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ISSN 1939-2834
Vol. 1, No. 20 | August 20, 2007
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In This Issue:
From the Editor
Systems will literally save your day. Using consistent processes and
tools (your "systems") and delegating non-core tasks will add
hours to your weeks and months. Tracey Lawton is here this week to share
with you some simple project management systems you can immediately put
to great use.
To your success!
Danielle Keister
Founder & CVO
Virtual Assistance Chamber of Commerce
3 Simple, Low-Cost Marketing
Ideas to Create High Visibility
 You
just received the call saying that you've won the major project you were
hoping for. Now the hard work starts--running it! Your goal is to run
the project within timescales and budgets. Are you prepared?
These five tips will help you set up those key administrative systems
and ensure you get that project done on time and within budget.
- Budget. Get your costs together,
and map out how much you have to spend on each element of your project
(e.g., overhead, activities, staffing costs, etc.). Create columns to
show Estimated Budget, Actual Expenditures, etc., and update it regularly.
Your Virtual Assistant can plug these figures into a spreadsheet and
help keep you on track.
- Time Sheets. Set up time sheets for
project staff and a system for distributing and collecting them. Your
Virtual Assistant can set up and implement that system along with one
for monitoring time spent by staff members and overall time spent to-date.
She or he can map this against what you submitted in the project proposal
and give suggestions on where you can adjust accordingly.
- Expenses. You and your Virtual Assistant
can plan a system for monitoring and recording staff expenses incurred
during the project (i.e., travel, hotel accommodations, etc.), and show
how the expenses fit into the overall budget and how they can be adjusted.
- Contact Management. Running a big
project requires you to come into contact with many different people.
Ensure that your contact management database is up-to-date and easily
accessible so that you can get the information you need when you want
it. This is a perfect place where your Virtual Assistant can be very
effective and efficient.
- Weekly and Monthly Project Overview.
The four tips above are the key administrative systems you need in place
in order to run an effective project with the help of your Virtual Assistant.
Now you need to pull all that information together so that you can monitor
your project overall and ensure that you are meeting project deadlines
and performing exactly what was proposed.
Having these key systems in place can guarantee that you are making the
best use of your time running and managing your projects. You won’t
be wasting your time searching for essential contact details, or figuring
where you are regarding timetables and activities. You will have all the
information you need right at your fingertips!
RESOURCE: There are several contract
management software solutions available, some with free trials. The top
five showing in a Google search are IntelliContract,
Nextance,
Contract
Assistant, Ariba
and Ketera.
Much of the key administrative systems can be implemented with Excel and
a word processor, but you may want to investigate these additional resources.
 About
the Author: Tracey Lawton is a certified Master Virtual Assistant
with many years of experience helping professional speakers, coaches,
and authors operate an efficient, organized, and profitable business.
Visit http://www.traceylawton.com/tips.htm
to subscribe to her newsletter, Virtual Solutions, full of tips for operating
a more productive business and receive Tracey’s "The 7 Key
Steps to an Organised and Efficient Office" special report absolutely
free.
Don't Be Left Out! Participate in the
2007 Virtual Assistant Industry Survey
It's that time of year again! Every August, the Virtual
Assistance Chamber of Commerce conducts an industry-wide survey of the
Virtual Assistance profession. Ours is the best representative cross-section
and most indepth, comprehensive survey in the industry today. Last year
over 3,000 Virtual Assistants were invited to particiapte and the response
was tremendous.
The VACOC is frequently interviewed by the media--our survey
is helping create more awareness and education in our marketplace. And,
our survey is FREE to everyone who participates. So spread the
word! The more Virtual Assistants who participate, the better the results
and our ability to bring more clients to YOU.
Click
here to take the survey >>
FREE
Teleseminar this week on Sept. 20: The 5 Strategies to Earning Your Worth
 Are
you earning at your potential or continuing to struggle? Join us for this
powerful teleseminar as "Earn Your Worth" queen Mikelann Valterra
explores the psychology of why even successful women undersell themselves
and what to do about it. From having lower pay expectations than other
people, to difficulty in asking for what you really want, women who "underearn"
deal with complex emotional issues around making money. Learn five crucial
skills to earning what you are really worth, and start making more money
today!
RESERVE
YOUR SPOT TODAY: Go here to register >>
- A D V E R T I S E M E N T -
 WANT
CLIENT ABUNDANCE? Are you frustrated by your lack of clients, money
and time? Want to have an ABUNDANCE of all three? Discover how you can
enjoy the peace of mind, joy and freedom that comes from having an abundance
of clients, money and time to truly enjoy your life. Join me for my free
teleseminar, “6 Simple Steps to a 6-Figure Solo Business (even if
you’re starting from scratch!)” by visiting http://www.ClientAbundance.com.
See
Your Ad Here!
Find a Qualified Virtual Assistant
Today!
 You
don't have to live in overwhelm. You CAN get just the help you
need without having to hire in-house staff. Find yourself a great Virtual
Assistant today, and go from struggling by yourself to getting things
done and thriving on the road to success.
See
Your Ad Here!
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Gritty Business Buzz is a weekly newsletter of
the Virtual Assistance Chamber of Commerce published each Monday.
It is produced by Virtual Assistants especially for the gritty,
resourceful, fiercely determined small business owners and independent
professionals they serve--YOU!
EDITOR: Danielle
Keister, The
Relief Virtual Assistance
MANAGING EDITOR, BUSINESS
MANAGEMENT: Karen Del'Marmol, Karen
Del'Marmol
MANAGING EDITOR, MARKETING
& NETWORKING: Laura Lee Sparks, The
Simple Solution
MANAGING EDITOR, VIRTUAL ASSISTANCE
OUTSOURCING: Joy Slaughter, A
Capital Solution
MANAGING EDITOR, STRESS BUSTERS:
LaTanya Robinson, LaRobe
Business Solutions
MANAGING EDITOR, TECHNOLOGY:
Sandi Johnson, Virtually
Yours LLC
Contact us here.
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