling task and your list of prospects on to a virtual assistant and watch your business grow?

2. Lead follow up
Your company's quick follow up (or lack of) to new, inbound leads gives potential clients a glimpse into what working with your company will look like. Additionally, if you don't follow up fast enough, experts agree that the potential client will quickly move on to someone who either answers their call on the first try or calls back quickly. Missed lead follow up results in lost sales. Period.

Make sure there is always time for quick lead follow up. If you don't have time to personally follow up with leads, have your virtual assistant follow up for you. It's quite simple to create a list of common FAQs to pass along to your virtual assistant so she can answer any question that comes along. It's equally easy to educate your virtual assistant on your company's product and service offerings so he or she can seamlessly follow up with and reel in new clients for you.

3. Social networking
These days, social networking on sites like Twitter, LinkedIn, Plaxo, and others is all the rage. And with good reason. They're helping businesses connect with new prospects and new clients.

However, it's hard to find the time to sit down in front of the computer long enough and consistently enough to get maximum value from the hundreds of social networking sites out there. With social networking, consistency is key. Your virtual assistant can efficiently and consistently use these social networking sites to drive new business your way.

4. Internet marketing
It goes without saying that if your business is on the internet in any manner, getting your internet marketing done and done well is a must. And again, consistency is the key to making internet marketing a success.

Again, while we can't speak for independent virtual assistants or other staffing agency's virtual assistants, Team Double-Click's virtual assistants are sent through a very thorough internet marketing course. The course teaches them internet marketing trends, terms and principles, web analytics, affiliate marketing, search marketing, blogging, social media, email marketing, and digitally enhanced productivity strategies.

These virtual assistants can unleash those internet marketing talents on marketing your business on the internet and bringing new clients your way.

5. Customer service/reception
First impressions are often made when a client calls your company. Do your phones roll to voice mail? Or worse still, do they go nowhere when you're out of the office? In economy like this, you can't afford to miss an incoming phone call from either a current client or a prospective client.

Make sure your phones are always answered, your current customers taken care of, and potential clients get their questions answered and are shown how to become a new client by having a virtual assistant answer the phones for you. You gain instant "bigger company status" by not answering the phones yourself. And what's more, if you are out of the office, your customers and potential customers still receive the assistance they need. Since virtual assistants only "clock in" when they're performing your tasks, you don't pay for unproductive standby time.

Talented virtual assistants are available for either ongoing work through Team Double-Click® or direct placement through our new Direct Placement Virtual Assistant Program. With ongoing work through Team Double-Click® you receive all of the benefits of working through an agency, such as ongoing virtual assistant coaching, we do the hiring and firing, we do the billing and payables, etc. With our new Direct Placement Virtual Assistant Program, for just a $495 one-time fee, we'll expertly match you with one of our screened and trained virtual assistants and then you're free to work directly together. Most clients enjoy savings of more than 50% without the ongoing agency fees, etc.

About the author:

Gayle Buske is the President and CEO of Team Double-Click® the country's leading virtual staffing agency, which is trusted by thousands of small and home-based businesses. As the head of the original virtual staffing agency with tens of thousands of virtual professionals in its pool, Ms. Buske is uniquely qualified to speak to the ins and outs of the industry.

Gayle enjoys spending her free time with her husband and business partner, Jim, their daughter Madison, practicing Yoga, reading, hiking, flower gardening, off-roading, watching NASCAR®, and playing with the family's three Vizsla dogs.

Team Double-Click® provides virtual assistance for small and home-based businesses. By using Team Double-Click® virtual assistants, clients can have a staff without having employees. Visit Team Double Click's Web site at www.teamdoubleclick.com or phone 888.827.9129.

NOTE: You may publish this article for your magazine, trade journal, newspapers, business journals, website and/or Ezine provided you keep it in its original form and include this resource box.

Let Go and Grow -- in Other Words, Delegate!

Gayle Buske (Team Double-Click and VirtualAssistingUSA) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:38:53 -0700

Author: Victoria K. Munro

Without delegating, you will never work at your maximum efficiency, and you'll limit the growth of your business. It's easy for entrepreneurs to spend all their time working very hard in their businesses, but taking little or no time to step back, gain a different perspective and work on their businesses. If you're overwhelmed, have too much to do and too little time, consider the benefits of delegation.

It's tempting to put off delegating because you know that it will take even more time initially to explain and teach someone else the process and then to inspect and possibly help them make needed corrections. This can be stressful, and it's easier to simply do it yourself.

For some, letting go of control is a challenge. It's especially difficult when you know you can do the job better than anyone else. When you started the business, you probably had to do everything yourself, and you've become really good at many things. However, without surrendering control and delegating, your business simply can't grow to the next level.

Many small business owners feel they can't afford to delegate, but we've watched entrepreneurs discover and implement creative solutions to this problem. Some hired interns from local colleges or high schools, stay-at-home moms during school hours or retirees eager for a part-time position. Others cut expenses in different areas and hired a virtual or part-time assistant or bookkeeper for several hours a month, then watched sales soar because they were able to devote more of their time to working with new and potential clients.

Sometimes, it takes a leap of faith to pay the price and delegate. When Marty Dickinson realized he would never be able to grow his business without delegating more of the workload, he took the plunge and increased the hours of his part-time assistant. "That week, she worked thirty-four hours," he explained. "And I got more accomplished than I had in the entire month before." Now Marty is in the process of hiring another full-time employee in order to more quickly develop the company and reach his revenue goals.

Before delegating, take stock of your strengths. Note the areas where you are most productive: your high-payoff activities. Understand your weaknesses -- these are often the time-consuming tasks that need to be done, but that you are not good at and probably don't enjoy. List all the tasks that you do, or ideally should do, each week or each month, and mark those that you could delegate. Then figure out how, when and to whom you'll delegate them. Aim to surround yourself with capable, talented individuals whose areas of expertise complement your own.

Prior to handing a task off to someone else, make quite sure the job can't be automated or eliminated altogether.

If You're Ready to Hire, Consider the Following:

• Decide exactly what you want to delegate and draft a job description. This should include the needed skills, qualifications, duties, type of training and supervision that will be provided, and where and what hours the candidate will be required to work. Also, specify the main purpose of the job and how this will contribute to the success of the company.

• Decide how you will find the new hire. If you plan to advertise online, in the newspaper, professional or trade publications, write an ad for the position. Be sure to tell friends and associates in your network about the type of person you are looking to hire.

• Design an application form for candidates to fill out. Make a list of questions you will ask during initial phone conversations and face-to-face interviews, with space to take notes. Remember, it's unlawful to ask about the applicant's age, sexual orientation, marital status, religious affiliation or race. You will learn a great deal by asking open-ended questions and allowing them to talk.

• Screen applicants over the phone, schedule times and interview top candidates face to face.

• Complete background checks and call all references (ask for both professional and personal references). It may also be beneficial to request they take a personality assessment.

Don't rush your decision or hire the first person who comes along. The old adage hire slow and fire fast has great merit. Successful delegation is both an art and a skill that can be learned.

While great employees are a valuable asset to your business, those who perform poorly or have pessimistic, unhelpful attitudes can have a negative impact on the entire company and its reputation. Time and energy invested in careful delegation will be well rewarded, enable you to successfully grow your company and enjoy the process.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/small-business-articles/let-go-and-grow-in-other-words-delegate-247239.html

About the Author:
Victoria K. Munro is co-founder (along with husband Dave Block) of Make-it-Fly® LLC, a company dedicated to creating success for small business owners through creatively designed programs and tools. Victoria has started and run nine different businesses. To receive FREE business success articles with tips to help you with your business, sign up for their award-winning ezine, "In-Flight Refueling," at: www.Make-it-Fly.com, and receive a free copy of the eBook, Get More Done in Less Time: 101 Quick and Easy Time Tactics & Tips.

NATION’S LARGEST VIRTUAL STAFFING AGENCY CUTS NEW CLIENT RATES TO HELP THEM COMBAT POOR ECONOMY

Gayle Buske (Team Double-Click and VirtualAssistingUSA) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 08:21:07 -0700

Media contact: Cate Pelkey FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Telephone: (888) 827-9129
E-mail: press@teamdoubleclick.com

NATION'S LARGEST VIRTUAL STAFFING AGENCY CUTS NEW CLIENT RATES TO HELP THEM COMBAT POOR ECONOMY

Team Double-Click® Drops Rates by 15% to Help Its Clients Adjust to a Changing Economy and Ensure They Can Still Get On-Demand Administrative Assistance

Ouray, Colorado (March 10) - With hundreds of thousands of layoffs in the United States since the beginning of the year alone, understandably, the economy has the nation's, and the world's, full attention. This economic storm has small and even big businesses searching for solutions to high overheads and out-of-control costs. Responsible companies are cutting costs to the bone.

"The caveat though," explains Gayle Buske, President and CEO at Team Double-Click®, "with cutting staff dramatically, is that businesses still have many administrative needs. If a company cuts staff too far it can no longer grow." Buske adds that, "a recession is the perfect time for many businesses to actually pick up market share and grow." To facilitate growth during the recession, more and more businesses are looking to teleworking solutions as well as virtual staffing (utilizing virtual assistants contracted through a virtual staffing agency) in order to ensure administrative tasks still get done but at the most cost-effective price and highest level of efficiency.

Virtual assistants and virtual staffing are quickly becoming lifelines for businesses that are going beyond simply cutting costs to survive. Companies are hiring virtual assistants through virtual staffing agencies so they can grow during the recession. They are charging virtual assistants with marketing, internet marketing, telephone answering, social networking, cold calling, lead follow up, and other growth-oriented tasks.

To help small businesses fight back against recession, Team Double-Click®, for a limited time, is offering all new clients 15% off its standard rates. "We feel a need to do our part to help small businesses, the backbone of our country, bring this economy back online." Buske commiserates. "The small business owners and the entrepreneurs of America are who will ultimately pick our economic train up out of the ditch and place it neatly back on the tracks. Without the help of discounts and rate cuts they can't do it as quickly and right now we need fast action." Buske adds.

The Team Double-Click® discount has been hailed as a "bold move" by onlookers. In fact, it has been ridiculed because talent availability and quality area at an all time high. Many feel that price cuts are foolish because the company offers high quality. "That's okay; let them laugh. Our clients need help NOW, and we're going to help them," says Buske. "Team Double-Click® is the only company in the nation that can deliver tens of thousands of virtual assistants to its clients. Virtual assistants with skills ranging from internet marketing to reception, and without the risk of hiring an unknown virtual assistant found lurking on the internet. It's our responsibility as a company who serves small business to help them succeed." She emphasizes.

To find out more information about how to hire a Team Double-Click® virtual assistant visit www.teamdoubleclick.com or call 888.827.9129.

About Team Double-Click®
Established in 2000, Team Double-Click®, the nation's original virtual staffing agency, has grown into the country's largest virtual staffing firm. Team Double-Click® offers virtual assistant services that range from general administrative, reception, internet marketing, cold calling, sales and marketing, human resources, and finance, to real estate transaction coordination. The company takes care of the screening, managing, and payment of virtual assistants and carefully monitors the relationship between client and virtual assistant to ensure maximum value for businesses. Team Double-Click® combines unparalleled staffing expertise with a dedication to improve clients' and virtual assistants' businesses and profits. Team Double-Click® is currently the only virtual staffing firm to offer a 30 day money-back guarantee.

For more information on how a virtual assistant can help you save time and money in your business, visit http://www.teamdoubleclick.com/services.html or call 888.827.9129.

SMALL BUSINESSES CAN NOW HIRE VIRTUAL ASSISTANTS MORE AFFORDABLY THAN EVER

Gayle Buske (Team Double-Click and VirtualAssistingUSA) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 06:43:39 -0800

Team Double-Click^®Develops Direct Placement Virtual Assistant Program For Small Businesses Who Want To Work With a Virtual Assistant WITHOUT the Ongoing Agency Fees

Ouray, Colorado (March 3) - The use of virtual assistants by small and home-based businesses has received a great deal of attention in the news in recent years. In June 2008, Bridge Consulting released survey findings showing that 50% of survey respondents claim that 25% of their workforce consists of virtual employees and 25% of respondents have up to 50% of their workforce working from virtual locations. The popularity of virtual work can be summed up in one word: benefits. Both employers and employees polled about virtual work often speak of the convenience, flexibility, and financial benefits of remote work. The glowing media reports have many small businesses vying to replace their bricks-and-mortar staff with virtual assistants in order to save as much as 50% on office expenses in this uncertain economy.

Team Double-Click® has just launched its new Direct Placement Virtual Assistant Program for small businesses who want to work with quality virtual assistants but don't want the ongoing agency fees.

The new Team Double-Click^® Direct Placement Virtual Assistant Program, slated to begin Tuesday, March 3rd offers small businesses the option to pay a flat, one-time fee in exchange for a virtual assistant who:

Has completed Team Double-Click's stringent virtual assistant interview process; and
Has completed Team Double-Click's stringent virtual assistant testing process; and
Has completed Team Double-Click's training process; and
Has received the Team Double-Click® stamp of approval.

Once the virtual assistant and client match is made, Team Double-Click® steps out of the equation allowing virtual assistant and client to work directly together. This unique program will offer small business owners a virtually unprecedented advantage over attempting to locate qualified virtual assistants on their own. With over 115,000,000 matches found for virtual assistants when searching the internet, locating a quality virtual assistant on one's own can be an extremely daunting task. With the new Team Double-Click® Direct Placement Virtual Assistant Program, small businesses are assured of receiving the best virtual assistant without all of the legwork.

Already, the Team Double-Click^® Direct Placement Virtual Assistant Program has received considerable attention. One feature of the program that has garnered special interest is the ability of small businesses to save as much as 50% off hourly rates by taking advantage of the one-time fee Direct Placement option. Under the Team Double-Click® Direct Placement Virtual Assistant Program, small businesses will pay a one-time fee of $495.00 in order to work with a tested, interviewed, and expertly matched virtual assistant who fits their business' needs.

It's not just about the green that Team Double-Click^® Direct Placement Virtual Assistant Program clients can save. Team Double-Click® has designed its Direct Placement Virtual Assistant Program to also help more small businesses hire virtual assistants. By hiring virtual assistants, small businesses can help reduce the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas that has been linked to climate change and air pollution. According to Undress4Success.com, an education resource about work-at-home job opportunities, Team Double-Click® virtual assistants save a total of 787,349 pounds of CO2 and 40,000 gallons of gasoline each year by working from home and skipping the commute. This not only allows virtual assistants from Team Double-Click® to save on gas and car costs, but thesavings mean less harm to the environment as well. Team Double-Click^®hopes that the newTeam Double-Click^® Direct Placement Virtual Assistant Program will mean even more gas and emissions savings.

To find out more information about how to hire a Team Double-Click® virtual assistant through its new Direct Placement Virtual Assistant Program, visit http://www.teamdoubleclick.com/virtualassistantdirectplacement.html or call 888.827.9129.

About Team Double-Click^®

Established in 2000, Team Double-Click®, the nation's original virtual staffing agency, has grown into the country's largest virtual staffing firm. Team Double-Click^® offers virtual assistant services that range from general administrative, reception, internet marketing, cold calling, sales and marketing, human resources, and finance, to real estate transaction coordination. The company takes care of the screening, managing, and payment of virtual assistants and carefully monitors the relationship between client and virtual assistant to ensure maximum value for businesses. Team Double-Click^® combines unparalleled staffing expertise with a dedication to improve clients' and virtual assistants' businesses and profits. Team Double-Click® is currently the only virtual staffing firm to offer a 30 day money-back guarantee.

For more information on how a virtual assistant can help you save time and money in your business, visit http://www.teamdoubleclick.com/services.html or call 888.827.9129.

Making Things Happen

Gayle Buske (Team Double-Click and VirtualAssistingUSA) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 18:26:19 -0800

Here is another wonderul guest article!

By: Kelly Robbins

If you're anything like me, you've got a million goals, plans and ideas and not enough time in the day to put a dent in any of them. I may pick one or two of my ideas and go gang busters working to get it going, and then another fun thing comes along and I get excited and go gang busters getting that one up and running.

There are a few downsides to this. The biggest being I am in the middle of a bunch of really great projects that aren't done! It's easy to see how this can happen next year too with all of us excited about our New Year's resolutions. What happens to a lot of us is either my scenario above or the opposite happens - nothing because you don't know where to start.

With that said, I have a recommendation on how to handle this strange phenomenon this year...make very small commitments that you know you can fulfill. By keeping your commitments small and simple you will have more flexibility to change, and more freedom to try different ways to keep your commitments.

Here are a few examples of what I'm talking about...

You may commit to doing one additional marketing piece or trying one new marketing strategy a month. Something simple. By the end of the year that really means that you will be trying 12 different marketing methods.

Another idea is to commit a certain amount of time to a specific project. For example, if you have a goal to write a book this year or develop products to sell online, set aside one hour a week (or a day - whatever you can commit too) that is devoted to meeting this one goal.

I am not going to say I am going to work out every day after I drop the kids off at school. Yes, while being healthy is important, making such a stringent commitment realistically won't happen. A better commitment may be to promise myself that I will work out consistently this year. For me that could be two times a week as opposed to my sometimes every day and other times nothing for three months.

Other ideas of small goals that can make a big difference in your day are to:

- Only check emails at 8:00 and 2:00

- Have a cup of coffee once a week with a new friend or business acquaintance

- Take two hours off in the middle of the week that's free time

- Do one self-improvement tool or book or something a month

- Post on other people's blogs once a week

But the deal is whatever commitment you do make, you HAVE to stick to it. So keep your promises simple and realistic.

If you've taken the time to develop long term goals and strategies for your business (or your personal life) that is great. You've done more than most people I know. If you don't want this year's resolutions or commitments to fall by the wayside, break those long term goals into super short smaller commitments that you know you can keep.

In my newsletter I talked about discipline and keeping your word to yourself. Now is the time to be thinking about what commitments you do make and your ability (or inability) to keep them. For us entrepreneurs and small business owners, oftentimes ANY commitment we make is one we make to ourselves only. No one knows about them, and no on else will hold you accountable to keeping them. Plug your commitments into a calendar, schedule the time with yourself to get them done, and don't make a commitment or resolution unless you know you will keep it.

No one else knows you are making it, and no one knows if you break it.

Except the all important you.

Article Source: http://www.upublish.info

About the author
Founder of A Marketing Connection and The Copywriting Institute, Kelly Robbins, MA, is an award winning author, copywriter and marketing coach/consultant. She also publishes The Copywriting Connection, a free e-zine on copywriting and business building tips. Visit our website and take our copywriting quiz to see if you have what it takes to write great copy at www.TheCopywritingInstitute.com or 303-460-0285.