Virtual Assistance Business Briefs » Entrepreneur

NAWBO St. Louis Featured on All About Business St. Louis TV

Jeannine Clontz — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:39:04 +0000

I was part of a group of women business owners, and members of the St. Louis Chapter of NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) who were invited to participate in a video about the organization which aired on St. Louis television this past Sunday. Sponsored by www.allaboutbusinesstv.com who did a fabulous job. Check it out!

NAWBO St. Louis Featured on All About Business St. Louis TV is a post from: Virtual Assistance Business Briefs

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Get Marketing and Social Media Support to Increase Your Business Success

Jeannine Clontz — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:46:11 +0000

Check out my new awesome video created by Andrea Kalli!

Get Marketing and Social Media Support to Increase Your Business Success is a post from: Virtual Assistance Business Briefs

Recent Interview for WE Magazine (Women in eCommerce)

Jeannine Clontz — Tue, 10 May 2011 17:34:27 +0000

I was recently interviewed for WE Magazine (Women in eCommerce) – take a peek!

Woman in Business Helps Solopreneurs

Meet Jeannine Clontz, President ~ Accurate Business Services

Tell us about your business. We provide marketing and social media support, training and consulting on an as needed basis as a Multi-VA
practice. Although we service clients in many industries our main expertise is in the support of solopreneurs, like REALTORS, coaches, speakers, and consultants.

Please tell us what being a business owner means to you and why you became an entrepreneur in the first place? I became an entrepreneur by accident. I had received a small inheritance when my Aunt passed away and was looking for a business opportunity for my husband since I was the main bread winner and had access to benefits, including healthcare. I ended up finding the virtual assistance industry and started the business myself for ‘fun money’ so my husband and I could travel. Five years later he was laid off and I needed to expand and grow my business to be the main bread winner again. I never imagined that I could be a business…

More here…http://bit.ly/l5nSv3

Recent Interview for WE Magazine (Women in eCommerce) is a post from: Virtual Assistance Business Briefs

Tags: accurate business services, business opportunity, business owner, Business Tips, jeannine clontz, WE Magazine, women in ecommerce

Accurate Business Services – Featured Business by Friends of Missouri Women’s Council

Jeannine Clontz — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 15:46:08 +0000

I am thrilled and honored to be chosen as the Featured Business by the Friends of the Missouri Women’s Council.

Check it out!

http://www.womenscouncilfriends.org/ Click on ‘featured business’ on the left side tool bar.

Accurate Business Services – Featured Business by Friends of Missouri Women’s Council is a post from: Virtual Assistance Business Briefs

Tags: accurate business services, featured business, friends of missouri womens council, friends of MO Womens Council, jeannine clontz, missouri womens council, mo womens council

12 Technology Tips to Support Your Goals (Part One)

Jeannine Clontz — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 16:57:23 +0000

Technology – everything from our computer to our cell phone – seems to have invaded every area of our modern lives. But we often do not take full advantage of the features and benefits that can really make our lives easier. Use these technology tips to help you achieve your goals:

Set alarms.

Use the alarms on your computer or cell phones to keep you on task and concentrating for specific blocks of time you’d like to set aside to work on your goals. Search for free online software programs that allow you to set alarms and timers right on your computer. Or keep it simple go get the trusty kitchen timer and get back to work!

Track your hours.

Want to know how much time you’re REALLY utilizing on activities like email, online shopping, and Farmville? Use an online service like RescueTime.com to track time on different activities. You’ll be surprised at the end of the day how much time you spend on non-productive activities when you’re not paying attention.

Aside from keeping you honest about this wasted time you can flip between two or three real projects and be able to see where your focus has been on those projects. So even time well-spent can be tracked for the purpose of staying ON track.

Join a group.

Join a forum or email list of people who are working on similar goals as you are. I’ll be starting one for my Virtual Assistant Coaching clients in a month or so, stay tuned. Do a search at Groups.Google.com or Groups.Yahoo.com to find email lists on literally every topic you can imagine Whether you’re starting a company, founding a non-profit, trying to lose weight, or writing a book, you’ll find a group that’s right for you.

Keep in mind, you don’t want these groups or forums to take your focus away from your daily tasks and goals, but the information and support of a group of like-minded individuals can be invaluable.

Track your progress.

Use Excel’s charting option to create an ongoing chart or graph of your progress. Print it out or use it as your screen-saver for extra motivation. If we maintain accurate measurements as we move along toward our goals, simply jotting down this measured progress in notebooks is fine, but why not use technology to expand your knowledge, tweaking data to give you even more information that can be helpful in the future.

Set reminders.

You can set reminder emails on your computer or calls on your cell phone. When the email or call comes in, you know it’s time to break away for a planning session, or perform the next step on your list. Don’t try to keep your schedule in your brain. Let technology do it for you and free up your brain for the real work… achieving your goals!

Brainstorm.

Mind mapping software like FreeMind, MindGenius, MindManager, VisualMind, and VUE allow you to brainstorm and capture your ideas in a visual format. Mind mapping is a great way to figure out steps towards a goal, determine priorities, and even write blog posts, books, and more. There are plenty of brain-flexing capabilities programmed into this software, so have fun with it. Explore your thoughts right there on your computer screen.

Check back next week for our final six tips!

Jeannine Clontz, IVAA CVA, MVA, EthicsChecked™, provides marketing and social media support, training and consulting to busy entrepreneurs. For information about finding a VA, download her FREE 10-Step Guide to Finding the Right VA, or to learn why Social Media should be an important part of your marketing plan with her FREE Report, Social Media Marketing Benefits, visit: http://www.accbizsvcs.com, or contact her at info@accbizsvsc.com

12 Technology Tips to Support Your Goals (Part One) is a post from: Virtual Assistance Business Briefs

Tags: goal setting tips, Goals, set goals, setting goals, technology tips, technology tips to support goals

Customer Service Revival

Jeannine Clontz — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:05:09 +0000

I’ve decided to start my own ministry, and my first order of business will be a customer service revival. Will you join me?

Funny as that may seem, the exodus of customer service has been evolving for several years. The latest downturn in the economy has simply caused a bigger impact on customer service, I believe, due to lay- offs and cut backs in middle management and through the downsizing of staff in general, leaving remaining staffers overwhelmed and overloaded doing the job of many.

As independent contractors, and small business owners, we have a higher level of control over the results our clients experience through our work together, and the perception of our level of client care.

I’m still relatively picky about who I work with, meaning I totally understand my target market, and why matching our business personalities and acumen are so important. I find referring prospects to other providers that better fit their need, simply brings my level of service up a notch.

By not working with people who don’t share similar business strategies and standards, I minimize the number of service challenges that could or would be presented to me. Not that I mind being faced with a dilemma or two for its learning opportunities, but to me, it all reverts back to something I learned the hard way, when I first started my business.

“The customer is ALWAYS right!” Okay, I know, literally speaking, the customer isn’t always right, but sometimes no matter what I say, or how I say it, I may never be able to convince someone that what they’ve perceived as bad service, isn’t just that.

Even if the client is totally at fault, how I address the situation and solve it to some satisfaction makes all the difference. Knowing that I may never be able to satisfy someone, and understanding that I have no control over it, helps me to stay focused on the end result.

I have found that making sure that I only do business with those clients that fit my business model, alleviates a lot of these situations.

So let’s make a pact to revive customer service at all levels by establishing good client relations, increased service standards, and give our clients the best possible experience. I believe my business has grown in a more positive direction because of it, which allows me to continue to provide those services I am most passionate about doing.

Customer Service Revival is a post from: Virtual Assistance Business Briefs

Tags: Business Tips, client care, customer service, customer service tips

Are You Like a Salmon When Looking for New Clients?

Jeannine Clontz — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:53:03 +0000

In my former life, I was a purchasing agent for a seafood company. This time of year reminds me of the salmon runs. During the summer months, many wild salmon species take the journey back to their birthplace to spawn and ultimately end their lives.

Their upstream journey is a challenging one, swimming against rugged rapids, leaping over rocky waterfalls, traversing fish ladders, avoiding fishermen nets, and staying clear of hungry bears. When they finally reach their natal stream they are ready to spawn. This is an amazing and focused journey calling them to do what comes naturally.

Some of us make such a journey to find new clients, or maintain those we currently enjoy. Nowadays we have to think outside the box with our marketing and face the challenges of competition, less disposable income, overcoming objections, and differentiating ourselves by creating benefits clients simply can’t live without.

On the flip side, I’m looking for the clients who are like the salmon – the clients who will go through the upstream battle to find the most professional support, the BEST level of service and technology to create the ‘can’t live without’ message that reaches that ideal client who helps them grow their business during tough economic times.

There are only a few ways to grow a business, no matter what the economic situation:

· Find new clients

· Sell more to current clients

· Raise prices

Finding new clients is probably the most expensive way to grow your business, but one that can certainly yield great results if you have the right plan and consistent implementation.

So where are you in the life cycle of my salmon story? Ready to look for those clients who are willing to swim upstream to get to your product or service? And are you willing to leap over rocky waterfalls and traverse rough waters to find the most professional support you need?

Whatever you decide, increase your marketing time and investment if you want to grow your business, or take a chance you’ll get left behind.

Jeannine Clontz, IVAA CVA, MVA, EthicsChecked™, owner of Accurate Business Services is a Virtual Assistant (VA). ABS provides ‘as needed’ marketing support and consulting to busy entrepreneurs. Find the perfect VA by downloading her free 10-Step Guide to Finding the Right VA, or herFREE Report, Social Media Marketing Benefits, send a request to: service@accbizsvcs.com. For more information visit: http://www.accbizsvcs.com, or http://www.internetmarketingvirtualassistant.net

Are You Like a Salmon When Looking for New Clients? is a post from: Virtual Assistance Business Briefs

Tags: business goals, business growth, Business Tips, find new clients, marketing, Marketing Tips

Five Ways to Grow Your Business to Six or Seven Figures!

Jeannine Clontz — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:50:50 +0000

Ever wondered how your competitors generate six and seven figures incomes? As a professional in your field or niche, you face many challenges when marketing and promoting yourself to achieve six and seven figure incomes.

As we’ve helped more and more professionals grow their business through traditional and Internet marketing and social media, I’ve found several underutilized ways to entice the world to sit up and pay attention to my clients and their offerings. Here are five ways you may not have considered when looking to expand and grow your business:

· Create and submit press releases (not many people regularly promote themselves through the press)

· Drill down your niche into a market that ONLY you can fulfill (create a uniqueness about your product or service)

· Create eBooks, whitepapers, and audio/video products to sell online and off

· Create a Joint Venture opportunity – find someone else who could benefit from a partnership in marketing to each other’s lists, and splitting the costs of print and Internet materials

· Speak or write articles to your target audience and capture their contact info through giveaways to expand your marketing list

Adding one or more of these options to your marketing efforts over time will help you to increase exposure to your products and services. These options provide a great opportunity for word-of-mouth and referrals, the most cost-effective ways to grow your business to that six or seven figure goal.

So what ‘outside-the-box’ marketing options have you tried lately? Please share your challenges and ideas by leaving a comment below.

Five Ways to Grow Your Business to Six or Seven Figures! is a post from: Virtual Assistance Business Briefs

Tags: ebooks, joint venture, marketing, niche, niche marketing, press release, speaking, write articles

Why Reveal Your Prospect’s Objections?

Jeannine Clontz — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 23:22:41 +0000

One of the questions I ask during the prospect interview process is, “Have you ever worked with an independent contractor before?” – the response this elicits helps me to determine if there are any negative past experiences that might present itself as an objection throughout the interview process.

Objections are an important part of the process and create opportunities for you to understand the prospect better; helping you to respond to any objection in the most favorable way.

Once the objection is revealed, ask the prospect to give you more detail about the objection so that you’re sure to respond in a way that addresses their concerns. You may also want to ask them if this is the ONLY objection to moving forward.

This allows you to build a stronger relationship, and creates a certain rapport with the prospect to differentiate you from the rest of your competitors.

You may find that through the objection process the prospect reveals something that would indicate they are NOT the ideal client for your business. If so, don’t take this business and hope for the best, try and find another option for them. It’s just not worth it.

Go with your gut feeling about the prospect. If something seems wrong, it probably is. Most of all don’t fear prospect objections. Even if you don’t end up closing on this particular prospective client, It’s a great way to learn what keeps prospects from making the commitment to begin your work together.

Jeannine Clontz, IVAA CVA, MVA, EthicsChecked™, provides marketing and social media support, training and consulting to busy entrepreneurs. For information about finding a VA, download her FREE 10-Step Guide to Finding the Right VA, or lto earn why Social Media should be an important part of your marketing plan with her FREE Report, Social Media Marketing Benefits, visit: http://www.accbizsvcs.com, or contact her at info@accbizsvsc.com

Why Reveal Your Prospect’s Objections? is a post from: Virtual Assistance Business Briefs

Tags: client objections, client problems, client tips, handle client objections, handle client problems, unethical client

Build Trust Through Email Marketing Content (Part Two)

Jeannine Clontz — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 21:06:39 +0000

Last week we discussed giving more than you gain in your email marketing pieces, as well as, keeping promises. We close this discussion with important insights on proofreading and how best to communicate.

3. Proofread your emails.

While I would think this goes without saying, I’m surprised at all the typographical errors I see in email marketing pieces. The content of your emails should be perfect because even one typographical error can have serious consequences.

Spelling and grammar mistakes can breed distrust as your subscribers may tend to think of you as unprofessional or an unreliable source of information while some mistakes may also keep you from communicating clearly.

To make sure that your emails prove that you are worthy of your subscribers’ trust, you must proofread and edit them until you are completely satisfied with your work. If at all possible, it also helps to get a fresh eye to go through them for further tweaking and updates.

4. Communicate like a human being.

In email marketing, you need to communicate with your subscribers in a way that doesn’t intimidate them. Compose your messages in a tone similar to how you speak in casual conversations and avoid using corporate jargon and marketing buzz words. Doing this allows you to make your subscribers feel that they can relate with you and that they can trust and believe in what you have to say.

Another very important trust building factor is to avoid using templates that come with your email marketing tools. Compose your own welcome messages as well as auto-responses and customize them to suit the personality of your business. This will further help you in gaining trust from subscribers.

Implementing a successful email marketing campaign does not just involve sending out information in exchange for click-throughs or money. Much of your success lies in how you gain trust through the messages and information you send.

Follow the tips listed above and you can be sure that you can gain the trust of your subscribers as well as keep them loyal to your online business. Have some more tips you’d like to share? Having challenges with your email marketing campaigns. Share them by leaving a comment below and we’ll be glad to open up a discussion to help you resolve them and move forward.

Jeannine Clontz, IVAA CVA, MVA, EthicsChecked™, owner of Accurate Business Services is a Virtual Assistant (VA). ABS provides ‘as needed’ marketing and social media support, training and consulting to busy entrepreneurs. Clontz is a writer, author, VA Coach, and speaker on business topics including business ethics. For her FREE 10-Step Guide to Finding the Right VA, or her FREE Report, Social Media Marketing Benefits, visit: http://www.accbizsvcs.com. Find out more at www.VAbizcoach.com or her book website http://www.entrepreneurialfreedom.com

Build Trust Through Email Marketing Content (Part Two) is a post from: Virtual Assistance Business Briefs

Tags: email marketing, email marketing tips, Internet Marketing, Internet Marketing Tips, Marketing Tips