Author: Ownership

Succeeding With Outsourced Software or Web Development

Having employees or freelancers several thousand miles away in a different time zone can present its own set of problems, regardless of the difficulties of just trying to get everybody on the same page with a development.

The Agile and Scrum processes were direct responses to the needs of modern businesses, where employees might be clocking in in the morning as their comrades left for the evening. Having tasks chopped down into manageable and (very importantly) trackable chunks meant that it was suddenly possible to coordinate complex tasks across continents and get a result.

Communication is Key

There are a number of communication platforms that everybody can use together to keep communications and tasks in one place. Skype, WhatsApp, Google, they’ve all got ways of making sure everybody gets the message and knows what they’re doing. Uploading tasks to the cloud so everybody can access it, comment on, test and review it makes successful development much faster and more comprehensive. You need a revision quick? Push it into the cloud and see who can be allocated the task.

Meetings

Yes, meetings. They shouldn’t be what everybody dreads, and with Agile they’re supposed to be kept to a minimum 10 minute “stand up” at the start of each work session. Not often the case in reality as there’s often a lot to discuss, when done right they can ensure everybody knows what they’re doing and when to do it. Outsourced tasks are treated largely the same as tasks taken inboard with the Scrum process, making it a (hopefully smooth) process.

When a development task is broken up into small slices and allocated in the Scrum process, employees are generally going away to work on their task and reporting in when they need help or have finished. To avoid this being isolating, having a meeting where everybody gets to report both helps people feel part of a team and makes sure everybody is doing the right thing. It’s not uncommon for someone to say in a meeting “no, that’s not what I asked for!” And that’s the benefit.

Work it out

What needs to be outsourced and what needs to be kept onshore? That is the question. An analysis with Agile can show you who has what skills and what time available, giving you a pretty quick answer to the question. You can then Scrum it and allocate where needs be. It sounds much simpler than it often is, but it is efficient when you get it right.

Time Differences

If you can, exploit the time difference. If they’re doing it right, at the end of the day all your employees and freelancers will report in at given times, meaning you can set tasks for the “night shift” to do in preparation for your “day shift”. This works for everybody as it keeps nobody waiting and makes everything much faster.

Know the Goal

Everyone on every team needs to know what they’re working towards and a rough path of how to get there. Especially your outsourced help, talk to them as much as possible, as often as possible about developments, improvements, revisions and the tasks at hand.

Research Supports How Alcohol Disrupts the Body Clock With Bad Results for Frequent Fliers

Research conducted at Rutgers University and supported by Colorado State University suggests that the practice of drinking alcohol to get over jet lag is detrimental to health. The research singles out shift workers whose body clocks are at odds with circadian rhythms due to their work patterns. Frequent fliers, pilots and flight attendants may also be included in this group as they also have to cope with circadian rhythm disruption caused by flying.

Dipak K. Sarkar professor of Animal Sciences at Rutgers Cook College and director of the endocrinology and biomedical division at the Center of Alcohol Studies, says that alcohol can alter the body’s rhythmicity, this is the body’s ability to keep its rhythm. Rhythmicity is mediated through the circadian rhythms of the body which are in turn controlled by the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN) in the brain. Furthermore the professor points out the far-reaching effects the circadian rhythms have. Circadian rhythms handle more than 100 unique functions of the human physiology ranging from body temperature to hormone levels to immune response to pain threshold and many more.

It is thought that alcohol either interferes with SCN’s role in syncing with the physiology or alcohol stops the physiological systems from responding to the signal. Whichever the case the results are disorder with possible increased risk of sleep problems, hormonal dysfunction, compromised immunity and increased incidence of certain cancers.

Supporting professor Sarkar’s findings Robert I. Handa of Colorado State University says alcohol intake may influence the molecular underpinnings of circadian rhythmicity. The best interpretation of the data says that if one has a body clock that does not function properly that person may be increasingly motivated to consume more alcohol. “Chronic alcohol administration appears to significantly alter central and internal clocks that govern neuroendocrine functions” (Sarkar).

If that is not enough bad news for fliers Handa goes on to say that immune function can be influenced by stress hormones and stress hormones undergo daily rhythmic fluctuations themselves. The challenge for fliers is that they are in an environment out of sync with the timing cues they are getting from the SCN therefore immunity could be compromised.

Frequent fliers all have body clocks that don’t function “properly” due to all the flying they do, it comes with the territory. According to this research this puts them at a disadvantage. Alcohol abuse by frequent fliers, pilots and cabin crew is not uncommon and speaks to the point the researchers make about being predisposed to alcohol. While not everyone who drinks when they fly is in this category it would demonstrate the airline industry’s duty of care if they were to take this information into consideration. It would be even better if individual fliers took note and recognised the risk factors involved and better still stopped using alcohol as a crutch for getting over jet lag.

Works Cited –

Sarkar Dipak, Handa Robert; The Body’s Biological Clock: Alcohol May Lead to Physiological Anarchy, Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research (ACER) Volume 29, Issue 8, 2005 pages 1550 – 1557.

How To Choose A Consultant?

Retreats or meetings are facilitated by a consultant. An extra pair of hands can be offered by a consultant, which entirely depends on your requirements and the approach of the consultant. Expertise can be provided by a consultant, something that you may not get in your own company. A mentor can also serve as a consultant. Training can be provided and you can partner for solving various problems of your organization.

Some of the ways of engaging a consultant are given as follows –

Using RFPs

A request for proposals, also called RFP is issued by some organizations when a consultant is needed by them. A fair and unbiased process can be provided by a RFP. Responses can be evaluated by you with the help of a RFP from different consultants. Each proposal when comes in, is evaluated by a team depending on a system of scoring. You can be exposed by the proposal to a wide range of ideas. These ideas are generally about the approaching aim of your project. You will be given the chance to evaluate the price of these projects.

The downside of RFPs

You must remember that RFPs are something that most of the best consultants do not respond to. The best bid can easily be identified with the help of RFPs. Sometimes, the exact approach or the best consultant is not required to solve a problem.

The consultants take a lot of time to respond to a RFP. It is mostly very difficult to know the real requirements of the organization depending on the RFP. It is very necessary to have a conversation with your consultant to develop and explain the approach easily. You also need to have enough knowledge about the background of the organization.

Hiring a consultant without a RFP

It will be best to organize an in-depth discussion session before hiring a consultant. You must try to collect some background information for a meeting by consulting with some consultants who have worked previously on the same issue. General information about your company must be provided to the consultant.

Evaluating fit

The consultant should be a good member of your company. Questions will often be asked by the consultant in an interview to know more about your organization. He will also try to understand the issue properly for which he will be appointed.

Follow the above mentioned ways properly in order to hire a good consultant for your company, one that can help to make you successful in your own business.

A Tale of Two Lumberjacks

I see people spinning their wheels all the time getting nowhere. They see the next bright shiny object and off they go, once again. The worst is when you see someone who can’t keep focused on their goals. It usually means they don’t have one. It pretty simple to realize that if you don’t have a road to follow and a compass on hand, you may end up going in circles. Have you defined your goals? Have you come up with a mission statement? Does your company have its own mission statement? What are you all about anyway?

If you are a salesperson working for a company, take the time to define exactly how much in sales you will need to do each month to accomplish your personal goals and take care of your family. That will be your minimum. Then work it through. How much commission do you make off of each sale? If you add that all up, how many sales on average would you have to make each month, each week, each day to get there. Once you’ve defined the numbers, how many actual client contacts must you make each day to make that many sales? Then finally, how many calls each day must you make to keep your pipeline full and make actual contacts. In my experience as a sales manager over the years, I’ve seen some of my best salespeople be able to make 80 to 100 actual phone calls each day with at least 20 actual client contacts. A contact is where you actually talk to a client and accomplish some small item to move the sale ahead. Where are you in this? Are you willing each day to make the commitment it’s going to take for you to accomplish your goals? I’ve prepared this little story to illustrate what working smart is all about. It’s an oldie but goodie.

A Tale of Two Lumberjacks

Two lumberjacks were given axes and told to go into the woods to cut down trees. The first lumberjack found a tree and started chopping. He chopped all day without stopping. The second lumberjack also did his share of chopping, but kept stopping once in a while during the day. He’d walk away, and then come back a few minutes later. The first lumberjack just kept working.

At the end of the day, the second lumberjack had cut more wood than the first. The first was much more tired than the second. What happened?

The second lumberjack who took breaks went to go sharpen his axe. The point is that both had the same tool, but only one took the time to learn how to use it properly. Work smarter, not harder.

We all get the same tools. We have the same rules. Some of us learn how to use our tools better than others. The playbook is not as important as the execution. Is your execution of the tools that you have getting any better? Your ability to carry out the “execution” of the plan can make you better than your competition. It can give you the success you need.

Resilience Training For Leaders

A leader is someone that works with a team to achieve goals and accomplish tasks. However, a leader is more than that – they are an inspiring force that encourages members to be productive and contribute to the organisation in a positive way.

To see improvement in the performance of your team, it is essential to become a better leader. You can do so understanding your leadership style, building resilience, remaining positive, listening and communicating, and encouraging contributions.

Understand Your Style of Leadership

The first step to becoming a better leader is to understand what your leadership style is and how it affects team members and productivity. You should also assess your strengths and weaknesses, looking for areas of improvement.

You can take leadership quizzes to figure out your style of leadership and how the qualities of your leadership style help or hinder workplace situations.

Grow Your Resilience

Resilience is the ability one has to bounce back from strife and overcome challenges and difficulties that are thrown their way. To become a better leader, it is necessary to build resilience by taking part in a resilience training program and working with experts that can help you learn invaluable techniques and strategies to conquer the workplace.

Train your resilience by taking classes, participating in workshops, and practising mindfulness both at work and in your personal life. Group members can also participate in a resilience training program, enhancing efficiency and productivity.

Remain Positive

A positive attitude goes a long way in motivating and inspiring others, so put on a happy face and keep your attitude upbeat. It may not be possible to show up to work each and every day in a good mood, but once you train your resilience it becomes easier to focus on the task at hand and keep negativity from impacting your workplace performance.

Even when your team members seem disheartened, staying positive can help them overcome challenges and push through difficulties and problems.

Listen & Communicate

Active listening and communication skills are two very important things that a leader should practice as often as possible. Communicate with team members often, keeping them up to date on the happenings of the organisation and inspiring them to meet goals and accomplish tasks.

By communicating, you maintain rapport with members of your group and they are more likely to make valuable contributions to the organisation.

Accept & Encourage Contributions

What’s the point of having a team if you don’t listen to any of their ideas? Let your team members know that their ideas are welcome, encouraging them to become involved in decisions. You don’t have to accept every idea; listen to their contributions and use them to come up with a plan or solution.

You’ll still have final say over the decision, but your team members will feel like they have taken an active role and participated in the process, building connections and establishing trust. You also gain important insight.

Becoming a better leader benefits you, your team members, and the organisation you are working with. Keep these tips in mind if you want to better lead your team.

Motorcycle Shipping Rates With Crates

The world of freight is always changing. Fuel prices and truck availability are just a couple of factors that constantly manipulate freight rates. Carriers are prohibiting more and more items that present too much liability than it is worth for them to handle. How does all this changing affect motorcycle shippers or individual shippers?

Price and policy fluctuations have changed things but have opened new avenues for benefit.

People used to be able to put bikes and even more fragile items on pallets and be fully ready to ship. After damage claims ratios soared on these types of commodities, trucking carriers have had to raise their standards for shipments or refuse some types of freight altogether. Some people take this as an insult to the business they have to offer to trucking companies, but in reality, the heightened standards have supported a better overall experience for shippers. Seriously, would you like your uncrated Harley Davidson getting all scratched up next to someone’s tool chest? Think about it.

Since carriers have revised what types of freight they accept without a crate, the rates have changed in a way that reflects this. Crated freight almost always receives a lower (better) freight class, which is a less-than-truckload (LTL) density measurement. For example, an engine block on a pallet receives class 85; whereas, a crated engine receives class 70. Another benefit of having a crate is that carriers are much more likely to insure it, as it is properly protected. Things like antiques and mirrors (and motorcycles) are typically no longer accepted by most LTL carriers without a crate, but you can find specialty carriers that have unique trailers designed for transporting motorbikes. It just costs more.

Since crating provides such protection and opportunity for discount, it warrants investigation into how shippers can obtain these fancy boxes for use. Motorcycle crates are sold online from various suppliers. Vendors usually have a few different size options, so choose the one that closest fits your motorbike. Many times, this type of crate can be disassembled after it has served its purpose. On the other hand, all regions except the most rural ones have local packers and crating services that will prepare the bike for shipping for a nominal fee. Better yet, some prefer to handle the task of preparing the crate themselves! If you intend on building one on your own, then keep the following pointers in mind:

-A crate is a plywood box with a forklift-ready bottom.

-There should be two slots at the bottom, making a “tongue” that a lifting device can easily access.

-A motorcycle should be strapped down inside the box, or the wheels should be prevented from moving.

-If the mirrors or any other part impedes the crate from sealing shut, remove them and place them elsewhere inside.

Top Mistakes In Advertising & How To Avoid Them: Part 1 of a 10 Part Series: Ad Testing & Tracking

It strikes me that there are quite a number of opportunities out there for you to showcase your product or service using just about any form of media, and that’s fantastic. There is, as you have probably discovered, certainly no shortage of media players and opportunities to pick from.

What I found the most powerful is utilizing all of those resources to their respective individual and then collective advantages.

Sometimes things work wonderfully well using the more traditional radio, television, newspaper, magazine, maybe out of home advertising. More recently some advertisers have had some success with one or more of the social media platforms and that’s terrific. I think they should all be embraced and all form part of your media mix.

Please make no mistake that it should genuinely be a mix of media because you never know exactly which particular component is going to pull the trigger and get your target group to say… That’s for me, that’s the product that I want!

Your service is exactly what I’m after. You want to make sure you give yourself every opportunity to be seen and to be heard to promote whatever service or product you have out there. You want to stand head and shoulders above the crowd, in front of as many of the right crowds as possible.

So, what I’d like to share with you starting today is a series of ten of the Top Ten Mistakes in Advertising that I’ve seen through these three decades of being a professional media planner and buyer, and share some secrets and some tips on how to avoid getting into those very same advertising challenges.

This is my print version of the videos and audio of the same series.

Mistake Number One in our series follows:

The single biggest mistake I see repeated over and over again is the failure to test and measure your ads. All too often too many advertisers simply write a cheque for the ads in the newspaper, online, TV, radio, regardless of the media and simply hope for the best.

As many of you will attest, hope marketing really doesn’t pay an awful lot of bills. You wouldn’t put your own product, table lamps, lawnmowers, keyboards, post hole diggers, floor tiles, into the marketplace without putting them through an extensive battery of tests to see if they can live up to your standards.

You’re testing the ad that sells the product and, unfortunately, maybe you’ve encountered this yourself, or you know friends of a friend of a friend who had this happen to them.

They put all of their marketing muscle into one media without finding out how effective it could be on a smaller scale, and all they heard was crickets. That’s a devastating sound when you’re in advertising, so here’s what I want you to do.

Here is how you fix this: You identify each and every ad you place in any and all media.

What? Dennis, identify everything? Absolutely!

You see, what you want to do is learn how well every single piece of creative is performing in each magazine, website, leaderboard, big box, outdoor ad, in every radio commercial. You should have an identifier, a tag of any description that’s exclusive to that ad. Then you can go back and say we invested X number of dollars in this media and it brought us two returns, five returns, a thousand returns, whatever. The performance helps you to know exactly how well that ad worked.

What it also does is it helps you on the future campaigns by showing definitively what has been your best performer. It challenges you to come up with even better ads, better media mixes, better dollar spending, because now you know what’s performing.

This is not new. Nor is it rocket science. But it takes time and energy

and patience which is, unfortunately, a little bit lacking in too many arenas.

When you’re preparing your ads make sure that all of that creative excellence that’s been developed has a chance to be evaluated and measured. You want results so you can go back and track it. You can see how engaged your audiences are, how many times did they purchase the product, how many times did they go to the website, how many times that they raised their hand to say,

More. Hey I’m over here. I really like what you’re selling.

Show me more, tell me more. Give me some more information.

That’s what you want to deliver. So code your ad with the coupon exclusive to that campaign or magazine. Create a different URL or even a 1-800 number that can be tracked and monitored for every single ad.

You want to see how each ad is doing. Then, only then can you tell if it’s working and giving you a return on the investment.

If it sounds like an awful lot of work, well you’re right. Yes. You’re right, it is. But you are setting a template that will help you refine every ad moving forward. And if you get it right, right out of the gate, then kudos to you and Congratulations.

But in the majority there’s going to be some refinement, some improvements, some opportunity to tweak subsequent ads that says, we know we’ve got to improve this line or this copy.

There is a famous advertising gentleman by the name of John Caples who was an aggressive and prolific advertising tester, way before the Internet came onboard. He did one thing to make the ad better. He discovered that through all of his testing, one ad, by changing the headline performed 19 and 1/2 times better than every other ad that he had produced.

Same product, same newspaper, same service, same price point, all he did was change the headline and by changing it multiple times he found one that struck gold. You want a good return? Two times, three times better? Try nineteen and a half times better! That’s the difference that testing delivers.

Please remember when you’re testing there is no failure, there’s only results.

So here’s the strategy you might like, to give yourself a better return on investment. One enterprising client in my history treated it this way.

Because he came from a financial background each ad to him was considered a different mutual fund in his portfolio and he named them before they went into the media. Because they were coded in names he liked, he was able to remember them and he was able to soon see how well each of his investments, as he put it, was performing.

He put more money against the ads which were delivering, and changed any ads which were underperforming to a new one, to keep testing. To make sure of any money coming in he watched very carefully all of the money that was going out.

My message to you to avoid Mistake Number One is to Track Every Single Ad you prepare. It’s the only way to accurately measure what’s working.

How Can I Start a Gold Business in Dubai?

When Dubai is mentioned, their gold and diamond collection is one of the first things to come to mind because it is a trend in the emirate. Referred to as the “City of Gold”, the place offers a cheaper cost of gold than most tourists’ home countries. Since Dubai is a popular international vacation destination, the influx of the wealthiest customers can be significantly considered if you want to start a gold business.

Indeed, gold is an investment in Dubai as it drives foreign capital in the country. Unknown to many, it is the most profitable business since the precious metals keep their value, and the demand has been continually working every year. While Dubai has historically been a hub for gold traders, they also continuously contribute a significant share in the gold trading business in the UAE. If you are an investor, you should definitely consider setting up a gold trade business in Dubai. If you are not sure how, this article will help you delve deep before the onset of your gold business. With more knowledge and understanding, you can start making a profit out of gold, even in different departments.

Where exactly in Dubai?

There are different authorities and jurisdictions that highly support gold trading licenses in Dubai. Most of them can be found in Mainland and Freezone. Although there are many, there are three jurisdictions that stand out in Dubai where the highest concentration of gold traders can be found.

First on the list would be the Gold Trading License in Dubai’s Department of Economic Development (DED), wherein the heart of the UAE’s gold market is established. This authority is how you incorporate a business in the most famous gold markets in the world, the Gold Souk in Deira. The mainland jurisdiction offers a local license via the DED if an investor opts to form a retail outlet in this area. They can have an opportunity for investors to open up a stall or even a kiosk in Dubai’s most popular tourist areas. Investors must keep in mind that before applying for another commercial license for gold business via the DED, they have to find a local partner who will hold 51 per cent of the shares in the company.

The second choice for setting up a gold trade business in Dubai would be in the Gold and Diamond Park located along Sheikh Zayed Road. If you are an expat wanting to own 100 per cent of the business, this place is perfect for you as it is a free zone company setup. You can own 100% of your company with no taxes and have total resettlement of profit. The Gold and Diamond Park is one of the most famous retailers of gold and jewellery with over 90 stores, 118 purpose-built manufacturing blocks, and 350 offices. It is a convenient spot in Dubai City Center, with convenient access to all areas. You can incorporate a gold business company in this area by getting a license from Jebel Ali Freezone Authority (JAFZA).

The third choice for your gold business in Dubai is through Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), another Free Zone Authority. DMCC is famous for its Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange (DGCX), DMCC Trade flow, and overall gold value chain.

What are the steps?

The next thing you need to know is how you will make your gold business in Dubai happen. Different authorities and jurisdictions require other processes and requirements, so it is not easy to have one. Although the gold and jewellery business is popular in Dubai, the government has created specific regulations. It imposes rigorous checkups on those who bring gold or other precious metals in the emirate to have a safe business environment. To guide you, we have listed some of the essential steps you should do to form a gold business company in Dubai..

Come up with a Trade Name

Before you can obtain a license, part of its statutory requirement is to have a trading name. Having a trading name is a way for the government to know the business activity you will be carrying.

Obtain a Business License

There is no way to start a business in Dubai without having a business license. As mentioned above, you can choose to start your gold business in Dubai with the three different authorities like DED, JAFZA, and DMCC. They all require investors to have their business registered before carrying out their business activity. Unlike JAFZA and DMCC, which is in the Free zone, DED requires a particular requirement of having a local sponsor who will own 51 percent of the shares before he/she can obtain a business license. Usually, getting a license requires some of the primary documents:

Completed Application form

Passport copy of the proposed owner(s)

Two copies of coloured passport photos

Choose your Business Premises

There are various premises to choose from, especially if you opt to set up in the free zone area. They can offer you different offices or facilities that will best suit your business requirements. This process can be done right after you have secured your business license.

Obtain your Visa

Obtaining a visa can be achieved with the help of your service provider. Visas are required, especially if you have to hire an employee. As the holder of a UAE business license, you also have the power to sponsor others for their visa too. The number of visas you can apply for will depend on the size of your company or business, the type of company you choose, and your earnings.

Since Dubai has proven itself as a healthy and sustainable environment for jewellery and gold business both local and international investors, it is safe to say that starting a gold company in Dubai is highly profitable and can provide growth for the business.

Given all the information above, you may think that starting a gold business in Dubai is not overly complex. Doing it alone may still lead you to troublesome situations and unexpected expenses; that is why it is essential to seek professional help. In IBG Consulting, we guide you based on knowing the legal proceedings and business structuring in Dubai. We have a pool of talented consultants that will help you start your gold business in Dubai or anywhere in the UAE. If you want to know more about how you can create a gold business in Dubai, contact us or visit our website for a consultation.

5 Tips to Choose the Best Courier Service

Are you looking for a good courier service? Have you had bad experience with your previous provider? If so, we may help. If you are a business owner, choosing the best service provider may have a great impact on the productivity and efficiency of your business. So, if you want to boost the efficiency and productivity of your enterprise, we suggest that you choose the right courier service based on the 5 tips given in this article. Read on.

Immediate Availability

The first thing that you want to keep in mind that the service you choose should be available at all times. This is to make sure that the package will be picked up and delivered in time. You don’t want a service that won’t provide the services it claims or one that is not reputable.

Weight and size Limitations

Secondly, you need to find out what the weight and size limitations are for the packages the company can deliver. This won’t be a big deal for a law firm that delivers files back and forth; however, it can be a very important consideration for a good furniture retailer.

Proof of Delivery

You don’t want to hire a provider that won’t deliver your packages and shipments to the destination on time. In other words, you may want to use a courier service that will give you a proof of delivery. This way you can easily check if your package has been delivered or not.

Aside from this, tracking will be more useful if you have been thinking of sending goods through a courier that needs several days to get the package delivered. On the other hand, if the courier takes a few hours for delivery, you won’t benefit a lot form the tracking service. You can ask the company as to how you can get the proof of delivery. Usually, you can get the proof via email, phone, fax or the company website.

Cost and the Value

Your next step is to take into account the fees and costs of the courier service. Keep in mind that the lowest cost should not be a factor that your hiring decision should be based on. However, if you know that the inexpensive service that you are considering provides all the services you need, then you go ahead and try out the service.

Insurance

Again, this factor is very important if you are looking for a good service. If your shipment or package doesn’t get delivered to the given address and the goods are very valuable or confidential, then make sure you choose a service that is insured. Insurance will give you peace of mind that your goods are secure and that you can file a claim in case your package gets lost or damaged during transit.

Long story short, if you have been looking for a good service provider, we suggest that you take into account these factors first. This will ensure that you will get the best service provider for your money.

Skills You Need to Know to Land a Virtual Assistant Work

As a Virtual Assistant, you face a computer majority of your working hours. Working most of the time in front of your computer, you must know how to operate the basic programs and applications since your computer is your primary work tool for Virtual Assistant work. You may also need to know a little basic computer maintenance as well. These are important because if your computer goes down, both you and your client’s work will face a significant downtime.

One primary job of a virtual assistant is as a Content Contributor. It is either as a ghost contributor, creative writer or layout artist. With these tasks, you need a web publishing tool like Microsoft Word, Microsoft Publisher or Wordpad. Knowledge of the basic to intermediate functions of these applications would be your magic wands to do good as a virtual assistant. These tools allow you to produce a wide array of jobs. The list is endless: from creating books, brochures, business cards, calendars, letterheads, logos, magazines, newsletters, postcards and even websites

From basic web publishing, you can also learn advanced graphics applications to have a better grasp of the interactive design space. One of the most sought-after skills for Virtual Assistant work is being an adept in Photoshop, Corel or Quark. Being equipped with skills on either of the three makes one virtual assistant a prized asset. Having control of your interactive design space is very easy when you have skills using graphic design applications. Like the palm of your hand, design, manipulations, and conceptualization are easy to complete.

There are also a lot of clients in need for people to do Data Entry work. In reality, the competition is very high for this gig. However, it is an additional armament of an online services provider if you possess the skills needed for data entry. Data entry tasks require typing and entering data into forms. Some data entry work needs verifying and then editing current information. Some need to do proofreading and updating databases. Knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, and other spreadsheet applications is vital for this role.

On top of having proficiency in specific applications and programs, it is also important to have good communications skills and a good grasp of the English language if you want to excel as a VA. It is imperative for a virtual assistant to have good communication skills, both written and spoken. Being away from your client, the medium for communication is mainly through email, web talk and instant messaging. You may be required to communicate to customers and your client constantly for feedback and follow-ups. Your client may also ask you do tasks on his behalf like calling customers for appointments, confirm meetings or relay messages of customers to the “boss.” The understanding and delivery of messages are vital for Virtual Assistant work. One miscommunication would hamper trust and credibility. Therefore, your writing and verbal communications skills should be excellent.

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