Work At Home Business Options

Archive for November, 2010

8 Strategies For Effective Business Communication by Teresa Morrow

When in business, one of the main goals is to achieve reoccurring sales and referrals. In order for this goal to be achieved, the business owner needs to ensure the customer is happy with the service or product being offered. A customer’s happiness can be from effective communication on the part of the business owners and associates. At least 65 percent of each and every day, humans spend communicating, either verbally or in writing. When you really think about that statistic, the importance of how we communicate with each other becomes obvious.

Here are eight strategies to help significantly increase effective communication within your business and with the customers.

1. Hit Replay before you speak-
Be sure to have a clear picture of the message and then form an outline in your mind before the words are spoken. Know exactly how you want to convey that message to your customer or business associate.

2. Ensure Active Participation –
A good in person conversation entails eye contact which deems it necessary to be looking at each other during communication. When you and your customer are not looking at each other, it doesn’t allow for “active listening”. Wait until there is an open, clear line of communication before you speak. By speaking while in another room or with your back turned, it may appear the customer may feel unimportant, which can lead to frustration between you and your customer.

3. Patience really is a virtue –
Don’t let your impatience get the best of you when trying to communicate. The true meaning of your message may get misunderstood if you decide you need to tell your customer something too quickly. This could lead to a misperception of your message and then you will need to spend more time trying to explain what the message was you were trying to convey.

4. Remember to listen –
Listen to the customer and answer questions fully. By listening, it displays your commitment to the customer’s needs and wants. As a business owner, listening should be done first and then speaking with the customer.

5. Know your audience –
Successful communicators understand their audience because they connect with an aspect of our lives, whether it is personal or professional. When you are in tune with your customer’s lives, the business relationship develops on a more personable level. This can be a factor when deciding to go with a company for business.

6. Get the Facts-
Effective communicating is driven by having the facts to go along with your message. No small detail is insignificant. For example, when writing down a phone message, be sure to ask for all the correct contact information, the caller’s first and last name, and their message.

7. Ask Questions –
Ask your customer if they have any questions about your message, whether it be a phone call or presentation. If they do, be sure to answer them honestly.

8. Watch your Tone –
The use of the tone in your voice when communicating can mean the difference between getting the correct message across and creating an argument. Be uplifting and encouraging with your tone.

Teresa Morrow, owner of Key Business Partners, a virtual assistant company, has been in the administrative industry for over 15 years. She has been in many different fields of business such as landscape architecture, financial planning, property management and floor restoration. After being in the corporate world for many years, in 2005, Teresa decided to leave and manage her husband’s floor restoration business. Then in 2007, she ventured on her own to start Key Business Partners.

Article Source: WAHM Articles

Networking with others online is a great way to learn more about your Direct Sales business and a great way to pick up new customers and party hosts. However, there is a right and wrong way to network on Social Media web sites like Facebook, Ning and Twitter.

When you are networking on these type of social sites, it is very important to always put forth your very best and to remain the constant business professional. When you are networking and trying to grow your home business, no one wants to read about messy things going on in your personal life. Furthermore…from time to time you will see others on various Social Networking sites who behave badly by picking fights with others, posting inappropriate comments, foul language, etc.

When you see others who are behaving online, it is in your best interest to move on…don’t engage them, debate with them etc. on a public networking site. Don’t get pulled in to their mis-deeds, don’t let others see you respond badly to someone else who is behaving badly online.

Your online business reputation is everything! Keep it clean and professional on public networking sites.

Shelly

I would like to wish all of my blog readers a Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you enjoy this time with all of your family and friends!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Shelly

Undervaluing oneself is a problem often seen in the work at home industry and mainly with women. I often wonder why some women are prone to undervalue their services and their own work. What has been ingrained in us that makes us think we need to give everyone a deal? Why are we afraid to charge what we are worth?

Conversely, I have had many people assume that I am going to do a post or some other work for free. Is that because they are so used to getting free promo from other women? Or are they assuming that
because I just “am a blogger”, I do it for fun. Or is it because I am just “a Direct Seller”, is it assumed that you can get a discount or free goods because the other reps around town give it away?

So, what can you do to increase your self-worth and get the price you deserve?

•Focus on your craft, your product and your work. Become an expert in all areas of the business. This increases your customers trust in your abilities

•Give superior customer service. From the initial contact and through each contact after, be
special and unique and keep the contact going. Follow up and follow through. Under promise and over
deliver.

•Be the part – be professional at all times. Show yourself as a professional in your market. One
way to do that is to…

•Take classes and increase your training to be a valuable asset to your customer. Whether it is in sales seminars or web design, increasing your knowledge is worth the extra price you should be charging.

All of these things will increase your integrity, your pride in yourself and your work and it will show through. Never be ashamed of what you do or what you charge. You don’t have to discount yourself to find your customers. Those customers that are truly worth your time and effort will come to you regardless of your price. If you feel like working with a client that cannot afford your prices or fees straight out, set up a negotiable fee arrangement. Swapping products or ideas is one suggestion. Set up payment plans.

You are the owner of your business. You work hard; you do right by your customers and clients and if the lady down the block is discounting or the other blogger is doing stuff for free, do not apologize. Just keep your prices right where they are and show them the difference with your service and smile.

Copyright Chris Carroll All Rights Reserved
Chris Carroll is a sales professional that has made direct sales her business of choice and enjoys sharing with others. You can sign up for tips on managing and increasing your business at her site DirectSalesTalk. You can also find her at her business site ShopOnYourSeat If you would like to use this article for your newsletters or website, all links must be live and clickable.

My husband loves cookies but his number 1 favorite cookie is a pumpkin cookie…especially ones that have a deliciously sweet frosting on top. Today I thought I would share my recipe on how to make them with all of our blog readers…especially since the holidays are just around the corner.

Shelly’s Frosted Pumpkin Cookies Recipe

1 c. granulated sugar
1/2 cup margerine or butter
1 cup pureed pumpkin
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder

Option: If your family prefers, you can substitute the raisins with chocolate chips.

In a large bowl, cream together the granulated sugar and the margerine using an electric mixer. Stir in the pumpkin puree, optional raisins and the vanilla extract until all wet ingredients are combined.

In a large bowl, combined together the all-purpose flour, baking soda and the baking powder. Pour dry ingredients into the wet ingrediets and mix together until everything is well combined.

Drop cookies by the rounded tablespoon onto an ungreased baking sheet and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 7-9 minutes or until they are done. Remove from oven and let them cool on a wire cooling rack.

Frosting Recipe

1 lb. box of powdered confectioner’s sugar
1/2 cup margerine or butter, softened
1/4 cup milk (I use 2% milk)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a medium sized bowl, combine the above ingredients together until the mixture resembles frosting. You want to mix it until it is spreadable. Spread the frosting on top of each baked pumpkin cookie.

Store all of your frosted cookies in an air tight cookie canister for storage.

You’ve heard the term Virtual Assistant (VA) buzzing around the internet and maybe it has you thinking this might be a good fit for you, but where to begin? There are many, many resources available to you, so many that it can be overwhelming…who do I trust? Which is the right way to start? Let me give you some insight on how I got started.

First off, I’ve spent my entire career as a professional administrative assistant, and once I became a Mom the desire to work from home became very strong. However, becoming a VA isn’t as simple as saying “I’m now an administrative assistant from home”, there are a few steps to help you get there first.

Consider hiring a business coach: this has been a tremendous help in getting my business built on a strong foundation, most coaches offer an initial consultation so you can see if it’s a good fit for you.

• Think about your target market: that’s right, before you even decide what you are going to do figure out WHO you are going to do it for. This is an essential key to building a successful VA practice. If you offer general services to everybody you will find it hard to stand out in the crowd, but if you offer specific services to a targeted market, then you have the potential to be a sought after resource!
• Take a look at your skills: now that you know who, determine what you are going to do to help them. What skills do you have that you enjoy doing and do well? Refine these skills to become your service offerings in your business.
• Meet with your accountant: find out what tax implications starting your own business, determine what the best type of business structure is best for your situation. Also check with your local state government to find out what is required to start a business.
• Name yourself: come up with a name that reflects who you are, who you serve and get your URL bought and work on creating a website, after all the internet is the way most potential customers will find you.

As you work through these initial steps, you should start to see your business emerge. Take some time and think about whom you can serve and how best you can do that will help you create a strong VA
practice.

Here are some of my favorite coaches and resources to help you along the way:

Lara Galloway – The Mom Biz Coach www.MomBizCoach.com
Kellie deRuyter – The VA Success Coach www.TheVASuccessCoach.com
Donna Toothtaker – Step It Up VA Coaching www.StepItUpVA.com
Virtual Assistant Forums www.virtualassistantforums.com
AssistU – for training and certification, Stacy Brice pioneered the VA industry www.AssistU.com

Melissa H. Dery is The Golden Rule Virtual Assistant (VA) providing Virtual Business Management to leaders in Direct Sales. A former direct sales consultant, who also grew up in a direct sales family, Melissa has a personal understanding of the “behind the scenes” work required to help your business run and grow.

With over 20 years of experience as an administrative assistant, Melissa took her talents as an assistant and combined it with her desire to help support those in direct sales to become The Golden Rule VA. Where her mission is to treat your business as if it were her very own, with respect, creativity and professionalism…it’s her rule!

Melissa is married to her best friend and lives in New Hampshire with her two boys. She has a Bachelor Degree in Business Management and a Ducktoratte Degree from Disney University. She loves coffee, running and most of all go camping with her family.