Proposal and Grant Writing - Another Helpful Tool for Non-Profits

The quest for funding seems never ending sometimes for many non-profit organizations and it can be a daunting task.

To continue providing support for many worthwhile social causes, many non-profit groups must continually be searching for new opportunities for funding and writing one proposal after another.

If you have little experience in grant and proposal writing, the chances of being awarded funding based on your request is slim. Here is a page that provide some sample proposals which may help you write a successful funding request: http://www.npguides.org/guide/budget.htm.

I certainly hope that more social programs and improvements to our current ones are top priority for whoever wins the election on Oct 14. Based on what I have heard so far, I'm still undecided.

Good luck in your endeavors to improve our "social economy"!

Clients "googling" for their next home

Today, many people prefer to do their own research when buying or selling a home. One of the first places they are likely to visit is GOOGLE. Here is a page that descibes how google can be used as a great online tool to help improve your flow of clients http://www.google.com/intl/en/events/realestatetools/index.html

FAQ's by the "Social Entrepreneur"

For anyone starting a non-profit group, I'm sure you have many questions. The rewards of being a "social entrepreneur" are so fulfilling but it is important to be aware of the liabilities that are specific to the non-profit sector. This site http://www.law-nonprofit.org/faq.htm may help answer some of your questions.

Helpful Online Tools for Real Estate Professionals- Week 2

For the second week of exploring helpful online tools for real estate, I would encourage you to set up an account at http://www.activerain.com. It provides an excellent opportunity to promote your business and network with professionals in the real estate sector, such as real estate agents, mortgage officers, appraisers, home stagers, VA's etc.

Have fun and cheers to your success!

Help for the Non-Profit Sector- Week 1

There is nothing more rewarding than assisting an organization in their social goals. I've worked in the non-profit sector and I can honestly say it was one of the most rewarding points of my life (aside from when my son was born). It is also one of the reasons I was so inspired to create this office services business.

I'm recalling a site http://www.envision.ca/ which I used quite a bit to keep me up to date with the local non-profit sector and I just wanted to share it with you as it may also be valuable to your organization.

Over the next several weeks, I will be posting tools here on a weekly basis if I think they may be of benefit to non-profit or community groups. I hope they help in some small way.

If you are looking for office assistance for your organization but are experiencing financial constraints, please contact me at virtualoffice@nf.sympatico.ca to discuss possible options.

Helpful online tools for the real estate sector - Week 1

As a continued blog post, I've decided to share a great online tool each week that you may not already be aware of. Many of today's home buyers do online research before buying their home. Therefore, it can give you a leading edge in today's real estate market to be aware of what is out there to assist realtors and their clients. The internet can also be a great networking tool to meet other realtors and share valuable information.

Homezilla is a new national real estate web site where home buyers can research neighbourhood information about their new home. Maybe you can create a blog to connect with a prospective client or gain some valuable information on real estate trends here in the country. You can visit their site at www.homezilla.ca.

Blogs, Blogging, Blogger...What does it all mean anyway?

I'm sure many of you heard the term "blog" or "weblog" many times. I've gathered from many people that there is a great deal of uncertainty of what a blog is all about and how it can benefit your business or organization. I'm here to clear the air.

A blog is a web location that is updated regularly (daily, weekly, monthly) with individual articles called blog "posts" or "entries" delivering fresh content to viewers. A person who posts these entries is called a "blogger". Blogging is a term used to describe authoring and maintaining blogs.

Blogs vs. conventional websites? Here are just some reasons why blogs are growing in demand:

1. Websites are expensive, blogs are cheap.
2. A blog can be changed and updated very easily.
3. Blogs can be set up quickly.
4. It can take months for popular search engines to find your conventional website but only two or three days with a blog.
5. The media are more likely to find you on a blog.
6. You market and expose yourself automatically with a blog, a conventional website requires a lot of promotion.
   

This is not to say that you shouldn't have a conventional website but having a blog will certainly be beneficial to your business or organization. For more information please contact me at virtualoffice@nf.sympatico.ca to learn how the blogging trend can help you gain more exposure and get your name out there!

Holiday? No, keep working.........

Happy Canada Day Everyone! I thought this would be a great day to post an entry on holidays and working beyond "normal" business hours (i.e. 9 - 5).

I realize that each business professional and organization have unique hours in which work must be performed. Not everything can be done in a 9 -5 workday and many times work must continue even on holidays.

If you fall into this category, I am happy to be able to relieve some of your anxiety. I can complete any administrative task that you need on YOUR time, when YOU need it. Contact me at virtualoffice@nf.sympatico.ca so we can discuss what options you have. I promise you will feel much better!

Benefits of Using Our Service

One of the biggest challenges in this industry is convincing prospective clients that we are an excellent choice when looking for quality, professional office services. I thought it would be interesting to touch on why contracting a VA might be beneficial to your business.......

You can't or don't wish to hire an employee - I've heard so many times among prospective employers about the reluctance to hire an assistant because there is just not enough work to keep him/her busy everyday. I can work for you on an as needed basis, therefore it doesn't cost you anything when there is no work to be done. I am a self employed, independent contractor so there are no employee related payroll taxes, insurance, benefits, etc. that you need to be concerned about.

Commitment to professionalism - Unlike employees, VA's are self employed professionals. My reputation depends on your level of satisfaction so I determine exactly what your individual needs are and strive to deliver the best quality service. The more satisfied you are, the greater the possibility of gaining future contracts and referrals. This is my livelihood!

Improved time management - You may be spending too much time on administrative tasks and wish that you had more time to spend on increasing revenues. This can be very frustrating especially if you are not computer savvy. My expertise can be called upon on an as needed basis to complete your office projects or daily administrative tasks at competitive rates.

Only pay for actual time worked- I only work when you require my services therefore there is no "idle time". Many employees spend way too much time "playing with papers" waiting for the next task or project but we are only paid for the time spent working on your request.

We use our own space and equipment - No need to worry if you don't have the space or necessary office equipment to get the job done. I work from my own fully equipped home office.

A Better Understanding of What I Do as a VA

Although I'm not particularly fond of the term "virtual assistant" (or VA), it is used to describe what I do and gives clients a clear picture of what they can expect from me as a VA.

"A Virtual Assistant (or simply VA) is an independent contractor providing administrative, technical, or sometimes creative assistance to clients--usually to other independent entrepreneurs and small businesses, such as that of a realtor, lawyer or financial advisor. Virtual assistants work from a remote office (hence "virtual"), thus making it a fairly popular (and growing) profession. It is estimated that there are about 40,000-50,000 virtual assistants worldwide. Common modes of communication and data delivery include the Internet, Email, File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and fax machine in addition to standard mailing/shipping. Work is done on a contractual basis, and a long-lasting cooperation is standard. Many businesses are attracted to this option of not having to pay employee benefits, worker's compensation and the long list of expenses normally related to a payroll employee."
Source:www.wikipedia.org