A little bit of R&R

Is your blog focused???

2010-03-09T10:51:00.002Z

It is very easy for your blog to go off focus, I am as guilty of this as anyone. It helps to have a clear idea of who you are writing for. You need to remember his and work out what you then want to say to them, for example this blog is intended to my clients and potential clients useful information for their businesses, things that are going on locally that are relevant to them and also give them an insight into me and what interests/stimulates me.

This last point may seem a little frivolous, particularly when I have talked about my love of shoes on here (see this post), but it tells you about my personality and you may even then recognise me from my shoes should we meet in future (believe me, this has happened!). People do business with other people and this is one way in which you can find out about me as a person.

So to keep your blog focused:

know your audience
know what you want to say to them
being a visual person I also like to use Wordle's (above is my one for February) - they highlight the most frequently used words on your blog so you can see at a glance if you are staying on topic
periodically re-read and re-evaluate your blog (as I am currently doing) to see if that's what you want to talk about, is relevant to your audience and whether you need to change it.

Creative Coffee Club - If you're there today...

2010-03-03T09:04:00.003Z

Today from 10am to 12 noon at Phoenix Square its the ever brilliant Creative Coffee Club. I haven't managed to go due to childcare and other commitments for the last couple of meetings but today that all changes!!!

If you're there today please do say hello! I am interested in making some new connections, talking about art, creativity and anything interesting basically. I am also looking for another speaker for Mums the Boss Leicestershire in July and for anyone who wants to feature or contribute to Creative Boom Leicester.

I now have a Business Coach!!

2010-03-01T09:45:00.000Z

Due to a pretty random and fortuitous set of circumstances I now have a wonderful Business Coach called Liz Archer. I have my first proper session with her tomorrow and this has made me think about RRVA in more detail than I have for quite some time.

I decided it would be good to work with someone who will make me stay focused, who will question my goals, my dedication and mostly my methods of how I'm going to achieve these targets I have set myself. It is not that I do not believe I can succeed ( I really do think I am well on the way to that) but that I am aware that I can be too easily sidetracked by interesting ideas and that I NEED someone to keep me motivated. I also think that it is a good thing that the person who does this is not a member of my family or one of my friends. I need a dispassionate and businesslike viewpoint on what I am doing to grow and maintain my business.

This has led me to evaluate the business goals I set myself in January 2009 when I first started conceiving of RRVA, I actually set it up in April 2009, before I go and meet her for the first time. I have been in business for nearly a year now and upon reflection I have achieved the 3 of my original 4 goals that I set myself for my first year and I'm rather pleased about that. I have also achieved 1 of the goals I set myself for my second year which is going full time as a creative VA!

I hope she thinks well of this and helps me realise new successes and areas to work on as I approach my second year in business.

My current top 5 favourite web resources

2010-02-26T20:25:00.001Z

When reviewing my blog and its purpose I realised I wasn't posting very much that you, my readers, may find helpful. I thought I'd kick off my renewed focus on my blog by listing my current top 5 favourite resources on the web:

Number 1 is: FreeDigitalPhotos.net Which is a brilliant resource for royalty free pictures to use on your blog. Just make sure you do put on the acknowledgement!

Number 2 is: Wordle.net You are probably aware of my love of the wordle if you've read this blog before!!!

Number 3 is: MailChimp a free and easy way to create and distribute fabulous email newsletters and marketing.

Number 4 is: a perennially favourite resources of the ever useful Googledocs. Just a fantastic way of working on and sharing documents with your clients whilst maintaining version control.

An finally this time Number 5 is: 1001FreeFonts.com which is currently feeding my font habit when it comes to finding just the right font for a client.

I intend to make this a regular monthly post so I hope you find it helpful.

The First Mums the Boss Leicestershire meeting review

2010-02-21T21:21:00.000Z

As you will know from my previous post I have taken on running Mums the Boss, child friendly and supportive business networking for mums in business fro Leicestershire. The first meeting took place on Friday 19th February at Soar Valley Leisure Centre and I think I will class it as a success!

There were only 5 business women that attended but I would have had at least 3 more if it hadn't decided to snow and I had realised the Baby Show was on the same day. It was also Half Term which I know made it difficult for some to attend. But those who were there were very supportive of the event and helped me come up with further marketing avenues to grow our profile.

The next meeting is on Friday 26th March 10am to 12 noon at the same venue and if you are a mum/dad/obsessed dog owner in business who would appreciate the affordable nature and supportive atmosphere of these networking events please get in touch or turn up on the day.

Our speaker is Sadie Knight of Glass Raven who will be talking to us about who to best optimise our websites.

The amazing Rakhee of Fashion Cake will also be providing more of these to aid our discussions!

RRVA and Mums the Boss -New Leicestershire meeting

2010-01-19T23:16:00.002Z

I am very excited to announce that I am now officially part of the Mums the Boss team as they are expanding into Leicestershire (which I'll be running) and Warwickshire (which Amanda Farren of Ella Announcements is running). This is a fantastic opportunity for me to play to my strengths in running the events but most importantly in celebrating our shared ethos concerning motherhood and business.

All events will be child-friendly, low cost, informal, supportive and informative. I know quite a few amazing business mums in Leicestershire via the wonderful medium of Twitter and hope to encourage them and others like them to come along to our monthly meetings. I have already managed to secure a speaker on Marketing and am in discussions with people to come and talk about tax, business branding and hopefully SEO. Business Mums (and Dads!) please tell me if there is an area of running your business that you are desperate to learn more about and I will exploit my network and try to bring someone in!

I expect being part of Mums the Boss to be an immensely rewarding experience too. Being a mother who has set up her own business I find it important to be taken seriously as a businesswoman by potential clients and peers so having the support available from others who have done a similar thing has been both inspirational and, on a very practical level, very useful! I am very keen to bring this support to others and create an environment within Mums the Boss Leicestershire that is memorable for all the right reasons and pay back the support that I have received in some small way.

I am aiming for the first event to be in February and when it is confirmed I will announce the date by all means possible. I look forward to seeing some of you there.

The VA industry on Radio 4 Women's hour today

2010-01-12T22:59:00.002Z

Today I have both listened to the Radio 4 Woman's Hour podcast which discusses the Virtual Assistant industry and interviews 2 VA's who influenced my decision to become a VA, Emma Walker and Justine Curtis, and read Maggie Berney's (of Maggie Berney Office Services) thoughts about it here. I want to support what Maggie has said in response to Dr Brendan Burchall's comments in particular and extend them somewhat as it felt he was being very patronising to VAs as business owners.

Firstly we are not shut up in our home offices all the time, as Maggie says, we meet clients, each other and regularly attend networking events otherwise we wouldn't have any clients in the first place. Also we communicate rapidly, instantly and often (well in my case massively, you'll already know that if you follow me on Twitter!!!) using social media. It may not be face to face most of the time but it is conversation of both business and chit chat as well as being members of varying support forums and groups for our industry. Like Maggie I am also a member of VASG which offers support, business opportunities, collaboration and chat.

My second issue is that his comments regarding the marginalisation of 'people like this' and that we will find it hard to re-enter the work place seem misplaced and based on the really aggravating assumption that we are all dabbling in business around our other (often family and children) commitments. Speaking for myself I am a mother with young children and yes the flexibility of being a VA based at home is very desirable BUT it does NOT mean I take my business any less seriously. In fact I take it more so than my old day job. I am more driven, more willing to work into the small hours to make my clients businesses successful and exceed their expectations than I was when I was employed. I have a passion for what I do and the sector I cater for that drives me and means I have exacting standards for the quality of my work. Flexibility is desirable but does not equal a less committed business owner.

I have no desire to reenter the workplace but should I choose to I hope that a prospective employer would view someone with the ambition and organisational ability to start and run their own business is a damn good prospect! It demonstrates vision and self belief which will benefit their company.

I think Maggie has sufficiently covered his remarks about needing to employ somebody to entrust them with confidential information and work! Suffice it to say that his statements are misplaced and he is more than welcome to connect with UK VAs further if he would like to conduct some more up to date research!!!

Its another New Year...so what are you planning to achieve????

2010-01-04T14:30:00.000Z

Photo by Danilo Rizzuti from Freedigitalphotos.net

So here we are again, the start of another year and we inevitably set ourselves and our businesses some resolutions or goals and then forget them in about 3 weeks time. Well not this year! Start off by reviewing last year, did you achieve the goals you set yourself? Did anything change and make you shift your focus or expectations? Make a note of any big sucesses to inspire you this year. Write them down!!!!

Then think about what are you intending to achieve this year, is there something specific you want to finally get done this year (mine is make my website work properly for both me and my visitors!), is there something from last year that you want to build on? Work out the little steps that make it possible to achieve them and don't give yourself so many you don't stand a chance of actually achieving them all. Then pin them up somewhere visible, make them your desktop wallpaper if you like, but have them somewhere you will glance at them every day so you maintain your drive.

Mine are done, all 5 of them. I've made them look pretty and they are now on my noticeboard directly in my eye line every time I sit at my desk. Here's to a BIG 2010!

Happy New Year

Christmas hours at RRVA

2009-12-21T10:55:00.000Z

I like to convince myself that people really do read my blog, especially some of my clients, so firstly I'd like to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas.

Secondly to note that RRVA will be closing for Christmas on the 24th December and reopening on the 4th January 2010.

Our hours of opening will then be 9.00am to 3.00pm Monday to Friday.

This Month's Wordle...

2009-12-16T16:06:00.000Z

This month's wordle highlights the focus of RRVA I think well even though I've had FTP issues which have restricted my updating of the blog.

I see Look, Leicester, Interesting, Creative which I think sums things up nicely!!!

Loughborough Creative Network - very first meeting

2009-12-14T08:40:00.002Z

The first ever meeting of the Loughborough Creative Network, supported by Creative Leicestershire, took place on Thursday 10th December at 6pm. The meeting was born out of a realisation at an event at the LCB Depot in Leicester that there were quite a few people travelling from Loughborough so why not have our own event?

Well I went along, being based in Mountsorrel, and I have to say that it was a great event! Small enough to talk to everyone really well but large enough to be a viable group. It was held in the Orange Tree pub with its great atmosphere and selection of art on the walls and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I even got to talk about my own (admittedly limited currently) artistic practice as well as establishing a relationship with a new client so a win all round!!

When's the next one??????

A little video of RRVA HQ

2009-12-12T08:55:00.000Z

A little tour of where it all happens and the important staff here at RRVA!

RRVA 1st video with Flip Camera from Rebekah Harriman on Vimeo.

The VASG first ever get together!

2009-12-12T08:34:00.003Z

Here it is my little movie of when some of the Virtual Assistant Support Group met .......

The VASG get together - Birmingham Dec 09 from Rebekah Harriman on Vimeo.

Back office support pages - Creative Leicestershire

2009-12-07T22:24:00.000Z

Yes people, my advert is now up on the Creative Leicestershire, Back Office support pages.......

Take a look here.

News update on RRVA

2009-11-24T20:56:00.007Z

Quite a lot has happened at RRVA since my ftp issues meant I couldn't post for ages! Apart from the fact that I'm sadly proud of my inner geek for sorting the problem out myself (yay me!) I have also started to run the Leicester Hub of Creative Boom - an online magazine for creatives - that I urge you all to read regularly!! Not because I try to keep the Leicester part relevant but also because the wonderful Katy Cowan who runs the main site has it jammed packed full of interesting and useful articles that concern the creative industries!

I have attended the Cafe Creatif at the LCB Depot for the first time on Thursday 19th November and met some really interesting people. Incidentally I also was interviewed and filmed for Global Entrepreneurship Week which I hope doesn't look too embarrassing when it becomes available!!! I'll post a link when it does but please promise not to laugh. I am also now in discussion with Enterprise UK about several opportunities, as a result of this event, but that's all hush hush until something actually comes of it!

Phoenix Square, the new Digital Media Centre, in Leicester also launched on Thursday 19th November and I went to have a look around. Its a very impressive building with some very interesting and exciting exhibitions on at the moment. I will be there again tomorrow as I head to Creative Coffee Club at 10am in it's new home. So onwards and upwards here at RRVA!

Oh and MOST importantly look out for me wearing a pair of these at an event near you soon !!!!

Networking is fun....no really, it is!!!

2009-11-05T21:28:00.007Z

I love networking. I really do. I get a buzz out of meeting new people, hopefully interesting people, and talking is what I like to do best and networking events are a ready made opportunity to just that! That's not to say that I don't get nervous when I have to stand up and do my 2 minutes about me and my business, because I do, but the more informal chat that happens before and after these events is where I thrive!

I think too many people view networking as a chore to get new clients or prospects instead of a way to just meet people in your field. If they become your client or are interested in what you offer that's just a bonus in my book. Some events can be expensive so pick ones where the people/businesses you are targeting are likely to be and go to those but remember people tend to want to have made 3 connections with you before they'll commit to do business (must look up where I remember that from!) so take the pressure of yourself. This is just one of those connections.

Also not everyone is going to want to do business with you, so go in the hope of meeting interesting people, people you can learn from, people who make you laugh, people who know the right people and enjoy yourself!! Your positive energy will attract potential clients or at least pique their interest in what you do.

Now where am I off to next?!

October's Wordle for A Little Bit of R&R

2009-10-30T10:24:00.002Z

Here is October's Wordle. I think it highlights what I have been talking about for the last month really well. The words that pop out at me are Think, Women, Business, Twitter and Best. To me these say that RRVA is thinking about women in business, who use twitter and are the best at what they do....or am I just talking about myself???!!! You decide!

Next month I hop that Networking shows up too as I intend to be doing more of it and talking more about it too.

Phoenix Square visit

2009-10-26T22:52:00.003Z

Today I had the privilege of having a tour of the managed workspaces at the Phoenix Square, the new digital media centre in Leicester. It really is an amazing building which is a green build (both in colour and ethos!) and is promoting the idea to work, live and have fun all in the same space. As well as the managed workspaces (which are run my the LCB Depot team) there are 2 cinema screens, a mirco cinema, an installation space called Cube, a cafe/bar and flats all in the same space. I'm bound to have forgotten something too!

I was looking for an office space for a project I work with and I think they will be very well accommodated there. I shall be making every effort to hang out there, attend networking events and meet local clients there after it opens on the 15th November.

It really is a big green building though...you can't miss it!

Car Vinyls for RRVA

2009-10-10T22:14:00.001+01:00

Yep, I've decided to do it! I've stickered up my car!!!

I used to think this was annoying, driving along whilst the car in front had some logo or slogan and phone number emblazoned all over it. How naff I thought! But then I realised...I'd read it all hadn't I!!!!! I started to think, ooh I hope I see that window cleaners van on the way home again I need to get their number!!!
I posted mid point pictures of the process yesterday on my Facebook Fanpage, so head there if any of you are interested.

And here it is.... courtesy of Darryl at Exposed Graphics.

LCB Depot - TBC Social 8th October

2009-10-06T10:38:00.002+01:00

It's the next TBC Social informal networking for creative businesses at the LCB Depot on the 8th October, 18.00 to 20.00.

Book your place by emailing kate.cowan@lcbdepot.co.uk.

It's a great event where there is free information, free food, some wine and loads of great people! I'll be there so make yourself known on the night!!!

Mumpreneur Conference - 3rd October in Birmingham

2009-09-29T21:41:00.013+01:00

Yesterday I was at the Mumpreneur Conference in Birmingham, hoping for an award for Best Start Up (which I will hopefully be in with more chance of next year!) but the best part was meeting all the other lovely business mummy entrepreneurs at all stages in their business. Lots of whom I have been tweeting with for a while! It was a very inspirational experience to have met so many other passionate, dedicated and successful women and mothers. Women driven to succeed but not at the expenses of their families.

My favourite seminars were the PR Secrets from Antonia Chitty, Linda Jones and Lesley Singleton, and The Mum-Ultrapreneur from Susan Odev. The first was very rounded, giving all sides of the press release cycle, the importance of having a thick skin, the benefits and down sides to celebrity endorsements and general good promotional advice. The second was soo enthusing and I was able to recognise myself, my struggles (with my own self belief that I can do this and with juggling everything without detriment to my family) within the women showcased in the book that it helped my resolve to succeed. I shall be getting that one when it comes out later this year! It was also fascinating to me that it is co-authored by a man, who thinks mums who set up in business are to be admired.....when we generally think its a practical solution. That alternative perspective is one I shall look forward to reading as it is always good to get other view points.

I met some amazing women, made a lot of useful contacts not just for myself but for my clients and hope to see them all again next. What was a success from my perspective was to be recognised from Twitter, asked my advice on social media uses and being asked for my card so that they could follow me on twitter as 'everyone seems to and you're fun". What a compliment.

Next year I plan to win an award, offer a seminar myself - maybe in social media uses and tips and be a full time VA.

Plus I got to meet Nadine Hill of the Dream PA, writer of the VA handbook who I admire hugely. And my shoes were the best at the conference!

Great visualisation tool

2009-09-29T21:21:00.002+01:00

This is today's Wordle for this very blog!!!!

Wordle is a wonderful visualisation tool that I have been using for a little while. It creates beautiful word clouds from any web page or text that you want. The more prominent the word the more often it has been mentioned.

It's a great, visual way to check whether you are on topic and staying focused on what you're blogging about and I think my key words of work, business, VA and people are bang on topic....although I may have to work on not saying 'just' quite so often...and maybe shoes too. I do a wordle every month to make sure I'm just about in the right area which I will be posting on my Facebook fanpage here, if you'd like to check up in me! Please let me know if you think I ramble too much!!

Think I'll check my Twitter stream too now although I'm not entirely sure what that will throw up!!!!

Help!! Need more clients to feed my shoe habit!!!!

2009-09-21T14:00:00.000+01:00

Those of you who follow me on Twitter will already be aware of my..um...slight shoe problem. Its starting to border on an obsession! Firstly there were these

then

and the latest edition is these amazing creations from Irregular Choice...

Now they're not cheap and I have to pay the tax man too. Plus I have 2 children to clothe and feed so I should start reminding myself why I became a VA in the first place...and it wasn't to buy shoes!!!! (Well, not really anyway!).

I became a VA so I could work with people who are as passionate about the arts, good design and creativitiy as me. To have flexibility to work around my children and to utilise my expertise and organisational abilities and learn new skills. To be more in control of my own destiny and earn some money whilst I'm about it all.

But the shoes are sooooo lovely!!!!!

I need more clients so I can justify more shoes! Can you recommend me to anyone, really....please??? You see I have my eye on these....

Is Second Life old hat now, or still worth exploring??

2009-09-13T22:02:00.005+01:00

I was chatting with some fellow VAs on our skype support group the other day when the conversation turned to Second Life. One other VA and I have used it previously, I've let it slide as a 'more for recreation rather than business' kinds'; thing whereas she has taken it forward. In the end an off forum messaging conversation took place that culminated in a meeting in SL between us (well our avatars!) and it has made me re think my preconceptions.

What I consider a bit passe is being taken up by businesses and utilised as a way to have an office space in which to do business, that is not tied to a real world geographical location. People are making money in there, real money too not just Linden Dollars!

Her ideas are forming, and despite my initial reticence (and the fact I REALLY need to practise making my avatar move around some more!) I want in!

I know we are moving toward web 3.0 but don't discount 2.0 technologies just yet. Its another skill I have to offer my clients that I hadn't really thought about before and which sets me apart in my skill set.

So if you want to connect with me in Second Life, just let me know.

DeeVAS, on the plinth for the UK VA industry!

2009-09-01T19:52:00.003+01:00

My good friend and colleague, Dee Uzoka is currently on the 4th plinth promoting the VA industry. I have never actually met Dee in person but interact with her a lot via Skype through the VA Support Group (of which she is a founding member) and on twitter. She and I just knowing each other and considering ourselves colleagues highlights just how well being virtual can work.

Dee is also recovering from a nasty chest infection and is doing great dealing with the shouting on the plinth and showing just how a Virtual Assistant can work from anywhere and help YOUR business with our professional and flexible approach to work. text her on 07792 144 916 or tweet her @DeeVAS

Well done Dee!!!!!
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