Written by
November 12, 2018 0 Comments

Tips for Hiring the Best Virtual Assistant For Your Business

If you are an entrepreneur or small business owner, there comes a time when you can no longer do it all yourself. At that point, you have to decide what to do. Do you (A) stop growing and give up or (B) do you find someone to take on some of your daily tasks? I think for most the answer is (B).

So how do you find and hire the best a work from home virtual assistant?

Where to Find the Best VAs
Tim Francis, owner of ProfitFactory.com has been using Virtual Assistants (VAs) for many years and has learned the tough lesson of why overseas VAs are not the best solution. He now recommends HireMyMom.com as the BEST choice for his company and his clients for the following reasons:

  • Similar or same time zone: I’ve got my VA doing both business and personal tasks for me. She’s calling prospects to invite them to my live, in-person events. She’s coordinating our venue, partners, and volunteers for the production of our live events. All of this is WAY easier if she’s in the same (or similar) time zone as me.
  • Excellent English – both written and spoken: Most Moms from HireMyMom.com are from the corporate world, so they’re usually quite good with spoken and written English. This makes working together WAY easier. My assistant catches spelling errors I make in blog posts, can suggest similar keywords when talking SEO, and can send basic emails on my behalf.
  • Reliable electricity and internet: You probably don’t realize how vulnerable overseas VAs are in this regard. In my earliest days, I was trying to work with a VA from India. Suddenly she went “radio silent” – wasn’t writing or responding to me. A week later she suddenly re-appeared online with a flurry of messages. Turns out there was political infighting in her region and a corrupt politician had the electricity to her region shut off. No power = no internet = no VA. Canadian and American VAs are far more stable in this regard.
  • Same culture: I also have tried working with VAs from the Philippines. Nicest people on the planet. In fact, TOO nice. They were so terrified of offending me; they’d totally shut down if I asked for feedback and/or suggestions. They’d rather be “yes-men” and women than take ANY risk of offending you. Not productive. North American Moms on the other hand will (usually) be both gentle and honest.
  • Punctual: A few years ago I hired a half-dozen contractors on Elance. All were from India or Pakistan, and literally 100% of them were late on 100% of projects. As in, everything took at least TWICE as long as they quoted. Two week projects turned into 4 weeks, then 6 weeks very quickly. In my experience, North American Moms, though, are generally quite solid in their commitments.

The Hidden Cost of Mistakes and Delays
When hiring a VA, it’s easy to just hire the least expensive option offering $10/hour vs. $15-20/hour, right? WRONG.

If you are waiting or paying for costly mistakes then your costs just went up. It is better to hire and train someone qualified and eager to work and pay them an hourly rate that saves you headaches and problems.

So What’s the Catch?
You may be wondering why these “qualified, talented, professional” Moms would be willing to work for $15-20/hour instead of the a corporate salary with benefits. For most of these Mom Professionals this is a good deal for them because:

  • they don’t have to pay for costly child care ($6k-$16k per child per year) as many work during naps, hire a part time sitter or work while their children are in school,
  • they save a good chunk of time every day by not having to commute or dress in fancy business clothes every day,
  • they save money on gas and business attire since there is no commute or need for fancy business clothes,
  • and they value freedom and flexibility to work from home!

What’s in it for the Mom Professionals?
In addition to saving time and money, the #1 benefit for moms is flexibility to be with their family! I speak from experience here as shortly after completing my Master’s degree, I had my first child. All of my lofty career goals went out the window, and I begin freelancing and working from home when I realized working full-time outside the home was too unbearable for me. That was 20 years ago. Gulp! Here I am today helping other Mom Professionals do the same thing.

In addition to flexibility, these Mom Professionals want to:

  • Make some extra money to contribute to household income, save for vacations, college savings or just “fun money”.
  • Avoid a big gap in their resume while they take time off from their full-time career to focus on their kids
  • Have meaningful, adult interaction as well as express and use their creativity and professional skills

As you can see, hiring a work from home Virtual Assistant is a win-win for Businesses and Mom Professionals. Business owners have more time to work on more pressing business needs, and Mom Professionals are able to work flexible schedules and have more time with their families. Go ahead and take that next step. You won’t be disappointed.

If you need help with hiring, try our Small Business VIP Concierge service and we can do all the hard work for you from posting your job, to interviewing, to selecting the top candidate(s) for you!

If you are a Mom Professional, check out some of our current job postings.

.

Continue Reading

Written by
December 18, 2017 0 Comments

4 Reasons Working From Home Boosts Productivity

We’ve all heard it – working from home results in greater productivity! This is great news, but have you ever stopped to ask why this is?

Sure, you eliminate the commute and probably a few meetings, but there are other reasons that work from home productivity seems to be a common theme.  You would think that being home would make it easier to be distracted! However, this doesn’t seem to be the case.

Less distractions

Yes, you’re actually less distracted working from home, as long as you establish a clear schedule and good boundaries from the beginning.  For one, there’s far less workplace chatter! It takes a concentrated effort to speak to your employer and coworkers from home, and those conversations tend to be more task-focused and less random.

Additionally, communicating is quicker.  You don’t have the meetings that take a lot of time to gather everyone up.  Impromptu meetings and chats are also more rare, so you’re more likely to only meet up when it’s really necessary.

Lastly, most work from home jobs require a person with a lot of work independence.  In most cases, no one managing you too much, so you’re responsible for completing your work on your own, and on your own time.  This is great for productivity, as you don’t have the distraction – and slowdown – of being constantly managed.

Less sickness

No need for sick days when you work from home! That’s probably not 100% true, as there might be some sicknesses that really do not allow you to work – at all. Either way, sick days will be greatly reduced.

Whether you’re a little under the weather or need to care for a sick child, you likely won’t need to take a day off to do this.

You can stay

If your child gets sick at school or a need pops up in the family, you can stay and handle it.  You might have to run out briefly, but it doesn’t require leaving work, covering your projects, informing bosses, and so on.

You have the ability to complete mundane and emergency tasks in between your workload, making it much easier to pick back up where you left off.

More time

You simply have more time to get work done when you work from home. First of all, there’s no commute.  Even if you choose to work at a coffee shop or co-working space, it’s not necessary and it’s likely much closer to home than a traditional office would be.

This obviously allows you more time to be actually working, and those 2 hours when everyone else is commuting?  You’re able to get work done!

Lastly, one of the downsides and benefits to working from home is the lack of interruption and lingering breaks.  It requires a schedule to set up a lunch meeting with friends, versus simply running out of the office for a lingering lunch.  This is great for productivity, but be sure to continue to schedule in social activities to stay social.

Working from home truly boosts productivity in so many positive ways.  If you’re a strong, independent worker who likes some flexibility, working from home might be for you.  Just be sure to schedule in social activities to keep yourself out once in a while, and continue to communicate with friends, coworkers and employers as much as possible.

Continue Reading

Written by
January 30, 2017 0 Comments

3 Ways to Maintain Your Schedule

As a work from home employee, your schedule is bound to be your biggest asset.  It can be easy to veer off track with all the distractions not present in a traditional workplace.  If you can stick to a schedule, you’ll be more productive, efficient, and able to stay focused on tasks.

We’ve compiled some best tips and practices to ensure that scheduling comes easy in your home based career!

Use a scheduling tool

Scheduling tools are extremely useful and eliminate a lot of the back and forth required to schedule a call or interview.  These tools work by keeping track of your calendar and noting when you’re free.  This way, scheduling a call is as easy as sending over a link, having the other person select a time that works for them, then following through with the meeting.

This also works to keep you on schedule because it forces you to track everything, and also keeps you from losing a lot of time in setting up these appointments.  Some tools that work for this include Calendly, Doodle, and Pick.

Track your time

To stay on schedule and keep moving through your to do list, tracking your time is a must!  Whether you use an Internet based calendar or a basic to do list, this is a crucial practice to begin and enforce daily.

Use some type of to do list with all of your items, including personal items.  This is helpful as a home based employee since some of your time might be used to be with family, friends, and completing any necessary errands and housework.  Of course this isn’t the case for all work from home employees, but it’s part of the benefits of a flexible job.

When you’re able to make time for everything in your schedule, in writing, you’re more likely to do it and more likely to keep pressing forward to get to everything on your list.  Even though these are incredibly helpful, do note that it’s important to make your lists as realistic as possible to prioritize and get what needs to be done.

Limit interruptions

Kids, pets, calls and people at the house – all things that can bring work to a screeching halt.  If you know you’re going into a very important call or interview, set up childcare (or pet care!) ahead of time.  You can also leave notes on your door for mail carriers to simply leave packages, as well as limiting calls to certain times of the day.

Keeping yourself on schedule is all about managing your time and using tools to keep that time flowing productively.  Do your best to schedule your days, manage distractions, and work towards as much efficiency as possible!

Continue Reading

Written by
December 23, 2016 0 Comments

4 Tips for Holiday Break Productivity

Today begins holiday break for a lot of families, and it’s important to take the time to refresh and rejuvenate before the start of the new year.

Although most of your household will likely be home from school and work, a home based worker is never truly “away” from work.  It’s very important to take time for yourself this time of year while still completing your work.  Read along for some best practices in keeping up with productivity while enjoying the season.

Create schedules and lists

At this time of year, many of us are juggling numerous events and schedules! It can help to create short lists and schedules for work, Christmas, New Year’s, and anything else that’s taking place during this busy holiday season.

Before you go on break, take a few minutes to figure out what needs to be done and when.  There’s still time to lay everything out and prioritize based on available days.

Use spare time

When there are activities taking place that don’t involve the whole family, take this time to stay back.  Of course you don’t want to miss anything truly special or important, but simple errands can be skipped if there’s another family member who can handle them.

You can also utilize early bedtimes and nap time to get ahead with work.  Although everyone is typically home for the holidays, there can still be time when your kids are with friends or spending time with other family members.

Work ahead

As with all productivity tips, working ahead is a great way to stay on top of things.  Most of us will still have to put in some working hours over the next couple weeks, but if you work from home, you can likely work when you have the time.

Even though home based work never really goes away, we have the benefit of being able to work at any time.  Utilize this to your advantage! Spend a few nights or early mornings before holidays working ahead a bit.  This not only ensures that you’re completing the work that needs done – it allows you to come into the new year without a mad rush of work.

Enjoy the season

Work will still be there after holiday break! We all have work, family, and home obligations, but this is truly the time of year to enjoy your family.  Yes, work is still important and must be completed, but find a way to work it into your holiday schedule without missing those truly magical moments with your friends and family.

Take this time to relax, refresh, work as needed, and come into the new year with a clear head and sense of calm.

Continue Reading

Written by
August 31, 2015 0 Comments

5 Top Productivity Tips for Work From Home Employees

Productivity comes down to a number of things when working from home – organization, use of space, and the ability to take a break from your surroundings.

 

It’s important to utilize all three tactics when you’re trying to be more productive, especially if you work from home. Since you’re lacking the accountability of an office environment, which can certainly assist in getting things done, it’s important to put your own systems in place.

 

Stretch

 

Productivity isn’t all work related! Stretching, moving, and walking throughout your day is key to physical and mental health, which makes you more productive in the long run.

 

Set a timer or alert on your phone to get up and stretch. Even if it’s just for 2-5 minutes, it’s enough to refresh your mind, bumping up productivity for the rest of the day.  Set intervals to make this a regular occurrence in your day.

 

Get out

 

Productivity stalls when we stay at home for too long. It just becomes redundant to look at the same few walls and workspace. In an office, you have the changes among your co-workers and employees, but at home, there’s not much difference in the day to day.

 

If you’re able to do so, get out of the house a few days per week.  Whether it’s during business hours to work at a coffee shop, or in the evening at a networking event or with friends, it’s crucial to your productivity and sanity!  Make a few plans during the week, even if it’s just to work in a coffee shop for a couple hours per day.

 

Take the time

 

Do your best to set up a proper environment that will allow you to be productive.  If you’re constantly looking at a messy house, or sitting in an uncomfortable chair, you’re not focusing on what matters – your work.

 

For a few dollars and some time, you can set up a warm, comfortable workspace that allows you to focus on your daily tasks, not that uncomfortable setup. In the evenings, make sure that your space is clean and comfortable for the next day as well.

 

Communicate

 

If you work with other employees or just one boss, make sure you’re communicating.  Even if you have to send out a daily email asking for feedback or a check in, communication keeps things on track.

 

Productivity can stall when you’re waiting on a co-worker to complete a task, or if you’re waiting for approval from your boss.  Do your part by communicating and staying in the loop as much as possible.

 

Set a schedule


It all comes back to scheduling, and there’s a good reason for this.  Schedules keep things orderly as well as productive. Choose one day per week that becomes your “scheduling day” and keep to it. It doesn’t need to take more than 15-20 minutes, but set out your goals and tasks for the week.  As a bonus, it feels great to be productive and check those items off of a list during the week!

Continue Reading

Written by
June 11, 2015 0 Comments

Gadgets for Working Moms On-the-Go

Times have changed for working moms. With the amount of technology available to helps moms juggle work, kids and the home, it all seems a little more doable. Whether you work from home, the office or both, check out these gadgets for moms on the go:

Smartphone

If you’re looking for a change or needing an upgrade on your current phone, the ZTE ZMAX works well for moms who toggle between work at home and the office. With a 5.7-inch HD display and 2 GB RAM for memory, you have both an easy-to-see monitor, which is great for video conferencing, and plenty of storage for filing digital work. It also comes equipped with a long lasting 3400 mAh high capacity battery so you can rely on this phone to last through long webinars or your kids’ recitals. Plus, through carriers like T-Mobile, the ZTE ZMAX is affordable for as little as $10.50 per month.

Smartwatch

One of the most cutting edge tech gadgets is the smartwatch. Because working moms usually need a third hand to get everything done, a smartwatch is the optimal tool because it’s hands free. For instance, Sony’s SmartWatch 3 SWR50 or Kronos’ ZeWatch2 offer communicative technology on the wrist. They can text, funnel calls and send social media messages from a phone connected through Bluetooth. Plus, any calendar and email notifications for upcoming meetings or checkups for baby will appear right on the watch face.

Bag Tracker

Between your work briefcase, baby bag, purse, luggage and other bags, it’s easy to lose track of things. Gadgets like Trakdot Luggage Tracker aim to prevent this problem. The Trakdot is a device you place in your bag, and when it reaches its destination the device wakes up and sends you a text or an email confirming where it’s located. Especially when traveling for work or with the kids, this device helps you stay organized and makes sure you don’t lose anything. Plus, it only uses two AA batteries and only costs $19.99 a year.

Attachable Photo Lens

Attachable camera lenses like the the Photojojo Lens Set are a trendy way to take photos. Whether you’re a travel writer, public relations officer, a buyer or a small business owner, a high-quality lens can come in handy. This set of lenses comes with a super fisheye, telephoto, wide angle/macro and polarizer so you have something for almost every situation. Pack these lenses in your purse to take from your product meeting to your child’s baseball game with ease. All you have to do is place the removable metal ring on the back of your phone, and then attach the lens magnetically. This makes for an easy transfer between lenses or an easy clean up. Plus, they come with a felted wool storage pouch, which keeps them safe next to your notebooks, wallet and keys.

Being a working professional and a mom can be hard when you constantly have to shift between your home and the office. Luckily, these gadgets for mom make it a little easier to get everything done.

Check out these other great articles about productivity / time management as a work from home professional. Also check out our current job postings for mom professionals.

Continue Reading

Written by
March 30, 2015 0 Comments

3 Tips to Separate Work-from-Home from Home

When you work, it can be very difficult to separate work from your personal life. But if you work from home? It’s even more difficult! Since you work from home all day, the lines can begin to blur between work projects and home tasks. There’s so much talk about balance and separating work from home and make them both work smoothly, and it can be done with some deliberate action.

Although working from home will always be unique and lend itself to a different kind of workday, there are a few ways to keep your career as your career and your home life as your personal life.

Start and Stop

Have a set start and stop time. This is very difficult when we work from home, since we can get emails, hop on our computer, and complete a task. When you work in a traditional office, it’s much more difficult to go to the office, unpack your stuff, and get to work.

Secondly, keep your evenings for personal obligations and relaxation. It’s important to your mental and physical health keep your evenings open. If you work in a home-based job that is considered 2nd or 3rd shift, that’s different, but you still need a section of time when you aren’t working. As with traditional office jobs, there will be days when working late isn’t an option, but keep it the exception instead of the rule.

Designate and Separate

It’s a common tip with home-based careers, but that’s because it’s so very true. Do your best to designate a separate room for your work, meaning that you should avoid working on your living room or dining room, and make work feel like a work setup. This also makes tip #1 a bit easier, since you’ll physically have to leave your workspace to move on to the rest of your night.

Save the Housework

It’s so tempting to look around, see what all needs to be done in the home, and start to take action. While a few breaks when you pick up a few annoying items is okay, avoid full cleaning until you’re done with work. Again, this keeps you in “work mode” and allows your off work time to be much more productive. This should also make it easier to ignore those housework items that you just can’t seem to get to, since this way, they’re off limits when working anyway.

Working from home provides some challenges when trying to balance work-from-home and home life, but it’s not impossible! Do your best to separate the two, and take steps to make your day feel more like a traditional workday.

Continue Reading

Written by
March 9, 2015 0 Comments

4 of the Best Web-Based Organizational Tools

Staying organized is at the top of the list for success in a home-based career. When you don’t have a typical office to report to, the organization of your day and work falls to you. Luckily there are numerous web-based organizational tools to help you succeed!

Utilizing project management and organizational tools may sound like more work at first, but once you have them in place, they truly keep you on task, allow you to remember everything, and simplify your life.

We’ve compiled some of the best, most well reviewed tools so you can focus on career success while having your organization covered. These tools help you to manage projects, life, and everything in between so that you don’t miss anything.

Trello

Trello is an effective tool that utilizes lists for project and task organization. It allows you to create master lists (Boards) and then tasks under your Boards to stay organized. On one screen, you can see the big picture of your projects within your projects, keeping priorities at the top. Trello is free, has a simple interface, and is intuitive to use. Click here to check out Trello.

Basecamp

Basecamp is another project management tool that works very well for individuals, companies and organizations. Since you can assign tasks and organizing within your organization, it’s perfect for those working from home within a company. Similar to Trello in using checklists, you can organize clients, projects, and assignments in a simplistic manner. Basecamp has a free trial then starts at $20/month.Click here to check out Basecamp.

Google Docs

Google Docs is a free, easy-to-use tool within Google. If you have a Google or Gmail account, you’re set! In Google Docs, you’ll find Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides, which allow you to create documents, spreadsheets, and details presentations. The best part of it all is that you can share your Docs with your company, clients or employers, and everyone can edit documents from their own computers. Google Docs automatically save, so you’re good to go as you work. Google Docs is free to use, and it’s a very easy way to keep important documents organized and easily shareable. Click here to check out Google Docs.

Dropbox

Dropbox has become very popular in recent years, and for good reason. It’s the perfect place to share, organize, and store online files, photos, videos, and so on. When you download Dropbox, you can keep the feed on your desktop, so when anyone from your team uploads a new file, you can access it instantly. Dropbox is also web-based, so you can login and access your files directly as well. It’s an easy way to free up space on your computer and share files easily without utilizing email. It keeps space clean and creates a central place to find any file. Click here to check out Dropbox.

The best way to stay on top of your to-do list for a successful home-based career is to stay organized with any one of a number of web-based organizational tools. These tools were developed to help you succeed!

Check out these other great articles about productivity / time management as a work from home professional. Also check out our current job postings for mom professionals.

(Image courtesy of holohololand at freedigitalphotos.net)

Continue Reading

Written by
December 15, 2014 0 Comments

5 Tips for Work-from-Home Success

Working from home provides numerous benefits for you, your family, and your free time! It’s certainly an ideal work situation, but it doesn’t come without its own challenges.

When done correctly, you can begin working from home seamlessly. By setting the stage for success in a home-based job, you’ll reap the benefits of this unique work environment while producing effective, efficient work for your employer. Read along for some work from home skills you will need to learn as a foundation for your success.

1) Know Your Schedule: And your family’s schedule! Home-based jobs are structured around a variety of schedules, so be sure that you’re looking into and choosing those that fit your home life. Working from home provides a lot of freedom, but not if you’re working at the wrong times for your family. Be selective in accepting positions that fit into your life.

2) Read Job Descriptions Closely: Try not to accept a work-from-home position just to get out of the office. It’s tempting, but will only lead to more discontentment. Working from home is still work, and it’s very important to choose a job that suits you. Pay attention to job descriptions and only interview for jobs that you would truly be happy to receive.

3) Create a Separate Space: The most common fear of home-based working is lack of focus. By creating a separate space or office to do your work, you’re already on the road to success. You don’t have to be exclusively confined to this space, but it will ground you as your “home base” for work, allowing you to block out distractions, noises, and other tasks that need to be done around the house.

4) Make a List: Have a plan in place! “To do” lists are even more important when you work from home, since you’ll find yourself doing the work around the house, taking kids and pets to appointments, and running errands as well. It can be tough to keep it all straight, especially when you’re also working, so don’t be afraid to jot it down. It’s always fun and satisfying to cross something off of a list!

5) Schedule Your Days: Working from home actually requires more structure than a traditional office job! You’re essentially “free” to do as you please, as long as you complete your work. Unfortunately, this can lead to a lot of rushing around to finish tasks if you weren’t focused all day. If you’re scheduling, just as you would at a 9-5 in an office, you’ll be sure to prioritize correctly.

These work from home skills are foundational to the success of your home-based job or business. Practice these before you leave the corporate world to give structure to your new endeavor.

Check out these other great articles about productivity / time management as a work from home professional. Also check out our current job postings for mom professionals.

Continue Reading

Written by
October 27, 2014 0 Comments

Maintain Your Home-Based Business & Your Sanity During the Holidays

As a mom and home-based business owner, you probably feel like one of those circus performers who can keep a dozen plates spinning on sticks all at once. It can be challenging from day to day, but most of the time you are pretty good at keeping your plates in the air. However, add the upcoming holiday season to the mix—which, of course, includes shopping, decorating, incoming guests and kids bouncing off the walls with anticipation—and it might seem like those carefully balanced plates will all come crashing down.

Fortunately, we have some work life balance tips to help. With some planning and preparation, you can make it to 2015 without losing your business or your sanity.

Adjust Your Schedule and Your Expectations

Accept the fact that your usual schedule will be disrupted for awhile. Once you’ve accepted this, look for pockets of time during the day and night to fit in shorter spurts of work. For example, if your kids are watching “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” for the thousandth time and dinner’s in the oven, head to your computer and knock out some emails or invoices. If you are an early bird, set your alarm an hour or so earlier and try to crank out some work before the kids and company get up. If you are more of a night owl, work a little after the kids go to sleep to catch up on some of your projects.

Prioritize and Push Back

Schedule some specific times and activities with your family and guests during the holiday season, and post the calendar in a place where everyone can see it. Whenever possible, schedule things to do during the times when you wouldn’t normally be working anyway—that way, you won’t feel as stressed out about missing work time, and you can really focus on your kids. You could swing by your local coffee shop for hot cocoas to go, and then drive around your neighborhood looking at lights.

Also, try to push back at least some of your work and deadlines into January. Chances are good that many of your clients are also trying to juggle their lives and the holiday season, so depending on what type of at-home work you do, it may be possible to reschedule at least some of it until early 2015.

Shop Online

If your to-do list is already three pages long, you might wonder how you’ll find time to get to the mall to shop. You don’t have to fight the crowds and parking lots to get toys and gifts for everyone on your “Nice” list. Pour yourself a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, put on your comfy flannel jammies, and when the kids are asleep, take care of your holiday shopping online. Walmart always has some great Black Friday deals and it seems like every online retailer offers shipping deals this time of year. If you are planning on sending out holiday cards, you can also upload photos to sites like Snapfish or Shutterfly and order them from there.

With these work life balance tips, you will be able to skate through the holidays having a fun and relaxing time with your family.

Check out these other great articles about productivity / time management as a work from home professional. Also check out our current job postings for mom professionals.

Continue Reading