What is Rapportive? In an earlier blog, I talked about how I manage my contacts and referred to a tool which I use which links to my Gmail and gives me access to the contact’s social media profiles. This wonderful little tool is called Rapportive. Rapportive is a Google Chrome Extension which shows you a…
Details
15 sales tips to grow your business In the early days of starting my business, I attended a business sales course with Monkey’s Paw, based in Exeter. Although I have a background in sales, having been a Mortgage Consultant for part of my career, I found it very useful to attend this course to refresh…
Details
Essential smartphone apps for busy people Like many of you, I have utilised the flexibility and functionality of my SmartPhone to ensure that I have to hand everything that I need to make my life easier. I am a massive fan of the apps available to help me do this, and as a Virtual Assistant…
Details
How to manage your contacts – tips from a Virtual Assistant How to manage your contacts I have generally found that after attending networking meetings, I often come home with arms full of business cards. What to do with them is the next question? Do you keep them all in a little box, beautifully organised…
Details
How much do you know about Digital Marketing and how things are changing? Tips from the Optix Solutions Digital Marketing Conference In November I attended a great Digital Marketing workshop run by a local Digital Marketing firm, Optix Solutions. The event covered digital marketing trends and how things are likely to change in the…
Details
Why volunteering matters You may not know that I have been an active member of the Scouting movement in Exeter for around twenty years. Over this time I have held a number of roles, beginning as a pack helper with the 6th Exeter (St Thomas) Cub Pack, and soon then achieving my Warrant and…
Details
30 Day Blogging Challenge It appears that everything has to be done in 30 days when you have a new business! I started my research into launching my Virtual Assistant business by following a book called The 30 Day VA Challenge. I’ve given myself 30 days to try different business networks to see what suits…
Details
The story of my PA-EA-VA career The role of a Personal Assistant or Executive Assistant is a hugely rewarding and varied role. Long gone are the days of when the role was purely a secretarial one, the modern PA/EA is a strategic partner in any business. Yes, we undertake traditional tasks such as minute taking,…
Details
Information Overload One of the most difficult things that I am finding as a new business owner is the mass of information out there, and the vast number of tools available! You’d think this would be a positive thing but it can be quite overwhelming! Don’t get me wrong, the internet is a wonderful thing,…
Details
“My name is Joanne Manville and I’m a Virtual Assistant” This morning I attended my first Business Networking meeting as ‘Joanne Manville, Virtual Assistant’. I made sure that last night I had laid out the clothes I was going to wear, to ensure that with sleep in my eyes I wouldn’t turn up in my…
Details