Below is the list of important keys to treat your customers right and meet all their needs and expectations in a friendly manner. It will eventually unlock the door to many healthy opportunities for your business.

1. Have a positive attitude. The book turned movie called “The Secret” taught us many things about positive thinking. Be positive! What you resist persists. So if you have the desire to help people or your customers maintain that “I can do” attitude you will be able to deliver more quality results to your customers.
2. Never promise if you can’t deliver. In other words if you have doubts about something don’t make any assurance to your customer. Honesty is still the best policy. Be realistic on your offers and promises so you won’t have trouble keeping them or else you might lose the trust of your customers in the business. Under promise and over deliver.
3. Listen to your customer. Remember you can only give your customers what they want if you understand clearly what they have said regarding their needs. Be attentive and show genuine interest while you are listening. If you haven’t got the message or the core of what your customer is saying simply ask follow-up questions.
4. Aim for high satisfaction rate among your customers. Keep them delighted of your products and services at all times. Work hard to give them quality experience while they are doing business with you. This will keep them in your business portfolio rather than looking for services elsewhere. Address their problems and deal with their complaints promptly and honestly.
5. Value your customer’s time. It is important that you don’t keep your customers waiting. This is the number one rule. If they voice their complaints to you then deal with them or fix them immediately. No matter how busy you are drop what you are doing and answer an email or phone call from your customer.
6. Go the extra mile. Gestures of appreciation are also important in giving good customer service. Saying thank you all the time or making a thank you note, giving gifts, and greetings can turn customers into “valued” continued customers. Your gestures will be truly appreciated.

If you have all these keys to good customer service you’ll surely gain access to your customers’ hearts and minds. Whether you’re a live or physically present customer service representative or a person involved in phone answering service like a telephone support work-at-home virtual assistant these tips are worth considering.

Below is a list of practical tips which you can apply in dealing with difficult customers. Start practicing your patience now by going through these 6 valuable items:

1. Respect and Listen. Let the customer speak and concentrate on listening non-defensively. Never argue. Just listen actively to what he is saying and what he is not saying (It is necessary to read between the lines to uncover the customer’s thoughts). Your customer wants to know that you are interested in solving what they believe is the missing link in your delivery of products and services to them.

2. Put yourself in your customer’s shoes. Empathy is the word. This is the best way to effectively deal with your customer’s feelings or emotions. This doesn’t mean that you have to agree with them only that you have to accept and understand what he is saying or feeling.

3. Do not say sorry. This is an overused word and saying sorry means that you are admitting your fault and the company’s. That means you are losing the value of the word ‘sorry’ as well as you are losing the value of your company. You can still say sorry just but make sure that it is part of a full sentence. An example, “I’m sorry you haven’t received the delivery as promised Mr. Spears…”

4. Handle conflicts objectively. This means that you have to walk an extra mile to identify what the problem is and follow the standard operating procedure (SOP) or appropriate and individualized method of solving the problem. After all it is still necessary to follow up with your customer through a phone call or email to evaluate the effectiveness of the action taken and to improve product and service delivery in the future.

5. Deal with your own personal issues. Get control of yourself. Remember that whatever you are feeling can be sensed by your customers. When you are at work or you are talking to a client through the phone or Skype be sure to paint that big smile on your face and maintain a positive attitude. Leave your family problems at your home and don’t be stressed out or depressed. You need to have that cheerful persona so your customer will feel the same way.

6. Get someone who can help you deal with your customer. There are going to be instances where your customer will not calm down. When this happens do not hesitate to get the help of your manager or supervisor. Your immediate superior ultimately knows the ins and outs of the company. It’s possible that he can address the problem for your customer better.

Defining what good customer service is has a lot do with handling difficult customers. Dealing not only with their problems but their emotions as well. A mix of patience and empathy is the key in solving the entire issue. Whether you are a customer service representative or a virtual assistant working as a work-at-home telephone support you need to master these strategies.

Pursuit of Happiness

"If you are not happy or satisfied with something, try to look for something better."

Some might say that this idea is easier said than done. Giving up what you have at the moment involves risks. Being bold to face the challenges and uncertainties associated with career changes isn’t enough for luck to readily come to you. You need to plan your next moves in advance, similar to playing a chess match, in order to make sure you won’t struggle later on.

 According to recent polls, only 39% of employed Americans are completely satisfied with their jobs. The remaining 61% would rather stay where they currently are, than face the uncertainties of seeking something better. Among the factors that contribute to employee dissatisfaction are low wages, poor benefits, strict bosses, unhealthy working environments, and lack of job security.

Self-employment is commonly the top option that people target to find the happiness and contentment they have been looking for. But as mentioned, due to the risks involved, people tend to be skeptical in dealing with this aspect. It’s good to know that advances in technology have provided additional options for self employment. The advancement in technology, notably the Internet, have made the exchange of information and made the flow of data faster and easier. This also paved way to a new breed of profession –Virtual Assistants (VA)

What is a VA?

A Virtual Assistant is someone working independently outside of the traditional office setting, making use of the Internet to provide support, expertise and skills to busy entrepreneurs and the like.

Virtual assistants offer a wide range of services and skills, (e.g. content writing, website development, receptionist, etc.) depending on what the customer/client needs are in relation to the specific area of business.

Virtual assistants have the privilege of being their own boss and working from home or another comfortable place. They also have the luxury of setting their own time that they are available to work. Of course, there are companies that specialize in virtual assistant services, but it isn’t a requirement that you join such companies in order to be successful in this career. Skill and dedication are the most important elements in this field.

Self Assessment

"I am not happy with what I am doing." "I hate being away from my family for so many hours." "My work environment doesn’t suit me." These are some of the reasons you might decide to consider becoming a Virtual Assistant. No matter what your reason is or what they are, always keep in mind that great things start from small beginnings. Don’t expect that things will immediately start with a blast. It will be an added advantage if you bring along the skills you’ve learned from your previous job to have a clear vision on the specific area that you could target.

If you haven’t had any significant work experiences, it would be wise to take some time to learn some skills such as web development or graphic design by studying software and applications that will speed up the process. Specializing in just two or three services could prove beneficial for you to be able to have a strong business niche penetration.

Additional Considerations

The following are some tips that will strengthen your entry in the Virtual Assistant industry.

1. Decide on the amount of time and energy you will spend in this venture. Would you want to work part or full time?
2. Use industry analysis and careful research to verify a need for your services in your local area.
3. Do a market analysis. Find out the needs for your niche and focus on how you’ll apply that to your business.
4. Get to know who your clients are, where they are located, and how you can get in touch with them.
5. Come up with projected expenses, expected income, and other monetary concerns to be able to handle budgetary concerns wisely.
6. Make sure that your equipment and software are up-to-date and in excellent condition to be able to meet clients’ needs.
7. Prepare a business plan and review it often to manage growth and change.
8. Find ways to effectively market your services. You can either promote your service through Web sites or by placing ads in the Yellow Pages. Take time to follow-up your marketing efforts to ensure that you’ll be attracting clients.

Starting up is the hardest part of the process of becoming successful VA. You should come up with a thorough plan on how you intend to penetrate the Virtual Assistant landscape. Starting off on the right foot will give you a head start towards a happy and productive career as a Virtual Assistant.

The Virtual Assistant Revolution is a private mentoring forum created specifically for virtual assistants by virtual assistants. The company was founded by Heather Jacobson and Becki Noles with a goal to help other virtual assistants achieve their highest potential.

Virtual Assistant Revolution provides a wealth of knowledge from tips to getting started to how to market your virtual assistant business. They have several resources aimed at both VAs and potential clients. A directory of members provides potential clients a means to browse VA possibilities in several different industries such as consulting, event planning, and general business practices. They also have a collection of business resources aimed at further educating current VAs.

Virtual Assistant Forums is a community of professional virtual assistants offering friendly support and resources. This forum provides resources for both practicing VAs and clients looking for virtual assistance.

VA Forums specializes in connecting VAs with eachother and providing helpful information on topics such as website development, client relations, and business development. The site features current, up-to-date industry news and also lets potential clients post job opportunities.