I saw a commercial last night for tax preparation services. In the commerical they stated that they charge $65.00 per retunr for a 1040EZ form! I was blown away. Then, while getting some cleaning supplies at Wal-Mart, they have tax specialists in there as well, and they were charging the same exact price for a 1040EZ filing!

You might be asking yourself why I would be blown away at that, that sounds reasonable. Well, for someone who does 1040EZ and 1040A form taxes, I felt that was a rip off. It takes a fraction of your time to do and it’s the easiest form to complete. You can do the form by hand in about an hour (not being familiar with math and using a calculator) and have it in the mail.

It’s a shame to me that more people do not fully research prices and whether or not they are being overcharged. I feel that it is extremely important when utilizing a service professional to know that you are not only getting the best service possible, but that you should also be getting the best price possible for that service.

Recently while searching the web and trying to find “social marketing” type of activities, I came across and Q&A board and another Virtual Assistant posted the question - for those of you that have used Virtual Assistants, what worked and what didn’t?

She got an honest answer about the fact that you have to be extremely careful when selecting a Virtual Assistant to help you perform tasks related to your business. He said that the couple of VAs that he went through he realized that there is not one person that can do it all. Also, he said that you none of them had the same passion to make him successful as he did.

Well, the second one makes perfect sense… no one will ever market you better than you. No one will ever be more of a proponent for you what you are doing, other than YOU! (Well, and maybe your dog, if you have one as a side kick :P)

The first one though, I had to think about it. As a Virtual Assistant who feels that am I a one-stop shop for anything administrative, I also realize what my boundaries are. For instance, I am great when it comes to data entry, marketing assistance, making marketing collateral material, etc. I’m not that great when it comes to telephone calls. The main reason is not lack of effort, but the fact that I sound 10!! In that case, when I do have a client that wants to have us make telephone calls, I do not have to turn the client away, but instead I go to my network and make sure that we get the job done, even if it means outsourcing. All of my clients know that this is the case when I do have to outsource and none have ever questioned it. Because I am not doing the work myself, does that automatically make me not a one-stop shop?

In addition to these thoughts, you do need to consider several things when deciding to work with a Virtual Assistant. A couple are: Time Zones; the strengths and weaknesses of the particular VA; what is their definition of success and how are they going to help you with your success; do you like them; do they know what they are talking about and do they live up to the professional standards that you set for yourself and work within the same professional principals that you do.

Again, these are just a few, I am sure that the list goes on… but, I would find feedback incredibly interesting on what has worked for you, what you look for and why/why not you are using one now! Looking forward to it.

Until fingers meet keys again…

Today I was doing transcription and one of the speakers on the audio said:
“I have a theory that I know I am not the best at what I do, but I don’t like the idea that there is somebody that does a better job.”

What I took… this is a great thought to never underestimate ourselves and our capabilities, but also do not put yourself in a position where you feel you are indispensable. We need to constantly strive to be the best that we can be, every day; and also keep in mind that there is someone else out there that can do exactly what we do. Maybe even better.

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Hey there… after my drama of a rant last week, I am happy to announce that I was able to get the banner made, and on time! It was very exciting stuff and helped promote the cause. So, even though the customer service was lacking… it still worked out and they beat the deadline.

I still feel the same way about the customer service part of it though. Even though they made it in the time requested and it was done great, the customer service is what would have brought me back as a customer. The need to feel important when I am giving someone my hard earned money, is definitely still there… and in this case, I didn’t feel as important as I feel I should have.

But, that just proves that everybody is their own unique character and regardless of what the world’s perception of them might be, they are still going to walk to the beat of their own drum. To each his own… but, for me personally, I’m going to stick with giving exceptional customer service, at all costs!

In today’s business world, with everything as virtual as it is, all we have left is customer service. I’m not clear why people, namely small business owners, don’t realize how gravely important it is to get back in touch with their clients and better yet, potential clients.

It’s not enough to take the initial phone call, get the details and then SAY that you will get back to someone. You have to get back to these individuals if you want your business to continue for the long term.

I will give you an example for my rant… I’m looking for a company to provide T-Shirts that are screen printed and I am looking for a company to make a banner for me. The banner company that I spoke with had a great first impression, took all my details and said that he would get back to me with the artwork. I mentioned that I was on a deadline and gave him the date, he said no problem.

Now, maybe I am being paranoid and a “picky” client, but I feel that I am lacking some customer service. It has been almost 1 week, since I have talked to the banner company about my project and this week have left 3 messages with them to give me an update. I need the banner by Sunday. We are only five days away and only have 3 business days left which is what I was quoted for the printing time. I have to say… I am an hour away from finding a new company and they will not be getting my business.

Not only that, but the two t-shirt companies that I contacted, I have heard from neither! One week later.

Something to note, and another reason for this post… it’s important for people in the service industry to understand, in my humble opinion that is, that not only will you loose the customer that you didn’t get back to… but you will loose any business that they could’ve sent your way via referral. I work with a big network of a variety of individuals and best believe none of them will know about this company and the fact that they do banners.

It’s a shame when small business can’t help small business anymore and we have to resort back to using big corporations… their customer service is even more lacking, but at least they get the work done.

I work from a home office sometimes… and I have dogs. I love what I do and how I do it. Most days at either office, I stay very focused, get a lot of things completed and at the end of the day feel that I have been productive.

Today is different… maybe it’s the weather change here in Las Vegas. Fall is coming, temperatures are dropping and my dogs will not stop asking to go outside!!! Some kind of Fall Fever. They just want to play. They want to go out… then they want to come in… they want to go out and then they want to come back in! I mean, granted, it takes all of 2 minutes to get up, go to the back door, make sure they are all outside and then come back to the office and get back to work. But every five minutes! You can’t have to go outside again, I find myself pleading with them. Their only response… a wagging tail and a twisty head.

But, like I said, the weather is nice! We have bright blue skies, no clouds for miles… What a distraction it is! I want to get out and play like them! Thankfully, as I type this, they are all knocked out and I am once again actually getting things done. I am sure in a few hours, they will be begging me again… please let us outside… this time, I might just go with them!!!

Enjoy your day!

So, I have decided to jump on to the blog band wagon… while currently I have no clue what I will be talking to the world about, for now, I just wanted to put something down so that I can check off “DO YOUR BLOG” on my to-do list for the day!  It has been there for awhile, and while I have posted my quotes… that’s where I suddenly had “Blogger Block”. 

Since opting for this new way of communicating, which has not been long, I have learned many things and come across many interesting and hilarious blogs and fun stuff to be involved in.  It’s crazy to think that I didn’t jump sooner.  

Some tips that I’d like to share from some Newbie Blogging insight that I have gathered…
When you are unsure what to blog about, visit others people’s blogs for inspiration.
When you find other blogs that you enjoy reading, post comments to their author.
If you really like someone’s blog, link to it! And, take it a step further and actually trade links!
Even if you feel like you have nothing to say, say something anyways.

So… as I learn this new evolution in the online world… I hope that you will join me and we can share tips and tricks and get to “know” one another in this virtual world we now live in.

Until then… here’s to your success!

Welcome to Always On Time’s Blog.  We are just getting started in the blogging world but hope to bring useful information to the small business community.