When…

When does someone decide they need a Virtual Assistant? First, they have to know what a Virtual Assistant is. There are as many flavors of Virtual Assistant as of ice cream at your local ice cream shop. There are Virtual Assistants who specialize in helping realtors. Others specifically work with coaches or public speakers. Others have special training that is most helpful to financial planners. Still others are Personal Assistants, helping busy parents wind their way through the path of school, work, soccer practice, piano lessons…you know the list!

So when does someone decide to take the big step? Actually, some people begin with tiny steps to see if it works out for them. But the when is still the same. When they find themselves moving backwards in the fast lane. When they can’t remember what it’s like to eat an entire dinner with the entire family. When they get up early to get a head start on the day, and stay up late catching up with what they got a head start on (???) This is no way to live!

However, not everyone who hires a Virtual Assistant is on the verge of a vacation in the psychiatric ward. Some people have created their business plan to include the use of a Virtual Assistant, or two, or three, from the very beginning. They might even have an onsite secretary in addition. The onsite secretary can greet clients face-to-face, which is still really important to clients. But when it’s 4:55:59 pm, and the business owner realizes that there is a project that needs to be done by morning, he knows better than to ask his onsite Lois Lane to stay for just another three hours to do that project. Instead, he gives that task to his Virtual Assistant, perhaps the one who is in a time zone 2 hours behind him. Or maybe that’s not necessary, because a lot of Virtual Assistants work after the kids are in bed, or before anyone in their right mind is up in the morning.

So to recap the “when”:

• when someone is on the verge of “losing it”
• when someone has carefully planned not to “lose it” in the first place
• when the onsite help is only hired from 9:00-5:00
• when the busy parent asks the kids to set the table, only to discover that she left them at daycare because she was coaching a client on her cell phone during her commute and drove right by without collecting the dear little critters

Say, does anybody have the time?

What is a Virtual Assistant? What do you do?

I am asked this question a LOT! Although a career as a Virtual Assistant is becoming more common, people still kind of wonder about the VA’s who perform common office tasks from home. Well, I wasn’t too sure myself at first. I actually was going to just write resumes, but when I looked online for a way to market that service, I came across the term “Virtual Assistant”. I asked the same question I’ve answered so many times since then. “What in the world is a Virtual Assistant?”

There are some canned definitions floating around on the Internet, but basically, a Virtual Assistant helps businesses, entrepreneurs, or just plain busy people, remotely. This assistance can be by fax, email, or phone. Many people also use shared website docs, like on Google. Using a web-based phone service, such as Skype, adds another dimension. With technology becoming more innovative every day, there are always new ways for a Virtual Assistant to help the client with word processing, appointment management, correspondence management, remote computer maintenance, transcription, accounts payable and receivable, bookkeeping, marketing assistance, gift services, event planning…well, you get the idea. Other than doing your filing for you, a Virtual Assistant can help you with most anything. Actually, why do you want to keep all those documents in hard copy? Why not try digital archives of your important documents? You can fit zillions of them on a flash drive or other backup device.

Not sure how to do that? You don’t need to know. Your Virtual Assistant does it for you. Actually, there are a lot of things you don’t need to know. Why would you want to spend your time learning how to do things that can be delegated? Wouldn’t your time be better spent on working with your current customers and finding new ones? Your business will grow much faster and more efficiently if you work within your strengths. Don’t try to be an expert at everything. Delegate, turn it over, outsource it…whatever you want to call it. Experience the freedom! You get your life back!

Who, What, When, Why, Where…The Who

No, I don’t mean the rock band. I don’t mean Horton, the Who, either.

I am asked very often, “Who needs a Virtual Assistant?” Or, “Who are your clients?”

I can think of very few people who cannot take advantage of the benefits of having a Virtual Assistant. Let me offer a few scenarios.

The Butcher, The Baker and The Candlestick Maker – As busy as they are, none of the three have time to write newspaper ads, design next week’s coupon, answer emails, respond to letters and inquiries, keep track of inventory, place orders, or send out invoices. The Virtual Assistants at Brookwater Group can handle all of these important areas, and for all three of these busy guys!

Wynken, Blynken and Nod – These three guys have one of the busiest “Sleep Shops” around. But they want to find new products for their shop that are not ordinarily available. You know, real goose down comforters, authentic Egyptian cotton bedding, and other really scrumptious products. We have Internet research experts that can not only find the products, but find the best prices for the sleepy trio as well.

So, enough for the fairy tales. Virtual Assistance may have seemed like a fairy tale a few years ago, but with today’s technology, there’s not much that can’t be handled virtually. Did you know that many working moms also use Virtual Assistants? It’s so time consuming to send in materials for rebates, get the kids signed up for soccer, cheerleading, music lessons, play practice… A virtual assistant keeps the family’s cell phone numbers on file, and delivers text reminders: don’t forget basketball practice, library books are due, book reports are due, don’t forget lunch money today. They can also pay bills, put together a menu for the book club next week, and on and on it goes, right moms?

Try thinking outside the box. How much is your peace of mind worth? Would it be good for your health to delegate a few of your most time consuming chores to someone who can be trusted to do it well? Birthday cards, gift selection, ordering flea treatment for the pets at a discount? How about ordering Valentines gifts to arrive at your house in the next week or so, instead of you running to the store the night before, because you just haven’t had time? We also keep a file of everyone’s size, favorite color, etc. We’ll be sure you know when their favorites are on sale!

If you’d just like to talk to someone about it to get an idea of how it works, that’s available at no cost. We even have a toll free number, so NO cost or obligation. Let’s talk!

Oh, the Freedom and Payoffs

I am so fortunate to work from home! Being a Virtual Assistant is one of the most fulfilling things I have ever done. The variety keeps it interesting, and I love the freedom to work around the life that invariably happens to each of us. Yesterday, my daughter called from school to tell me she had slipped on the ice during recess and needed a dry pair of pants delivered to her locker. “Just put it in my locker, Mom, don’t let anyone see you!” Because I am my own boss, I was able to complete the stealth mission within 30 minutes.

If you or someone you know has a computer and a good set of skills, I would love to help them begin their own position as a Virtual Assistant. Because there are a lot of scams and overpriced programs out there in cyberspace right now, it’s important to be careful to choose someone who will really give you the help you need.

I have put together a course that typically takes 20 weeks to complete. It can be done at your convenience by Internet and conference calls. I make available all the forms that I use, all the marketing ideas that have paid off for me, the necessary skills and how to develop them further if you’ve a mind to, plus the best software, hardware and Internet sites to use for maximum speed and results.

One of the toughest questions I had to answer in the beginning was, “How much do you charge?” We’ll go over that, too.

Nobody’s daughter should have to sit in wet pants all day!

Proofreading

Nearly everywhere I look, I see spelling errors, mistakes in grammar, or sentences that could have been more easily understood with just a little rearranging.

Never before in the history of language has there been such a volume of the written word! With websites and blogs, newspapers and magazines, billboards, flyers, brochures, emails…words come into our daily lives at an astonishing rate.

Companies, businesses, professionals from all walks of life, want to maintain an impressive image. But how impressive is it when the information they submit is filled with mistakes?

Your Virtual Assistant can quickly proofread your information and send it back to you almost immediately with all the necessary corrections taken care of. It’s always more effective to have someone else read your material than to read it yourself, because you already know what it says, so you read what you think is on the page rather than what you actually see. Another’s viewpoint is fresh, which makes the proofreading much more accurate.

If you want your image to be crisp and professional, utilize the expert services of a Virtual Assistant at www.BrookwaterGroup.com.

We’ll meet your needs, your way, on time!

Help is here!

“I’ve worked hard to get to this point, and my business is thriving. But I have some new ideas for taking things to the next level. If I could just get some help with the routine things, I’d be freed up to move ahead.”

Help is here

We have personal experience as business owners, and understand the need for maintaining momentum.

“I’m so excited about the way my career is soaring to new heights. But it’s getting more difficult to keep up with those important behind-the-scenes activities that will keep things running smoothly. I need someone to help me keep up, so I don’t have to catch up.”

Help is here

No need to set up an extra office, buy another computer, set up payroll, unemployment compensation, or even clean the coffee pot.We’ll help you stay current from our virtual office, leaving you free to pursue new avenues of success.“My marketing techniques really worked! I’ve developed a terrific customer base, and the numbers just keep growing. But with all the money I’ve spent finding these clients, I now need to find ways to keep them. If someone could implement a “customer care” plan, I’d feel more confident that they were getting the best treatment possible.”

Help is here

We have experience in customer retention. We’re available to help you develop a program that fits your company, and then to take care of maintaining those valuable customers.

Our Virtual Assistants can be reached in just a moment by email, fax, instant message or phone.We are self-employed, and are available to help you with just about anything. We work from our own office with our own equipment. We are available on an as needed basis, or on a monthly retainer. We can work by the hour, or by the project, part time or full time. We take care of our own taxes and insurance. You decide which tasks you need to delegate, and how often you’d like us to be available.

Check our list of services, and contact us right away. We are as dedicated to seeing you succeed as you are. We’ll learn your business and your preferences, so that anytime you need something done, we’re already familiar with the unique characteristics of your business. No need to train a new temp worker each time you need help. We’re only a click away!

• Customer Retention
• Desktop Publishing
• Employee Appreciation
• Employee Handbooks
• Individual Services
• Mailing Services
• Marketing Campaigns
• Manuscript Writing
• Newsletter Services
• Parents’ Specialties
• Proofreading for business, advertisers, authors, students
• Resume Writing
• Scheduling and Reminders
• Word Processing