Tag Archives: virtual assistant

virtual-assistants-can-research-for-you

Virtual Assistants Can Research For You

Your organization can benefit from the research of competing products, services, management teams and companies. However,  research that is well done takes considerable time, effort and personnel. Often, it is best to hire virtual assistants to complete the research tasks for you.

Thorough research requires significant initial and ongoing time to identify, evaluate and follow what your customers, suppliers, distributors, employees and competitors are doing. Useful research can provide ways for your organization to improve, reduce costs, increase sales and generate more profit. 

A form of research involves the monitoring of what third-parties are saying about your organization online. There are many message boards, blogs, forums and online properties such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube in which people express themselves. Reputation monitoring and management is a form of research that virtual assistants can conduct.

Virtual assistants can also be engaged to poll third-parties with specific questions so that the feedback is more on point to what you are trying to understand better. For example, a survey can be conducted to solicit feedback about your products or services as compared to your direct competitors. The results can help improve your business many ways.

Hiring college educated virtual assistants can assist your organization with all of its research needs. At 60% less cost than a typical employee, you can get all the benefits of thorough research but without the traditionally high costs.

Save Time. Make More Money. Grow Your Practice. Let Golean Health take care of your office needs while you and your staff spend more time serving your patients.

 

good-communication-so-critical-in-virtual-businesses

Good communication so critical in virtual businesses

It was a ‘typical Monday’ today …. but a few things that happened throughout the busy day made me realize, yet again, about how important good communication for those ’sticky situations’ is in a virtual organization.

I’ve been working virtually for 6 years and have certainly run into my share of ’sticky’ situations that may have been avoided had they been in a typical office environment.

Since we rely so heavily on email correspondence – it’s absolutely critical that we remember a few key points when it comes to these challenging situations and how we handle the communication around them. Good communication with our colleagues, clients, prospects – everyone goes a long way and it will either keep or bruise your reputation. In fact, it can make or break your relationships if you’re not careful.

Those who know me well know that I’m a bit ’sensitive’ when it comes to communication. I really (really!) try to word my emails in such a way that they don’t come across as insulting, impatient, rude, or like I’m blaming or selling someone out. If I receive an email that implies any of these – I get a tad bit cranky – just as I’m sure many others would, depending on the content.

So here’s just a few tips to consider before hitting that send button in an unpleasant situation. Remember, there’s no way to retrieve those words once you have sent them …

  • If you receive an email that upsets you – close it and come back to it later. If you fire off a response before you settle your emotions, you may include things you really didn’t want (or need) to say and completely jeopardize your relationship. Take a few minutes and revisit the email later and respond then.
  • Before you hit that send button – read your email one last time. If you received this email – would it upset you? Take the time to re-read and make sure it says what you want to say without causing conflict.
  • Select your words wisely. Make sure the words you use will not make the other person feel like you are attacking them in any way. Again, ask yourself if the words used would upset you if you were on the receiving end.
  • Decide if it’s really worth a response. Sometimes it’s just not worth responding to an email. If it’s something that should be ‘dropped’, then leave it as is. You may feel like you need to put in the last word but is it really worth it? Likely not.
  • Think about other options – would it be better to pick up the phone and talk to the person instead of sending an email? Going the extra step and clarifying a situation voice-to-voice can save a relationship. Take a few minutes to think of the points you want to cover. Don’t act defensive …. talk it out and you’ll likely feel much better immediately after.

These are tips we all know but tend to forget in difficult situations. Think of them next time you receive an irritating email … it may save you a few gray hairs! 🙂

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