How to stay Focused to Improve Productivity

How to stay Focused to Improve Productivity

Staying focused on one thing for a certain period of time allows you to do a better quality of work, more work gets done quicker, and your creative ideas flow easier. Remaining focused on one task at a time is less stressful on your mind. Being less stressed allows you be happier. We think technology has streamlined many tasks, but instead, we are given more tools that give us more and more to do with less time to do it. Making us stressed and overwhelmed. The phrase “time management” has become taboo, since it…Read more
Setting Rates as a Freelancer

Setting Rates as a Freelancer

One thing that freelancers struggle with is setting rates for their skills or services. The fact is, that setting rates too low, means you'll struggle to survive. If you set them too high, you won't get much work. You have to learn how to set competitive rates for your clients, and cover your own living expenses and financial goals at the same time. The first step to setting rates is to determine how much money you need to earn in one year. Add up everything that you need to pay for the month,…Read more
5 Tips To Get Website Traffic as a Novice!

5 Tips To Get Website Traffic as a Novice!

A No clue Start-up guide to getting Website Traffic When I started my local Virtual Assistant business four years ago I really had no clue about SEO. I knew I needed to get my business name 'out there', and knew enough to know to do that I needed local website traffic. How to achieve that though was a mystery... Online, I knew that one of the most significant keys to business success was getting website traffic. The more visitors I had, the better my sales and profits would be. I also knew enough…Read more
Local Virtual Assistant

Local Virtual Assistant

Why I choose to be a local Virtual Assistant   Everyone who knows me will tell you I am a massive tech geek. Yes, that’s a big bonus when you consider that my business life revolves around tech and the virtual world. I could easily support any business, anywhere in the World, but I choose to be a local Virtual Assistant within Exeter, Devon… Why? I’ve recognised that even though tech is fantastic. Human contact is the best: I use real in person connections to offset the coldness of technology. As a local…Read more
Freelance Nightmare — When the Customer Doesn’t Pay

Freelance Nightmare — When the Customer Doesn’t Pay

What to Do when your Customer doesn't Pay   It is a freelancer's worst nightmare. You've slaved for hours working on a project for a client, you've done a fabulous job, delivered on time, and then your customer doesn't pay their invoice. It could be that the client is completely avoiding you, or promising to pay by a certain date.  Time and time again, and always failing to make the payment. Worse still is the client has paid but with with a bogus cheque. In the world of freelancing, it does happen. Yes,…Read more
QuickFile Cloud Accountancy Software for Free

QuickFile Cloud Accountancy Software for Free

Start-ups cut your costs and use free Accountancy Software When you first start-up your business and venture into the world of self-employment and your new entrepreneurial life. You may not have bags of cash to throw into it. What you don’t want to do is divert money earmarked for your core business to money for accountancy software. Although, you still want and need the ability to send out professional looking Invoices. Connect with your business bank account and produce monthly financial reports. Getting paid for your services or product is a given. But,…Read more
Ten Tips to Have More Productive Business Meetings

Ten Tips to Have More Productive Business Meetings

Stop wasting valuable time and have more productive business meetings. I have attended countless meetings over the years. Some have been productive business meetings, being constructive and well planned. While others have been a complete waste of everyone's time, and have dragged on for hours. Horror! Some businesses even have meetings… to discuss meetings.  If you want to have useful and productive business meetings you can, if you follow these ten steps. How to hold productive business meetings:   1. Have a Purpose – If you don’t have a single purpose for a…Read more
Hiring a VA Helps You Become the CEO of Your Business

Hiring a VA Helps You Become the CEO of Your Business

No CEO of any Business does everything on their Own.   In fact, if you ask the employees they’ll say that the CEO doesn’t do anything. Of course, we all know that the CEO does a lot and what they do best is delegate. Smart CEOs surround themselves with highly qualified and capable people that make them look good - people who love their jobs, and want to perform at the highest level; the thing that they consider themselves experts in. As an entrepreneur you can do that too. You don’t have to…Read more
Using Microsoft OneNote for your Small Business

Using Microsoft OneNote for your Small Business

Forget any other applications when organising work for your business – OneNote has it all.   For the past 4 years I have used many note taking apps - I am in no way going to dismiss any of them, as the ones I've used all work very well. I've just recently been looking into streamlining my working processes and the apps I use. Having been a Microsoft 365 small business user for many years I was shocked that I had not yet utilised OneNote for use within my business. So, for the…Read more
Self-Employment and Taxes – Do You Maximise Your Tax Deductions?

Self-Employment and Taxes – Do You Maximise Your Tax Deductions?

Tax deductions? Oh, the joys of HMRC!  It can be a real challenge to understand what is a tax deduction and what is not. Even the most well intentioned people are intimidated and afraid they’re going to make a mistake as there are so many grey areas. So, here’s how to maximise your tax deductions, legally in simplified terms. #1 - Understand the difference between a business expense and a capital expense Business expenses are expenses incurred doing business. They’re usually tax deductible and include things like rent, travel and contractors and employees.…Read more