So the question becomes, in today’s tough economic times, can your business afford a skilled VA to take care of your newsletter publication needs? Truthfully, you can’t afford not to. While every business is unique, most small businesses have a number of characteristics in common:

• Financial resources are limited
• Owners and employees are expected and required to accomplish many different tasks every day.
• Time always seems to be running out
• Survivability and the ability to thrive depends greatly on the ability to innovate, care for customers, and move on opportunities at a moments notice

Chances are these characteristics sound a bit familiar to you as a business owner. If they do, consider this scenario:

Bob, a trusted and valued employee, is sitting at his desk, working feverishly to get the financials completed for the quarterly report due tomorrow. This number crunching would have been done at least a week earlier, but meetings with clients, fixing the copier machine, and dealing with a finicky computer had all conspired to reduce his need schedule to ruins. Peering over the last set of numbers, he sees the shadow of his boss looming over him.

Bob looks up to see his boss place a pile of papers on his desk, and hears his boss ask him to take this information and create a great newsletter that he can send out to the existing customers. The boss knows that he can count on Bob to do a great job, but he is worried about the workload that he is placing on Bob’s shoulders. So, the Boss decides to take some of the projects out of Bob’s inbox and do them himself, so Bob can have more time to complete the newsletter. Both stay late into the evening and go home tired, but satisfied with their work.

A few days later, however, it is apparent that the work completed by both Bob and his boss isn’t quite as good as it could be. It is, of course serviceable, but both men know that they could, and should have done better.

Now, let’s change the situation a bit by bringing in a virtual assistant.

Bob looks over the last of the financial information for the quarterly report and notes any corrections that need to be made prior to submittal for final approval. The day is winding down, and he has a few projects left in his inbox, but they are nothing that can’t be handled over the next few days. It has been a hectic week, and he will certainly sleep well tonight.

An email notification pops onto his screen, and he opens the email. There, staring at him is the draft newsletter that the VA, Beverly has created based on a few documents and a hurried email he had sent over earlier that week. As usual, he is relieved and somewhat amazed at how she can take their musings, writings, and half-formed ideas and transform them into a professional looking newsletter. He looks it over, approves the content, and forwards the email to his boss for final approval and distribution. He knows that by tomorrow morning, all 125 of his regular clients will have something new from the company waiting for them in their email inbox.

Bob takes one final look at the financials, and does a quick review of the upcoming projects. With the newsletter handled by the VA, he knows that he can devote his time and energy into caring for these projects and the customers associated with them. He shuts down his computer and leaves for home, looking forward to the spaghetti dinner waiting for him.

As a business owner, you have the option, and the responsibility to chose the scenario that is best for your situation. So, would you rather have an overworked staff that may produce work that doesn’t quite meet your standards, or the help of a virtual assistant who can handle the production of a professional newsletter, and leave the business of your business to the experts, your employees?

To Do 3rd – 7th:

• File away 2010 client files and business files
• Finish up guest post article
• Write two articles for business site
• Update white board calendar for January 2011
• Begin outline for Time Saver News Feb Addition
• Create daily to do list every evening
• Make sure office is clean and ready for the next day
• End business day at 5 PM every day
• Post one Business related tip or recommendation on facebook and twitter daily
• Contact writer about monthly retainer
• Have everything marked off this list by the end of business day Friday

I would love to hear what you have on your list for this week.

If you’ve been in the market searching for the right product to help you build your business you can stop searching.  I’ve found it for you.  Swimcart is the newest choice in not only shopping carts but email lists, auto responders, affiliate software and secure digital product delivery.

Wish you had more targeted marketing tools, searchable FAQ’s for your customers or potential clients?  You can with the advanced features (included) in Swimcart, that’s right – no additional charge for that.  I’ve been doing my research to help my current clients out and I wanted to make sure I shared it with you as well.

Let me just show you real quick what’s included in Swimcart. Here’s a quick list you can run through:

• Shopping Cart

• 1-Click Up sells

• Secure digital product delivery

• Advanced recurring billing

• Affiliate Software

• Email & Auto responders (unlimited email lists and auto responders, multiple list management, advanced email tracking, automatic unsubscribe moves purchasers from prospect email list to customer list, mail merge personalization, entry and exit pop-up forms and subscription boxes.

• Membership Management Integration (integrates with several popular membership management systems – VisionGate, Wishlist Member, WordPress integration)

• Customer Relationship Management Center (help desk, searchable FAQ’s, dynamic help files, order and email message history, digital delivery management).

• Targeted marketing tools – advanced features.

• Advertising Tracking – track ezine ads, banner swaps, pay-per-click keyword bids.

Pretty impressive, isn’t it? I thought so.  You can even get a 30 day risk trial (not 30 days free) just to try it out and see if it’s the right tool to help you build your business.

Oh, and I’m sure you’re interested in how much this is going to cost aren’t you?  Well actually from what I compared for the same $99 monthly fee or $997 for the 12 month period (which by the way, will save you $191 every billing cycle) you get more than you do with other shopping cart programs once they figure in all the other additional benefits that Swimcart has included plus you get additional benefits and the latest technology that other programs don’t offer.

So if you are looking for the right tool for your business, I recommend you take a look at Swimcart and see if I haven’t already saved you the trouble of more research or worse lost income due to trying out the wrong tool.  Contact me to help you set up your Swimcart account today!

Time Saver VA has administrative experience that is needed for people who have difficulties with organization.  We can help develop a working schedule for the client and keep them organized.  There are many projects that are very time consuming that Time Saver VA can easily accomplish for you.  The task of obtaining a virtual assistant is actually called outsourcing.  A client will hire a virtual assistant to outsource many projects to make it possible for the client to maintain their focus on the projects on hand.

A virtual assistant can be a lifesaver for the unorganized person.  They come in very handy for the individual that has many projects started but have never finished them.  Some of the duties a virtual assistant can do are the following:

• Set appointments

• Article submissions

• Press Release submission

• Format Reports

• Format E-books

• Manage your email accounts

• Manage your blog or website

• Move content online

• Promote in Social Medias

• Basically keep you organized

It is very important to find a virtual assistant that is reliable and will take the time to listen to your needs.  The virtual assistant must be organized as well and have the experience to handle a multitude of work.  Many have websites that share their experiences as well as testimonials.  It is important to do your research and find a virtual assistant that you can work with and trust.  Outsourcing your projects and materials is very personal and you want to find someone that will work well with you.

Once you find a virtual assistant that you can trust you will form a great partnership.  You will find that you have more time to devote to bigger projects and not worry about the administrative end.  Many individuals find it difficult to let go their work and have someone else do it for them, but outsourcing is just that.  A virtual assistant is there for you to outsource your tedious work to, therefore giving you the time needed to brainstorm ideas and develop other projects.  If you find yourself not having enough hours in a day to accomplish all your tasks, you may be in need of a virtual assistant.  Hire Time Saver VA Today, you will not be disappointed.