So you were told that in order for your business to quadruple, you need to hire more people to better manage your tasks and operations?

Yet, how is it that you still feel overwhelmed with things to do?

Several young entrepreneurs we met have expressed this paradox. They have raked in full-time staff, who, although are experts in their own fields, are not reaping the desired benefits. CEOs still have to manage them, direct them, and also come up with ways to constantly motivate them to increase productivity. Plus, there’s the need of handling payroll, taxes, and other mandatory matters such as annual leaves, sick leave, etc. 

All the above requires a lot of time, and time equals money. And the more time spent outside of revenue-generating tasks means less profits, which might be detrimental to your long-term sustainability. 

So how then can you grow your company without facing all these added on pressures?

Your answer lies is in hiring virtual assistants (VA).

Not only does hiring a VA save you a lot of time, it also helps you save money. Here’s just a glimpse into how you can do so:

   No frills when hiring a VA

• No requirement to buy furniture (desk and chair).
• No requirement to purchase a computer.
• No requirement to purchase extra office stationery.
• Having no full-time staff means you save money on office rentals, as well as add-on expenses such as renovation, upgrading, insurance, taxes, etc.
• No requirement for added overheads; no electricity, internet, phone bills, etc.

 Get your dollar’s worth

• No requirement to pay tax for hiring a VA (dependent on your country of origin).
• No requirement to pay for sick leaves and vacations.
• You pay for the time spent on your work only.

 Be more efficient 

• Your VA can provide you with quarterly reports on project efficiency and hours spent. This way you can judge how to charge your clients better. 
• If you do have full-time staff, added help from your VA can improve efficiency levels during peak-periods without comprising your company values.
• Hiring a VA makes your business flexible. You can save money on office expenditures by working from anywhere.
• You can also save money by hiring a VA who is efficient in a few skills.
• Hiring a VA also helps to keep your environmental policy in-tact. You spend less time on the road and it can help reduce vehicle emissions as well as paperwork. This in turn will ease your out-of-pocket expenditure.

We are in no way implying that companies should completely do without any full-time staff, but startups that cannot afford to spend so much time in handling internal issues have to consider outsourcing.

Looking for the ideal Virtual Assistant who can help you boost your business efficiency? Contact VA-SG today!

Reducing costs, maximising productivity, and improving efficiency.

These are just some reasons why companies have jumped on the outsourcing bandwagon. While these reasons listed are three equally important items, numerous discussions with clients tell us that cost seems to be the biggest factor in deciding where or who to outsource tasks to.
 
So why would you want to hire a VA from one of the world’s most expensive cities, you ask?
 
Simple: To get your money’s worth.
 
Having recently celebrated its 50th jubilee anniversary, Singapore has come a long way since its founding days. Leaders in the likes of our first Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, have toiled hard to develop the country to where it is today. Our high regard for progress, advancement, structure, and competence is a great foundation for businesses that would like to set up shop here.
 
To top it off, businesses outsource to Singapore can do so with peace of mind. Our stringent regulations disallow business that don’t comply with mandatory laws and control from running – which keeps you, our client, safeguarded from calamities (natural disasters not included, obviously).
 
Some of the other reasons why we conduct our business from Singapore, hiring only VAs residing in our city state include:

• Good infrastructure: stable and fast internet, efficient banking facilities
• Regulatory compliances: registration of businesses, filing of taxes
• Requirements for internal control: manpower regulations
• Focus on people skills: trained for good customer service, driven to manage and or delegate tasks
• Problem-solving efficiency: fast-paced lifestyle that will ensure your deadlines are given paramount importance

 
Clients understand that although VAs from different countries can be hired at a cheaper rate, hiring VA-SG will keep your recurring costs at a minimum. With our Singaporean mentality, you don’t need to fret about productivity, efficiency and - best of all - your worries about cringe-worthy written words and unstable infrastructure (think old computers and horrible internet) are gone!
 
Want in on the Singapore experience? Contact VA-SG to find out how our services can help you.

I’ve talked about how hiring VA-SG has helped me with many aspects of my freelance working life. My designated VA has worked within my budget, helped me manage my family’s expectations, and kept me sane in desperate times.

She has also done a hero’s deed of improving my freelance writing career.

Let me tell you how that happened.

When I first started, my philosophy was simple – to earn a stable passive income by writing after my 9-to-5 hours. I had about two clients and everything was going smooth and easy.

Things changed when I decided to pursue writing as a full-time freelance career.

I soon realised that there was more to just writing. I had to spend hours researching, following up with clients, working with their expectations, and of course there was the much needed marketing.

I could initially handle all of this – but only until I realised how the marketing environment kept transforming every other day. Things were becoming more tech-savvy and having to spend most of my hours writing, I didn’t have the time to figure out all the tools that kept popping up like mushrooms online.

I had to focus on keeping my current clients happy before starting to rope in new ones.

But how could I start talking to new clients when I didn’t have the extra time to do so?

That’s where VA-SG came in.

Let’s get into the specifics.

1.       Identify gaps

There were some processes in my initial stage of business development that I was not familiar with. Like I said earlier, I had to focus on researching and writing for my client projects, but I knew I couldn’t ignore the list of things I had to do for my own branding and marketing.

So I made a list of gaps that I had to fill – gaps that would consume time outside of my regular activities; if I were to figure them out on my own.

Once that was done, I handed the tasks, in order of importance, to my VA. She would then send me a snapshot of the information requested. I no longer had to read through lengthy articles and books to figure things out.

But it doesn’t just stop there. Work with your VA and find out the kind of gaps he or she cannot fill. For instance, some VAs are not experts in finance or accounting. However, if you have a good relationship with your VA – identify these gaps early and discuss the possibility of giving each other time to learn and adapt. This will save you time and money as you won’t have to look for another virtual assistant.

2.       Compare and analyse

Another key aspect of business that is very much time consuming is the decision making process. And this is not subject to freelancers only. Even CEOs of top organisations often only leave crucial decisions until crunch time hits.

And it’s mostly because they can’t find the right tools and clear overview of possible solutions. These drags the time and the decision feels like it takes forever to be made.

Which is why I get my VA to do a lot of comparison and analysis for me.

In one case, I was looking for a free web application to ease the workflow of my business finances – i.e. sending invoices and receipts to clients. I had already spent about two to three hours on Google, clicking through links that seemed like something I could use.

But I couldn’t make a decision. And neither did I have time to try each and every one.

So I let my VA do it for me.

A few days later, she comes up with the best solution for my current business model that is now paramount to my growth. Her help has saved me a lot of money from impulsively purchasing something that wouldn’t be of use to me.


3.       Give and take

Want to know how to build a give-and-take environment with your VA’s organisation? Consider a barter trade of sorts, if you’re a fellow service provider or expert in your own field.

This way you build value for yourself and your VA’s company. Read more via this link. It’s the best of both worlds.

Think you need a VA to help you strike off tedious tasks on your to-do list? Email VA-SG today!

VA-SG takes pride in playing a vital part in assisting events and wedding planners. Our Virtual Assistants (VAs) are capable of addressing a range of tasks. With our help, event planners have been able to keep a holistic view on their events without losing out time on carrying out trivial to-dos.

“VA-SG are indeed a blessing to me. Thank you so much!!! Your work is more impactful than some may credit it, and I see and appreciate its precious value.” ~ Jessica, Wedrock Weddings.

If you’re an event planner, and you have your plate full, then you might want to take outsourcing into consideration. Here are just some of the surface tasks that we can help you out with:

1.       Managing your calendar

•    Schedule meetings
•    Schedule lead-up activities for events
•    Block out event dates

2.       Help you research

•    Research for venues, vendors, etc
•    Update calendar of events from other organisers
•    Research and file press articles on you or your events

3.       Manage your communications

•    Contact vendors such as event venues, caterers 
•    Request for quotations and proposals from vendors
•    Reply to emails enquiries
•    Transcribe recorded minutes of meetings and issue them out

 4.       Do your marketing

•     Create and update websites
•     Create and update social media networks
•     Create and issue out newsletters
•     Contact previous clients for testimonials and photos
•     Update event into event listing websites
•     Send out press releases to the media

Do you think you need help in any of the categories mentioned above? Contact us today for a non-obligatory discussion on how we could assist you.

Are you a property agent / real estate agent / realtor? Do you find your time constantly filled up with appointments and paperwork to close deals?

If you answered yes to the above questions, then it’s time to take another look at your goals. We’re sure that one of them includes living a hassle free life. Or maybe you want to spend more time with loved ones? In order to do so, you need to restructure the way you work.

How? By outsourcing the work to virtual assistants like us.

A real estate agent is often mistaken to be someone who works at his/her own time, own pace. Yet, we understand that the work involved is more than meets the eye. There are plots to sell, listings to update, people to meet, advertisements to arrange, deals to close, and after-sale add-on services to follow up on. It doesn’t matter if you’re a realtor part-time or full-time, you need help.

So where can we step in and be of assistance? Here are just some ways we can help:

1. Build websites with call-to-action strategies.
   
   
2. Update and maintain websites on a regular basis.
   
   
3. Create a social media presence and gather followers. 
   
   
4. Update social media accounts on a regular basis.
   
   
5. Design custom flyers for specific listings or developments.
   
   
6. Research on property areas to provide clients a better insight into their surroundings.
   
   
7. Add listings to external property websites.
   
   
8. Snap and upload photos of residences for relevant listings. (*This service can only be provided in Singapore with relevant permissions.)
   
   
9. Reply to email enquiries on a regular basis.
   
   
10. Scan through newspaper listings and follow up accordingly.
    
    
11. Manage your databases which can help you generate more sales.
    
    
12. Send clients relevant packages for festive seasons, birthdays, etc.
    
    
13. Manage your files by transferring them into the cloud to minimise your paper trail. 

Are you a property agent? Contact us for a no-obligation discussion on how we can be of assistance to ease your workload!

We’ve talked about how small businesses and freelancers benefit from outsourcing tasks to visual assistants (VAs). This website is full of articles to prove this point.

But we recently received an enquiry to see if bigger market players can benefit from assistance that we provide.

It honestly isn’t the first time we’ve received such skepticism. It is a common myth that multi-national corporations can afford to hire people on full-time basis; which we do not doubt for a minute. What we’re trying to say is that one should not discount the fact that VAs can also be a part of a bigger existing ecosystem.

Some of the ways we personally have helped larger corporations include:

• Acting as their social media engagement wing
  

• Handling personal tasks for senior management (keying in name cards, researching travel options, scheduling appointments, etc)
• Researching on relevant topics to fill up information gaps (best banks to get a loan from, available software comparison and options, etc). 

If you still don’t take our word for it, let these big players convince you of otherwise:

“Still, the thrifty culture and informal atmosphere keeps many founders and CEOs locked in DIY day in and day out. But if you’re wasting hours each morning poring over numbers, sifting through resumes, or picking out picture frames, you’re doing yourself – and your burgeoning company – a disservice.” – Mikita Mikado (co-­founder and CEO of electronic signing software PandaDoc), via Here Are The Tasks Startup CEOs Should Always Outsource

“One of the great features of this relationship is that I don’t have all the overhead you would usually have with an assistant. She is technically “contract labor.” As a result, I don’t have to pay her payroll taxes, provide her healthcare, or purchase her equipment.” – Michael Hyatt (Virtual Mentor), via Should You Consider Hiring A Virtual Assistant?

“My executive assistant has become key to my productivity. With someone to attend to administrative details, I can focus on building my business.” – Dave Kerpen (CEO, Likeable Local) via 6 Ways a Good Assistant Can Change Your Life

And if this still isn’t enough, the man behind the four-hour-work-week is here to divulge it all. Read through his handy guide on how to work with a VA for a task as simple as checking your email via The Holy Grail: How To Outsource the Inbox and Never Check Email Again. 

We hope that these quotes finally debunk any myths you have about VAs only being able to help smaller entities. We can go big, too!

Finally convinced that you could use some extra help to sort out your unfinished tasks? Drop us a note today and we’ll love to chat and offer you customised solutions to do just that and more!

by Manisha Dhalani

I was recently talking to a freelancer who was gushing about her newfound respect for virtual assistants (VA).

Her story was simple. She started freelancing a few years ago. All was well and good until she hit a peak – a fantastic influx of clients in her professional life, and a new baby in her personal.

Juggling both became an immense challenge. She couldn’t bear the thought of disappointing her clients with mediocre work, and yet no mother can ignore her crying child. She had automated some of her processes, but a lot of it was still manual labour that needed both time and attention.

She came to a point where she considered dropping everything to become a full-time mother.

That was until she was introduced to the concept of VAs.

Lucky for her, she quickly found someone to take charge of tedious tasks like researching, resizing pictures, and paperwork. She only had two things to do now – take care of her baby, and do the work that her clients hired her for (in her case, it was graphic design).

In my friend’s story, the damsel in distress gets saved. She was fortunate enough to recuperate from her stressful situation quickly with a VA who was willing and capable to pick up after her so quickly.

But not everyone is that lucky. I also know a bunch of people who are constantly overwhelmed with their work; desperate for help, and yet, no sign of a VA.

If this story isn’t convincing you enough, here are some other reasons why you should consider hiring a VA before you start getting busy.

Help you build a foundation

When I first started my business, one of my first expenditures was to allocate some money for help. A VA was just what I needed to help me strengthen the pillars of my business. I needed to make sure I had my own branding, my passive income, and my business processes in place before I dove into the sea of entrepreneurship.

My VA helped me test my website, research plugins I could use, and figure out the gaps I had to ensure my passive income will continue running while I focused on my freelance writing. On top of that, every time I have a client with a big request, I outsource my research work to my VA so I can focus on getting good quality words out to my paymasters. My business processes started to become more automated.

Make way for bigger projects, better client relationship

With a business process in place, I knew how much more work I could take on. Writing is, after all, not a quick-rich business. It takes time and perseverance to churn out words that will pull on the heartstrings of the right target audiences. With the knowledge that I had a VA to back me up at work, I was more confident to take on bigger projects and deliver them. This, in turn, has resulted in the conversion of new clients to loyal ones who give me repeat business.

You don’t want to wait until the eleventh hour to find someone to help you out with your work; and this is a strong message I would like to impart to all freelancers. You may not see the need to get an office and staff on payroll but you still need help. A VA is someone who can assist you only when you need them to, without straining your work or your pockets.

Allow you to stay sane

You may enjoy being a workaholic, but if you’re a one man/woman show, you need to know that you can get away from your desk without any serious repercussions happening. Hiring a VA can do just that but remember that the person who you have hired is there to assist you, not to take over your business dealings.

VAs can answer phone calls or emails when you decide to take that road trip with your family. That way, you can have fun and take a break, knowing that your clients won’t feel abandoned.

As the saying goes, prepare an umbrella before it rains. Hire a VA today if you want to see your business grow without you having to lose sleep.

Feel under pressure? Need someone to pick up on tasks that you’ve left off? Contact VA-SG today to find out how we can help.

VA-SG is an organisation that places high importance in assisting mumpreneurs with achieving great success. And why not? After all, the company is spearheaded by a mumpreneur too!

That doesn’t in any way mean we’re bias. It’s just one of the many success stories that demonstrate how a woman can maintain a good balance between ensuring that her house doesn’t catch fire while keeping her career pathway in-line with her passions.

If you don’t believe us, let these articles below do the talking. These are just a glimpse into how mothers across the world are becoming key players in the startup and other relevant industries. It also goes to show how mothers can also play a important role in building up great CEOs of the future. Check them out:

It’s Time To Get Your MBA (Motherly Business Advices) via startandstayup.com

 “In an article on entrepreneur.com, a follower was given the opportunity to ask Richard Branson the methods he employed to learn the tricks of his trade. The business mogul replied with an extensive explanation on how his journey unfolded, including the fact that he was always ready to listen to anyone who was willing to share their knowledge with him. More importantly, he mentioned how his mother was one of the most influential people in his life, always teaching him to “see everyday as an opportunity to achieve something new.””

3 Great Examples Of Successful Mom Entrepreneurs via forbes.com

 “Another subset of entrepreneurs that fascinates me is mommy entrepreneurs, or Mompreneurs. The research I have done has lead me to several conclusions. First, the ones that succeed are sensational multi-taskers, as all moms are. They have a keen ability to balance being both the CEO of the household and the owner of a business. The second conclusion I have come to is that more than many entrepreneurs, their business ideas identify and provide solutions to many of life’s problems. Or should I say opportunities? They have great stories, a passion for their work, and a drive that rivals most non-mom entrepreneurs I have met. Including myself.”

Meet the mumpreneurs: Women who changed their careers to start businesses inspired by their children via belfasttelegraph.co.uk

“I work in the mornings and then take the afternoon off with the kids. I can collect them from school and do homeworks, and then go back to working in the evening packing orders. It can be hard work, but when you are doing it for yourself you don't mind.” - Nicola Smyth, Little Shoos

8 Startup Superwomen & Their Lessons Learnt via startandstayup.com

“Professional success is dependent on three factors – your actions, your mindset and your network. If you keep taking action with the right mindset, coupled with the right community, there is a higher chance of success in the business world.” - Pam Siow, CEO, ThinkSpace

10 Entrepreneur Moms Share Keys to Success via workingmother.com

"To me, true success is happiness. From that has come two key things: passion and persistence. When I have done things only because it was what others highly valued, I did a few good things. When I have pursued the things that make my heart sing, I have done something great. And not because it was easy or I got it right from the start, but simply because I loved it enough and believed in it enough to keep at it." - Jessica Herrin, CEO/founder of Stella & Dot jewelry and accessories company

In honour of Mother’s Day, we’d like to salute all the ladies out there who toil hard to achieve goals for themselves and their loved ones altogether. Happy Mother’s Day!