Typing Services - Mistake #6 Untargeted Marketing

Mistake 6: Untargeted marketing.

Many home based secretarial services think that every business or entrepreneur is their market. You don't want to advertise to everyone hoping that someone out there will need your typing and secretarial services.

Your marketing and advertising has to be targeted to your goals to generate sales. Untargeted marketing is ineffective and will cost you money. Target your promotions and messages to the type of clients you want to work with and the kind of typing and secretarial work you want to do. For example, if you want to provide medical transcription to doctors, you should go to medical facilities instead of putting flyers on bulletin boards at grocery stores. If you are targeting students, go to colleges.

Be sure to know your preferred audience. Then advertise in publications your customers will read. Research which advertising medium will be effective for your typing and secretarial business.

Find out what marketing methods have proven to work for successful secretarial services. Visit http://www.typing-and-data-entry-scams.com

Typing Services - Mistake #5 Failing to Market or Marketing Inconsistently

Mistake 5: Failing to market or marketing inconsistently.

Lack of marketing is the biggest mistake secretarial service businesses make. They may send out flyers, postcards or letters once, or call a prospect once, or place one ad once, and then they'll expect the phone to ring off the hook. The key to marketing is repetition. It usually takes more than one contact for a customer to start using your secretarial services. In fact, it typically takes 5 to 7 contacts. You want your name to be in front of your customers and prospects on an ongoing basis. You want them to think of you when they have a problem and need typing or secretarial services. If your prospects have seen your name only once, and your competitor is sending them a mailing every month, your competitor will get their typing and secretarial work.

Find out what marketing methods have proven to work for successful secretarial services. Visit http://www.typing-and-data-entry-scams.com

Typing Services - Mistake #3 Not Charging Enough for Your Typing and Secretarial Services.

Mistake 3: Not charging enough for your typing and secretarial services.

Pricing is often a challenge for home-based typing services and secretarial services. Some typing services and secretarial services think that if they charge less than their competition they will get more work. This is not true. Don't be tempted to reduce your fees to get the sale. Don't underestimate the value of your secretarial, word processing, typing and transcription services, and commit to asking your full fee.

Charging too little for your typing services and secretarial services reduces your profits and can leave you resentful. Have confidence in yourself and in the services you are providing.



Looking for legitimate typing work from home? Find out how to provide secretarial services and typing services from home.Visit http://www.typing-and-data-entry-scams.com/

Typing Services - Mistake #2 An Untargeted Business Name

Mistake 2: Untargeted business name.

Your business name should clearly indicate what kind of typing and secretarial services you're providing. If your business name doesn't describe the nature of your secretarial business or typing services or has an unclear meaning, it won't catch the attention of prospective clients and they may not realize that you offer services they need.

Your business name can also help you differentiate your secretarial services and convey your unique selling proposition. For example, HyperTyper tells what this typing service does. Not only does this home-based secretary type, but she types fast. Express Legal Secretarial Services and Accurate Medical Transcription indicate their secretarial, typing and transcription specialties in addition to indicating that they offer a fast turnaround and accurate transcription work.

Looking for legitimate typing work from home? Find out how to provide secretarial services and typing services from home.Visit http://www.typing-and-data-entry-scams.com/

Typing Services - Mistake #1 Spending Too Much Start-Up Money

Mistake 1: Spending too much start-up money.

Don't spend thousands of dollars before you're getting typing work, secretarial work and clients. Start your secretarial and typing business on a shoestring. Spend as little money as possible when getting started to minimize costs and maximize profits. Only buy equipment and supplies that are essential. Start with a computer, printer and a ream of paper. Buy small amounts of supplies. Then, when you start getting regular clients and are making money, you can buy additional equipment and supplies. When you start to get clients, then you can buy additional equipment and supplies. Consider buying used equipment. You can find used equipment for your typing and secretarial business in your local newspapers and computer publications, at garage sales, second-hand stores, and at message boards. Check eBay to find low-priced business supplies and equipment. Look for sales and specials at local stores.

Find out what marketing methods have proven to work for successful secretarial services. Visit http://www.typing-and-data-entry-scams.com/

Some Different Types of Computer Work from Home

Home typing work ranges from word processing services performed by secretarial services to specialized at home typing work such as medical transcription and medical billing. You can even answer mail or email, process orders, and answer phones for other entrepreneurs, web masters and businesses.

Looking for legitimate home typing work? Get a roadmap for success from successful secretarial services and avoid home typing and data entry scams. Visit http://www.typing-and-data-entry-scams.com/

Be Cautious of Typing at Home Scams

There are plenty of opportunities providing you with at home typing work. It's up to you to decide what kind of clients you want to work with and what kind of typing services you want to provide.

Be cautious though. While some work at home typing jobs are legitimate, be aware that there are many home typing scams. Typing jobs or income opportunities presented as typing jobs to avoid include data entry jobs, classified ad typing, list of companies providing typing work and email processing.

Avoid any typing jobs at home that promise that you'll make money fast and require no experience. Real typing jobs require typing skills and getting clients for freelance typing services takes time.

The best way to get typing work from home is by becoming an independent contractor or freelancer and finding your own clients. Secretarial services and virtual assistants providing typing work are very much in demand today.

Home typing and data entry scamsIf you are interested in home typist jobs or data entry jobs, make sure to read this free reporton how to avoid home typing and data entry scams at http://www.typing-and-data-entry-scams.com/

Similarities between a Secretary from Home and a Virtual Assistant

Here are some similarities between secretarial services and VAs:

- They provide administrative support to businesses and entrepreneurs and a variety of office support services that may include typing, word processing, data entry, Internet research, email services, correspondence, and clerical tasks typically performed by an office secretary.

- They are self-employed entrepreneurs and independent contractors.

- They work from their own office and use their own equipment.

By using the Internet, email, phone, and mailing services, businesses can outsource any work that can be done from a remote location, and virtual assistants and secretarial services can assist businesses from anywhere in the world.

Looking for legitimate home typing work?
Get a roadmap for success from successful secretarial services
and avoid home typing and data entry scams.
Visit http://www.typing-and-data-entry-scams.com

Differences Between a Home Based Secretary and a Virtual Assistant

What are the differences between a secretarial service operator and a virtual assistant?

- Secretarial services are perceived as typists and word processors. VAs are portrayed as highly skilled and trained professionals.


- Secretarial services are typically providing typing, word processing, data entry and other office support services. In addition to typical secretarial services, VAs often provide specialized services. These may include graphic design, web design, bookkeeping, realtor assistance, writing, event planning, and programming. The services VAs and secretarial services can provide are endless depending upon their knowledge and skills.


- Secretarial services were traditionally working with local clients but today they are also working with distance clients and can therefore call themselves virtual assistants. Most VAs assist both local and long-distance clients.


- In the past, clients dropped off work to secretarial services but today they often work through email, phone, fax and mail. VAs get work assignments through the Internet, telephone, fax, and email.


- VAs need a web site, must be Internet savvy, and must be proficient with Internet marketing to promote their services online and get nationwide and global clients.

Your prospective clients often interchange the terms secretarial services and virtual assistant depending on their industry, location, country, and cultural background.

Secretarial services can present themselves as virtual assistants to provide a wider range of services and reach a larger market. If you are working or are planning to work with long-distance clients, you can call yourself a VA. You can even consider a local client "virtual" if you don't meet regularly. If you want to be perceived as a skilled office support professional instead of a typist, start calling yourself a VA. But if you want to provide typing services only, call yourself a word processing service.

If you're not sure if you want to start a secretarial service or become a virtual assistant, consider starting as a secretarial business. It's easier to get local clients. To get long-distance clients, you'll have to promote yourself online. Internet advertising can be costly and requires a steep learning curve.

Your prospects may be searching the Internet for different keywords depending on their needs. Their searches may include the keywords secretarial service, secretary, typist, word processor, VA, virtual assistant, administrative assistant, or transcriptionist. Make sure to mention your location in your search engine advertising as business owners prefer working with local people when available. When promoting your services, use whatever terms your clients are using.

The best solution? Incorporate both the keywords secretarial and VA services in your business name so you can expand your business nationwide when you're ready.

Looking for legitimate work at home? Find out how to start a secretarial service or become a virtual assistant. Free report: Avoid typing and data entry scams.
Visit http://www.typing-and-data-entry-scams.com

The Secret To Being Successful With Your Own Secretarial Business

All secretarial businesses provide typing services. But why do some of them make a lot of money while others just get by? The secret is in knowing how to get customers. You see, most people don't know how to promote their services. Those who do make money have four things in common. They have:

Services that are in demand.

Marketing know-how.

Effective promotional materials to stay in touch with their prospects and motivate them to buy.

Clients who are willing to pay for their services.

For more tips on how to start a successful secretarial service, please visit:

http://www.startasecretarialbusiness.com/

Home Based Secretarial Service or Virtual Assistant Business?

Considering running a secretarial or typing service? You've probably wondered what the difference is between a secretarial service business and a virtual assistant business. These terms are often interchanged. Busy professionals, businesses, and entrepreneurs are using secretarial services and virtual assistants for the same reasons.

To read the full article on how businesses are using secretarial services and virtual assistants please visit:

http://ezinearticles.com/?Secretarial-Services-Or-Virtual-Assistant?&id=1352569


Home typing and data entry scams.
If you are interested in home typist jobs or data entry jobs, make sure to read this free report on how to avoid home typing and data entry scams
at http://www.typing-and-data-entry-scams.com

Starting A Work At Home Typing Business On A Shoestring Budget

by Elaine Currie

You have decided to start your own work at home typing business. Money is in short supply, so where do you start?

Identify Your Target

The first thing to do is to identify your potential customers. Don't bother asking big companies for work at home typing, you will be in competition with existing staff and employment agencies. Look around for small businesses, the smaller the better because they won't have support staff. Pick them out from classified ads in local newspapers, flyers and phone directories. Start with tradesmen such as auto mechanics, carpenters, washing machine repairers, plumbers, electricians, general builders, painters and decorators etc. Avoid any business connected with IT, they are almost certain to be keyboard literate.

Business Cards

Get business cards printed. You can get this done free of charge. Make sure that, in addition to your name and contact details, your card states that you offer a typing service. Get as many free business cards as you can, you will need them to hand out to everyone you meet as well as sending them out with mail shots.
Flyers

Have flyers printed. Flyers are very useful: they can be posted in locations where local traders will see them, delivered to targeted businesses and used in mail shots. If you want to hand out flyers or put them on windscreens in a car park, make sure you get whatever permission is needed from the land owner before you start.

Classified Ads

Place ads in any local newspapers, trade journals etc. which offer ad spots within your budget.

Free Ads

Many places such as shops, wholesalers, supermarkets and church halls have notice boards where you can place an ad free of charge. Take advantage of this and remember to return regularly to make sure your ad hasn't been removed or covered over.
Mailing List

Build a database containing the names and addresses of local companies and sole traders.

Brand Yourself

Make yourself a professional looking template with your word processor to use as a letterhead. If you opted for a logo on your business cards, repeat the logo on your business stationery.

Mail Shot

Set up a standard letter to be sent to all the people in your database. The letter should announce the service you are offering and ask the recipient to save your card for future reference. When you get your free business cards, you can do your first mailing shot.

Delivery

If you are able to target groups of companies in small areas, hand delivery of your letters is feasible but don't make the mistake of wasting gallons of fuel for the sake of saving a few pennies on postage.

The small traders will mainly fall into one of two categories: either they will have a computer and do their own typing of invoices, estimates etc or their typing work will be done by their wife, girlfriend or mother. Your want to find traders who don't like doing their own typing work and will be glad of help or whose wife/girlfriend is too busy and wants to get rid of the typing work.

If you get nothing from your first mail shot, don't despair, repeat it after a couple of weeks or a month. You can alternate between sending a flyer or a letter enclosing a business card. In the meantime, continue to add likely candidates to your mailing list. You need your offer of home typing work to be in the right places at the right times. When the plumber splits up from his girlfriend or the electrician's wife has a new baby to cope with, make sure they think of your home typing service. One of the best home typing jobs I had was for a local Private Detective. I just happened to be seeking typing at home work when his wife who had done his typing for years decided she'd had enough ot typing reports about adulterous husbands!

If you are lucky, you might hit a candidate for your services with your first shot and be in business practically overnight. It won't be big business but it will be a start. Give your clients an excellent typing service and chances are they will recommend you to other small traders. Personal recommendation is the most powerful form of advertising anyone could hope for. If you don't score a hit at the first try, keep repeating the mail shots. Make patience and persistence your watch words and you will succeed.

For more articles about working from home go to Work At Home or visit Elaine Currie at Work At Home Directory

To find legitimate work at home typing, visit http://www.startasecretarialbusiness.com

Secretarial Services: Follow up with customers

Follow Up Letter for Past Customers - Why and How to Write It



Following up with your past customers is a proven way to make a lot of extra sales. Learn how to write money-making follow up messages...



Following up with your past customers is a proven way to make a lot of extra sales. You can simply write a promotional offer about one of your other products in the form of a follow up letter, and then send it to your customers email list.



Since your customers have already done business with you and like and trust you, they are more likely to buy something from you again. That's why selling to your previous customers is much easier and more cost effective than gaining new customers.



Email marketing is the easiest, fastest, and most affordable way to follow up with your customers. The cost of sending email letters is zero. You can also automate 95% of your email marketing campaign and follow up system to save a lot of time.



Writing a follow up email letter is not rocket science. Simply explain some of the most important benefits of your product and then provide your customers with a link to your online sales letter to learn more.



All of us receive some promotional emails every now and then. Some of them are very powerful, while others are poorly written and boring. If you save effective email messages that you receive on your computer, soon you'll have a collection of sample killer follow up messages to learn from. Read them carefully to discover their secrets to success, and then use that formula for your own follow up messages.



To your success!



Ladan Lashkari is a respected Internet marketing expert, and the owner of http://www.FreeNewsletterIdeas.com/ where you'll find creative email marketing ideas and helpful resources to start your own highly profitable email marketing campaign.



Note from Leva: Following up with your secretarial clients either by phone, traditional mail or email is very effective. It's a great way to introduce additional secretarial services and get repeat business and referral from your clients.


Check out the Secretarial Business Start Up Kit and find out more about providing secretarial and word processing services from home. 

Secretarial Services - Save Money On Revisions

How to Save Money on Revisions
by Leva Duell
Copyright © 2005-2008

Apply the tips below to clearly indicate document revisions. When you indicate changes clearly, revisions will be quicker and more accurate, and your secretarial bills will be lower!

Editing a hard copy

· Write or print legibly.
· Make corrections with a red pen. Do not use a blue pen or a pencil. Blue doesn't copy or fax well.
· Place a check mark next to every line that has edits.
· Cross out the wrong word and put the correct one above it with a caret (^).
· If there is not enough room to make the corrections and additions legibly, number them and write them on a separate piece of paper. Clearly indicate where the additions need to be inserted.
· Highlight missing information on the original document.
· When deleting large sections or pages, cross them out.
· When moving large sections or pages, leave the information in the original sequence so the typist can find it. Indicate the beginning and end of the material you are moving. Number the sections and indicate where you want to move the text.

Editing a computer file
Do not make minor edits in a computer file. If you do, the typist will have to compare the revised document with the original word for word. Instead give the typist instructions on what to change. When making changes yourself, use your word processor's highlight tool to mark the changes or change the color of the text.

Make a good impression with error-free documents. While your typist, secretary, or secretarial service will do their best to provide error-free work, always take the time to proofread the document yourself.

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You can reprint this article on your web site if you include this Resource Box:

How to start and run a successful home-based secretarial business and cash in on the high demand for secretarial services.
Visit http://www.startasecretarialservice.com.

Turn Typing Skills Into Cash

Turning Keyboarding Skills Into Cash!

Most with excellent keyboarding skills wonder if it is possible to use this talent in a home business venture. Unfortunately, many would be entrepreneurs often fall prey to the misleading ads on and off-line recruiting work at home typist. Most of these ads are blatant scams.
The companies behind these ads are basically selling outdated information, manuals, or a list of potential customers.

Fortunately, many legitimate ways exist to use your keyboarding skills in a home based venture.
Here is a list of the top ten work at home jobs you might consider. These ideas rely heavily on using your keyboarding skills along with knowledge in other specialized areas you may already possess.

Accounting/Bookkeeping Service - Involves preparing financial records, payroll and invoicing for small business owners.

Bulk Mailing Service - Involves handling mass marketing mail for your clients.

Desktop Publishing - Providing printing services for clients.

Graphic Service - Producing professionally designed logos and brochures for clients.

Manuscript Typist - You can start your service by offering to type manuscripts for authors or college students.

Resume Typist - to type new resumes for your clients or edit and retype outdated resumes.

Secretarial Service - Your services might include typing, writing letters and mailing. Or transcription, basic bookkeeping, dictation, and other office support services for small business owners.

Transcription Service - You might decide to specialize in legal, business, or medical transcribing.

Tax Preparation - You might specialize in tax preparation for individuals or small business owners.

Newsletter Publishing People like to stay up to date on the latest news in their field or technological advances. You might decide to write and publish a newsletter in a highly focused area. All easily accomplished with basic keyboarding skills, a computer, word processing software, and an Internet connection.

All the work at home ideas listed will require at least a basic desktop computer that delivers fast performance. A CD and DVD drive are mandatory in these modern times to keep your business in step with the technological advances.

The ability to burn CDs is essential. Of course you will need the basic software, a laser printer, a good word processing program, database and high quality graphics, accounting/bookkeeping programs. A dedicated fax machine and line are essential.

You will also need a dedicated business telephone line if you want to appear professional. This will also boost your credibility when dealing with clients over the telephone.

Also, check licensing requirements in your home state. Contact your local Small Business Administration office. They provide free information on starting a business.

by B Lee (C ) - BB Lee is the editor and publisher of SmallBizBits News. Subscribe now and receive several free ebooks and fun software programs. http://www.smallbizbitsnews.com/ (note from publisher - this web site is no longer available)


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Looking for legitimate typing work at home? Get a roadmap for success from successful secretarial services and avoid typing and data entry scams. Visit http://www.typing-and-data-entry-scams.com/