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How to gain Facebook likes for your business page

Getting people to 'like' your brand-new Facebook business page isn't as easy as people think and in many cases it can be a rather slow process to grow your followers.Here are a few things you can try...Actually ask your family, friends, networking peers, business associates, clients, and any other contacts you may have to 'like' your business Facebook page. When your page is brand new it's a great time to ‘announce’ it on your personal FB page (include the link to your new page in the post)....

Another year in business

Thirteen March 2018 marks another year in business for My Virtual Assistant - and that makes it 9 years so far!Crikey, how time flies! Over the years, the promise of friendly customer service has never waivered and neither has the importance of providing my wonderful clients with valuable business support for things like newsletters, brochure/flyer design, editing/ proofreading, and more.Website creation has taken on a life of its own as the years have gone by and become the main focus of M...

Top 10 rules for success

Simon Sinek is such an inspiration and I recently stumbled across this fabulous video, which I couldn't resist sharing with you."He's an author, speaker, and consultant who writes on leadership and management. He joined the RAND Corporation in 2010 as an adjunct staff member, where he advises on matters of military innovation and planning. He's known for popularising the concepts of 'the golden circle' and, 'Start With Why'."Now, go and pour yourself a cuppa, sit back, and enjoy watching Simon S...

Getting customer feedback and how to use it

These days customer feedback is oh so important! Compiling all your testimonials in one place on your website makes things easier for your potential clients to read what others think of your services and of you. Use short versions of your client feedback on every page of your website, to showcase the good work you have done. This will give potential clients a clear understanding of what they can expect from you before you even begin working together.  Client testimonials can ...

Have you really looked at your website lately?

As I write, My Virtual Assistant has built over 70 websites and it saddens me when I open up a website which has so obviously been 'home-made' by the business owner or built for them by a friend or family member.A tell-tale sign of a 'home-made' website is often a massive image, with no text and no clickable links to other areas of the website. No obvious links or calls to action on a website Home page are an incredibly missed opportunity.A telltale sign of a 'home-made' website is often a massi...

Something to celebrate

Over the last 8 years, My Virtual Assistant has written articles for VA training manuals, been interviewed on national television, sponsored various fundraising events, appeared in magazines and newspapers, won an award, launched over 60 websites, rebranded the business, and answered hundreds of questions from potential Virtual Assistants about becoming a VA.At the beginning of my VA journey, I had no experience of working as a Virtual Assistant from a business point of view.  Every m...

What I learned on my holiday

As its already the end of January, you may have been back at work for at least a week or two already and the Christmas/New Year break might feel like it was a while ago, but I thought I'd share a little 'reinforcing' lesson I learned during my holiday.You may already know, my partner and I are keen boaties and as we hadn’t been out on our boat since June we were very excited to leave on Boxing Day.We had pretty much taken everything of the boat for the winter and consequently spent three full ...

'Free' ways to increase your website's search engine rankings

Even if you pay lots of money to an SEO company, there isn’t a 100% guaranteed method to get your website to rank high on search engines, but there are some things you can do to help increase your rankings.Start off by listing your business with https://www.google.co.nz/business/befound.html  Make sure you include basic information about your business and be as detailed as possible in each section. For example, give your complete phone number, address, business description, keywords, hour...

Ever wondered why you need a website?

Usually, the worst reason for doing something is, ‘because everyone else is doing it.’However, when it comes to trying to sell your product or service, this is not always the case.If you don't have a website you are not promoting your business where your competition is advertising, so you'll find yourself left behind.'Back in the day', when your customers were looking for a product or service, they scoured the phone book in search of a store or company in their area that provided the pr...

The humble photograph

I was chatting with someone the other day who was expressing their despair at the decline of the photo album.They said, "Looking at photos on a computer screen will never be the same as flipping through an album that you can hold in your hand."I agree.  It won't ever be the same.Let's be honest though, how many people (back in the 'old' days) spent time mounting all their photos in an album?  And how many shoved them randomly in a shoebox or left them in the same packet they came in fr...

Another year and still going strong!

This weekend, on Sunday 13 March 2016, My Virtual Assistant celebrates 7 YEARS IN BUSINESS!Massive thanks to my family, friends, colleagues, and fabulous networking team for all your support, and of course, to my AMAZING clients - I couldn't have done it without you!Working with such an incredible variety of different businesses and corporations is hugely rewarding.Almost all of my clients provide me with repeat business and I am lucky that they are all fantastic people to work with.Repeat busin...

New Zealand All Blacks win 2015 RWC

It's Monday 2 November, the day after New Zealand All Blacks won the 2015 Rugby World Cup, at Twickenham, England - and I'm still buzzing with happiness! It's been a tremendous event, with many of the ‘underdog’ teams producing outstanding results. Everyone fell in love with Japan when they beat South Africa, such a surprising win, resulting in tears from players and spectators from both sides as the game ended.My partner and I are keen boaties and would normally be out on the water on ...

I didn't kill me and now I am stronger

Back in March, I posted about facilitating my very first Venus networking meeting.Well, today was my last meeting and I have to say, looking back, it was a much more enjoyable experience than I thought it was going to be.Thankfully, I am a pretty organised sort of person, so getting to the venue a little early in order to prepare, sending out meeting emails to each member and follow-up phone calls with the Regional Manager, soon became second nature.I am also pleased to say that none of our grou...

Special Announcement: Brand new logo for My Virtual Assistant

My Virtual Assistant is excited, delighted and proud to announce the launch of a brand spanking new logo!Same colours, delicious new design!  :-)Effective immediately!...

It's not you, it's me... (a break up letter written to My Virtual Assistant's logo)

Dear old Logo,You have been wonderful to me over the last six and a half years. You were there for me right from the start and I truly appreciate all the loyalty, support and recognition you have given to me over the years.We've had some really great times together, some good laughs, really fun moments and lots of shared memories. But something’s missing. We both know it. Our time together is coming to an end and I know you understand.There are only a couple of days left before we go our separ...

'Raise It' for Hilz

Gastro-intestinal (GI) cancer is a broad term used to encompass cancers of the digestive system: the oesophagus, stomach, liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, pancreas and bowel. It is collectively the most common form of cancer in New Zealand.Each year nearly 5,000 New Zealanders are diagnosed with a GI cancer; half of these people will die within five years of diagnosis. Yet despite being the most prevalent form of cancer, it is under-represented in funding and awareness.My Virtual Assistant is ver...

The Cath Vincent Show Season Two Launch Concert

My Virtual Assistant enjoyed a fabulous time at The Cath Vincent Show Season Two Launch Concert, held at The Tuning Fork in Auckland, on Saturday night, 2 May 2015.An awesome night of music and entertainment, plus we got a sneak preview of the upcoming television series.Lots of special guests (My Virtual Assistant was one!) attended the evening and the music line-up showcased some hugely talented, up-and-coming New Zealand singer/songwriters, including Sam RB, Jasper Hawkings, Veronica Grace, an...

Bull Electrical's First Birthday

Hi MarionThanks so much for joining us at Bull Electrical's 1st-year celebration, and for all the support you've given us right from the start.Kind regardsTony, Christine, and the Bull Electrical teamMy Virtual Assistant built Bull Electrical's website and provides various business support....

Is your website responsive (smartphone-friendly)?

Earlier this year, Google set a deadline of 21 April, for websites to ensure they are smartphone-friendly (otherwise known as, 'responsive'), and said those that did not meet the requirements risked being bumped down the search rankings.Recently, I read that around 40% of Fortune 500 companies and half of New Zealand’s top 50 company websites are not 'responsive'.For some companies, not appearing on the first page of a Google search could be devastating for their business.On the other hand, th...

My Virtual Assistant's televison debut

Oh my goodness!  My Virtual Assistant was interviewed on The Cath Vincent Show today!Filming for Season 2 of The Cath Vincent Show started on Monday 23 March, with energetic host and award-winning international speaker, Cath Vincent, bringing you an exciting lineup of guests to energise and inspire you.   Interview topics include anything and everything that will contribute to your long-term success and boost energy levels, confidence and motivation.Health, wealth, fulfillment, an...

If it doesn't kill you, it'll make you stronger

My Virtual Assistant has been a member of a networking group for around six years; since I first started working for myself, and I have found it an invaluable way to generate business and learn about other people's businesses.It's a lovely 'safe' and supportive environment in which you can share tips, advice, struggles, and successes with a fantastic group of like-minded business people.I highly recommend joining a networking group if you are a start-up business owner or if you are an 'old hat' ...

Celebrating six years in business

My Virtual Assistant was launched on 13 March 2009, which means I’m celebrating six years in business today!I'd like to take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to my fabulously cool clients.  I really do love working with you all and I obviously wouldn't be in business if it wasn't for you.Thank you!  :-)Huge thanks to my amazing family and friends who believed in me right from the beginning - that kinda crazy day when I announced I was going to set up a business and work fr...

Wins and lessons

Recently I was asked about my business wins and lessons...I’ve always loved art and design, but when I was 16 my art teacher told me I was too much of a perfectionist to ever be any good at it.Here I am now, running my own business and one of the things I absolutely adore doing is designing and creating brochures/flyers, and of course, building websites.About to leave school and having been knocked back as a teenager by that art teacher, I decided not to pursue my dream career of training to b...

Watch 'The Cath Vincent Show' and Wake Up Your Wow!

My Virtual Assistant is thrilled to be asked to work with Cath Vincent on her new, upcoming television show, and had a great time watching her record her very first episode - Cath is such a natural!The Cath Vincent Show is an uplifting weekly television chat show for anyone who knows they have untapped potential and wants tips and inspiring stories to help them live better professional and personal lives.Hosted by award-winning speaker, Cath Vincent, this brand new show has been described as ‘...

Surprise referral

Aren't referrals a wonderful thing?  You never know where the next one is going to come from!My Virtual Assistant launched a new website today and as a result of announcing it on Facebook, I found out where the original referral had come from - a complete stranger!How lovely to discover that people I don't know and have never met are out there referring me!...