5 Easy ways to source social media content for your business

by Anne Clark | Jul 30, 2020 | Business, Social Media, Virtual Assistant

One of the most common headaches business owners face is what kind of content to share on social media. Or they are simply finding themselves stress because they’re putting pressure on themselves to come up with new content all the time.

Headache be gone!

When it comes to content, we fail ourselves as business owners. Why? Because we are currently spending 80% of our time creating new content, but only 20% sharing our content. We should be spending 20% creating and 80% sharing (and re-sharing) content.

Here are 5 ways you can utilise previous content you’ve created for your social media.

Previous content/posts

Keep copies of content and images from previous post and don’t be afraid to reuse them. Very rarely do people go through a business’ content from 2 years ago, therefore if it’s still relevant re-use it. Even content from 6 months ago is reusable, or last week. If you have a series of images you use for people to sign up to your mailing list, then re-use it at least once a week, and more if you’re posting more than once a day.

Blog content

Most blogs should have a call to action, which could be signing up to newsletters, booking in discovery calls, purchasing a product etc. Re-share your blogs, especially if relevant. Take snippets of the blog content or write an intro and add a call to action, such as click on the link for more, or you could share the whole blog. If you’re blog was an article of tips, just like this one, copy a tip and tell readers to click on the link for the more tips. Use different images for social media to re-share old blogs (if you’re not comfortable using the same image).

Expertise Categories

In business, we all have niche areas, and under our niches are categories we specialise in. For example: in my coaching business, I am a coach who specialises in intuition, alignment, boundaries, balance and boundaries. Therefore, I would share content around those 5 areas. As a virtual assistant, I specialise in social media, newsletters, blogging, productivity/systems and online management. Again, I would share expertise content around these areas.

Testimonials / Feedback

Feedback sells, often when someone is searching for a new product or service, they check out what others have said about it. You might have testimonials on your website, in emails or have had awesome comments on your social media platform, use these to share with your audience. Feedback on your service are big sellers.

Hints of things to come

Entice your audience with some of the projects you’re working on, or perhaps the blog you’re writing about this week. Tease them with what is to come. Perhaps if you’re making a new product take a snippet image of it and ask them what they think it is.

It is okay to share and re-share your content. Don’t be afraid to do so.

If you’re making a branded quote for the week’s content, then why not make a whole heap of them for the next couple of weeks or months and save yourself time and effort. This is BULK acting.

Don’t be afraid to pre-plan your content, and then if additional items come up add them in. By pre-planning and scheduling your content it enables you not to feel so panicked that you haven’t posted anything or having come up with content.

If you’re struggling to create the time to manage your social media, then let’s chat about how I can help you manage this. Contact me today.

60 Inspirational Australian Women Quotes

by Anne Clark | Jul 2, 2020 | Business, Inspiration, Life

Be inspired by 60 Australian Women. These ladies are from all walks of life, from stage & screen, to golf and politic. I hope you find them as inspiring as I do.

“A woman of style is a thinking woman”

Claudia Karvan

“You got to try and reach for the stars or try and achieve the unreachable.”

Cathy Freeman

“There is no monopoly on becoming a millionaire. If you’re jealous of those with more money, don’t just sit there and complain. Do something to make more money yourself – spend less time drinking, or smoking and socializing and more time working.”

Gina Rinehart

Our future growth relies on competitiveness and innovation, skills and productivity... and these in turn rely on the education of our people.

Julia Gillard

I think there is nothing sexier than laughter lines.

Isla Fisher

Be eager in your desires but humbly patient in their accomplishment.

Mary MacKillop

We are limited only by our thoughts.

Miranda Kerr

Perfection is unattainable.

Jen Daltz

When you have a dream you have to work hard to achieve that dream. Your dreams when you are young can be the force that keeps you going.

Evonne Goolagong Cawley

You have to make peace with yourself. The key is to find the harmony in what you have.

Naomi Watts

I think where men are credited for being strong, women are divas. I just think it’s such a cop out.

Natalie Imbruglia

Cooking is hard work, but when it is done with love, it really is a pleasure.

Maggie Beere

If we don’t band together as women to help each other, we won’t move forward.

Nicole Kidman

You can choose not to be interested in politics, but you can’t choose to be unaffected by it.

Penny Wong

Stop leaving and you will arrive. Stop searching and you will see. Stop running away and you will be found.

Anne Geddes

Some ideas, like what you’re going to do with your life, take time to form.

Cate Blanchette

You are free to think thoughts of worry or joy, and whatever you choose will attract the same kind back to you. Worry attracts worry. Joy attracts joy.

Rhonda Bryne

Success flows when you throw yourself in and have a go – mistakes and all!

Emma Isaacs

My life is my own and I will live it fearlessly and daringly.

Lisa Messenger

The only limitations are the ones we put on ourselves.

Ita Buttrose

It’s not vanity to feel you hae the right to be beautiful.

Elle McPherson

When you find your passion, that is the pathway to the job of your dreams.

Lisa Wilkinson

I think women out there should just be happy with the way they look, they shouldn’t really try to conform to any kind of stereotype. Just be happy and hopefully healthy.

Rebel Wilson

I used to get stressed out, but my cancer has put everything into perspective.

Deltra Goodrem

I’m not someone who thinks about the past. I’m so busy thinking about what I’m going to do today.

Maggie Tabberer

We must get to work on creating a safe and equal society for all women and children.

Natasha Stott Despoja

This journey that I’ve been on has shown me that it doesn’t matter how big your muscles are – you need to have a big heart and you need to have a strong attitude and mindset.

Turia Pitt

If I can do it, so can you, and by the way confidence is contagious.

Janine Ellis

In life, you may face hard times. But in the face of adversity, always seek to remain positive. What we think, will eventually become our life. And if we think positive, you will have a positive life.

Sarah Wilson

All I can give you is my personality, who I am, what my mum and dad have taught me, and music.

Jessica Mauboy

You should never apologize for who you are and what makes up your world and your life. You should always ask for help when you need it.

Donna Hay

If you’re good at it, you can win.

Dawn Fraser

You must stand as guard at the door of your own mind and choose to be positive.

Gail Kelly – Westpac (CEO)

I think for most people it’s hard to understand what it is about swimming – I mean it’s such a solour endeavour.

Stephanie Rice

I made a promise to myself that I would.

Kate Cebrano

Work-wise, it's been really good to have a break

Sarah Murdoch

There are so many people out there who will tell you that you can’t. What you’ve got to do is turn around and say ‘watch me’

Layne Beachley

Life with a newborn is beyond exhausting. You have no idea what to do. What I learned is that the hard times come and go.

Natalie Bassingthwaigthe

You need to work out how much you need to pay in wages and rent and have back up plans if things don't go the way you think they will.

Hayley Lewis

Everyone has determination - it's a question of how you use it. Hers is based on power and success and conquering; she doesn't care what she has to do or who gets hurt in the process. In that way we're very, very different.

Dannii Minogue

We Believe that every human being has the right to be healthy. We provide people with logical, reliable and ethical information and tools that are not constrained by society, falsehoods or damaging technology.

Cyndi O’Meara

It is better to do what you love for work, but if it is your day job that enables an unpaid passion, then your life is still sweeter. What is important is that you make time for your dreams, not whether or not you get paid for it.

Tara Moss

The body achieves what the mind believes.

Lorna Jane

I want to tell people that family violence happens to anybody, no matter how nice your house is, no matter how intelligent you are.

Rosie Batty

Dream a little dream.

Meagan Hess

You are not selfish about anything. You become selfless, if anything, and it's a love you have never felt before. Your life becomes all about them and what you do revolves around them. I love it.

Megan Gale

Loyalty, kindess and compassion are very important in friendship and business partnerships. I like to think I have those qualities, too.

Jennifer Hawkins

To be happy is, I guess, the most important thing in life.

Princess Mary

I’d sit at my computer and try to pull away from myself, because I was like, ‘My dad’s going to read this!’ I just giggled the whole way through and thought ‘maybe I’m not the best person to be writing sex scenes’. And anyway, you can imply it.

Zoe Foster

The ocean humbles you. You can go and win a world title, but you're never going to beat the ocean.

Stephanie Gilmore

I still can't believe that I've achieved what I have. It's like I've lived a dream for about five years now.

Karrie Webb

I want to get the national talking about brain cancer.

Carrie Bickmore

Yes, you can have it all, but not all at the same time. Set your own priorities, trust your gut and follow your heart.

Quentin Bryce

The silence of loss makes the noise of life music to my ears.

Jessica Watson

My most amazing discovery was becoming a mother. It changed everything. I can't imagine my life without these little beings.

Deborra-Lee Furness

To be driven by passion is more likely to bring success than to be drive by money. It's an unrealistic notion that money makes you happy.

Carolyn Creswell

It's okay to have fun in business.

Naomi Simson

It's not vanity to feel you have the right to be beautiful.

Elle McPherson

Please remember that life is precious, and you are precious and treat yourself accordingly.

Dr Libby

If I feel confident in something, I don’t care about what someone thinks.

Jesinta Campbell

How to start working with a virtual assistant

by Anne Clark | Jun 25, 2020 | Business, Virtual Assistant

Your business is growing, and you're ready to bring someone onto your team because you can no longer manage everything on your own. However, you don't have the budget or need for a full-time employee, so the next best option is to hire a Virtual Assistant (VA).

What is a Virtual Assistant (VA)?

A VA is a business owner who provides support services to other businesses across various areas, such as administration, social media, graphic design, newsletters, online content management, project management, ghostwriting, and more.

VAs offer different services depending on their business. You can click here to see the services I provide.

Benefits of working with a VA

You can hire VAs on a project basis, for a set number of hours per week or month, or on a retainer package. This is something you can arrange with the VA service you wish to engage.

Where to start when hiring a VA

Before contacting VA businesses, I recommend writing a list of all the tasks you feel you need help with. Some tasks may fall under one area, while others could be more ad-hoc or one-off requirements.

Once you have an idea of the tasks you need assistance with, you can contact a few VA businesses, explain what you need help with, and ask what other services they offer.

If you're unsure what you need help with but know you need support, don’t hesitate to ask VA businesses about their services. Also, ask your friends for recommendations—they may already work with a VA service or know of several businesses to recommend.

Alternatively, you can register your details here and grab a copy of my free guide to help you get started.

How do I know which VA business to choose?

As a business owner, it's important to trust that your work will be done to the standard you expect. It’s crucial that the VA gives you confidence in their abilities. Working with a VA is like any other working relationship—sometimes personalities align perfectly, and other times they don’t. If a relationship doesn't work out, don’t see it as a failure. Instead, view it as a learning experience. Identify what worked, what didn’t, and implement strategies to ensure smoother collaboration in the future. Be open and honest about why it didn’t work.

Sometimes, the simplest issues can cause a relationship to break down, such as unclear instructions or communication, unspecified deadlines, unreasonable expectations, failure to respond to emails (on either side), or simply not being on the same wavelength.

How to ensure success with your VA

Find the best system for you and your VA to communicate tasks, deadlines, information, and any other necessary instructions. There are many free tools available that can improve virtual communication. Check here for my suggested tools.

In my business, I adapt to various formats and styles because my goal is to simplify my clients’ lives. I work in their preferred style to reduce stress in their already busy business lives. However, if I see a way to save time and money, I’ll always offer suggestions.

Can I afford a VA?

Yes, you can. VAs work globally and charge a variety of rates. It all depends on your business needs and preferences, not just the cost.

If you'd like to know more or have a chat about VA services, feel free to contact me.

10 Steps To Help You Control Toxic Business Relationships

by Anne Clark | May 28, 2020 | Business

Business relationships are just like that of any other relationship, they need to be continuously worked at, you should never take them for granted and you should treat it with the respect it deserves. However, the reality is some relationships can be very toxic. You might be showing the signs and not even realising it. Are you finding the minute you see an email has arrived from them you're cringing or feeling overwhelmed?

In being toxic, they can cause you stress, emotional and physical exhaustion, bouts of feeling overwhelmed or self-doubting, hurt (lots of it), anxiety and worst can leave you with an experience you wouldn’t wish on anyone.

Some signs of what toxic relationships can be;

Scenario #1:

The business colleague that uses you for their gain, announces themselves to be all things YOU, when in fact they’re all things THEM. You give, give, give, and they take, take, take.

Scenario #2:

You’re working with someone who is constantly taking your ideas and presenting as theirs.

Scenario #3:

You find yourself starting to think you’re not good enough because they have been continuously telling you so, or they’re telling you your ideas are not that great and finding ways to put you down. You may even find you're suddenly making errors you wouldn't normally make.

Scenario #4:

Working with someone who’s abusive and belittling you in their manner when speaking and emailing you.

Scenario #5:

They simply start saying unprofessional things behind your back.

Scenario #6:

They constantly demanded things from you and no matter what you deliver, they criticise you constantly. They never accept their part in any situation, the blame is constantly thrown your way.

Sound familiar?

It’s definitely not one of life’s finer moments!

You are a valuable person and you don’t deserve to be treated otherwise.

Sometime these people don’t even realise what they’re doing, and their behaviour is at times a result of they way they’re being treated in their own life. Be mindful of this fact. If you are comfortable and the opportunity presents itself, talk to them. Tell them how they treat you and how it makes you feel.

It's so important to remember when dealing with these toxic people, that you main your professionalism no matter what they try to throw at you.

Some of these steps are:

Politely and quietly distance yourself from them.
Don’t be so willing to ‘share’ all your ideas.
Be guarded on what information you’re telling them.
Maintain your professionalism at all times, and don’t let them allow you to compromise it.
Stand strong. Remember this fact, they need you…otherwise they wouldn’t be carrying on like this in the first place.
Don’t be so readily available for them. Make them book a time with you or limit the times you spend responding to their emails.
Be strategic in what you are willing to give and do.
Pre-plan your responses. Map out in your head a set NO responses for the various requests they frequently seek from you.
Be honest with yourself, don’t keep convincing yourself you have to put up with this.
Surround yourself with people who believe in you and encourage you, you have no room for anyone else.

Don’t be hard on yourself if you have experienced this or currently are experiencing this. We all do at some point, and more often than not, out generous natural can be an attraction to these types of people.

You want to learn from your experience, put practices into place to prevent it happening again (doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t happen again, as every person is different) and always be true to yourself and your values.

When you are working with the right people, who are aligned to you, you will find your relationship flourishes.

6 ways to look after your existing customers

by Anne Clark | Feb 17, 2020 | Business

As businesses owners we focus on growing our business and getting customers in the door. How we love a new customer!!! Then there are time when we are faced with the challenges of trying to gain more customers, and what we are forgetting and neglecting are our pre-existing customers. We most definitely should not be neglecting those amazing customers we already have.

Yes, focus on bringing in more customers. BUT don’t forget those that are already there and love who we are.

Perhaps you struggle with ideas on how to look after those customers. Here are 5 simple, yet very effective, ideas to help you keep those customer you have smiling and feeling loved.

Send them a birthday message

Today is my birthday and I received an email from Business Chicks wishing me a happy birthday and it made me feel great and loved!
Offer a birthday gift or discount

At the start of the month send an email to those on your mailing list who’s birthday is within the month, offer them a $20 voucher towards their next purchase. I received some from Kikki-K, Tony Bianco, Oroton and others. Yes, of course I went shopping, and I spent more with them.

If you are in the wedding industry, then make sure you are marking those wedding dates so you an congratulate the couple, and touch base with them on their anniversary. For example: A wedding venue like winery, send the couples that were married within the month an anniversary note and a complimentary champagne or monetary value towards a meal back at your venue. A couple is most likely to take the prompt to book a weekend away with their spouse, which would mean a returning customers and a happy customer to tell others about you. AND, if it’s a big anniversary, e.g.: 10 years, 20 years, 25 years…then offer something a little more and plant the idea of renewing their vows.
A personal note

Send your customers personal note advising of new products or services you have introduced they might love.
A VIP night or event

Customers love to feel special, so create a special event for pre-existing customers. Make them love you more!
Discount or Loyalty Cards

If you are a retail shop and you have customers visiting, create a loyalty card. Either points to be collected, or every time they make a purchase they get a stamp or mark towards a freebie. e.g.: For a hairdressers, each appointment get a stamp, and the 5th appointment get free.
Referrals

If a client is referring others your way, why not send them a gift. For those who don’t have time to be running out to buy gifts and then post them, send them an electronic gift, like a book voucher.

What things do you have in your business to keep your customers coming back? I’d love you to share them below.

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