After the first 3 years in business (and what a great time we had along the way!), we are so proud to announce that TJConsulting Virtual Assistance have made it through to the final round in the Virtual Business of the Year Awards 2010.

It is a great achievement for us to be nominated and we would be grateful if you could support us. Voting is very simple and literally takes 2 seconds of your valuable time by following this link and clicking the VOTE button:

http://www.vbawards.com/2010/11/tjconsulting-virtual-assistance/

There are no forms to fill in, no registration and no personal details to disclose. It really is simple!

Who should be the Virtual Business of 2010? PPH are looking for “rewarding, young, fledgling companies that make progressive use of the web and technology in the way they operate, innovate and compete, looking for companies that can demonstrate how they have used the web in innovate ways to remain lean, efficient and competitive.” And we absolutely stand by every single word in that statement.

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It seems like in today’s economy general day to day expenses mount up in just trying to keep the business running. Cash flow is always an issue, as is staffing. Employ too many staff and your costs will be too high, employ too few staff and your business efficiency will be affected and that can lose you business!

A way around this is to ‘outsource’ where possible your office and business requirements. So let’s look at the different areas of Outsourcing.

Secretarial and Administration Services

• Secretarial and Administration services can be found in a variety of companies, from a firm that simply takes your phone messages, to a company that will deal with all your daily requirements, from diary management to online marketing. Draw up a list of your requirements and expectations before you start your research to make it easier to find the right provider.
• You may find that you will need to hire more than 1 virtual assistant to cover all your needs: someone can be answering your phones while another VA could specialise in copy writing.

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The cuts have been recently announced and many business owners still fear the recession coming back and how the cuts will affect their business. Will their customers be able to pay them? Will their cash flow stay afloat allowing them to pay their creditors? It’s pointless blaming the government or big banks though for what’s happening down your street and in your small business. Better let us all roll up our  sleeves and go make sales!

So how can we keep our businesses profitable in tough economic times?

Sell more to your existing customers – you have already created rapport, trust and proved your credibility to them. Use bundles when selling: as your customers decide to buy one product you can offer them another. You can also add low cost bonuses to your offer that have high perceived value – ebooks, member-only sites, consulting, e-reports, etc. And never forget about viral marketing on the Internet!

Create joint venture deals with other businesses and cross promote your products or services. You will reach a wider audience at less cost. Trade advertising with other businesses, find complementary products or services through networking. Start an affiliate program for your business. Less money on advertising, yet more guaranteed sales!

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3-in-1 that work as One!

Over the past year we have been searching high and low for a super-efficient business system we can use in TJConsulting and offer to our clients. And finally, after trying and testing, reading 100s of reviews – it’s here.

It consists of 3 parts, but don’t despair – they all work as One, efficient, online, affordable solution. And they are…. Xero, Capsule and MailChimp.

Xero is the accounting system of the 21st century. If you are not an accountant and dread “reconciliation” or “P&L” – this is the system for you. It’s very simple to use, you can access it from anywhere with an Internet connection and it’s secure.

Capsule is an online Contact Relationship Management (CRM) tool that will integrate with Xero – so you only have to enter your data once. You can track leads and conversion, manage information, analyse sales and productivity, and (yet again) it’s very simple to use!

MailChimp is used to send your newsletters, mailshots and autoresponders. Without being repetitive – it’s simple, clean, straightforward. It can send regular newsletters and schedule a series of messages. MailChimp can integrate with a large number of social media networks, Eventbrite (for event bookings) and is a top-rated social media tool (according to mashable.com).

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If you are a coach or consultant you may have found yourself stuck in a vicious circle: you earn more money only if you work more hours. So when you go on a holiday, decide to study or spend some extra time with your family – your income drops.

There is a solution to this problem. You can convert your knowledge and experience into sellable products and start selling them via your website. These could be e-books, CDs, DVDs, white papers, online training courses, teleseminar recordings, podcasts, premium membership area access, access to online library or articles, etc. Whatever you choose to do there are a few things you need to consider first. Apart from the obvious – developing and designing your information products – you need to think about delivering purchases to your customers.

How can a Virtual Assistant help you with earning a passive income?

If you would like to find out more – contact us today on 0208 144 4594 or email via the website. We offer you a free, no obligation consultation on how to convert your expert knowledge into passive income.