Ethical behavior, as defined by in the Free Dictionary is “action taken in accordance with principles of conduct that are considered correct, and conforming to accepted standards of social or professional behavior”.
Today, I received a request for quote from a potential client. She wrote:
“I need someone to pass a typing test that can type at least 65 wpm with 90% accuracy.”
Because I was confused, I contacted the individual for clarification and asked if she wanted us to take the test, using her name, and represent ourselves as her. The person responded “YES“. After getting pass my amazement that an individual would request such services, I responded…
My Reply
“We consider completing a test using another person’s name and on their behalf to be totally unethical and something we would NOT do under any circumstances.” Needless to say, I have not heard back from this individual.
A New Trend?
Is this the beginning of a new trend? Do prospects believe virtual assistants will do anything for a dollar? Has the industry’s brand been degraded to the point where some are “comfortable” in asking for these types of services?
I’m amazed! To ask a company (especially a company you are unfamiliar with) to pass themselves off as the individual taking a test (which I assume is for employment or school) is beyond my imagination. If a person will ask a professional to perform such an unethical act, can you trust the requester to act ethically in other dealings?
What do you think?
I’m not naive by any means, but this is truly a “first” for me, and I am perplexed that someone would visit The 24 Hour Secretary (and potentially other VA sites) and feel comfortable enough to ask for a quote for what I perceive to be an unethical act. I don’t believe (at least hope) that our site portrays an image that encourages this type of request.
Has anyone else received a similar inquiry? Is this a fluke or a new trend? Please share your thoughts and experiences.
During the months of April and May, I conducted a blog hopping and podcast tour to promote the recently concluded Online International Virtual Assistants Convention (OIVAC).
I was asked several thought-provoking questions during the tour and I’ve chosen to share a few here on the Smart Business Marketing Blog.
Today’s question was asked by Tawnya Sutherland, of VANetworking.com
Is the downturn in the economy affecting the VA industry?
Yes! The downturn has had positive and negative effects. I’m sure VAs without a written business plan and concise marketing strategy are experiencing difficulty, because they haven’t “planned” for situations such as client loss or slowdown.
Also, many entrepreneurs are “price shopping” resulting in “cheap” being the major determining factor when choosing a virtual assistant, instead of “value-add” which takes into consideration an individual’s knowledge, skills, experience, abilities and potential to contribute to the continued growth of the business.
In addition, many VAs “discount” services, believing this will attract and retain customers. However, they fail to realize that by under pricing services they are actually digging a deeper hole for themselves, because while volume may initially increase, when the economy takes an upswing, it will be very difficult to raise rates proportionately for low paying clients.
Also, discounting rates may impact the VAs income potential, lifestyle and eventually health because they may be required to work longer hours or assume a more difficult workload to earn the same income as prior to the downswing.
Foresight and Flexibility
On the other hand, VAs with foresight, flexibility, a targeted customer base, sensible marketing plan, and appreciable skills, will continue, at a minimum, to sustain their business and in many instances increase profits.
Why and How?
Savvy business owners are looking for ways to reduce costs, develop alternative resources, and continue providing valuable-add services to their clients, and VAs (if positioned properly) can fulfill these demands.
If a VA’s income is decreasing because of the economic downturn, I recommend the following:
*Evaluate the situation, conduct research and identify services clients are seeking.
*Confer with current clients, to identify new responsibilities you can assume.
*Become efficient (even an expert) in sought-after skills.
*Develop a marketing strategy for your new target audience, to pull those customers into your business funnel.
*Become a valuable asset to the client.
The state of the economy won’t matter if the VA possess marketable skills, know their ideal clients’ NEEDS and wants, and positions themselves as THE value-add; and a viable contributing member of the team.
What do you think?
Share your thoughts on how the economic downturn is affecting your business and steps you have taken to sustain your income.
In Part 1 of Top 7 Reasons to Beat the Cluttered Desk, we provided 3 reasons to declutter your desk. Below are 4 additional reasons to maintain a clear workspace: keep focused, reduce stress and remain productive.
4. Calming effect
Sometimes, when you are preoccupied with your surroundings (whether it’s a home office, a brick-and- mortar one, or a family matter, etc.), the thought and sight of clutter (desk or otherwise) can play on the psyche and perhaps cause you to be a bit anxious, hyperactive, high-strung, demanding, unproductive and less than up to par. This may come from “stewing” on knowing your desk is a “clutter mess” that’s out of control. Taking the time to clean your desk can have a calming effect. You’ll also discover a pride in knowing how your “newly-found” desk looks.
5. Keep more organized
Facing a desk full of papers and telephone messages over time can eventually take its toll. Unfortunately, the more you don’t clean up the mess, the more the desk and office chaos can gnaw at you and cause you to lose focus. Additionally, with a clean morning desk, no paper piles will stare you in the face or be subject to an accidental push to the floor. On the other hand, your clean desk with its tidiness will help you to at least appear to have things organized and under control. And you’ll look like you’re running your business with ease.
6. Reduction in workspace accidents and spills
If your desk is cluttered or messy, there is an off-chance for some office mishap. Perhaps you inadvertently throw something away. You may have left a cup of coffee on your desk the night before and by morning you forgot it was there. So, when moving that stack of papers to get at your clipboard moved the coffee cup onto its side and spilled coffee all over your keyboard. Oops!
7. Time robber
Day after day that you enter your office with “the same pile of stuff” staring at you, you’re taking your focus from whatever it is you really planned to do that day. You’re robbing yourself of your productivity. Get back that time by starting fresh each day with a clean desk.
If your desk is clean, as you begin your day, you’ll find it’s easier to clean at night, and you will clean it more often. Additionally, there will be a calming effect, and your productivity will increase because you’re not spending your time moving your files and stacks of papers around. You’ll also know where things are; you’ll be less distracted when working on specific projects. Further, your empty desk will provide a place where you can put the items you plan to work on that new day; in turn, this will help you get to your projects in an orderly fashion.
You don’t have to look around the Internet too hard or in many magazines to find numerous articles and blogs about “the benefits of having a clean desk” or “how to organize and clean up the ‘cluttered mess!’” With which, even Albert Einstein took issue when he said, “If a Cluttered Desk is a Sign of a Cluttered Mind, What’s an Empty Desk a Sign of?”
Others will tell you a cluttered desk is a “sign of genius.” Which Einstein was; so there you go!
There is actually a sickness associated with working long hours at a cluttered desk: irritable desk syndrome (IDS). According to researchers at NEC-Mitsubishi, a computer-monitor manufacturer, many office workers are suffering from IDS, which can cause chronic pain, loss of productivity and other physical and mental symptoms.
If you’re like a good share of the entrepreneurial population, at some time or other you may have been (or continue to be) the owner of a cluttered, messy, hidden or otherwise over-burdened desk. Your argument for such clutter may be your desk is that way because you don’t have time to clean it; you know where everything is or because you like to be surrounded by familiar things.
While these arguments may be true, there is something to be said about starting each day with a clean desk. And the National Clean Your Desk Day (January 11) has been established to remind us of the benefits of starting your day fresh.
Our Top 7 reasons to declutter your desk include:
1. Fresh start
Walking into your office each morning being “greeted” by a clean desk is much like “beginning a new,” you’re starting fresh. It’s like everything that transpired the day before—whether good or bad– is “long gone.” The freshness of the “new day” with a clean desk is “eye candy” for the eyes and for the mind! And the “new atmosphere” you’ve created can influence you to feel at ease so you can easily tackle whatever comes along with less stress and fewer distractions; you’ll be able to stay focused and better organized.
2. Mess contributes to stress
Imagine you’re sitting at your cluttered, messy desk talking on the telephone. As you look around, you can’t find an important document related to the conversation, without which you can’t close the deal. While sorting through the piles on your desk, you see more documents that should have had your immediate attention, but have now passed deadline. Thinking about the mess and missed deadlines, and realizing how they could have been avoided may stress you out. So, de-stress by starting your day with a clean desk, which can help you realize which tasks you should be first on your list.
3. A distraction
All the clutter, the nick nacks and pictures, Rolodex cards, stacks of paper, magazines, holiday cards, Post-Its, and so forth can be such a distraction from what you intend to do that day. Having to move stacks from one side of your desk to another in order to be able to work on any given project can certainly change your mood and throw off your focus. Thus, the emptiness of your desk that you face when you begin each day will help eliminate distractions and allow you to focus on individual assignments as they present themselves.
Part 2 of Top 7 Reasons to Beat the Cluttered Desk Syndrome will identify other benefits of decluttering your desk. Is your work desk cluttered? Tell us your plans for keeping your workspace clear.
In Part 1 of Have You Created Your Marketing Calendar?, we covered what is a marketing calendar and why business owners should have one. Below are examples of activities to include in your marketing map, and administrative tasks related to accurate monitoring and determining your return on investment (ROI) of time, money and effort.
Examples of activities to map in your marketing calendar/plan:
article submissions
blogging dates/topics
social networking
pay-per-click activities
video marketing campaigns
podcast production and distribution
on and offline networking
media releases
product development/sales
virtual joint venture activities
setup an affiliate program
implement a referral program
major and minor trade and association events
on and offline presentations and teleseminars
holiday-related promotions
Track your results
Make sure your website copy and marketing materials are relevant and valuable, and stay current on industry trends and competition, etc. Always check and recheck to ensure everything is on track and/or if you need to make changes.
Don’t forget to handle the administrative tasks associated with managing a marketing calendar. Check and double check your numbers. For example, number of visits to your website, ezine sign-ups, teleseminar attendees, response to promotions, etc. These steps will also assist in determining return on investment (ROI).
There is no “right or wrong way” to create your marketing plan. It’s about what works best for you. Creating a marketing calendar is just one step in the process of mapping your steps and results, as well as is a record for later reflection and assessment.
By tracking your results, you can discover what is working, what you need to work harder on, and what you need to stop spending time and money on.
Remember
A marketing calendar is an essential tool for planning and implementing marketing strategies, scheduling marketing events and tracking costs and progress.
Have you created your marketing calendar? Share one of your strategies with us.
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