Business Processes and Procedures

This is a very quick post just to catch you up with how we are... I can't believe this year is already into April. In any case, this year - as in all the other years - it's been business, business, business, for us. We've had a couple of things going on - some major projects, a revamp in a few systems and things like that, and a jacking up of processes and procedures.

I think it's all the more important for a scatty person to ensure that they are as systematic as possible. If you're scatty and you let your systems and procedures go, you're going to get into a big mess. Even if you are not scatty, and you fall into this trap, things will become chaotic. And the last thing you can afford in a small business is to have chaos. Chaos within your own business will probably lead to your valued clients thinking you are chaotic too, and not utilising your services. Hardly a winning situation. So, as hard as it might be, keep your systems and procedures in place.

Every now and again, it's worth having another look at the way you're doing things. Are things 100% by the book? Are you keeping up to speed with what's going on in the back end of your business?

Keep on top of it, and you will see that it pays off in the end.

And efficiency is the kind of communication image you want to impart to your client.





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Business procedures

Hi everyone, today I want to talk about the importance of procedures to your business. Procedures are vitally important in any business, but perhaps in a virtual business they are of tantamount importance. A procedure in essence is a plan, and generally speaking, to use the old hackneyed phrase, failure to plan is to plan to fail.

I believe any business must start with a business plan. Even if you don't intend to use it to obtain a loan, it would be something that allows you to clearly state your intentions about what it is that you are trying to do. It's a mind clearer. And the natural next step (or even included in your business plan) would be to plan your procedures. This means you sit down and think of eventualities and plan how you're going to deal with them. What are your steps to follow when a query comes in? What are your steps when an order comes in? How are you going to invoice? These are things that, I believe, every newbie VA and transcriptionist should document.

Here comes the challenge, though. Your first client comes in, followed by your second, and your third. And suddenly, you're very busy. At this point it is easy to let go of procedures. And this is a danger to your established business. Much as you are tempted to go straight to bed after a 4 hour transcription, do not do so without at least blocking out some time the following day to do your admin. It's important, because doing it regularly does save you time in the long run, and consider that admin left for two or three days, or longer, can begin to make you feel overwhelmed.

Procedures can also be revised, as you get busier or add new services or products to your business. But the bottom line is - stick to your procedures.