Archive for Latest News
Special Offer: Website and Facebook Package
Little Miss Useful has some big plans in the pipeline and I am very very excited about them.
Although I can’t tell you what the plans are just yet… I am feeling very excited and generous.
So to celebrate, Little Miss Useful has a special offer for our Website and Facebook packages.
Confirm one of our website packages by Friday 13th May and you will receive a bonus Facebook Fanpage set up completely FREE! That is a saving of $199.
Our website packages** start from $695 for a 5 page website. You can view all the packages available here.
For more information or to book please contact Little Miss Useful to see how we can help.
Terms and Conditions
- This special offer is limited to three packages only and must be booked in by Friday 13th May.
- Please allow 2-3 weeks turn around time.
- All packages require a 25% deposit prior to any work beginning.
- Little Miss Useful can offer advice on several options and recommend reputable service providers when it comes to graphic design, copywriting, themes and e-marketing companies. Little Miss Useful also provides reliable and cost-effective website hosting.
Latest website: Emit Fitness
Rhiannon Lovell from Emit Fitness contacted me about revamping her website.
Emit Fitness is all about energising, motivating, inspiring and transforming people so I wanted to ensure that her website displayed those qualities. I definitely feel like this was achieved.
The website had a large focus on the blog so the homepage is blog style and with a focus on fresh and motivating images.
A great graphic designer in Lamese from Words and Pictures definitely helped. Lamese created that beautiful banner at the top of Rhiannon’s website.
Here is the end result and I just love it!
What the client said
“If you need any kind of help with your blog, website or general administration, then Nicole Hammet from Little Miss Useful is the person to turn to. As a busy exercise professional, my days are filled with training and coaching clients so I rarely have enough time in my day to work on my website and administration. Nicole has taken the pain out of that experience by ‘taking charge’ of my website and taken it from basic to brilliant. My business leads have increased significantly and my whole business image is now very professional. Nothing is ever too much trouble for Nicole. Thanks a million!”
Rhiannon Lovell – Emit Fitness
If you would like to get online quickly speak to me about our WordPress packages.
Outsourcing and what I am learning from my own experiences
I wrote this article for my August newsletter but I felt like it deserved a blog post all on it’s own.
August was a huge learning period for me as I started outsourcing some of my own work, which is part of my master plan with baby number two on the way. I need a team around me to help give me that support over the months when bub has arrived. It will not only mean I won’t be a stressed out crazy lady and it also means that my clients have the best support possible as well.
I have been experiencing first hand the hesitation to let things go within the business. Ironic in the sense that it is one of the things I preach about being a Virtual Assistant. So I am actually taking my own advice that I give to clients and starting out slowly and building on things as I go. I think that this experience will also make me a better Virtual Assistant as I am going through the same situation/s that my clients go through on a regular basis.
I have to say that even though I am going through a big learning phase I am LOVING it. I really do love that I have people to back me up and help me out when I have too much on my plate. It feels amazing to send the work out and know that it is going to come back completed and ready for me to quality check prior to sending back to the relevant client. It is giving me more time with my clients and also giving me more time to spend with my family. I am proud to say that over the past two weekends I have been able to keep completely work free and isn’t that what outsourcing to a Virtual Assistant is all about… gaining time back for YOU.
The hardest thing about outsourcing is that feeling you are losing a little bit of control over your business, but it doesn’t have to be the case at all. So I wanted to share my top tips for working with a Virtual Assistant.
1. Start out small
Don’t dive in head first straight away, test the waters before hand. This might seem obvious but it is very true. Building a relationship and trust takes time so start by handing over smaller tasks first. This will help on several levels, you are able to gage the work ethic of the VA, you see the standard of work they produce, and you get to see if you are compatible in the way you work together. Not all VA’s will be right for you, so you need to choose one that fits in with you and your business.
2. Provide specific instructions and deadlines
Again this might seem very simple, but the amount of work that I am sent that doesn’t specify deadlines is amazing. This really helps to eliminate misunderstandings, the more specific the better!
3. Letting go
VA’s understand this point we really do. Your business is your baby, we completely understand as out business is our baby as well. So relinquishing that ‘control’ can be really difficult at first. Be open with your VA about how you are feeling and they will be able to guide you through this stage. The points I made in number 1 also help with this point, starting out slowly at your own pace will definitely help ease this feeling. I promise once you do let go and hand over the work you will feel a huge sense of relief.
4. Always remember why you are Outsourcing
Always keep in mind exactly what you are trying to achieve by outsourcing. Perhaps you want to work less hours or you want to focus your time on other projects but always keep this in the back of your mind and it will help you to achieve your goals.
5. Stay in regular contact
Communication is essential working with a VA. Set up a schedule of when you want to be in contact with your VA. Perhaps you want to be in touch once a week or as regular as once a day, but be up front from the outset and both you and your VA will know what to expect.
6. Your VA is a professional
Remember your VA has done this before and they know what they are doing.
Working with a Virtual Assistant could be one of the best decisions you could make for your business.
What would you do if you could gain a few extra hours back each month?
Unfinished Business – How to get the job done!
My office has been in shambles lately with not enough time to actually clean my office. So I asked one of my lovely clients Adele Blair of Green Apple Organising to give us some tips on how to organise your office.
With the new financial year upon us, wouldn’t it be great to start the new year with a clear conscious by having all those unfinished work tasks/projects completed?
I’m talking about those tasks/projects that play on our mind, weighing us down and preventing us from feeling like we are on top of things. They are almost always thought of in a negative frame of mind and make us feel like we are failing.
Let’s get started and make it a reality!
Think about (or actually stand in) the room that you do your most work in, whether it be at your office, in a home office or a space in the home where you spend the most time working. Picture it in your mind or if you are there, look around and get a really good feel for exactly what your office contains. Pay close attention to the following: continue reading »
The power of positve thinking
This past fortnight have been quite a challenge for me and the business. Every business has it’s ups and downs and this time it was more down than up (or so I thought).
As a contractor to other small businesses my business really revolves around the work that comes in. Sometimes there can be a lot of work and sometimes not as much. I have been very lucky in my business that I always have an even amount of work coming in, and there is always something to keep me busy.
About 3 weeks ago I found out that I would be losing a contract (well not losing, reducing hours). This was due to the change in structure in my client’s business and they needed a more permanent staff member instead of a contractor (fair call). This was one of my main clients… and needless to say I was a little worried about the loss in workload (and income) but I am a very positive person and not one to shy away from a challenge so I saw it as a chance to go on to bigger and better things.
New Website – Green Apple Organising
Adele approached me in September 2009 and wanted me to help bring her new business venture to life.
Green Apple Organising was to be the ‘marketplace for fresh organising ideas in bite size pieces’. Adele wanted the site to be fresh, clean and uncluttered. The website was also to include an online shop using E-Junkie.
Busy times for this VA
Hi All,
Wow! Life is so hectic right now, both on a business and a personal level.
From a business perspective things just keep getting better and better, and now I am busier than ever. It is very rewarding seeing something that you have worked extremely hard on start to grow and propser!
Connect with Nicole
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