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ISSN 1939-2834
Vol. 1, No. 32 | November 12, 2007
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In This Issue:
From the Editor
Pssst... having to admit you need help isn't a sign of weakness.
Absolutely no one can do everything themselves. We all need someone else
to lean on. And especially for solopreneurs and small business owners,
no matter how brilliant we are, we can be too close to something to see
it clearly from all angles.
Laura Lee Sparks is here this week with a little outsourcing primer to
help get you started.
To your success!
Danielle Keister
Founder & CVO
Virtual Assistance Chamber of Commerce
Outsourcing – It's Not a Bad
Word
 There
comes a time in every solo or small business when you realize you need
help. Whether it's because you need a new website, you need a graphic
artist to design some marketing pieces, or have decided you need an administrative
assistant, owners of solo and small practices eventually need another
pair, or pairs, of hands.
Many times, we try to do it ourselves as a way to save money and avoid
the hassle of hiring an employee. Whatever your reason to try to "do
it all," there is an even better alternative: Outsourcing.
Outsourcing used to be a bad word in some circles. However, with the
technologies available in today's world, it is not only becoming more
popular, but, indeed, a savvy way to build your business. Outsourcing
is a great way to get exactly what you're looking for without spending
a lot of time needlessly combing resumes or having to worry about whether
you can afford to hire an employee, let alone manage them, find space
for them, and keep them busy enough to justify the extra expense. Outsourcing
saves you time, effort, energy, and money.
The key to making outsourcing work for your business is learning how
and where to find quality professionals to handle the tasks that you need
accomplished. The first place to start is referrals from trusted friends
and colleagues. If that doesn't produce the results you're after, do a
web search specific to the expertise you require (i.e., Web Designer,
Bookkeeper, Graphic Artist, Marketing Support, Administrative Assistant,
etc.). If you are seeking a Virtual Assistant, a Virtual
Assistant directory of screened and qualified professionals
is real convenience and timesaver.
Next, you will want to do your homework. Narrow your list down to about
three, and schedule consultations with those providers. Besides business
expertise and the ability to meet your business needs, chemistry is going
to be an important factor. Don't get discouraged if it takes a few tries
to find someone who is a "fit" for you and your business. Once
you find that fit, you will truly reap the benefits that outsourcing provides
where you can hand over those tasks and know that they are being completed
by someone who is proficient and skilled.
Learning effective delegation skills will be very beneficial to your
outsourcing success. Be clear about what you expect, explain the details
of the project clearly, define your timeline, and make yourself available
to answer questions as needed. You also need to be observant about the
provider's processes--this will facilitate better collaboration and speedier
turn-around times. Remember, effective delegation is the opposite of micromanagement.
And, here's the best part about outsourcing (aside from the specific
expertise you get): You don't pay any of these experts for benefits, vacation/sick
time, holidays, taxes, training, equipment, downtime, or office space.
Outsourcing is the relief many entrepreneurs are looking for, just be
sure to use due diligence in your search.
RESOURCE: Want to oursource
your telephone answering? Then try a Virtual Receptionist services like
Ruby
Receptionists. I personally use this service to handle my phones,
as do several of my clients. They offer live telephone answering by a
professional receptionists. If you spend just one week tracking your time
on the phone, you will see what an amazing timesaver this can be. Ruby
will give you your own toll free number that you can then pass on to clients
and vendors, or continue using your current phone number and just forward
the line to Ruby. If you'd like to see for yourself what a great job they
do, give me a call 866.374.1191. Be sure to leave me a message, and let
me know what you think.
 About
the Author: Laura Lee Sparks is owner of The
Simple Solution, a Virtual Assistance company specializing
in administrative marketing support for attorneys, coaches and professional
speakers.
Legal Marketing Maven is a division of The Simple Solution
and is a one stop shop for attorneys looking for management and implementation
of their marketing plans. Laura Lee is also one of the founding members
of the Virtual Assistance Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Southeastern
Virtual Assistant Group. She can be contacted directed by emailing her
at LauraLee@TheSimpleSolutionVA.com
FREE
Teleseminar on November 15, 2007: Breaking Out of the Employee Mindset
 Break
out of your employee mindset and increase your business success rate immediately!
Join us this Thursday, November 15 with
Suzanne Mulvehill, executive director of the Emotional Endurance®
Institute and author of "Employee to Entrepreneur: A Mind, Body and
Spirit Transition." During this teleseminar, Suzanne will help you
learn the secrets to change your employee thoughts to entrepreneurial
thoughts, get strategies for having your thoughts work for, rather than
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RESERVE
YOUR SPOT TODAY: Go here to register >>
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.
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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
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