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 2018 is most definitely the year of the side hustle and superwoman! So many of us have jobs, side hustles, dreams of #GymLife while still maintaining an active social life and family balance. Without proper planning, it can be challenging to not end the week feeling drained. There are simple steps you can take to reclaim your time and maximise each moment to create a day that’s not only effective, but also enjoyable. 1) What do you spend time on?The best way to start the process is to figure out what you actually spend your time doing. How? Google search and iOS/Android app stores are your best friends! There are several free and paid time management tools available that will track your time based on tasks. The beauty of tracking your time is that it forces you to place a value on your time, and this will help with re-prioritizing your obligations. 2) Plan your time!Nothing beats the pull of a well-thought-out to-do list; trust me, your brain will thank you. Go ahead, start by planning for tomorrow, today; this is a great way to schedule your time, while keeping track of what you need to get done. 3) Stop procrastinating.Let’s be real, the stress of having to deal with several last-minute tasks is not worth it. Try to develop the habit of doing tasks as soon as you can; this will save you headache in the long run. Just do it! 4) Learn to say “NO” to things that you don’t want - or need - to do.Your time is precious, and you should guard it. Try to save it for the things you wholeheartedly want to do or think that are absolutely necessary. Think it through, is it worth it? If yes, the next step is to plan for it. 5) Do something just for yourself.Self-care is key! You will be more motivated to get things done if you are your best possible self. There are so many ways to get a bit of self-care into your weekly, or even daily routine. Make a list of things you like to do to relax, and work them in. 6) Don’t be afraid to ask for help.You don’t have to handle everything by yourself. There’s no shame in getting help. Delegating tasks will help you to maximise your time and preserve some energy while getting all your tasks done in a timely manner. Virtual Assistants are a great way to achieve this. You can have someone personally dedicated to your needs for a few hours per day. Think about what you could do with all that extra time. 7) Be gentle on yourself.Above all else, be gentle on yourself, acknowledge your limitations and set boundaries. At times this must be done even with the persons closest to us. The guilt we place on ourselves as women of not being able to do it all, or spend enough time with those we love can eat away at us, however, you cannot pour from an empty cup. Acknowledging that 'BALANCE' may continue to be an illusive aspect of our lives may actually be the first step in attaining it. Know that it's OK to not have it all together and realize that the journey to creating balance, is in itself an act of balance and you are already more than half way there. Don't let the pressures of life steal your joy. Reclaiming your time will be one of the best decisions your ever make! Chauntae is our Digital Content Queen. She loves kids, binge watching Netflix series and if purple were a planet she would rule it. As a Chic Chick, she's constantly searching for new ways to represent @be.business.chic .
Yep, she's on Instagram! @chauniebu
So you want to get into Digital Marketing?
Digital Marketing is a fairly broad field and can vary in specialization from Search Engine Optimization (SEO), to Content Marketing, Social Media Management to Email Marketing & Lead Generation. Kick-starting a career in Digital Marketing doesn't have to be complicated. First, ask yourself is what area of Digital Marketing will suit your personality more? Are you a more social creature? Are your strengths in developing copy or do you prefer to build strategy? Do you prefer to be behind the scenes or do you wish to become a thought-leader in the industry? Depending on your answer, that will lead you to which area you will not only be most suited to, but the area you will enjoy the most. Regardless of the area you choose, I would suggest signing up for newsletters and becoming a member of sites like Mashable, Social Media Examiner, Social Media Today, Sprout Social, Hubspot, Buzzsomo. Begin to comb through the blogs, find what area you gravitate to the most and do some more research. Digital Marketing is FAST CHANGING, it is important to keep up with what is trending. Lastly, sign up for a FREE Course with a site like Udemy.com or Coursera.com in Digital Marketing to see if you are further inspired. You can then delve further with courses on Lynda: Online Courses, Classes, Training where you can learn more about your preferred field and then from there its all about putting the theory to practice. Feel free to check out my latest eBook; My Top 5 Tips to Social Media Success #ShamelessPlug ;) âGood Luck! Whether you are new to social media, been online for awhile or have worked in the field for years, the industry is rapidly evolving, with new tools, platforms and enhancements emerging almost monthly. As such the field of Social Media Management, is for the most part very interesting, but can also be overwhelming. Many persons new to the industry, may try to adapt certain tools from traditional media but quickly come to realize that Social Media is a totally different animal and needs to be treated as such. So how can you differentiate your brand and stand out in such a fast paced and ever changing virtual environment? Firstly, I can tell you it won't be easy! Platforms that sell you solutions to grow followers rapidly are almost always a farce and though they can lead to an increase in numbers, those numbers are not going to be genuine advocates for your brand and neither will they convert from 'Likes' to actual buying customers. Success on Social Media can happen and does happen with good strategy, great content, a passion for people and a desire to roll with the punches and keep learning, and that's what I hope to show you a bit of in this guide. Download for FREE below.
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
|