Are You Being Held Hostage or Feel Your Hands are Tied?

I got a call a few weeks ago from a small local business owner who was very frustrated with her web designer. You know the type; someone who holds their cards close to their chest and would rather baffle the client with BS and hold them hostage.This website person actually told me they were smarter than the people at GoDaddy. WOW. Seriously?

Most small business owners I work with have very little to no computer technical skills. Most of them put their trust in someone they knew or took the recommendation of a friend to help them establish their online presence rather than take the time to find out if this potential supplier was the right fit for them – both from a personality perspective as well as taking into consideration if this supplier had the ability to understand their business. Sometimes one gets lucky. Suffice it to say in this case, this individual was not a match on either front. The worst part of all of this is that this person stuck with that developer for 2 years and suffered the outcome I describe below.

So, what are the signs that you are working with the wrong support person?

1. You get the feeling this person doesn’t really care about you or your business. You feel they are only interested in billing you and arm and a leg every time you ask them for help.

2. This person has not taken the time to understand you or your business model and what you need to do to get business.

3. The supplier has not done enough to stay current with changing trends and you feel you are falling behind your competitors.

4. You have begun to feel de-motivated and lack enthusiasm because you feel that lack of support. You now avoid calling or talking to that person because you don’t want a confrontation.

5. You wouldn’t even consider referring this person to anyone else.

If you answered yes to any one of these questions, what is stopping you from making a change? Most of the time, people will tell me that they have invested too much money in their existing situation and don’t want to start over.  They feel their hands are tied. The fact is you are likely spinning your wheels and the longer you sit there, the deeper the rut you’ll create. The online world is changing rapidly and it’s important that you understand that and embrace the change.  Don’t stick your head in the sand. These changes will keep coming.  I say cut your losses and move on.

As a Social Media specialist, forming solid relationships with my clients is vital on all fronts but wanting them to help them form those kinds of relationships with their client base is equally important to me. If I sense there is a change in our relationship,  I want to know immediately.  I am not too big to say it might be time to move on if the relationship is no longer mutually beneficial.  It will happen from time to time.  As a business owner myself, I understand the importance of keeping my finger on the pulse of all my relationships.

So, are you still happy with the people you have taken into your fold?

Next time, we’ll talk about this same situation but with the shoe on the other foot.

Until then, I always welcome feedback. And here on my blog, you’ll get commentluv. That’s a plug in that allows you to leave a link back to your own blog.

Until next time,

Joanne

It’s Really Not Easy Being Green 

Not enough eyes were rivoted on Britain this week as the Prince of  Wales launched his new campaign to save the Rainforests.  While his support of the environment is certainly not new, what is new is that he embraced social media to get his message across.    Notice how he signs off at the end of the video. Charles, Prince of Wales, very informal – so unlike his usual demeanor but very appropriate for this media landscape.  Social Media has certainly made an impact.

The video is both entertaining and educational.  So why are there so few views? Why is no one jumping on proliferating this link as they did for Susan Boyle just weeks ago.  Surely everyone knows by now that the rainforests are the lungs of the plant. This is critical situation and Social Networking is the ideal way to spread the message. Everyone needs to do their part!

We have the power to send this message around the world and make a difference. Virtual Assistants do their part in reducing the carbon footprint by supporting multiple clients from their homes therefore allowing business owners to cut down on the need for additional computers, electricity, automobile emissions, etc.

Please join me in continuing to spread the word and keep this issue at the forefront to help save the planet for our future generations.  Click here for more information on this campaign.

Your comments are always welcomed! Let me know what you think.

While physically located in Newmarket Ontario where Joanne lives with her family, as a VA, she is virtually yours anywhere….

Seeing The Forest From The Trees

Are you:

•  Struggling with Social Media and where it fits into your overall marketing strategy?
• Unsure of which Social Media applications to invest in?
• Or, do you find yourself wanting to jump on the bandwagon just because everyone else is?
• Have you lost track of the big picture?

It is so easy to get caught up in the flurry of activity lately surrounding Social Media.  Everyone is talking about it.  Celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Barbara Walters have jumped on board in the last week,  YouTube, Twitter and Facebook are hopping with the new celebrity of Susan Boyle from Britain’s Got Talent and it seems everywhere you turn, someone is talking about the “new” marketing landscape.

But before you jump on the bandwagon, I think it’s important to have a good grip on the big picture when it comes to your business.  Be an eagle!  If your audience is hanging out in the Social Media environment, make sure that you know exactly where they are so that your efforts are effective.  Don’t jump in and participate just because everyone else is.   Get help if you are unsure.

As a Social Media Specialist Virtual Assistant, there are lots of ways that I can help you decipher where you should be spending your time and effort and whether you should be there at all.   There are still situations that are more conducive to more traditional forms of direct marketing and if they work for you and your business, stay the course.  A balanced approach is key.  Social Media is a wonderful way to instantly reach a targeted group, develop relationships and build your business, but only if your audience is reachable in this environment.

If they aren’t, there’s no point in trying to ram a square peg into a round hole.   

Over time, you may find that your business changes and there is a need to incorporate Social Media into your overall strategy.   That’s great!  And if you do decide to enter this new world, understand that it takes time and active participation to perform well in this environment.  The purpose of Social Media is to engage your market. And when you are ready, I’ll be there to help you.

Love to know what you think!

While physically located in Newmarket Ontario where Joanne lives with her family, she is virtually yours anywhere….