Business owner resting after work
I was at a networking event recently and chatting to a small group of business owners about how they were finding business. One boss shared with the group that “Business was good” so it took the conversation off in the direction of what was working for them and how they were doing.
Soon after the others wandered off and when it was just them and me, that same person admitted that they were really struggling and it got me thinking how so much of being an outsourced PA was not just about the stuff I take off your desk, it’s the stuff I can take out of your head too.
I realised that I so often become the sounding board for that business owner who feels like they face it all alone.
I know that we have to as business owners present a “got it together” reputation but that’s not easy, so I thought I’d share 3 strategies I use with my virtual assistant clients that could help you run your business smoother and more profitably.
How are you feeling?
When someone employs a Pängel it’s not just about me sorting your admin, your car insurance, or your marketing, it’s about how I make you feel. I realised listening to that business owner that the world is tough right now and trying to do that on your own is not easy. Having a confidential ear that has helped many business owners with small business, marketing, and administrative support, I have learnt a lot about how bosses think. And having the ability to listen with no agenda is something many business owners don’t have – do you?
If I was to pour the tea and listen, what would you say?
What would you offload to me?
How could that help you in your business life?
Are you competing for attention?
The world has got very noisy, and many business owners are shutting down altogether because it’s starting to feel too hard. With one report sharing that 44% of the world's workforce are feeling more stressed than ever before (1) the overloaded brain is not helped by an overloaded inbox, so social media and its uses are fast changing as business owners do their best to find a workable solution to engage with new business, keep existing customers and stay on customers radar to build brand awareness and create opportunities.
It’s not easy and if you are up to your eyes in the work, you really need a pair of hands that can get on with things like an extension of you and that’s where I come in!
Have you considered how being so busy impacts on your follow up and growth?
Did you know that diary management, CRM updating, customer follow up and email marketing are all the victims of a busy business owner's too long to-do list and are most likely to get neglected?
Imagine if there was a way to get it all done without working 17 hours a day and without damaging business into the Autumn?
And if you are just pumping out more posts on social media and hoping that will do the trick, think again! The need for a robust marketing strategy has never been so important. Here at Pängels we are always updating our knowledge and understanding on business strategy and marketing trends so we can pass that on to our customers – we can make your marketing strategy better together. Do you know what is having a positive impact and what are you doing to improve on that?
Do you really know your numbers?
While every business owner knows they need to understand their numbers because it helps you write the future, plan your marketing, reassess your costs, increases profits and creates opportunities, it’s easier said than done to make the time to really know what’s going on when it’s enough of a job to keep on top of everything isn’t it?
Often the data hides the stuff that really impacts on business owners and stops growth and it’s not just in the numbers.
And when you consider you can’t always turn to your staff or even AI to understand what is really impacting on your company and its long term sustainability and profitable growth, it gets harder still!
I was thinking about what I do for my clients as their VA and realised it’s not just about renegotiating your building insurance, or collating data, it’s the nuisance stuff that is not so obvious.
Talking to one client who works with Pängels to understand the market and what approach will work best to get to new audiences. I realised I am just as likely to say, “When I worked with another Jenny we analysed which strategy would be best to support my businesses initially. She decided that she’d assist me with diary, email management and website updates. Once Jenny helped with these it freed up my time to be able to focus on growing my business.”
That’s the thing about being a Virtual Assistant to your Essex based business, I’ve seen a lot that works, and a lot that doesn’t!
We can save you a lot of time by looking at your unique business, understanding the data and applying lived experiences to make smooth transitions to better ways of working. And sometimes it is only with another set of eyes that we can achieve that.
If I was to ask you to name 3 things you could do differently to help your business grow and thrive, would you be able to name them?
Writing this has had me thinking a lot about what business owners need most right now and while I know they need the right business support and personal assistant that understands their business, it was when I was looking at my client last week. I looked across the office at them and realised that there is not likely to be a tangible description of how clients drop their shoulders, smile more and look rested when I’m about!
That is the outcome but not something that business owners like you directly pay Pängels for!
I wonder what the price would be for a good night’s sleep? And would you sign up to that instead of 10 hours retained virtual assistant or virtual administration support at £280 per month?
Let me know because business gets easier when you have the right virtual employees helping you get the results in your business and for your customers.
That’s what Pängels and I do for you. If you'd like to find out how Pängels can support your business, get in touch for a no-obligation chat. You might be surprised how much easier business feels when you don't have to do it all yourself.
Call me on: 0844 500 7818 or email me jenny@pangels.co.uk, if you prefer with what you are struggling is confidential conversation. Meet Jenny at BWN INsiders or Essex Networking Skills networking.