 Like most nuances about entrepreneurship, understanding Client Compatibility, may be something that can’t be taught, but rather experienced. Over time, most service oriented entrepreneurs learn these subtleties about client relationships usually through tremendous trial and error and considerable stress.
It was after one of these experiences in 2019, after only what I could describe as a bad break-up (and there have been many) with a client when I thought, there has got to be a better way for me to decide who my ideal client is. If you’re anything like me, you become personally invested in your client relationships. These relationships are quite close and intimate - I give of my time and energy. They take me away from my family and personal time, I become emotionally invested in their success, I feel their losses, I share in their excitement. Even though I tried at times to adjust my level of emotional investment in clients, for sake of what I thought was self-preservation, I realized quickly this is what makes me - me and what makes the experience of working with me unique. I thought, if I give my clients the attention of a lover/friend/family, why not examine the dynamic just as closely, it was then Dr. Gary Chapman’s Love Languages screamed loudly as a possible solution. The Five Love Languages By: Anika Repole Wilson - @businesschicceo  I know the title of this article may have made you clutch your pearls a bit. Perhaps, there was slight panic, maybe I offended you or made you worry? If you felt anything close to these emotions, that's a concern for me - I mean that. It also means I wrote this article for you. So read on to see how you can (if necessary) take your Brand-Follower relationship status from 'its complicated' to 'committed'. As Digital Marketing evolves; Social Media platforms continue to place emphasis more heavily on Engagement. Engagement on Instagram (which this article is primarily focusing on) includes everything from; likes, views, comments, shares (to stories, DMs, external links like WhatsApp) and saves. It has always been crucial to be able to wade through the BS (and there is a lot of it) on what works on social media. However, in the advent of the number of likes on IG posts being phased out globally, its become even more important. These other metrics for measuring engagement, must now increase in importance not just to professional Digital Marketers and Influencers, but to entrepreneurs making their own content, as well as, middle managers and CEOs who have others managing their content. Until you understand what words like: Engagement, Reach and Impressions actually mean and how to manipulate them, you really are just shooting in the dark and could be taken for a ride by any of the many so called Social Media 'Experts'. Content Marketing isn't just about the pretty pics (sure that's a part of it), there is a balance, skill and rhythm that combine to create great content. Some folks hit it out of the park immediately (lucky *$#%), others struggle for years to get it, while some have the money to pay others to make it happen for them. If you aren't one of the lucky ones, or have a rich uncle ready to bequeath you a hefty inheritance to fund your content marketing aspirations, here are a few tips to make the 'struggle' a little easier. SCROLL BREAK#1: MAKE A COMMITMENT TO YOUR AUDIENCE Yes the look of your Content, plays a huge role in engagement. It is a very real part of it; particularly on Instagram where your content needs to look the part. It needs to compete with the, motivational quotes, #instafit celebs, Instagram models, professionally managed big brands, Instagram couples and travel bloggers. Not to mention the #foodporn and #foodie posts and if you're like me the #nailart posts too. Ahead of choosing a theme and look, you need to also identify what your brand is about and who you're connecting with. As an example, looking on my content, for the coaching arm of the business @businesschicceo you should be able to see that I'm trying to target professionals and entrepreneurs with a primary focus on women. My content is designed with an aesthetic that I like BUT its designed specifically FOR my target audience. Think about who you are trying to speak to and what they like. Take it a step further and think about the conversations not only that they want to have, but need to have, and see how your brand can start a dialogue with them. #2: IDENTIFY AN OBJECTIVE Next, it's not just about the pretty pictures. Each post/piece of content must have an objective. Are you trying to raise awareness of your brand? Are you trying to get folks to consider your product or service? How about getting them to call you or visit your site? Creating / Posting content without a clearly defined objective is a waste of time. Sure Social Media Content is great for increasing Brand Awareness, but it is also about building a tribe, a cult following as it were for your brand. It's not about what you're selling, its about how you make your followers feel. Do you make them feel smarter, more confident? Are you helping them make a major decision? Are you helping them through a phase in life, or solve an everyday problem? Your brand, no matter what size it is, must answer these questions for your target audience. It's not about the sale, its about the solution. Creating content that will have an objective of long term success is an investment, and just like any relationship, you must nurture it. Sure a one-night-stand is fun from time to time, but generally speaking, people want to feel passion, trust, comfort and safety. If your content isn't doing that, you're nothing more than a booty call. #3: DON'T LIMIT YOURSELF Content is dynamic and while choosing content you should also consider what your particular audience likes to engage with. Are they readers or viewers? Do they have time to listen to your podcast or watch a live video? Can they download your workbook or attend an online summit? These are all types of content - between having a clear objective and knowing what your audience wants and needs, you can then better identify content types to employ. Wish to know more about content development? Check out another article HERE or schedule coaching time with the author below. Meet the Author:Anika Repole Wilson
Anika is our Managing Director but we prefer to call her the Strategy Maverick. Well known for her out-of-the-box thinking and personal approach, she is a hub of knowledge and experience having worked with over 40 brands in the last 15 years. Anika is think-tank of BIG ideas - with the execution plan built in. Schedule a chat with AnikaCategories All  We’re always looking for ways to better ourselves, ways to set ourselves apart from the crowd - whether in our personal or professional lives. At times we get discouraged along the way because we take such a complicated approach to it, but we’re here to break it down for you in three (3) simple steps. It’s time to level up and do it the easy way! The first step is to identify the skills you need to improve on or gain. Self-assessment is always the first place to start when thinking of any kind of improvement. You can do this by answering a few simple questions:
Take a few minutes to complete our quiz to see what area you might want to focus on first. If you've already made up your mind, then let’s get into identifying some of the key skills that will give you a professional (and personal!) edge!  Communication skills are at the base of all interactions - personal and professional. Being an effective communicator entails more than just enunciating or projecting your voice well. It requires you to know how to address the different types of people you interact with, listening to what they have to say in order to craft appropriate responses. Improving your communication skills will help you improve other skills such as negotiation, problem-solving, critical thinking and interpersonal skills. All these areas are key to being an effective leader.  It doesn’t matter what role you play within your organization - strong leadership skills will always give you an edge. Some of the marks of a leader (and strong leadership skills!) are the ability to take accountability, remaining level headed under pressure, being solutions-oriented, being decisive and being able to command the respect of others. There are many benefits that come with honing your leadership skills that go beyond getting that promotion you’ve been eyeing😉 It allows you to stand up for your team or an idea, you’re better able to influence others which is quite handy in navigating the various personalities you encounter. With these new skills you will also be considered more reliable, thus getting you more responsibility within your job.  Repeat after me: "Everything is a project. Every project needs managing". That is by no means an exaggeration, especially in the world of work. With so many moving parts in each task, there are many ways things can slip through the cracks. By effectively managing a project, you minimize the possibility of this happening and allow yourself to catch it early, if it does happen so you can do damage control. The first step in effective project management is being organized. This means identifying the project at hand, breaking down the steps to complete it and delegating tasks where necessary. Here, your leadership and communication skills will come in handy in helping you manage your team. There are many online tools that can help the process flow smoothly, so a little tech know-how will be an added benefit!  It’s time to crack the code on technology! It can ether be the enemy or your greatest ally - if used right. With so many social sites out there that seem to just eat away at our time we often forget what useful tools are available at our fingertips. Many project management, accounting apps and software can help you reduce your workload in a few clicks. Being able to connect with clients via communication software, makes for better interactions and helps keep them in the loop, as you execute tasks on their behalf. These communication tools can also help you tap into a fast growing resource - virtual personal assistants, who can help you do more, in less time. So, ready to move on to the next level? Keep following!  Our Account/Production Manager, Emjae, is a self-proclaimed wordsmith who fell in love with words thanks to Dr. Seuss. She's an avid reader and a recovering screen junkie, and is fueled by coffee and sarcasm. Her work ranges from recounts of her adventures as a mom, her take on trending topics and deep pieces that she weaves from experiences and sheer imagination.
One thing we hear all the time, from persons who say they need a Virtual Assistant is that they don't know where to begin in assigning responsibilities and tasks to their VA. So to solve that problem, we created a very simple ans short guide to get both you and your VA going.
You're welcome! :) VA Management Guide Workbook by Anika Wilson on Scribd 
I quit my job in less than 4 months after hiring my Virtual Assistant and became a full-time Entrepreneur! It has been one of my best business investments to date.   Starting and maintaining your own business is stressful and time-consuming, we all know this. Often times as Entrepreneurs we get caught up with the 'little things' and the frustration builds as we find we are too often 'majoring in the minors' and sometimes even loosing focus of the big picture.
It's easy to become absorbed in the 'small stuff' which feel like a never-ending pile of to-dos that prevent you from reaching your primary goals for your business, and as much as we know we need help, we may not be in a position to afford full-time help. That's where a Virtual Personal Assistant or a Virtual Agency like Business Chic is able to lessen the load and give you more time. What's a Virtual Assistant? Virtual Personal Assistants, aka VAs are able to facilitate tasks for you from a far. VAs may have more than one skill, but generally they are either men or women who prefer to provide professional services online, rather than in a traditional office setting. Many VAs are professionally trained in their respective fields or have work experience in their preferred area of practice. What kind of tasks can I give a VA? VA tasks can vary from data entry, general administration like checking emails, accounting to more complex tasks that you may have found yourself absorbed in doing or researching like; figuring out how to optimize your website for search engines, social media management, proposal writing to even flyer design and web maintenance. Here are a few tasks you can give to Virtual Staff, to help you take off a few hats and focus on what you do best!
Benefits of hiring a VA: COST! Since VAs typically charge by the hour, work around their personal schedule and do so remotely - rates for VAs are quite affordable, plus there are no additional costs to your overheads. No need to worry about getting a bigger office space, an additional computer or even office supplies. VAs are also Independent Contractors, so there is no worry about having to pay a monthly salary with the required taxes. Is there a benefit with going through a Virtual Agency? Yup! Virtual Agencies like Business Chic have a qualified pool of persons who work with them virtually. This enables you, the client, to have multiple tasks managed by one or several specialized and qualified VA to fulfill your needs at no additional cost, while the 'agency' manages each VA towards your project's completion. So what are you waiting for? Sure you can keep doing it all, but when will you be able to achieve that illusive work-life balance if you are always working on the 'small stuff'? The time you spend working should be focused on profit-building activities and leading your business forward with the passion and drive you know you have, but weren't previously able to give fully. Talk to us about hiring your VA or let us build a customized solution to meet your needs. IMG Credit: #WOCinTech |
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