Maintenance of business premises is a big pain for everyone. It's the dirty work nobody wants to do, but it has to be done. Not only that, it has to be done well. Anybody who works in a small office knows that once in a while you have to sweep, scrub, mop, dust and vacuum. Unfortunately, for your business premises to be really clean, it has to be done constantly. That's why many small offices use office cleaning services.

Why Hire Office Cleaning Services?

Office maintenance agencies can do the job for you. This way, you can concentrate on running your business. No more "cleaning days" or opening shop early to get everything in order. No more late nights vacuuming when you'd rather be at home in front of the TV, with your mind off work.

If cleaning isn't your thing, office maintenance services are perfect. They are experts at what they do, and have years of experience. Using a professional agency guarantees that your business premises will be spotless. They don't miss anything! They also have the newest tools and technologies to make things shine.

They also offer additional solutions that you can't do on your own. These range from big jobs that you need the gear for, to extras like handyman service and pest control.

What Office Cleaning Services Have to Offer

If you don't want to get on all-fours and do your floors, an office cleaning service will do it for you. Not only will they sweep and mop, they will wax, buff, deep-clean and do your carpets. These are maintenance tasks that most of us aren't up do, and few of us have the gear to do ourselves. Some services offer floor stripping and sealing as well.

Window cleaning is another tricky job best left to the professionals. You can start on that first window with gusto, but after you've worn yourself out on one, you realize you've got to do them all. It's much better to leave window cleaning to those who do it everyday.

Different companies offer different services, and you can get a whole variety of janitorial agencies as well. These little details are the difference between business premises that are clean enough to sit down in, and one that is simply spotless. They may also offer superintendent services, so you can let them manage all the building needs.

Other goodies like pest control and handyman services are sometimes available. If you are not a Mr. or Ms. Fix-It, then you probably know that tackling repair work yourself means making more repair work for later. Again, it's better to leave it to the pros.

How To Find An Office Cleaning Service

The first place to look is your local yellow pages. This is an easy way to find a service in your area, and you can call and ask them about pricing and services available.

An even better way to find your maintenance service is to look online. Most services have their own website, and there are directories where you can find companies that are in your area.

Don't tackle your own maintenance needs unless you're willing to get your hands dirty. It's a big job, but somebody's got to do it. Hire an office cleaning service to take care of it for you, and you can get back to business.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Stratton

In today's busy world, virtual assistants are increasingly in demand. If you have worked in an office setting as an administrative assistant or secretary, then you already have an idea of the skills you need to do virtual assisting.

Skills are one thing, but it takes more than being good at data entry, desktop publishing, composing letters or powerpoint slides. These skills are important, but there's another level of hidden skills that are equally important in this business.

5 Top Characteristics of a Virtual Assistant

Self-Motivation - When you work a 9-5 job, you come into the office at a certain time, do your work, take breaks and leave at a set schedule. You know what your boss expects of you and someone else determines how much work you do and when you do it.

When you're the boss, the buck stops with you. A top virtual assistant plans out their schedule ahead of time and shows up at the home office ready to work.

When working at home, it's way too easy to let distractions get you off course. However, if you don't work, you don't make money. The best virtual assistants are self-motivated go-getters.

Organized - Once your business takes off and you are working for several clients, you'll need to keep your workspace and projects organized. Maybe this seems like a given, but it does take some effort and planning to stay on top of things.

Disorganization can cause you to become overwhelmed, which leads to mistakes, which could cost you clients. Stay organized.

Resourcefulness - One of the exciting things about the various virtual assistant jobs that you'll do is learning how to be a vast resource of information. This doesn't mean that you'll know everything, but you'll be willing to dig around, do research and come up with an answer to the best of your ability.

Occasionally, you'll have to put your problem solver hat on and figure out the answer to something that's baffling you or your client. Remember, when you don't know something, reaching out and asking others for help is okay.

Good Communication Skills - Even though you'll be working at home, as a top quality virtual assistant, you'll be constantly communicating with clients. If you're shy and not comfortable talking to people then this business isn't for you.

Communication skills are essential when discussing details of projects. You need to be able to ask clients the right questions so you can do a great job on their project. Clear, concise communication is a must.

Be a Professional - As an independent virtual assistant, you are a professional service provider. It is not just a job that you do from home - it's YOUR business. Your bread and butter.

Always project self-confidence and professionalism when dealing with clients and potential clients. Be prepared for them to ask you some questions about your qualifications.

Practice what you're going to say to them ahead of time. You can even write out some anticipated questions and answers (put these on your website).

Never be shy to let clients know that you are honest, reliable, organized, flexible and good at what you do.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brenda_Ballentine

You've thought it over and made up your mind - you want to become a virtual office assistant. Fantastic! Now what you need to do is sit down and create a roadmap for how you're going to make your dream a reality.

I know you're excited about becoming a virtual assistant and it's tempting to just throw your hat into the ring and see what happens. However, it's best to do a little planning first in order to make sure you can be successful at this.

Here are some things you should keep in mind:

Create a marketing plan - One of the toughest things to do when you're in business for yourself is figuring out how to promote your services. You're starting from scratch and even though you have excellent skills, nobody knows who you are. A marketing plan will give you a blueprint to follow so you can get the word out.

There are several ways you can market yourself:

*Business Cards
*Brochures
*Articles
*Online Forums
*Local Organizations
*Networking
*Website

What are your start-up costs?

How much money do you need to spend to get the ball rolling?

Make sure you have the basics to get started: computer in good shape, copy/fax machine, filing cabinet, printer, copy paper, printer ink, daily planner, comfortable office chair, etc.

If you need to buy office supplies, look for places where you can get good discounts. Spend as little money as possible. Once your business is making money, you can purchase additional items.

Charge what you're worth

When starting out, you may be tempted to set your rates low in order to attract clients - Don't do it!

Even though virtual assisting is relatively new, most VA's charge between $25-$70 per hour. Charging lower than this will make you look less professional than your competition. Besides, you need to make enough to cover your own expenses, plus any vacation and sick time you need.

Remember, you're the boss now. You're also a professional service provider and deserve to make a good living from your skills.

What's your specialty?

In your career as an office assistant, you've probably picked up many different skills. You will use most of them while virtual assisting. However, when it comes to marketing yourself, it's wise to pick something to specialize in like: desktop publishing, proofreading, legal transcription, writing articles, resume writing, academic research, etc.

Specializing in one area makes you stand out from the crowd. It's also way easier to promote your services this way. You can target clients who want to utilize your unique talents. By the way, you'll still be able to take on clients outside your specialty.

How will you help your clients?

When marketing your services, it's tempting to tell people how great you are. But that's not what they're looking for. Every potential client wants to know WIIFM or What's in it for Me?

Your job is to let them know what your skills can do to help their business run smoother.

Can you save them time?

Can you save them money?

Are you good at problem solving?

Can you meet deadlines?

Is your work mistake free?

Can you communicate with them by phone, email, skype?

Can your work make them look good?

How will you manage your time?

In order for your business to work, you've got to get good at time management. Think of all the things you'll need to keep track of:

*Multiple Client Projects
*Family Responsibilities
*Personal Errands
*Everything Else

How will you manage all of this on a day-to-day basis?

Working out of your home is great, but there can be a lot of distractions. You've got to try to keep your work time separate from your personal time, although this isn't always possible.

Figure out what days and hours you're going to work, then print out a schedule and stick to it. You can always make adjustments as you go along.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brenda_Ballentine