Girl Friday Services

Launched your VA biz and no clients?

2009-11-10T22:19:00.002-05:00

Hello, I just answered a plea of a fellow virtual assistant who started her VA biz over a year ago so that she could stay home with her newborn child, but has had very little luck with landing regular clients. After the crazy first year or so of raising a newborn and a move to a new part of the country, she is facing having to leave her child in daycare and take a 9-5 job again. She asked for some advice. Here is how I responded:

First, she just moved to a new state not too long ago. Did she issue a press release (there are so many free online press release services) announcing her business in that area? I recommend putting the state or the city and state in the title of the headline. Some may think that is limiting her reach, but my thought is - it can pick up the interest of the local media, *her name would start getting recognized at networking gatherings.

Second, on that note, join local free networking groups. There are "meetups", local business women groups, business associations, twitter meet ups etc. My recommendation go! You can't be any worse at public attention then I have been in my life. I almost failed 10th grade english because I wouldn't do a book report in front of the class! But I made myself go when I started my business. I've met some amazing people along the way and landed a radio interview after striking up a facinating conversation with Deb Neuman from "Back to Business" at a local business womens group.

Third, I suggested something that others might think is odd but I love it. Join help a reporter out Three times a day she will receive an email from HARO with reporter inquiries asking for interviewees on a number of topics. I answered one last year about women owned home businesses and now will be in a Family Circle magazine article in February of this year :). But beyond looking for topics that she will be able to participate in she will find some that relate to the work of someone she knows from a networking group. What kinder compliment can you give then to suggest they follow up with this reporter because you think they will make a great contribution to the article, or book, or blog post, or tv/radio spot. He gets all kinds of great opportunities, check it out.

Fourth, determine who her ideal client is if she hasn't already, types of businesses and people she wants to work with, what specific services does she want to offer? Then once you have the 411 on the ideal client, start her networking with social media and find sites that her ideal clients go to. I wish I had added a bit more in my response to her about social media. But still time to do that.

I love helping people who want to get into this industry. I've rambled enough :) Any thoughts??

Twitter -Lessons from High School?

2009-02-14T15:03:00.002-05:00

I don’t know about you but I love Twitter despite the situation I’m about to describe. I have found a few awesome clients through Twitter, met some great people to friend, learned some interesting things and generally have had some fun interacting with my peeps. For those of you not yet familiar with this new social media forum Twitter, peeps is a term to describe the group of people who follow you and that you follow back. If you follow them but they don’t follow you, they are hardly “your” peeps as they will never see what you post unless you mark it first with an @ in front of their user name in the hopes that they’ll pick up on it; which brings me to the point of this blog.

Even if they do see it, it does not mean they are necessarily going to respond. There has been some recent conversations going on at Twitter about cliques. Yes you remember cliques right? From high school? You know those things that feel great and empowering if you are a member, but yet make you feel lonely and an outcast if you are not. Yeah those.

One user posted something the other night similar to this “the big names are quick to thank and shout out to other big names, but yet ignore the ones that are the most supportive to them by responding and retweeting” definitely not their exact words, but that was the general gist of it and just confirmed what I have been witnessing and experiencing myself lately.

In high school the popular kids were admired, quoted, engaged with, invited to events, gushed over. Ick, can you tell I was not one of those kids in high school - Whatever! The same happens a little on Twitter though. Yes I follow some of these “popular peeps” and most follow me back, though you wouldn’t know it. But I’m learning that as it was in high school, most of the time it’s just self proclaimed hype, with a sprinkling of good quotes or funny quips. But that only carries you so far.

The way to be successful with Twitter and other social media sites is to be “social”. You don’t have to be a BFF with everyone that posts to you directly or replies to something you wrote. But it is proper and kind to at least acknowledge someone when they are directing a communication to you. If you were at a social gathering would you look at someone as they said something directly to you and then walk away without responding?? Not likely unless you were a total snob or jerk and I doubt that you are. Please note that there are times when someone may be multitasking and really does not see your post, but that shouldn’t be happening on a regular basis. Some peeps are online for several hours throughout the day (where do they find the time I wonder), so there really is no excuse to repeatedly not interact with those that are seeking to engage in conversation with you.

A simple formula (many have posted similar remarks so don’t think I’m stealing your line, they are not original to just you – anyone who thinks about it for a moment figures this out) Tweet (post interesting or helpful things), ReTweet (what you think is funny, interesting or important), Reply (to what strikes you as conversation worthy), Share (helpful links), Engage (with your peeps), and most of all be kind and have fun.

We are all human and hardwired to connect with others. Check yourself and be sure you are not snubbing those that support you. Do that and they will be the ones that still support you in the long run, long after the glory fades. I love interacting with all my peeps, no matter what their status, industry or location. Just @ me and find out.

Twitter Auto DM new followers? - How dare you?

2009-02-14T14:11:00.002-05:00

Okay, like most newbies to the world of Twitter, when I joined in October of 2008 I came across Tweetlater my very first day. The offer to auto DM a thank you to new followers seemed like a great idea. I, like many of you, have a busy life. And I, like hopefully many of you, am generally a nice person and want to be sure to acknowledge a new follower.

As time went on I began to use Twitter a little bit more and more and pretty much forgot about the auto DM. For a while I tried to manually DM a thank you to new followers or post a “hello and welcome new followers” on the main stream when there was a swarm of them all at once. Then I started seeing people complaining about the auto DMs and at first I didn’t think much of it. Then more complaints and accusations of the tweep being lazy or disengaged or lame started streaming across my home page. I started to get tired of them myself, cluttering up my DM box. Then it dawned on me, I had done the same thing months ago. Was I lazy? No. Was I disengaged? Certainly not! Was I lame? I hoped not, though some may have their own points of view. I simply had clicked through a few suggestions thinking it was the best thing to do at the time, and being unaware of the so called “proper twitter etiquette”; which I harshly would be reprimanded for, even if not directly. I quietly slunk back to Tweetlater and removed my auto DM for new followers and hoped no one had noticed.

My reason for this post and my request to the judges of what is Twitter Right and Twitter Wrong is don’t be so quick to blame, judge and condemn. Simply state a slight dislike for auto DMs every so often and those that have followed you will eventually catch on and slink back to remove it as I did with tail between the legs and beg forgiveness for trying to be nice and not leave anyone unthanked.

Thanks.

"Resolutions Suck" set a New Years Revolution

2008-12-30T11:15:00.002-05:00

Hey everyone, it's that time of year again when we try to regroup our lives, take stock of what we accomplished this past year and what we did not. Many of us will set New Years resolutions and most of us will fail at them? Why, lack of proper resources to sustain us through the setbacks, lack of a clear trackable goal plan, lack of the belief in ourselves to accomplish the goal no matter what. So this year I had the pleasure of listening to a speech by a new friend of mine Jim Bouchard, America's Black Belt Powervator.

In Jim's words "Resolutions suck!" He is encouraging people to set New Years Revolutions and generously is offering his workbook to anyone who wants to take charge of their life, the direction it is going in, and the self power it takes to succeed. You can access Jim's "My New Years Revolution" here http://www.jimbouchard.org/Downloads/My%20New%20Year%20Revolutions%20Workbook.pdf

Tell him Girl Friday Maine a/k/a Marie sent you. I will see you at the end of 2009 and we will rejoice in the success that we shall accomplish.

Virtual Assistance Seminar in Maine

2008-11-25T00:10:00.004-05:00

So with the help of my awesome future mother-in-law I have a new project in the works. A seminar about virtual assistance. The target audience for this seminar will be people who wish to enter the industry of virtual assistance and will include information about the industry, the different types of services, niches you can serve, client types, fees, useful programs/software, business start up advice and resources, how to market your service business, social media marketing and a question and answer session.

Yes it will be held here in little ole Maine, sometime in February '09 at a location yet to be determined. This first seminar will be limited to 10-12 people. That way I can offer a more personalized experience and it will allow enough time for everyone to participate in the question and answer session where we can brainstorm ideas for your own virtual assistance business. If the interest is high I will consider offering a second seminar the following month and so on as time permits and interest is expressed.

Future plans include more specialized training and information for VAs as well as information sessions for business individuals wanting to learn more about virtual assistance and how it can fit in to their business plan to be presented by Girl Friday Services of Maine in conjunction with the Maine Association of Virtual Assistants and its members.

Please contact me at girlfridayservices08@yahoo.com to get on the mailing list for future updates of information and dates.

Mortgage Loss Mitigation office now Open in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

2008-11-16T21:29:00.001-05:00

For Immediate Release
Dr. Michael W. Cantrell, Sr.
michael@housingrescueplan.com
(888) 880-9997 ext. 5921

Myrtle Beach, SC – November, 2008
Are you behind in your mortgage payments; by how many months? One, three, six or more? Have you been presented with a Forbearance Agreement that just doesn’t feel right? Or is your bank threatening foreclosure? There is help. Visit the closest H. R. P. office for your FREE consultation.

Foreclosure may not be the answer. You shouldn’t have to just give up the fight for your home that you worked so hard to purchase and hold on to. There is another option that your bank may not be forthcoming in talking to you about. It’s called Loss Mitigation. The Housing Rescue Plan, LLC specializes in loss mitigation services.

Housing Rescue Plan, LLC offers several loss mitigation options for homeowners facing financial hardships such as unemployment, separation or divorce, medical bills, reduced income, job relocation or others. The loss mitigation options H.R.P., LLC will discuss with you include: loan modifications; VA loan modifications; short payoff (short sale); deed in lieu of foreclosure, repayment plans, partial claims for FHA mortgages and special forbearance agreements. The H.R.P., LLC team will work in conjunction with you and your lender to come up with a plan of action that works for both sides. The best part is you may be able to work out an agreement with your lender that will allow you and your family to stay in your home. The H.R.P., LLC office is run and operated by Dr. Michael W. Cantrell, Sr. creator of the Federal Housing Recovery Plan. Dr. Cantrell has a 95% success rate negotiating with lenders.

Dr. Cantrell has over 19 years of mortgage experience in various roles. He, together with his team of trained counselors are available now to talk to you about your current housing situation. Your initial consultation is free. Visit www.housingrescueplan.com for more information and an online application to get started today. Housing Rescue Plan, LLC is working with homeowners, keeping the American dream alive. We are currently helping people in trouble in all 50 states.

Dr. Michael W. Cantrell, Sr.,
Housing Rescue Plan, LLC
824 3rd Ave. S.
Surfside Beach, SC 29575
(888)880-9997 ext. 5921
(843) 467-5921 (mobile)
(888) 880-9997 Fax
michael@housingrescueplan.com

Problem Solving and Decision Making part 1 of 4

2008-10-14T22:34:00.004-04:00

When faced with a difficult problem and decision to be made, how do you handle it? run and hide your head in the sand? ask a few dozen friends their opinion? call your mom or dad? make a list of pros and cons? ignore it altogether?

There are several ways to handle difficult situations. Today I will go over step one of this GFS system for problem solving and decision making.

Part One: Appraise the Situation-
Step one:
Identify the concerns (here's where that list comes into play)
*Make a list of what deviations to the status quo are taking place
*What decisions need to be made
*What changes do you anticipate are going to take place due to this deviation
*What are the possible opportunities presented by this deviation
*What bothers you about the changes and/or opportunities you have identified

Step Two: Clarify concerns
*What are the specifics of the deviation(s) – are these facts or heresay
*What exactly needs to be decided – when do the decision(s) need to be made
*What else bothers you about this problem
*Look closer at the identified opportunities – is this really a problem
*What evidence do you have that these opportunities will be positive

Step Three: Prioritize
*On a scale of 1-10 (10 being the highest of importance/urgency) rate each decision to be made
*On a scale of 1-10 rate each opportunity
*Consider how these will affect other people, family, business, co workers, reputation, financial situation, safety
*Make an action list of decisions to be made with the most important at the top, assign a deadline
Do I make this decision on my own, or is this a group decision to be made?
Do I need more data to make an informed decision? If so, adjust deadline accordingly.
What is the next step after my decision is made?
How will the results of my decision be measured?

Next step... problem analysis

Marie

Connections

2008-10-05T16:45:00.003-04:00

When I say connections I'm not just talking about networking connections like "hey give me a call when you're ready to launch that product, I've got connections..." or having profiles on Facebook, Digg, MySpace etc. What I'm talking about is that personal connection you can have with another person or with an activity. What or who do you feel a connection with?
I've felt a connection to several people the last few weeks: Peter J. Sucy an amazing photographic artist from New York (check out his site!), Deb Neuman of "Back To Business" and Andrea Beaudoin - Creating Change Lifecoaching. I feel so privileged to have had the opportunity to sit down and talk to each of these individuals recently. Connections are that way. You meet people all the time, literally every day at the store, the post office, on the phone... but you don't always have a personal connection like a shared viewpoint or vision, a similar childhood experience, a shared birthday :). Humans are hardwired to have personal connections with others and we should nurture them and reach beyond our comfort zone to seek these opportunities for connections out.
A connection can also be experienced with your work (career or charity type work). You'll know you have a connection when it doesn't feel like work, when you experience joy when you sit down, gear up, wake up, tune in or whatever you do- the time will fly, you will be enjoying yourself, the creative ideas will flow, the atmosphere will be one of free flowing ease and it will NOT feel like work at all.
I recommend to anyone, find a connection daily its good for the soul! :)

Employee vs. VA subcontractor

2008-09-25T22:44:00.003-04:00

There seems to be confusion still about how a VA differs from an employee, despite the fact that most of us will put some type of blurb on our websites about the differences. Wait a minute... I don't think I properly addressed that on my site www.girlfridayservicesofmaine.com. Alas, I have too many other exciting things going on there, so I'll just blog my thoughts on this hot topic of debate.

An employee typically is one who you pay X amount of dollars per hour, not including the employer paid proration of insurance premiums, training time, recruiting costs, the employment taxes, 401K contributions, vacation time, and sick days (I won't even go into the other things you pay x amount of dollars for like idle time, chit chat at coworkers desks, reading the paper, personal phone calls, texting, internet browsing...) oops its out of the bag now. What is all that really costing you per hour? And if you have a full time employee and work is slow - do you send them home? Not usually because you hired them as full time employees. The upside to all this? Company loyalty (we hope), someone to assist you 40 hours a week (unless they are out sick...). The downside - you are paying for nonproductive hours every week like it or not. Don't get me wrong, if you have enough work and can afford a full time assistant, by all means hire that full time assistant, its good for you and its good for them.

On the other hand if you cannot afford to hire a regular assistant, or have a project that goes beyond your time availability or skills then a VA could be the solution. A VA works for you on a strictly as needed basis. If you only need a VA to type and prepare a mail merge document, it will likely take them a fraction of the time it will take you to do it. If you have a big project that will take your full time assistant away from more important work, you can contract a VA to do just the special project and that's it. Maybe your assistant is on vacation and something has come up that simply cannot wait, call your VA. While a VAs price per hour may seem high to you, just remember that you are not paying to place a job posting ad to find them, you likely will not need to train them to perform the work you need done (but if so we are very quick learners), you do not pay employment taxes or any other costs for us (we pay our own taxes and insurance), you pay only for active work time (our clock stops when the phone rings, when we need to use the rest room, when we want a snack, etc) you ONLY pay for real productive work time (that's premium work), a VA works on a contract basis, if you don't like our work or the personalities just don't mesh well you can end the relationship there (you are not stuck with a hiring decision gone wrong), a VA works from home (off-site) and does not need to be provided with computer equipment to do the work (we have our own, thank you). A VA does not need to be micro managed, we are not your employees. Give us the work, explain the results you want and then let us go and do what we do best- getting it done, no matter what!

A recant of my opinion on free press releases

2008-09-25T22:36:00.003-04:00

okay okay, so we all make quick assumptions and grumblings from time to time. I digress. I love free press release sites! My press release has been picked up locally and brought some very good things into my business so far.

Sometimes you do get more than what you paid for. I guess it just depends on what you are putting out there and how much passion you have for what it is you are doing.

Please contact me at girlfridayservices08@yahoo.com if you want to discuss a press release for your business!

Take care.

Press Releases take two

2008-09-21T23:34:00.002-04:00

To say I'm not impressed is a major understatement. The URL they gave me for my blog didn't work. I go back and view my press release and they cut off part of my release even though I was within the character limits, no name in the source even though I put it in. So as the old saying goes "you get what you pay for".

Prospective clients, don't ask me to submit a press release for you unless you are prepared to pay for the site's premium or upgraded (paid) submission, bad press isn't any better than no press in my book.

Perhaps this link will work:
http://www.free-press-release.com/news/200809/1222053489.html

Press Releases

2008-09-21T23:22:00.003-04:00

Okay so there are a couple of sites out there that offer free press releases, but most will only say free to indicate that registering as a user on their site is free. However to actually submit a press release costs you money. For a small business just starting out, sometimes doling out money for a press release that may or may not be read by your target audience is a bit hard to swallow. I submitted my first press release for MAVA (The Maine Association of Virtual Assistants) with i-newswire. It was quick, easy and yes it was free. It actually popped right up within a day when I googled Maine Association of Virtual Assistants for.... about a day. After that I had to search a little for it. So I'm trying this new one with www.free-press-release.com and going with the free submission, though they try hard to get you to upgrade to the premier press release. I'm curious to see how this one goes. You can find it here I think:

http://www.free-press-release.com/news/200809/1222053489.html' target='_blank'>Press Release: Announcing the Maine Association of Virtual Assistants

If you have problems accessing it, please leave me a comment letting me know. Thanks

Have a great Monday tomorrow.

Benefit of being a Virtual Assistant

2008-09-18T16:45:00.005-04:00

Okay so today I realized one of the biggest benefits of running a virtual assistant business- being able to work at home on days that you don't feel well!
I woke up this morning not feeling well, but not bad enough that I would have stayed home. However as the day progressed, I was not able to focus on my work at my "day job", was increasingly feeling worse and ended up leaving at noon.

If I was working this VA business full time that would allow me to rest, work, rest, read, rest, work, rest and so on, so that I could get through the day, be a little productive but also be able to take it easy without constant interruptions, constant fires to put out etc.

What benefit does that offer my clients? When I go home sick, I'm still at the office - my "virtual" office. I can easily take my laptop to the couch or to my bed; wherever it is that I need to just place my body to rest, but yet still allow my mind to tend to the work at hand.

Announcing Maine Association of Virtual Assistants

2008-09-13T03:37:00.001-04:00

Attention all Virtual Assistants in the State of Maine!

My name is Marie and I own and operate Girl Friday Services of Maine, a virtual assistance business in Bowdoinham, Maine. I'd like to welcome you to a new state based membership organization for virtual assistants; the Maine Association of Virtual Assistants (MAVA). I believe it is going to be one of the first organizations of its kind. As of this date the closest organizations I have found are the International Association of Virtual Office Assistants and the Virtual Assistant Chamber of Commerce, both of which cater to virtual assistants on a much broader scale nationally and internationally, and the Delaware Valley Virtual Assistants Association serving New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. But what do we have here in Maine? A couple dozen virtual assistants scattered across the state with nowhere to turn for guidance, networking, referrals, and partnerships on a more personal level. Don't get me wrong, it is awesome to have the power of the internet to bring you information from the very top leading VAs and online business experts in our country and believe me I glean all the information I can from them too.

However, what I was seeking was a closer knit network of individuals who would understand the ups and downs of running a virtual business in Maine, the frustrations of trying to market a high tech virtual assistance service to a workforce that has relied heavily on self reliance through the years. I think it was ingrained in me as a little girl to work hard (that's what a good employee or business owner did) and I have all my life. The business community needs to be made aware of our industry and the value that we can provide to them in their business and their lives. It is amazing how we can simplify operations and bring such a tremendous value to the daily lives of busy individuals. The Association is still in the beginning stages and I welcome participation and input from other Virtual Assistants. I don’t want MAVA to only serve me, I want it to serve all of us, to be created by all us and nurtured by all of us so that it can be the best source of support and information on Virtual Assistance in the state.

I first stumbled upon the term virtual assistant this summer in a book about home businesses. It was just a short 2 or 3 paragraph blurb explaining how a virtual assistant was an independent entrepreneur who served busy people such as small business owners who could not afford a full time assistant and teachers, executives etc., with administrative services conducted from their own virtual office (usually in their home). It went on to talk about how VAs service their clients, such as through email, document sharing on the internet, faxing, phone and sometimes even locally in person. But the amazing thing I learned was that virtual assistants aren't restricted to a local market region. In fact, a VA could service clients clear across the world, all through modern technology. I had worked from home on the computer before, I was well versed in working with word processing and internet usage I could do that. I had never heard of a virtual assistant before and wasn’t aware of any others in the area who provided such a service. As time went on and I began joining networking organizations and freelance sites on the web I would always see one or a few listed in Maine through sites such as VA Networking, Elance.com, and VA4U. I would see some of the same names, then a few new ones scattered here and there. In looking at the Elance listing of providers, so many of us have gone that route and very few have made any money at it. A few of us have websites, many do not. Some of us have lots of information on these directory listings and some have very little like just a link through the networking site but no real way to contact you. If you are reading about this Association for the first time now, that means I could not find any contact information for you to send my announcement directly to you. How are your clients finding you? Do you have enough clients without proper marketing of your service? If so, I’d love to hear how you did that and I’m sure others in Maine would as well.

That’s exactly what I want to see for the Maine Association of Virtual Assistants, a membership organization where virtual assistants can network and learn from each other, support each others’ businesses and help each other grow and develop. I want our membership to be a source of inspiration and guidance for emerging virtual assistants. Someone who has 20 years experience and is a whiz at typing and secretarial work may wish to work for themselves but lack the knowledge of how to market themselves adequately to make that wish a reality. We can help one another. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses individually but together we can accomplish and overcome so much more.

With such a vast global market area, we are not in competition with each other we are merely working alongside one another. Wouldn’t it be great if six months to a year from now you could talk to anyone in the state and say you are virtual assistant and not get that confused and dazed look in their eyes because they don’t know what a virtual assistant is? I think so. If they don’t really know what a VA is, how will they ever be open to seeing the value one can provide?

Please contact me at girlfridayservices08@yahoo.com or by phone at 207-841-5523 anytime to discuss the Association, its member benefits or how to become a member. Feedback and comments on this article is welcomed. www.girlfridayservicesofmaine.com.

When a good idea hits a Virtual Assistant

2008-09-11T23:38:00.000-04:00

Okay, so at 10:00 am yesterday as I was chit chatting with a co-worker an idea hit me. A wonderfully awesome, terrific idea! Okay, so what happens when a wonderfully awesome, terrific idea hits someone who is a virtual assistant? It sparks a fire inside them that is not easily quenched. I could think of little else until about 1:00 a.m. when I finally made myself shut down the computer from my frantic work to start putting this idea into action and go to bed. Then I proceeded to toss and turn and wake frequently throughout the night thinking about this wonderfully awesome, terrific idea that wouldn't let me rest.

Nothing against pit bulls I love the few I've met (they were sweethearts), but I'm like a stereotypical angry pitbull on your leg when I get an idea that I think is good. Like when I decided to become a virtual assistant in July of this year. I literally was up until 2-3:00 a.m. every night for about 3 weeks straight, I think I sprouted a few new gray hairs at that time. I couldn't get enough information into me, I couldn't learn enough new things, couldn't satisfy the urgency to learn and do many new things and develop my skills beyond what they currently were.

So, this wonderfully awesome, terrific idea of mine???? I'll devote a whole blog to it next. It's going to be great!

Why the name Girl Friday?

2008-09-07T00:58:00.000-04:00

I thought I'd write a little about why I chose the name Girl Friday. First off though, I probably wouldn't have chosen it if I had researched the name a bit further. There are at least 4 other Girl Fridays in Maine with various versions of the name. In fact, I didn't realize just how big the virtual assistant industry was, even in little ole Maine. However, maybe that is just a wake up call that we VA's need to get the word out there. I still get confused looks when I mention to someone what I do. We owe it to ourselves and our businesses to market the VA industry as much as possible. It's such a valuable service in this time crunched society.

What better or more valuable gift can you provide to someone then helping a small business owner with the paperwork so that he can call it quits by 5pm and go home to have a nice dinner with his family, help with homework, enjoy a long ago favorite tv show with his spouse and help tuck the kiddos into bed. I wonder how many small business owners miss out on these valuable family times because they feel they need to get this paperwork done tonight, need to get these invoices out, have to place this order for more supplies... too many is my guess.

So anyways on to the topic of this post. Why I chose Girl Friday. It was a natural choice and not one that I even considered. I didn't sit down with the idea to start a virtual assistant business and wonder what I should call it. I just immediately thought of Girl Friday Services. Then I set up my email and domain name for a future website and Girl Friday Services of Maine was born.

A girl friday to me represents an office worker, let's face it typically a female administrative employee, who does just about everything in the office. A girl friday to me means someone who learns every aspect of the office or business operation, does a cracker jack job with them all, can fix anything, do anything and still be a likable person with a good, sometimes sarcastic, sense of humor. That's me all over. At least in my mind.

Whether it is fixing the printer, dealing with a vendor, soothing an anxious co-worker, finding a file (well sometimes that one proves tough to do), producing a deed in 20 minutes, closing a million dollar real estate transaction, maintaining the fish tank, throwing a party, typing a letter, and on and on and on I can do it as a typical girl friday should be able to do.

That's why I offer so many services (see: www.girlfridayservicesofmaine.com ) its because I have experience and proficiency with them all and I like to do all of those things. I may need to narrow down my offerings when this business gets busier and my time is limited. But for now I'll just continue to do what I do best help others succeed, save time, earn money, be more efficient. Let me be your girl friday and see what amazing results we can produce.

Speech Tips For Transcription

2008-09-06T12:20:00.001-04:00

Written for me after probably the 1,000th sigh of aggravation while transcribing an audio recording.

For many of you reading this you are probably wondering why somebody would write an article on how to speak. First of all this is mostly intended for people who intend to have someone take your oral notes and transcribe them. Second, my wife does transcribing… or did until you drove her crazy. She told me once that she was good at transcribing especially for the lawyers she worked with. The lawyers spoke clearly and slowly and there was a format to their speech. A linear progression that made sense to the listener, not just random jumps of tangent thought.
You are trying to get a message out to someone, in most cases a customer. You either do not have the time or the ability to transfer the thoughts in your head to written word so you find someone to transcribe this for you. Save yourself some time and allow the person transcribing to paraphrase what you are saying or get the voice recognition software and have it do most of the grunt work (this will allow the person you send your tape to to spend more time going over it to make it into a cohesive message than actually transcribing it word for word).
Messages order have no that to understand hard are… messages that have no order are hard to understand. Make some index cards like you have for your speech, put them in order and follow that order for the tape. Even that little bit of organization will make a better end product. Stay focused and on topic. If you are looking to have something that is transcribed turned into an article or piece of reference material pay the extra fee and see if the person who is transcribing it can make a good article out of it. You will be recognized as the author, the person doing the transcription and final editing will simply be doing the ghost writing for you. No one will know you didn’t produce it yourself. Gabe

Have a super Saturday everyone!

Girl Friday Services of Maine is now trying her hand at blogging

2008-09-05T23:21:00.000-04:00

Well my first blog, actually my second but my first has long since fizzled. I started it about one year ago and am not even sure how to get back to it, so I guess its floating out there in cyberland somewhere. I think its called Marie's Journey or something like that. If you happen to pass by it, tell it I said hello. Thanks.

So I started my business and hung out my shingle about a month and a half ago and its slow moving; as is to be expected with a new business venture. Girl Friday Services of Maine is going to make it though. I've set my mind to it, I'm learning new things every day. I'm communicating with successful people every day and absorbing all the lessons they have to share.

I will be successful with this, I believe it. I'm smart, a quick learner, dedicated, efficient, and always wanting to give 110% to whatever job I'm handed. So for any small business owners out there that are not quite sure if they want to engage the services of Girl Friday Services of Maine, rest assured, I'm going to give as much to your business as I am giving to my own. Your success will ultimately be mine. And, if I want to grow this virtual assistance business into the biggest most widely known in the state, I better stand behind my word and so I will - believe it, I do!

That's it for my first toe dipping in the pool of blogging. Its late and I've burned the midnight oil for several nights this week. Good night and peace to all.