The Blog
Real-World Working, Onboarding and Performance That Actually Works
You have questions and I love to write- goes with the job. But even more, I love to share. So welcome to a source of articles, where you’ll discover answers to your questions, insightful articles and tips for SME businesses.
Standard disclaimer here: These articles are my own work and my own opinions. I don’t represent any official position of my clients, former employers, or any other company.
Tag
- AI and virtual assistants
- AI at work
- AI for small business
- AI tools for business
- AI virtual assistant support
- Accessibility
- Business Admin
- Business events
- Business forms
- Business support
- Business systems
- CRM
- CRM follow-up process
- CRM no longer fits your business
- CRM not working
- Client experience
- Customer experience
- Digital Learning
- Employee Training
- Enquiry forms
- Event planning
- Fixed-price project
- Google Drive folder structure
- Inclusive events
- Knowledge management
- Leadership
- Onboarding
- Operations Support
- Outsource
- Outsourcing
- Performance
- Practical Business Support
- Practical support
- Projects
- SME Support
- SOPs
- Small business
- Software support
- Team productivity
- UK SME cost pressures
- User experience
- VA
- VA support for small business
- Virtual Assistant
- Virtual Support
- Virtual assistance
- Working Smarter
- Working with a VA
- Workplace focus
- behind the scenes business support
Have you noticed how much more it costs to run your business?
Business costs rarely increase all at once.
The British Chamber of Commerce Cost Stack Calculator brings those individual increases together and I thought it was genuinely worth sharing.
Do I need an employee or a virtual assistant?
Do you need regular internal capacity or more flexible external support?
This practical comparison looks beyond hourly rates to help you decide whether an employee or virtual assistant better suits the work your business needs.
The project thought it was finished.
The client handover has happened and the useful things have been delivered. But before a project is allowed to finish at Jessanol HQ, it has to do its paperwork.
How do I try working with a VA without making a big commitment?
Working with a VA for the first time can feel like a big step.
A contained, fixed-price project gives you a useful result while allowing both of you to find out how well the working relationship fits.
How do I choose the right VA for my business?
Choosing a VA isn’t simply about finding somebody who can complete a list of tasks.
Here’s how to assess their experience, professionalism and way of working; and decide whether the relationship feels right for both of you.
How do I turn meeting notes into actions?
If your meetings feel useful at the time but the actions somehow disappear afterwards, this one is for you.
This blog looks at how to turn meeting notes into clear decisions, owners, deadlines and next steps, so the useful bits do not get lost between “great chat” and “what did we agree again?”
I know I need help, but I don’t know what with
You know you need help, but you’re not quite sure what to hand over. This blog looks at how to spot the regular admin, recurring tasks and messy little business bits that might be worth simplifying, organising or outsourcing.
When doing it yourself stops making financial sense
There comes a point where doing everything yourself stops making financial sense. If regular admin is taking time away from higher-value work, this blog helps you spot what might be worth simplifying, organising or handing over.
How do I keep track of client follow-ups without relying on memory?
If client follow-ups are currently living in your inbox, notebook, sticky notes and the optimistic part of your brain that says “I’ll remember”, this one is for you.
This blog looks at how to create a simple client follow-up system, so proposals, paperwork, decisions and gentle nudges do not disappear under the digital sofa.
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