Let us show you… how a Virtual Assistant can help scale your business Regardless of sector, when you run a business the goal is almost always to keep moving forward and upward. This could be to increase productivity or profits or to help or support more people. How each business does this is unique to their situation but growth is a goal for all. In this blog post we show you how working with a Virtual Assistant can help scale your business and [...]

Let us show you… why flexibility is a VA’s secret weapon when it comes to meeting business needs In business, time truly does mean money. Once time is spent, you can’t get it back. For these reasons, it’s wise to pay close attention to how you, your management team and staff spend your time within the business. Our clients find that the flexibility offered by having a Virtual Assistant on board saves everybody time and helps to make the business more efficient. As [...]

Let us show you… how a Virtual Assistant can manage your training and accreditation process I think anyone who runs a business of any size will agree that there’s a lot more to it than ‘just’ the day-to-day running of the business. Some areas can become neglected, but are actually essential for facilitating growth, for example through training, or building trust and reputation through industry accreditation. Staff wellbeing is another area that can sometimes unintentionally take a back seat. A Virtual Assistant can [...]

Let us show you… why ChatGPT and AI can be great tools, but not a replacement for a human VA From online tools such as chatbots to self-service checkouts, we are surrounded by technological advances that (mostly) make tasks easier. One AI-led piece of coding and software, ChatGPT, has been hitting the tech news hard lately and if you are on LinkedIn you’ll know it is very much like Marmite. Some people love it and others really don’t. As Virtual Assistants working remotely [...]

Let us show you… how a VA gives you valuable time back (and how you can use it) Do you feel that there aren’t enough hours in your week? Do you struggle to keep up with a constantly increasing workload? Have you thought that if only you had a few more hours, you could get caught up, work on other projects or even take some of your accrued lieu time? There are many benefits to using a Virtual Assistant in your business. Aside [...]

Let us show you… how to make the most of your productivity tools and systems Gone are the days when you can run a business with just a paper planner and some notepads. Most things are digitised now, even your tax. Ordering systems are online, client data has to be stored in accordance with data protection rules and there are many moving parts to keep track of during the day-to-day running of your business. Making sure you don’t drop any plates involves making [...]

Let us show you… how looking back can help you move forward While running your business effectively is an everyday aim, the New Year allows you to go one step further. Alongside a new wall planner and stationery, the beginning of a year is a good time to start something new or to improve on the previous years’ experience. At Business Owl, we won’t help you write the same old New Year resolutions. We all know unless they are SMART they are unlikely [...]

Let us show you… 5 ways we can help you to reduce your business costs Saving money when you are in business is a relevant topic at any time, although it seems more pressing at the moment with rising prices across the board. There is a lot of generic money saving advice out there but we’d like to share, more specifically, how we can help you reduce your business costs. As expert Virtual Assistants based in North Yorkshire, we have numerous years of [...]

Let us show you… how a Virtual Assistant can hold you accountable for getting things done Did you know that a Virtual Assistant, as well as being skilled at a whole host of business tasks, can also make an excellent accountability partner? As business owners, we all have many more good intentions than we can manage. We are also full of enthusiasm for our ideas, but that doesn’t mean we can implement them all. However a little accountability can go a very long [...]

Let us show you... how securing a retainer agreement with your VA brings peace of mind Retainer agreements offer flexibility to businesses needing to outsource work on a regular basis. If you’ve used a Virtual Assistant before you’ll know that we are experienced in completing a vast array of business-related tasks. As expert Virtual Assistants based in North Yorkshire, we have numerous years of experience behind us. This includes practice management, general business administration, project management, PA support, streamlining, organising and facilitating training [...]

Let us show you… how a Virtual Assistant keeps you connected Promoting and maintaining connections in a business can take many forms. Face to face connections include meetings, events and expos. In addition to meetings, digital connections also include social media interactions and industry-specific webinars. Remaining positively connected can take up a significant amount of time. Working with a Virtual Assistant who is experienced in streamlining the booking and management of these opportunities provides a solution. As expert Virtual Assistants based in North [...]

Let us show you... how a Virtual Assistant can streamline and manage your financial processes Regardless of which sector your business operates within, financial matters underpin the majority of your day-to-day functions. By effectively delegating financial tasks to a Virtual Assistant who is experienced in handling the financial aspects of a business, as the business owner you will save time, money and ensure the smooth running of your enterprise. As expert Virtual Assistants based in North Yorkshire, we have numerous years of experience [...]

Let us show you… why delegating your projects can transform your workload Do you think running your business doesn’t involve projects? Think again! Projects are ‘standalone pieces of work that involve a series of activities done to meet a specific objective for change’. They can be big or small, internal or client-orientated. Projects are everywhere. A project for a law firm might include introducing a new case management system or inducting a new fee earner. Small business’ projects might involve anything from establishing [...]

Let us show you… how a Virtual Assistant enhances company wellbeing Running a business isn’t purely about sales and services, but you know that already. It is about supporting your team and building a positive culture from which productivity and growth can thrive. Planning for company wellbeing has a large part to play from an ethical and legal point of view. Not prioritising the wellbeing of your staff leads to stress, absenteeism, low motivation and more. As expert Virtual Assistants based in North [...]

Let us show you… how we support your small business to achieve its environmental sustainability goals Did you know that SMEs contribute to 35% of the UK's carbon emissions? While COP26 and ongoing environmental topics are hot news, rules and regulations for businesses have been in play for some time. Clearly though, new restrictions and guidelines are upcoming. How will you handle keeping on top of your sustainability commitments while also managing the core elements of your business? As expert Virtual Assistants based [...]

Let us show you… why the most important documents in your business are your policies and processes Virtual Assistants get excited by policies and processes. We can’t wait to get our hands on them, to streamline them, make them more accessible and to see them form the basis of good practice. The importance of these documents can often be overlooked. In the long run this may result in wasted time and opportunities, missed opportunities, staffing issues, health and safety concerns or legal problems.  [...]

Let us show you... how a Virtual Assistant maintains confidentiality and safeguards your privacy Hiring a Virtual Assistant to streamline your business and maintain or regain work-life balance is a very wise choice. A VA can be a key player in all businesses, from smaller enterprises to large corporations. Many business owners are keen to enjoy the benefits but may want to understand how a Virtual Assistant maintains confidentiality and safeguards your privacy. As expert Virtual Assistants based in North Yorkshire, we have [...]

Let us show you... why a Virtual Assistant makes an invaluable external sounding board Why do businesses pay for consultants and experts to come in and train or advise? It is because they have unique skills and an outside perspective. This serves to enhance a business and help leaders find ways to solve problems and grow. Virtual Assistants don’t train, however we do make an effective external sounding board for many reasons. As expert Virtual Assistants based in North Yorkshire, our flexible approach [...]

Let us show you… how targeting your business resources saves you time and money There is no place for waste in business. Targeting your business resources saves you time and reduces costs. By making changes, whether you run a small business or a thriving legal practice, you will reap the rewards. As expert Virtual Assistants based in North Yorkshire, we have helped many enterprises turn their businesses around by streamlining processes and cutting waste to save time and money. Our clients benefit from [...]

Simplicity in business Business can be complex, with owners and managers stretched by the everyday running of the business, staff management, training and development, growth, marketing and more. Time management clearly must play a part in ensuring that spinning plates aren’t dropped but what if there was another way? Promoting simplicity in business saves time, energy and resources. There are no downsides. What is simplicity in businesses Simplicity in business is a case of streamlining processes and creating systems in order to promote [...]

Effective lines of communication It should go without saying that communication is a key factor when it comes to building and growing a successful business. Despite this, my experience has been that in some businesses the lines of communication can be frayed. Any kind of breakdown in communication, whether it is in-house, between stakeholders or customer facing, can lead to a lack of productivity, wasted time and a loss of money. Good communication should be seen as the bedrock of any business. In-house [...]

Measuring your productivity - Why bother? Productivity is something of a buzzword. It's everywhere. What is it though, outside of a popular hashtag for social media purposes? The basic definition depends on your sector. I like to think of productivity as using your time in a calculated way to create maximum output. The kicker here is that your output must be high quality. Otherwise, what's the point? I remember reading Graham Allcott's: How to be a Productivity Ninja when it first came out. [...]

The Owl-like qualities that bring you a high ROI Have you looked to outsource work before and been overwhelmed by the number of Virtual Assistants out there? Perhaps you are unclear on what value a VA can bring to your business? I’d like to explain why choosing Business Owl is the wisest choice and what I bring to the table. Much like the owl in my branding, I possess a number of owl-like qualities. The wisest of owls Over the years I have [...]

Batching work for ultimate efficiency Do you find yourself flitting between calls, your diary, emails, notifications, meetings and more calls? Does this approach work for you? Or do you get to the end of your day and wonder what you achieved? If so, batching work tasks together could save you a lot of frustration. While batching work tasks together to save time and improve efficiency is nothing new, many people overlook the benefits it offers. One of the reasons that batching productivity is [...]

What makes a good VA? In an attempt to use your own time more effectively, you’ve decided to work with a Virtual Assistant. But how do you know what makes a good one? You want to choose the right person, but particularly if this is your first time using the services of a VA, you need to be confident in your choice. These points should help you narrow down what you need to look for when choosing a VA, for the benefit of [...]

How to delegate like a pro When looking at your working week, can you identify a task or group of tasks you would love to delegate? Learning how to delegate like a pro is an essential skill for anyone in business. One of the easiest ways to do this is to work with a Virtual Assistant. Here are my top tips for making sure you enjoy the many benefits of delegation. Provide a clear brief When passing a task or project to someone [...]

Business Owl is flying high! Being able to support businesses through the challenges of the last few months has been an honour and it is gratifying to see the difference it has made for many. It has been great to see client businesses emerging Phoenix-like from uncertain times, shutdowns and constantly changing guidance. Not only have some done well to keep going, but many are soaring. No rest at Business Owl Here at Business Owl, I have worked closely with clients to help [...]

How to get your law firm in front of prospective clients One of the most powerful tools you can have in your marketing armory is a decent collection of testimonials. They can make the difference between doing ok with your business and truly thriving. However, the key to maximising the reward is to make sure you use them effectively. There is no point in having a stash of testimonials if they are going to stay sitting in a folder! In my role as [...]

Who holds the fort while you take a break? None of us can or should work constantly without proper breaks. Not stepping away is damaging for you as an individual, as a leader and for your company. Time away allows you to step back and enjoy the clarity that comes from being outside of the business rather than within it. You also get chance to reboot and fortify yourself for what is to come. All this sounds marvellous if you have a second [...]

How I’m bringing stability to small law firms during Covid-19 The past few months have been filled with changes that no small law firms could have predicted. Change is never easy, and these have not been the best of circumstances. With that in mind, many have embraced new working arrangements and changes in the economy, not to mention unique client issues head-on. As a uniquely qualified Virtual Assistant, I have been working with small law firms during Covid-19 to protect and enhance their [...]

Helping you to achieve your new normal Like a lot of people I feel conflicted. I’d really like to get back to ‘normal’ as quickly as possible but I’m also anxious about the potential repercussions. That said, we don’t need to sit on our hands in terms of preparing for the future. Whether you manage a small law firm or any other type of business, consider these points when trying to work out what your ‘new normal’ will look like.     Consider [...]

Supporting each other through strange times When setting your business goals at the beginning of the year I’m guessing that ‘dealing with a global pandemic’ didn’t hit your list? While the current situation is far from ideal and one that we will likely be dealing with for some time, it is important to continue working on your business. Despite how it may currently feel, lockdown and restrictions won’t last forever. We need to prioritise supporting each other during these strange times too. If [...]

Remaining cheerful when working from home When I decided to use my skills in a self-employed capacity, I had time to think about how it would work and to organise the logistics. Given the recent work from home recommendations put in place by the Government, this week has seen many people thrust into a completely new way of working. To ease the transition a little and help you stay on top of things, here are a few tips based on my experiences of [...]

Plan for a fantastic New Financial Year For most people, New Year starts on the 1st January. This is the time to review the previous year, to plan and set SMART goals for the next twelve months. Business owners, freelancers and anyone self-employed in any other capacity are greedy – we have two New Year dates! For businesses the beginning of a new financial year, April 6th each year offers an additional chance to shake things up. The focus at the beginning of [...]

Top tips for getting organised in 2020 It’s hard to believe that we have not only come to the end of 2019, but that we are now breaking in a new decade. For me, 2019 was a great year and business-wise, it was phenomenal. This Business Owl has been kept very busy providing virtual assistance to a wide variety of businesses and individuals! I help with all sorts of business tasks and offer support with overall organisation too. With that in mind, here [...]

Love Your Deadlines Have a look around social media and you are unlikely to see anything positive about impending deadlines. There are some very cleverly produced memes around - screaming and crying your way through the last few days of a project, desperate to meet a fast-approaching deadline. While these make great Instagram fodder, they don’t really paint an accurate picture of the benefits of having an end date. No, really! Deadlines are brilliant! Once upon a time, I would be suspicious of [...]

Productivity Tools for Prolific Jugglers As a Virtual Assistant, I am responsible for supporting numerous businesses and individuals at any one time. Some may hear this and picture me wildly juggling diaries and paperwork, a mobile phone and various other items with a panicked look on my face. Seeing as I’m a terrible juggler, I tend to avoid these types of scenarios. Instead, I employ numerous tools, tricks and a healthy dose of time management to make sure nothing gets dropped. Here are [...]

Debunking VA Myths Do you have a fuzzy perception of what a Virtual Assistant does? Have you heard wild rumours or contradictory information about the pros and cons of working with a professional VA? Debunking VA myths is something I find myself doing regularly. Sometimes people simply don’t know what a VA is or what a Virtual Assistant does. I meet others who have “heard” about working with a VA from someone who doesn’t understand it themselves. This is how myths and assumptions [...]

Starship Captains need Virtual Assistance Do you dream of having more time to spend 'on' your business rather than 'in' it? But does the reality of delegating make you break out in a cold sweat? If so, this blog post might strike a chord with you. Star Trek and Business Parallels To illustrate my point, I’ll use Star Trek as an example. If you’re not a Trekkie fan, bear with me. I want to take you back to the episode where the Enterprise [...]

Wise WordPress Websites - Reducing your website angst! Do themes and widgets raise your blood pressure? Does the mention of plugins, updates and organising hosting make you want to abandon the internet altogether? You certainly aren’t the only one! Once upon a time I felt much the same, however being as determined as I am, I spent a lot of time conquering the beast that is WordPress and nowadays we get on just fine. What this means for you is that I have [...]

What is a Virtual Assistant? Picture superwoman with dark hair, the Business Owl logo on her chest, a to-do list in one hand, clutching a secure laptop in the other and armed with intense focus, a professional outlook, reams of experience and the ability to enable a business owner to actually gain more hours in the day. That’s a VA! Or, if you are looking for something a little less dramatic, a VA is a Virtual Assistant who offers administrative business support to [...]

To proofread or not to proofread – that is the question! Only the bard could get away with a Comedy of Errors, but the risks associated with drafting errors can be huge for any business, in particular the legal profession. Travelers Professional Risks Limited recently stated that over the last six years, drafting errors have caused around one claim in every eight. Interestingly, although all areas of legal practice are affected, the bulk of claims occurred in Company/Commercial, Commercial Property and Landlord & Tenant [...]

How well do UK law firms handle professional enquiries? Unfortunately, not very well according to the recent findings of Insight 6. They conducted a wide-reaching survey which reports on 70 law firms and takes into account over 450 individual experiences. As part of the exercise, enquiries were made: by people going directly into law firms over the telephone online The good news… 100% of visitors to offices said the reception they received was warm and engaging 96% found the firm’s website easy to navigate [...]

5 ways to make Solicitors smile Why the frown? Legal professionals have the third most stressful job in the UK, according to statistics published by the Health and Safety Executive (gathered between 2014 and 2017). The main causes stated in the report were: the need to meet tight deadlines too much work too much pressure or responsibility I know from my own experience having worked as a Legal Executive, that the target driven environment and constant deadlines can start to take its toll. [...]

Ten signs that you’re screaming out for a Virtual Assistant! If you're like most of the small business owners I meet, you probably started your own business to focus your time and energy on the things you enjoy, lured by the prospect of being your own boss and doing what you want, when you want. But are you now living the dream or has reality got other ideas? Are you revelling in a world of flexible working or are you working all hours [...]